Day 2 Agenda
Use the links below to navigate the Life Sciences Future Conference!
Cytiva
dsm-firmenich
2026 Day 2 Agenda
8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast
Sponsored by: Cytiva
8:00am - 8:45am Breakfast in the C Suite (Invite-Only)
This session offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from industry leader investor, Dennis Purcell, Aisling Capital, on the life sciences funding landscape, qualities investors are looking for in emerging companies and how you can better position yourself for success.
Breakfast in the C Suite is invite-only for R&D, research institutions, pharmaceutical, med tech, and biotech C level executives. Please contact Emily Boring (eboring@lifesciencespa.org) if you are unsure of your eligibility.
Speaker:
Dennis Purcell, Founder & Senior Advisor, Aisling Capital
Moderator: Rachael Bushey, Life Sciences Partner & Co-Chair, Philadelphia Office, Goodwin
Breakfast in the C Suite Sponsored by: PwC and Goodwin
9:00am - 10:00am Welcome Remarks & International Clinical Trials and Dealmaking – A One-Way Street or Exchange of Opportunity?
Clinical research and deals are increasingly crossing borders, creating new opportunities and challenges for the life sciences industry. This panel will explore the benefits, tradeoffs, and lessons learned from conducting global clinical trials. Hear perspectives from large and emerging biopharma companies and policymakers as they discuss how international clinical research and dealmaking are driving innovation, improving efficiencies, and shaping the future of drug development.
Speakers:
Chong Xu, Partner, F-Prime Capital
Hugh Davis, PhD, Chief Operating Officer & President, Aclaris Therapeutics
Andrew Hawkins, Senior Director, U.S. Policy & Research, U.S. Policy & Government Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb
Moderator: Ryan Udell, Partner, Ballard Spahr
Location: Grand Ballroom
Sponsored by: Ballard Spahr
Reverse Pitch Presentations
10:10am - 10:30am Valenscion Holdings
Steve Kulp, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
10:30am - 10:50am University of Pittsburgh
Scott Morley, Senior Director, Office of Industry and Economic Partnerships
10:50am - 11:10am Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Tom Wilton, SVP Innovation Ventures
11:10am - 11:30am dsm-firmenich
Frank Yohe, Global Business Head of Natural Materials
Startup Stadium
10:00am - 10:30am Red Ace Bio
Scott Leighow, PhD, CEO & Co-founder
10:30am - 11:00am Syndeo Life
11:00am - 11:30am Altrumed
Muyiwa Oni, CEO
11:30am - 12:00pm Precision Neuroscopics
Shawn Kelly, CEO
Entrepreneur Arena
10:00am - 10:20am InnSight Technology
Leanne Labriola, CEO
10:20am - 10:40am T-NeuroDx
Michael Reed, CEO
10:40am - 11:00am Nuevocor Therapeutics
Al Gianchetti, CEO
11:00am - 11:20am Incuta Therapeutics
Gerri Henwood, CEO
11:20am - 11:40am Ladder Bio
Eric Heil, CEO
11:40am - 12:00pm Trace Orthopedics
Adam Greenspan, President & CEO
11:30am - Lunch
12:00pm - 12:45pm Fireside Chat with Dr. Marty Makary
From leadership transitions to evolving regulatory guidance, the FDA is navigating a period of significant transformation. Hear from 27th Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Marty Makary, as he takes the stage to discuss how the latest policy developments and operational shifts are impacting the life sciences ecosystem. Learn how these changes can affect your company and receive the latest insights and updates from experts at the forefront.
Speaker:
Marty Makary, MD, MPH, 27th Commissioner of the FDA
Moderator: Mike Goodman, Shareholder, Brownstein
Location: Grand Ballroom
Sponsored by: Brownstein
Reverse Pitch Presentations
12:55pm - 1:15pm Johnson & Johnson - JJDC
Brian Imszennik, Director, Venture Investments – New Company Creation
1:15pm - 1:35pm Lilly
Jeffrey Alexander, Site Head, Lilly Gateway Labs – Philadelphia
Startup Stadium
1:15pm - 1:45pm Korion Health
Anna Li, CEO & Co-founder
Entrepreneur Arena
1:05pm - 1:25pm NeuRx Medical
Timothy Clark, MD, Founder & CEO
1:45pm - 2:30pm From Discovery to Breakthroughs: The Transformation of GLP-1s
GLP-1 therapies have transformed the healthcare landscape, driving one of the most impactful market shifts in recent years. This session offers insights from industry leaders as they discuss the evolution of GLP-1 therapies, opportunities and challenges that companies are facing and how new innovations and the broader cultural milieu will influence the next generation of discovery.
Speakers:
Raj Kannan, CEO, Alveus Therapeutics
Paul Titchenell, PhD, Executive Director – Head of Metabolic Physiology, Cardiometabolic Research, Eli Lilly and Company
Richard Snyder, MD, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Independence Blue Cross
Lauren Leanza, Vice President, Market Access – Cardiometabolic Health, Eli Lilly & Company
Moderator: Rebecca Guzman, Partner, Duane Morris
Location: Grand Ballroom
Sponsored by: Duane Morris
Thank you to our 2026 event sponsors
Interested in sponsoring Life Sciences Future? Please contact Gabi Forgione (gforgione@lifesciencespa.org) for sponsorship inquiries.
Get Updates
from LSPA
Stay up-to-date on the latest news and events from Life Sciences PA, insights from the life sciences industry, and so much more!
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 – biotechnology and diagnostic companies, medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, investment organizations, research institutions, and myriad service industries that support the life sciences in Pennsylvania.