Day 1 Agenda
Use the links below to navigate the Life Sciences Future Conference!
2025 Day 1 Agenda
View a sneak peak of the upcoming panels for Day 1 of Life Sciences Future!
State of the Industry
This opening session will dive into the latest trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the life sciences industry. Expert panelists will explore investment and deal trends, the current state of the life sciences industry and guidance for companies searching for funding. Whether you’re with a startup, global life sciences company, or a service provider supporting innovation, join the conversation on what’s next for the life sciences industry.
Deal Structures in the New Financial Reality
Hear from tech transfer leaders from top research institutions as they share how they’re pivoting, adapting and evolving their strategies for commercialization in response to the volatile financial environment.
Patient Spotlight
This session spotlights the impact of breakthrough sciences and innovation through the lens of a patient’s journey. Hear firsthand how innovations in the life sciences community are treating patients and impacting lives.
View Last year’s Day 1 agenda (2024)
8:30am Registration Opens
9:15am - 10:00am State of the Industry
– Theresa Whalen, President & CEO, CytoAgents
– Neil Oberoi, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Securities
– Arda Ural, PhD, Americas Life Sciences Sector Leader, EY
– Robert Drakas, PhD, President ShangPharma Innovation
Moderator: Stephen Simpson, Partner, EY
Reverse Pitch Presentations
10:10am - 10:30am Venture Studios Presentation
Gerald Vardzel, LifeX Global
10:30am - 10:50am dsm-firmenich
Ted Clineff, Director, SBM Strategy & Business Development
10:50am - 11:10am Harmony Biosciences
Matt Fenske, SVP Franchise Head
11:10am - 11:30am Teleflex
Eric Kopelson, Director, Corporate Development
11:30am - 11:50am Reinforced Ventures
Liam Krut, Investment Partner
11:50am - 12:10pm Pfizer
Pankaj Gupta, Search & Evaluation Lead, l&L, Worldwide Business Development
Startup Stadium
10:10am - 10:40am Synergy Therapeutics
All Stars:
Bruce Peacock
Jeannie Rojas
10:40am - 11:10am Cellergy Pharma
All Stars:
Bruce Peacock
Jeannie Rojas
11:10am - 11:40am PleoPharma
All Stars:
Jay Batchu
Warren Cooper
11:40am - 12:10pm Vivasc Therapeutics
All Stars:
Jay Batchu
Warren Cooper
Entrepreneur Arena
10:20am - 10:40am Neuro-Innovators
10:40am - 11:00am CytoAgents
11:00am - 11:20am ImmuNovX Biotech
11:20am - 11:40am ImmunoGenesis
11:40am - 12:00pm MetasTx
12:00pm - 12:20pm Undaunted Bio
12:00pm Lunch
12:25pm - 1:15pm Cell and gene Therapy: Today and Tomorrow
– Claire Greenwood, Executive Director, CEO Council for Growth; Senior Vice President of Economic Competitiveness, Chamber for Greater Philadelphia’s CEO Council for Growth
– Jim Wilson, MD, PhD, Director, Gene Therapy Program Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
– Jonathan A. Epstein, MD, Interim Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System & Dean, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Moderator: Chris Molineaux, President & CEO, Life Sciences PA
1:20pm - 2:00pm Tech Transfer - Impact, Priorities and Direction
– Scott Morley, Senior Director, Office of Industry and Economic Partnerships, University of Pittsburgh
– Tony Williams, PhD, Associate Director, Office of Technology Licensing & New Ventures, Princeton University
– Bin Yan, PhD, JD, Associate Vice President for Research and Director, Office of Technology Transfer, Pennsylvania State University
– Benjamin Dibling, PhD, Associate Vice Provost for Research, Managing Director, Penn Center for Innovation
Moderator: John Swartley, MBA, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer, University of Pennsylvania
Reverse Pitch Presentations
2:20pm - 2:40pm Merck
Stephen Spagnol, PhD, Director, Business Development & Licensing, Enabling Technologies
2:40pm - 3:00pm CSL Behring
Dr. Michael Plater, Senior Director, Business Development & Licensing
3:00pm - 3:20pm B. Braun Medical
David Banko, Director, Health Economics and Outcomes Research
3:20pm - 3:40pm GenHenn Capital
William Hagaman, CPA, CGMA, Advisor
Startup Stadium
2:10pm - 2:40pm Osetomics
All Stars:
Steve Tullman
David Rappaport
2:40pm - 3:10pm Cerespectus
All Stars:
Jany Yang
Ted Clineff
Tim Ringeisen
3:10pm - 3:40pm Swan NeuroTech
All Stars:
Jany Yang
Ted Clineff
Tim Ringeisen
Entrepreneur Arena
1:50pm - 2:10pm SFA Therapeutics
2:10pm - 2:30pm Geneos Therapeutics
2:30pm - 2:50pm Actuated Medical
2:50pm - 3:10pm Incite Health
3:10pm - 3:30pm Spirovant Sciences
3:45pm - 4:30pm Patient Advocacy Spotlight
– Maria Kefalas, Executive Director, The Calliope Joy Foundation
– Matt Hammonds, Father of Loie and Patient Advocate, The Calliope Joy Foundation
– Amy Waldman, MD, MSCE, Assoc. Professor of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; Assoc. Director, Neurology Gene Therapy, Medical Director, Leukodystrophy Center of Excellence, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
– Paul Orchard, MD, Director of the Inherited Metabolic and Storage Disease Program, and Professor of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota
Moderator: Andrew R. Mariniello
4:30pm - 6:00pm Cocktail Reception
Thank you to our 2025 event sponsors
Interested in sponsoring Life Sciences Future? Please contact Gabi Forgione (gforgione@lifesciencespa.org) for sponsorship inquiries.
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Life Sciences Pennsylvania was founded in 1989 by a biotech scientist at Penn State University. Today it has grown to represent the entire life sciences industry – medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, investment organizations, research institutions, and myriad service industries that support the life sciences in Pennsylvania.