AIDDD Agenda | Kisaco Research
Agenda Days: 
  • Tuesday, 18 Nov, 2025
    Pre-Event Workshop

    Drinks Reception

    Time: 
    4:30 – 5:30 PM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
  • Wednesday, 19 Nov, 2025
    Registration
    Morning Panels

    Recent Advances and Future Perspectives for AI in the Drug Discovery and Development Value Chain

    Sponsor(s): 
    MilliporeSigma
    Speaker(s): 
    Moderator

    Author:

    David Champagne

    Senior Partner
    McKinsey & Company

    David Champagne

    Senior Partner
    McKinsey & Company

    Author:

    Melissa Landon

    Head, Commercial & Business Development, AI & Automation
    MilliporeSigma

    Melissa Landon

    Head, Commercial & Business Development, AI & Automation
    MilliporeSigma

    Author:

    David Hallett

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Recursion

    David Hallett

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Recursion

    Author:

    Morten Sogaard

    Senior Vice President & Head, Astellas Innovation Lab
    Astellas Pharma

    Morten Sogaard

    Senior Vice President & Head, Astellas Innovation Lab
    Astellas Pharma

    Author:

    Peter Clark

    Vice President, Digital Chemistry & Design
    Novo Nordisk RDUS

    Peter Clark

    Vice President, Digital Chemistry & Design
    Novo Nordisk RDUS
    Time: 
    8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Closing the Knowledge Loop in AI-Powered R&D

    Next-generation AI is transforming research and development by enabling:

    • Scalable insights from multi-modal datasets
    • In silico experimentation powered by machine learning and foundation models
    • Generative AI for novel molecule design
    • Automated workflows through agentic systems and robotics

    These innovations are already accelerating speed and reducing cost in R&D. But beyond efficiency, AI presents a deeper opportunity: advancing scientific understanding of diseases and drugs. By keeping human scientists actively in the loop, AI can provide oversight, foster discovery, and open entirely new therapeutic avenues.

    In this session, we will explore how modern AI tools can “close the knowledge loop”—moving from automation and efficiency toward true scientific insight and discovery.

    Sponsor(s): 
    McKinsey & Company
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Chris Anagnostopoulos

    Tech Fellow Partner
    McKinsey & Company

    Chris Anagnostopoulos

    Tech Fellow Partner
    McKinsey & Company
    Time: 
    9:15am - 9:45am
    Session Type: 
    Keynote
    Morning Break
    Morning Sessions

    AI-Driven Insights: Unlocking New Therapeutic Concepts and Decoding Complex Disease Biology

    Discuss how AI is used to identify pathological features, discover drug targets, and decode complex disease biology at a systems level.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Ari Allyn-Feuer

    Director, AI Intelligence Product
    GSK

    Ari Allyn-Feuer

    Director, AI Intelligence Product
    GSK

    Author:

    Arvind Rao

    Associate Professor, Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics
    University of Michigan

    Arvind Rao

    Associate Professor, Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics
    University of Michigan
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Integrating GenAI for Small Molecule Generation and Optimization

    Learn how  GenAI is transforming early drug discovery by designing novel, drug-like small molecules with improved potency, selectivity, and ADME properties.
    Explore how GenAI integrates with synthesis planning and automation tools to prioritize viable candidates and accelerate iterative drug development.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Philip Tagari

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Insitro

    Philip Tagari

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Insitro

    Author:

    Yue-Wang Webster

    Vice President, Model Driven Drug Discovery Platforms
    Eli Lilly

    Yue-Wang Webster

    Vice President, Model Driven Drug Discovery Platforms
    Eli Lilly
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Improving Data Quality and Tackling Model Bias with Robust, Well-Curated Data

    Explore practical strategies for building high-quality, diverse datasets that reduce bias and improve model performance across drug discovery pipelines.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Nevin Gerek Ince

    Director, Data & Solutions Engineering
    Novo Nordisk

    Nevin Gerek Ince

    Director, Data & Solutions Engineering
    Novo Nordisk
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Innovation Trends in AI Enabled Clinical Trials

    Learn how predictive simulations, generative AI and differentiating clinical biomarkers are forecasted to cut prototyping timelines by weeks and reduce per‑trial costs.

    .

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Gregory Goldmacher

    Assistant Vice President, Clinical Research, Head, Imaging
    Merck

    Gregory Goldmacher

    Assistant Vice President, Clinical Research, Head, Imaging
    Merck

    Author:

    Hitesh Seth

    Chief Architect, Financial Services and Insurance
    Salesforce

    At Salesforce, Hitesh is responsible for the end-to-end architecture of platforms delivered to financial services and insurance clients globally. His focus is on working with key strategic customers to align Salesforce implementations with their business goals, particularly around the conjunction of Data+AI and CRM. This involves collaborating with retail and commercial banking, payments, wealth management, investment banking, insurance, and capital markets to influence product roadmaps and shape the future of technology in these industries. A significant part of Hitesh's role includes facilitating discussions with CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, and Chief Architects to: •⁠ ⁠Analyze current architectures and design target states. •⁠ ⁠Optimize Salesforce technologies for customer needs. •⁠ ⁠Integrate and Interoperate with Salesforce platforms within broader ecosystems. Being the executive sponsors for the customers, I play a key role in influencing product development within Salesforce by advocating for customer-driven innovations. 

    Hitesh oversees end-to-end platform and solution architecture for global financial services and insurance clients. He specializes in aligning Salesforce solutions with strategic business objectives, particularly at the intersection of Data+AI and CRM. By collaborating with retail and commercial banking, payments, wealth management, investment banking, insurance, and capital markets, Hitesh helps influence product roadmaps and shape the future of technology in these industries.

    A key part of his role involves engaging CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, and Chief Architects to analyze current architectures, design target states, and optimize Salesforce within broader ecosystems. As an executive sponsor, Hitesh champions customer-driven innovation, ensuring product development meets evolving industry needs.

     

    Hitesh Seth

    Chief Architect, Financial Services and Insurance
    Salesforce

    At Salesforce, Hitesh is responsible for the end-to-end architecture of platforms delivered to financial services and insurance clients globally. His focus is on working with key strategic customers to align Salesforce implementations with their business goals, particularly around the conjunction of Data+AI and CRM. This involves collaborating with retail and commercial banking, payments, wealth management, investment banking, insurance, and capital markets to influence product roadmaps and shape the future of technology in these industries. A significant part of Hitesh's role includes facilitating discussions with CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, and Chief Architects to: •⁠ ⁠Analyze current architectures and design target states. •⁠ ⁠Optimize Salesforce technologies for customer needs. •⁠ ⁠Integrate and Interoperate with Salesforce platforms within broader ecosystems. Being the executive sponsors for the customers, I play a key role in influencing product development within Salesforce by advocating for customer-driven innovations. 

    Hitesh oversees end-to-end platform and solution architecture for global financial services and insurance clients. He specializes in aligning Salesforce solutions with strategic business objectives, particularly at the intersection of Data+AI and CRM. By collaborating with retail and commercial banking, payments, wealth management, investment banking, insurance, and capital markets, Hitesh helps influence product roadmaps and shape the future of technology in these industries.

    A key part of his role involves engaging CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, and Chief Architects to analyze current architectures, design target states, and optimize Salesforce within broader ecosystems. As an executive sponsor, Hitesh champions customer-driven innovation, ensuring product development meets evolving industry needs.

     

    Author:

    Sandeep Menon

    Chief Development Officer
    Alnylam

    Sandeep Menon

    Chief Development Officer
    Alnylam
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Unlocking Process Intelligence with Real-Time Monitoring and Control

    Explore how ML-enabled real-time control systems and continuous process verification improve yield predictability, reduce rework, and enable faster release - offering a direct line of sight to cost savings and product quality gains

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Veera Padmanabhan

    Head, Manufacturing Science & Technology
    AstraZeneca

    Veera is currently managing a team of 40+ scientists, establishing robotics, lab automation predictive analytics and advanced chemometrics in next generation biologics manufacturing at AstraZeneca. He has 25+ years of experience, with expertise crossing R&D, manufacturing operations and supply chain.

    Veera Padmanabhan

    Head, Manufacturing Science & Technology
    AstraZeneca

    Veera is currently managing a team of 40+ scientists, establishing robotics, lab automation predictive analytics and advanced chemometrics in next generation biologics manufacturing at AstraZeneca. He has 25+ years of experience, with expertise crossing R&D, manufacturing operations and supply chain.

    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    What if Drug Discovery Didn’t Have to Fail so Often? Moving Towards Breakthroughs that Come Sooner, Smarter, and with Fewer Dead Ends

    Today, we present JarvisAI, a novel AI-powered discovery engine that integrates generative chemistry, multi-omics insights, and predictive analytics into one unified platform.Acting as an agentic experiment designer, JarvisAI combines hundreds of tools and datasets, rapidly generating, prioritizing, and optimizing workflows from target ID to IND. With adaptive learning and scientist-in-the-loop control, it helps R&D organizations accelerating discovery timelines from years to weeks while facilitating the discovery of novel therapeutic candidates across modalities.JarvisAI represents an inflection point in how AI can drive value in R&D programs.Join us to learn more about how it is changing drug discovery research for the better. 

    Sponsor(s): 
    Helix AI
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Marcos Camara Donoso

    Director, AI Solutions
    HelixAI

    Marcos Camara Donoso

    Director, AI Solutions
    HelixAI
    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Chemistry Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Strangeworks
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Steve Gibson

    Chief Commercial Officer
    Strangeworks

    Steve has held a range of C-Suite positions in technology companies ranging from financial technology services, to data science consulting. Currently he serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Strangeworks; an advanced compute platform as a service (PaaS) company based in Austin, Texas. Prior to Strangeworks, Steve helped build several startups from the ground up, the most successful being Honest Dollar which was the first startup acquired by Goldman Sachs in their 147 year history. Prior to Honest Dollar, Steve worked for a number of large multinational corporations in the European aerospace sector delivering platforms for military, civil and space applications. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Coventry in the UK.

    Steve Gibson

    Chief Commercial Officer
    Strangeworks

    Steve has held a range of C-Suite positions in technology companies ranging from financial technology services, to data science consulting. Currently he serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Strangeworks; an advanced compute platform as a service (PaaS) company based in Austin, Texas. Prior to Strangeworks, Steve helped build several startups from the ground up, the most successful being Honest Dollar which was the first startup acquired by Goldman Sachs in their 147 year history. Prior to Honest Dollar, Steve worked for a number of large multinational corporations in the European aerospace sector delivering platforms for military, civil and space applications. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Coventry in the UK.

    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Infra Session

    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Clinical Trials Session

    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Process Development Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Cytiva
    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Afternoon Sessions

    AI and Multiomics Integration for Enhanced Target Identification and Validation

    Learn how AI-driven approaches integrate multiomics data, including genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, to identify potential drug targets and disease biomarkers for complex diseases.
    Explore how AI models synthesize cross-omic data and real-time multiomic information to uncover novel biological mechanisms, identify potential biomarkers and enable precision medicine.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Kiran Nistala

    Head, Functional Genomics
    Alkermes

    Kiran Nistala

    Head, Functional Genomics
    Alkermes
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    AI-Driven Protein Structure Prediction: Machine Learning Approaches for Protein Folding and Interaction Modelling

    Explore h ow AI models predict protein 3D structures from sequences, enabling insights into folding pathways and functional conformations
    Examine emerging co-folding models that reveal protein–protein interactions and guide multimeric complex design.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Miles Congreve

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Isomorphic Labs

    Miles Congreve

    Chief Scientific Officer
    Isomorphic Labs
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Adoption of AI in Clinical Trials Across the Pharmaceutical Industry

    Explore practical strategies for scaling AI implementation across clinical development pipelines, enabling faster trial execution, smarter protocol design, and improved patient recruitment while aligning with evolving regulatory expectations.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Maria Florez

    Senior Consultant
    Tufts

    Maria Florez

    Senior Consultant
    Tufts
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Building and Managing Compliant Models for Life Sciences

    Examine how AI models are being developed, validated, and governed to meet regulatory expectations, with practical insights into documentation, auditability, and lifecycle management to ensure safe, transparent, and compliant deployment in GxP environments.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Benjamin Stevens

    Director, CMC Policy
    GSK

    Benjamin Stevens

    Director, CMC Policy
    GSK
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Lunch
    Afternoon Sessions

    AI-Enhanced Biomarker Discovery: Integrating Lab and Digital Insights for Precision Medicine

    Explore how AI enhances biomarker discovery by analyzing large datasets to uncover novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy.
    Learn how integrating digital biomarkers with AI improves the interpretation of data from wearable devices and traditional lab-based biomarkers for better patient stratification and treatment personalization.

    Sponsor(s): 
    Matterworks
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Satarupa Mukherjee

    R&D Leader, AI/ML (Digital Pathology)
    Roche

    Satarupa Mukherjee

    R&D Leader, AI/ML (Digital Pathology)
    Roche

    Author:

    Jack Geremia

    CEO
    Matterworks

    Jack Geremia

    CEO
    Matterworks

    Author:

    Virginia Savova

    Senior Director, Head Cell-Targeted Precision Medicine
    AstraZeneca

    Virginia Savova

    Senior Director, Head Cell-Targeted Precision Medicine
    AstraZeneca
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Harnessing AI for Hit Identification in the Ultra-Large Chemical Space

    Discover how ML and active learning techniques are revolutionizing the search for promising drug candidates in vast chemical libraries, accelerating hit identification.
    Learn how AI models navigate ultra-large chemical spaces, prioritize bioactive compounds, and streamline the discovery of potential hits for further development.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Lingling Shen

    Associate Director, Discovery Sciences
    Novartis

    Lingling Shen

    Associate Director, Discovery Sciences
    Novartis

    Author:

    Justin Scheer

    Vice President, In Silico Discovery
    Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

    Justin Scheer

    Vice President, In Silico Discovery
    Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Edge AI in Biotech: Deploying Intelligence in Manufacturing and Smart Labs

    Discover how edge computing enables real-time data processing, monitoring, and decision-making at the point of operation in biotech labs and manufacturing environments.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Dipak Sakharkar

    Program Manager, Digital, Technology & Innovation (DTI)
    Amgen

    Dipak Sakharkar

    Program Manager, Digital, Technology & Innovation (DTI)
    Amgen
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Generative AI use in Predictive Patient Enrolment & Retention

    Showcasing generative models that craft hyper‑personalized outreach messages and informed consent materials, driving up engagement rates and shaving weeks off recruitment timelines.
    Discover how ML‑driven forecasts for recruitment rates and optimized site selection translate into faster first‑patient‑in and lower screen‑fail/dropout rates, saving you both time and budget.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Claire Zhao

    Associate Director, AI/ML & Quantitative & Digital Sciences
    PFIZER

    Claire Zhao

    Associate Director, AI/ML & Quantitative & Digital Sciences
    PFIZER
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Operationalizing Digital Twins and Model-Driven Optimization

    Highlight how digital twins and hybrid ML models (e.g., Bayesian, predictive) enable virtual experimentation and proactive troubleshooting, reducing scale-up failures and supporting more reliable process performance at commercial scale.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Shruti Vij

    Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
    Takeda

    Shruti Vij

    Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
    Takeda
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Biology Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Zephyr AI
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Coupling AI with Physics-Based Methods for Accurate and Efficient Drug Discovery

    • Learn how AI models enhance physics-based simulations to predict molecular interactions and optimize drug design.
    • Discover the synergy between machine learning and classical methods to accelerate screening and improve the accuracy of drug discovery.
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Sreyoshi Sur

    Former Scientist, Molecular Engineering & Modeling
    Moderna

    Sreyoshi Sur

    Former Scientist, Molecular Engineering & Modeling
    Moderna
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Clinical Trials Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Weave Bio
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    AI-Driven Antibody Discovery and Optimization: Unlocking New Therapeutics

    Explore how AI accelerates antibody discovery by enabling de novo design, epitope prediction, and in silico affinity maturation for highly specific, developable therapeutics.
    Learn how deep learning and structure-based models optimize antibody stability, immunogenicity and target binding to advance precision biologics.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Adam Root

    Vice President & Head, Protein Sciences
    Generate Biomedicines

    Adam Root

    Vice President & Head, Protein Sciences
    Generate Biomedicines

    Author:

    Claudette Fuller

    Vice President, Non Clinical Safety & Toxicology
    Genmab

    Claudette Fuller

    Vice President, Non Clinical Safety & Toxicology
    Genmab
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Innovative Biologic Design: AI Tools for Optimizing ADCs, CAR-T, and Next-Gen Therapeutics

    Explore how AI accelerates the design of complex biologics, including ADCs and engineered cell therapies.
    Learn how predictive models improve developability by forecasting linker stability, payload efficacy, and manufacturability.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Monica Wang

    Head, Biologics & Novel Modality Discovery Capabilities & Products, Scientific Informatics
    Takeda

    Monica Wang

    Head, Biologics & Novel Modality Discovery Capabilities & Products, Scientific Informatics
    Takeda
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Infra Session

    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    How Quantum Innovation is Set to Unlock The Future of Drug Development

    Uncover how quantum technologies could reshape clinical trial design and optimization, from accelerating molecule-to-protocol timelines to improving patient stratification and adaptive trial modelling.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Michael Dandrea

    Principal Data Scientist
    Genentech

    Michael Dandrea

    Principal Data Scientist
    Genentech

    Author:

    Zoran Krunic

    Principal Product Manager
    Amgen

    Since joining Amgen R&D in 2018, Zoran Krunic has been at the forefront of applying Machine Learning to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical trial enrollment processes, utilizing comprehensive Electronic Health Records and clinical datasets. His pioneering work in the Quantum Machine Learning space, in collaboration with IBM's Quantum team, has been instrumental in integrating machine learning with quantum computing through IBM’s Qiskit platform.

    Prior to his tenure at Amgen, Zoran developed Machine Learning algorithms at Optum to predict hardware and software failures within complex enterprise architectures. He has a strong background in data engineering and systems development, having contributed significantly to large-scale projects at renowned organizations such as Capital Group and ARCO Petroleum.

    In his current full and part-time endeavors, Zoran is leading the efforts in embracing generative AI technologies, with a particular focus on OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude-2 models. His work is focused on prompt engineering and its application to code generation, advanced document analysis, and process management, with a commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy.

    A recognized voice in quantum computing circles, Zoran is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has served on numerous panels discussing the integration of quantum computing and generative AI within the Health Sciences sector.

    With a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Zoran continues to explore and contribute to the evolving relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, fostering groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology.

    Zoran Krunic

    Principal Product Manager
    Amgen

    Since joining Amgen R&D in 2018, Zoran Krunic has been at the forefront of applying Machine Learning to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical trial enrollment processes, utilizing comprehensive Electronic Health Records and clinical datasets. His pioneering work in the Quantum Machine Learning space, in collaboration with IBM's Quantum team, has been instrumental in integrating machine learning with quantum computing through IBM’s Qiskit platform.

    Prior to his tenure at Amgen, Zoran developed Machine Learning algorithms at Optum to predict hardware and software failures within complex enterprise architectures. He has a strong background in data engineering and systems development, having contributed significantly to large-scale projects at renowned organizations such as Capital Group and ARCO Petroleum.

    In his current full and part-time endeavors, Zoran is leading the efforts in embracing generative AI technologies, with a particular focus on OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude-2 models. His work is focused on prompt engineering and its application to code generation, advanced document analysis, and process management, with a commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy.

    A recognized voice in quantum computing circles, Zoran is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has served on numerous panels discussing the integration of quantum computing and generative AI within the Health Sciences sector.

    With a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Zoran continues to explore and contribute to the evolving relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, fostering groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology.

    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Accelerating R&D to Manufacturing Handover

    Equip teams with AI tools that capture process knowledge and simulate scale-up scenarios, reducing tech transfer timelines and improving first-batch success rates - critical for aligning R&D, MSAT, and manufacturing expectations early

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Irfan Ali Mohammed

    Director, CMC
    Alexion Pharmaceuticals

    Irfan Ali Mohammed

    Director, CMC
    Alexion Pharmaceuticals
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Afternoon Break
  • Thursday, 20 Nov, 2025
    Innovation Forum

    Inverse Pitching

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Uli Stilz

    Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
    Novo Nordisk

    Uli Stilz

    Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
    Novo Nordisk

    Author:

    Ester Caffarel-Salvador

    Director, Strategic Innovation
    Chiesi USA

    Ester Caffarel-Salvador

    Director, Strategic Innovation
    Chiesi USA
    Time: 
    8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Innovation Incubator

    This session provides the unique opportunity to listen to, and engage with, some of the most innovative AI Drug Discovery and Development start-ups globally. Focusing exclusively on early-stage funding, six startups picked by our esteemed selection committee will take to the stage in front of 100+ potential partners. Through a series of rapid-fire presentations, these pioneers will demonstrate their vision of the future of drug discovery, and how their product, technology, or service fits into it.

    Speaker(s): 
    Judges

    Author:

    Parthiban Rajasekaran

    Innovation Lead
    Sanofi

    Parthiban Rajasekaran

    Innovation Lead
    Sanofi

    Author:

    Uli Stilz

    Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
    Novo Nordisk

    Uli Stilz

    Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
    Novo Nordisk

    Author:

    John Mayfield

    SVP BD & Strategy
    Flagship Pioneering

    John Mayfield

    SVP BD & Strategy
    Flagship Pioneering
    Time: 
    9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Morning Break
    Morning Sessions

    AI and Lab in the Loop for Unprecedented Scale in the Generation of Fit-for-Purpose Data Generation for Drug Development

    Discuss how Lab in the Loop is revolutionizing drug discovery by integrating AI with experimental workflows, enhancing speed and accuracy in data collection and analysis.

    Sponsor(s): 
    Anima Biotech
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Yochi Slonim

    Co-Founder and CEO
    Anima Biotech

    A serial entrepreneur in software and biotech, Yochi Slonim has built multiple companies as a founder and CEO through all phases of growth all the way to IPOs and large M&A exits. As a Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech, he is driving the company’s strategy and business development at the intersection of mRNA biology and AI.

    Prior to Anima, Yochi was a co-founder of Mercury Interactive. As CTO and VP R&D from the company's early days, he created product vision and strategy and led a multi-product organization of 200 developers. After going public and reaching revenues of over $1B annually, Mercury was acquired by HP for $4.5B.

    As Senior VP of products and marketing for Tecnomatix, a public NASDAQ company, he led a 500 people organization of 4 divisions that generated revenues of $100m until the company was acquired by UGS for $230m.

    In 2000, Yochi was founder and CEO of Identify. The company reached revenues of $50m in less than 5 years and was acquired by BMC in 2006 for $150m in cash. 

    Yochi founded ffwd.me, a unique startup acceleration program where he led a team that worked with over 25 startups in diverse areas and technologies, developing strategy, products and go to market operations while raising multiple rounds of financing from VCs and private investors. 
     
    As one of Israel's leading speakers on the subject of startup positioning and company building, several of Yochi's approachable and amusing lectures can be found on Yochi Slonim's Youtube.

    Yochi Slonim

    Co-Founder and CEO
    Anima Biotech

    A serial entrepreneur in software and biotech, Yochi Slonim has built multiple companies as a founder and CEO through all phases of growth all the way to IPOs and large M&A exits. As a Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech, he is driving the company’s strategy and business development at the intersection of mRNA biology and AI.

    Prior to Anima, Yochi was a co-founder of Mercury Interactive. As CTO and VP R&D from the company's early days, he created product vision and strategy and led a multi-product organization of 200 developers. After going public and reaching revenues of over $1B annually, Mercury was acquired by HP for $4.5B.

    As Senior VP of products and marketing for Tecnomatix, a public NASDAQ company, he led a 500 people organization of 4 divisions that generated revenues of $100m until the company was acquired by UGS for $230m.

    In 2000, Yochi was founder and CEO of Identify. The company reached revenues of $50m in less than 5 years and was acquired by BMC in 2006 for $150m in cash. 

    Yochi founded ffwd.me, a unique startup acceleration program where he led a team that worked with over 25 startups in diverse areas and technologies, developing strategy, products and go to market operations while raising multiple rounds of financing from VCs and private investors. 
     
    As one of Israel's leading speakers on the subject of startup positioning and company building, several of Yochi's approachable and amusing lectures can be found on Yochi Slonim's Youtube.

    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    AI-Guided High-Throughput Screening with DEL and DNA-Encoded Technologies

    Explore how AI-driven approaches enhance high-throughput screening by optimizing DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) for rapid identification of potential drug candidates.
    Learn how AI algorithms accelerate the analysis of complex screening data, enabling more efficient lead discovery and targeting of molecular interactions.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Hans Bitter

    Head, Computational Sciences
    Takeda

    Hans Bitter

    Head, Computational Sciences
    Takeda
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Integrating Gen AI & LLMs into Early-Stage Clinical Trials

    Gain actionable strategies for embedding generative AI and large language models into early-phase trial design and execution, from protocol drafting and site selection to patient engagement, accelerating timelines while ensuring data quality and compliance

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Yi Hong

    Associate Director
    Gilead

    Yi Hong

    Associate Director
    Gilead
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Embedding AI in Process Development

    Hear cross-functional perspectives on successfully implementing AI across process development teams, from aligning with quality, IT, and manufacturing to overcoming cultural and technical barriers, with a focus on driving operational efficiency and long-term value

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Shruti Vij

    Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
    Takeda

    Shruti Vij

    Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
    Takeda
    Time: 
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Afternoon Sessions

    Biology Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    MindWalk
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Frédéric Chabot

    Head of Corporate Development
    MindWalk

    Frédéric Chabot is the Head of Corporate Development at MindWalk, focusing on M&A, strategic partnerships, and corporate initiatives. He began working with IPA in 2017, contributing in various roles before assuming his current position. With over 26 years of experience in finance and corporate strategy, he navigates biotech investments and market expansion.

    Previously, he served as an International Liaison at Contact Financial, an advisory firm specializing in capital raising and investor relations for TSX and TSX-V listed companies. Over nine years, he worked on investor awareness programs and fundraising initiatives, supporting startups and early-stage companies.

    Frédéric Chabot

    Head of Corporate Development
    MindWalk

    Frédéric Chabot is the Head of Corporate Development at MindWalk, focusing on M&A, strategic partnerships, and corporate initiatives. He began working with IPA in 2017, contributing in various roles before assuming his current position. With over 26 years of experience in finance and corporate strategy, he navigates biotech investments and market expansion.

    Previously, he served as an International Liaison at Contact Financial, an advisory firm specializing in capital raising and investor relations for TSX and TSX-V listed companies. Over nine years, he worked on investor awareness programs and fundraising initiatives, supporting startups and early-stage companies.

    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Chemistry Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    SPOC Proteomics
    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Clinical Trials Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Advarra
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Mike Eckrote

    Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions & Technology
    Advarra

    Mike Eckrote is Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions & Technology at Advarra, where he leads efforts to advance innovative approaches to clinical research and development. He brings more than a decade of experience in real-world data, technology solutions, and clinical trial optimization, with leadership roles spanning HealthVerity, Medable, and Medidata Solutions. Throughout his career, Mike has specialized in applying AI/ML, real-world evidence, and data-driven strategies to improve trial design, site selection, and patient outcomes.

    Mike Eckrote

    Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions & Technology
    Advarra

    Mike Eckrote is Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions & Technology at Advarra, where he leads efforts to advance innovative approaches to clinical research and development. He brings more than a decade of experience in real-world data, technology solutions, and clinical trial optimization, with leadership roles spanning HealthVerity, Medable, and Medidata Solutions. Throughout his career, Mike has specialized in applying AI/ML, real-world evidence, and data-driven strategies to improve trial design, site selection, and patient outcomes.

    Time: 
    12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    AI-Powered Microbiome Intelligence for Drug Response Prediction

    • Unlock the 99.9% Unknown: Our proprietary AI decodes unmapped microbial DNA that traditional methods miss, discovering novel biomarkers beyond the reach of reference-based approaches
    • Improve Drug Response Rates: Stratify patients to double efficacy while reducing side effects for non-responders
    • Ready-to-License Assets: Validated biomarkers already developed for major biologics
    • Over 100,000 novel biomarkers already discovered: demonstrated efficacy prediction in large-scale animal study as well as human Crohn’s and Colitis trial.
    Sponsor(s): 
    Alphabiome AI
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Dr. Yaniv Altshuler

    CEO & Founder
    Alphabiome

    Dr. Altshuler is an MIT researcher and an experienced entrepreneur, renowned for his expertise in designing and implementing scalable AI systems. Dr. Altshuler is the author of three books on the theory of Artificial Intelligence, as well as over 80 scientific papers, and 18 patents in this field. His novel work has gained global recognition, including the prestigious title of Technological Pioneer awarded by the World Economic Forum.

    Dr. Yaniv Altshuler

    CEO & Founder
    Alphabiome

    Dr. Altshuler is an MIT researcher and an experienced entrepreneur, renowned for his expertise in designing and implementing scalable AI systems. Dr. Altshuler is the author of three books on the theory of Artificial Intelligence, as well as over 80 scientific papers, and 18 patents in this field. His novel work has gained global recognition, including the prestigious title of Technological Pioneer awarded by the World Economic Forum.

    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Creativity at Our Fingertips: Real-time, Exhaustive Enumeration of Hyper-scalable Chemical Space with AI

    Key Takeaways: 

    • We have developed technology that efficiently applies predictive ML models to combinatorial synthesis libraries (CSLs) at a rate of ~500 B compounds per second, per GPU, allowing us to exhaustively evaluate otherwise enumerable chemical space to identify diverse compounds that best fit multi-parameter optimization criteria.
    • In practice, this gives chemists the opportunity to flexibly and iteratively explore enormous chemical space while receiving results, in the form of enumerated chemical structures, within seconds of their inquiry, fostering a genuine creative process that leads to higher chemical diversity and developability.
    • We use this approach in conjunction with our next-generation extrapolative ML models, which has allowed us to discover high-quality, diverse, structurally-distinct binders for targets of interest; however, this approach can be extended to any advanced predictive model in order to exhaustively evaluate any CSL.
    Sponsor(s): 
    Atomwise
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Steve Worland

    CEO
    Atomwise

    Steve Worland, Ph.D. serves as the CEO of Atomwise and has over 30 years of experience in corporate leadership and pharmaceutical R&D. He was previously President, CEO, and Board Member of eFFECTOR Therapeutics, which he co-founded in 2012. Prior to that, he was CEO of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, where he led the company through its acquisition by Roche in 2011. Before becoming CEO, he served as Chief Scientific Officer and President of Pharmaceuticals at Anadys.

     

    Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Warner-Lambert, and Pfizer, where his scientific research contributed to the discovery and development of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir), Inlyta (axitinib), zotatifin, tomivosertib, and other clinical-stage candidates. At Agouron, he was Vice President and Director of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, remaining at the company through its acquisitions.

     

    Dr. Worland earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology at Harvard University as an NIH fellow. He earned a B.S. with Highest Honors in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors at Blacksmith Medicines and has previously served on the boards of Tracon Pharmaceuticals, Forge Therapeutics, and GenMark Diagnostics.

    Steve Worland

    CEO
    Atomwise

    Steve Worland, Ph.D. serves as the CEO of Atomwise and has over 30 years of experience in corporate leadership and pharmaceutical R&D. He was previously President, CEO, and Board Member of eFFECTOR Therapeutics, which he co-founded in 2012. Prior to that, he was CEO of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, where he led the company through its acquisition by Roche in 2011. Before becoming CEO, he served as Chief Scientific Officer and President of Pharmaceuticals at Anadys.

     

    Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Warner-Lambert, and Pfizer, where his scientific research contributed to the discovery and development of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir), Inlyta (axitinib), zotatifin, tomivosertib, and other clinical-stage candidates. At Agouron, he was Vice President and Director of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, remaining at the company through its acquisitions.

     

    Dr. Worland earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology at Harvard University as an NIH fellow. He earned a B.S. with Highest Honors in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors at Blacksmith Medicines and has previously served on the boards of Tracon Pharmaceuticals, Forge Therapeutics, and GenMark Diagnostics.

    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Infra Session

    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    AI-Enabled Measurements for Drug Development Insights and Efficiency

    Gain actionable strategies for embedding AI and large language models into portfolio decision making, accelerating timelines while ensuring data quality and compliance

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Gregory Goldmacher

    Assistant Vice President, Clinical Research, Head, Imaging
    Merck

    Gregory Goldmacher

    Assistant Vice President, Clinical Research, Head, Imaging
    Merck
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Model Based Optimization of Fed Batch In Vivo Transcription

    Developing a mechanistic model of IVT to include nucleation and growth of magnesium pyrophosphate crystals and subsequent agglomeration of crystals and DNA

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Nathan Stover

    PhD Student, Chemical Engineering
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Nathan Stover

    PhD Student, Chemical Engineering
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Time: 
    12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Lunch

    Women in AI Lunch

    An empowering session featuring inspirational speakers championing women’s leadership across tech, data, and pharma.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Jackie Hunter

    Chief Executive Officer
    OI Pharma Partners

    Jackie Hunter

    Chief Executive Officer
    OI Pharma Partners

    Author:

    Petrina Kamya

    President & Global Head, AI Platforms
    Insilico Medicine

    Petrina Kamya

    President & Global Head, AI Platforms
    Insilico Medicine

    Author:

    Melissa Landon

    Head, Commercial & Business Development, AI & Automation
    MilliporeSigma

    Melissa Landon

    Head, Commercial & Business Development, AI & Automation
    MilliporeSigma
    Time: 
    1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Afternoon Sessions

    Normalizing Complex Datasets: Ensuring AI-Ready Data for Biological Research

    Explore how knowledge graphs integrate multi-source biological data, such as genetic, proteomic, and clinical information, into unified models that accelerate target discovery and disease understanding, with AI enhancing the extraction of actionable insights.
    Learn how data normalization and the latest curation strategies ensure that biological datasets are clean, standardized, and AI-ready, enabling accurate analysis and improved model performance for drug development.

    Sponsor(s): 
    Genomenon
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Daniyal Hussain

    Executive Director, Technology Business Development
    GSK

    Daniyal Hussain

    Executive Director, Technology Business Development
    GSK

    Author:

    Mark Kiel

    Chief Science Officer
    Genomenon

    Mark Kiel

    Chief Science Officer
    Genomenon

    Author:

    Shameer Khader

    Executive Director, Precision Medicine & Computational Biology
    Sanofi

    Shameer Khader

    Executive Director, Precision Medicine & Computational Biology
    Sanofi
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Lead Optimization: Enhancing ADME Properties and Drug-Target Affinity with AI

    Explore how machine learning techniques, such as supervised learning and deep learning, predict critical ADME properties like solubility, permeability, and DDI risk.
    Discover how computational methods, including molecular docking and quantum chemistry simulations, optimize high-affinity drug-target interactions for enhanced efficacy.

    Sponsor(s): 
    Cytocast
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Attila Csikász-Nagy

    CEO
    Cytocast

    Attila is a visionary leader with a strong background in computational and systems biology. As a professor and researcher, he has made significant contributions to the field, with an impressive publication record and expertise in bioinformatics. With experience at renowned institutions like Microsoft Research and King's College London, Attila brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge and business management skills to his role as CEO. In addition to his professional pursuits, Attila enjoys playing basketball competitively with his old high school friends. 

    Attila Csikász-Nagy

    CEO
    Cytocast

    Attila is a visionary leader with a strong background in computational and systems biology. As a professor and researcher, he has made significant contributions to the field, with an impressive publication record and expertise in bioinformatics. With experience at renowned institutions like Microsoft Research and King's College London, Attila brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge and business management skills to his role as CEO. In addition to his professional pursuits, Attila enjoys playing basketball competitively with his old high school friends. 

    Author:

    David Kombo

    Principal Scientist
    Sanofi

    David Kombo

    Principal Scientist
    Sanofi

    Author:

    Jacob Berlin

    CEO
    Terray Therapeutics

    Jacob Berlin

    CEO
    Terray Therapeutics
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Harnessing Generative AI and RWD for Next-Gen Post-Market Surveillance

    Explore how generative AI is being used to analyze real-world data at scale, enabling earlier signal detection, automated safety reporting, and more dynamic risk-benefit monitoring, driving smarter, faster post-market decision-making across the product lifecycle.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Paul Petraro

    Director, Real World Evidence Analytics
    Boehringer Ingelheim

    Paul Petraro

    Director, Real World Evidence Analytics
    Boehringer Ingelheim
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Transfer of PAT Methods From The Process Development Space to The GMP Space

    Discover practical strategies for scaling Process Analytical Technology (PAT) from R&D into regulated GMP environments , including method validation, data integrity, and cross-functional alignment to ensure continuity, compliance, and control at commercial scale.

    Speaker(s): 
    Time: 
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Navigating Intellectual Property in AI-Driven Biologics Discovery: Patents, Biosimilars, and Innovation Challenges

    Sponsor(s): 
    Fish & Richardson
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Christina V. McDonough

    Principal
    Fish & Richardson P.C.

    Christina McDonough helps clients with patent prosecution, portfolio management, reexamination, counseling, and due diligence for clients ranging from small start-ups to large companies and academic institutions. She co-leads the firm’s standard essential patent (SEP) practice. 

    Christina has particular expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics, bioinformatics and medical systems (e.g., telehealth, medical registries, readmission reductions, modeling and predictive analysis of biological data, genetic codes, and immunotherapy response), computational fluid dynamics (e.g., simulation of acoustic and fluid flow properties), complex data processing (e.g., big data and complex events), and financial algorithms (e.g., predictive modeling and forecasting of real-time security trades).

    Christina V. McDonough

    Principal
    Fish & Richardson P.C.

    Christina McDonough helps clients with patent prosecution, portfolio management, reexamination, counseling, and due diligence for clients ranging from small start-ups to large companies and academic institutions. She co-leads the firm’s standard essential patent (SEP) practice. 

    Christina has particular expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics, bioinformatics and medical systems (e.g., telehealth, medical registries, readmission reductions, modeling and predictive analysis of biological data, genetic codes, and immunotherapy response), computational fluid dynamics (e.g., simulation of acoustic and fluid flow properties), complex data processing (e.g., big data and complex events), and financial algorithms (e.g., predictive modeling and forecasting of real-time security trades).

    Author:

    Crystal Culhane Ph.D.

    Principal
    Fish & Richardson P.C.

    Crystal Culhane, Ph.D., applies her extensive academic background in organic chemistry to help life sciences organization protect their products and innovations through U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, client counseling, due diligence, patentability and freedom to operate opinions, patent opinions, and post-grant proceedings.

    Known as a responsive communicator with a strong depth of knowledge, Crystal works with clients ranging from universities to start-ups and growing companies to multinational organizations to prepare intellectual property strategies that suit their business goals.

    In recent years, Crystal has worked with a number of pharmaceutical clients in high-impact patent prosecution. Her clients include a large pharmaceutical company for which she has helped develop and manage a portfolio of several hundred patent families and another which in 2021 received its first-ever FDA approval for a new drug that treats a rare liver disease.

    Crystal earned her doctorate in chemistry at Johns Hopkins University, where her research focused on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel optical and radioactive small molecule prostate cancer imaging agents. She has significant experience in various scientific disciplines, including synthetic organic chemistry, radiochemistry, biology, radiobiology, and small animal imaging.

    Crystal Culhane Ph.D.

    Principal
    Fish & Richardson P.C.

    Crystal Culhane, Ph.D., applies her extensive academic background in organic chemistry to help life sciences organization protect their products and innovations through U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, client counseling, due diligence, patentability and freedom to operate opinions, patent opinions, and post-grant proceedings.

    Known as a responsive communicator with a strong depth of knowledge, Crystal works with clients ranging from universities to start-ups and growing companies to multinational organizations to prepare intellectual property strategies that suit their business goals.

    In recent years, Crystal has worked with a number of pharmaceutical clients in high-impact patent prosecution. Her clients include a large pharmaceutical company for which she has helped develop and manage a portfolio of several hundred patent families and another which in 2021 received its first-ever FDA approval for a new drug that treats a rare liver disease.

    Crystal earned her doctorate in chemistry at Johns Hopkins University, where her research focused on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel optical and radioactive small molecule prostate cancer imaging agents. She has significant experience in various scientific disciplines, including synthetic organic chemistry, radiochemistry, biology, radiobiology, and small animal imaging.

    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Chemistry Session

    Sponsor(s): 
    Patsnap
    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Vultr Customer Case Study: Leveraging the AI Cloud for Drug Discovery

    Learn how scalable, cloud-based AI infrastructure accelerates model training, data integration, and collaborative research across global drug discovery teams.

    Sponsor(s): 
    Vultr
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Kevin Cochrane

    Chief Marketing Officer
    Vultr

    Kevin is a 25+ year pioneer of the digital experience space. Now at Vultr, Kevin is now working to build Vultr's global brand presence as a leader in the independent Cloud platform market.

    Kevin Cochrane

    Chief Marketing Officer
    Vultr

    Kevin is a 25+ year pioneer of the digital experience space. Now at Vultr, Kevin is now working to build Vultr's global brand presence as a leader in the independent Cloud platform market.

    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 3
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Clinical Trials Session

    Time: 
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 4
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Decoding Disease with AI: The Cutting Edge of Single-Cell and Spatial Biology for Target Discovery and Precision Medicine

    Explore how AI-powered single-cell and spatial biology technologies reveal cellular heterogeneity, tissue organization, and microenvironmental interactions to uncover disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
    Learn how AI models analyze high-dimensional cellular and spatial data to define pathogenic cell states, map dysregulated pathways, and prioritize targets for early-stage therapeutic discovery.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Qi Song

    Principal Scientist, Predictive Biology & AI
    Bristol Myers Squibb

    Qi Song

    Principal Scientist, Predictive Biology & AI
    Bristol Myers Squibb
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Designing Developable Molecules: AI-Powered Prediction of Synthetic Feasibility and Drug-Like Properties

    Explore how AI and large language models are revolutionizing reaction prediction, retrosynthesis planning, and synthetic accessibility scoring.
    Learn how to evaluate and optimize AI-generated leads for real-world developability, including solubility, stability, and synthetic tractability.

    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Ethan Pickering

    Head, Data Science & ML Research
    Bayer

    Ethan Pickering

    Head, Data Science & ML Research
    Bayer
    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Translating AI Investment into Operational ROI

    Demonstrate how AI-driven initiatives - like predictive modelling and automated inspection -translate into measurable outcomes (e.g., defect reduction, shorter batch release cycles) that justify capital investment and cross-functional prioritization

    Time: 
    3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 5
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Afternoon Break

    Tech Test Lab Presentation

    The Tech Test Lab features promising startups at Series A and earlier stages, offering a first look at bold, experimental technologies shaping the future of drug discovery

    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Academic Poster Display

    Get inspired by the latest research from academic institutions. Explore posters covering cutting-edge investigations and methodologies at the intersection of AI and life sciences.

    Time: 
    4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    Closing Keynote
Agenda Tracks: 
Track Title: 
Biology
Track Color: 
#00c2c4
Track Title: 
Chemistry
Track Color: 
#0a0045
Track Title: 
AI Infrastructure
Track Color: 
#96dcff
Track Title: 
AI in Clinical Trials powered by Faculty
Track Sponsor: 
Faculty AI
Track Color: 
#00829e
Track Title: 
Process Development
Track Color: 
#42c2dc