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07
November

08:00 AM EST

Drug Discovery Biology

Name: Drug Discovery Strategy Meeting Boston
Start: 2023-11-15T08:00
End: 2023-11-15T17:50
Location: Le Méridien Boston Cambridge

Strategy Meeting East Coast USA 2023

Understanding Complex Structure, Properties and Dynamics of Biological Phenomena in Drug Discovery: Emerging Tools and Next Generation Drug Target Characterization, Validation and Safety Profiling

Le Meridien Cambridge Boston

A MEETING EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Fresh Biology Insights

Tired of the same conference experience? Real discussions and genuine networking are often promised, but not always delivered. Proventa International’s R&D Strategy Meetings are designed to avoid the pitfalls of a typical conference, by providing the right environment to make those important connections through interactive roundtable discussions, exclusive networking and keynote panel debates. Join Biology professionals from across the East Coast, in Boston MA, to discover new insights and take your company’s mission to the next level.

What makes our strategy meetings unique?

Roundtable Discussions

Intimate discussions led by renowned industry experts. Have your voice heard and debate alongside like-minded life science executives.

Unrivalled Networking

With senior delegation from big pharma and innovative biotech from across the East Coast, you can network with peers from different locations, all in one place.

Personalised Agenda

Choose the topics that matter to you. Reserve your place at the roundtable discussions and ensure your whole day delivers the insights you need to hear.

Solutions to your Problems

We’ve partnered with the best solution providers to solve your biggest challenges. Engage in pre-arranged, private meetings to address your specific needs and find a tangible solution.

Industry Researched Topics

We guarantee our agenda is up-to-date and mission critical because its designed by you. We speak to our extended network of senior decision makers to ensure the most important topics are discussed.

Senior Decision Makers

The entire strategy meeting is specifically tailored to the needs and challenges of senior life science professionals. Discover how your peers are dealing with the same challenges as you.

Meet Our 2023 Facilitators

Our panel of facilitators play a key role in shaping the agenda for the day. See who will be bringing their expertise to the table at our Drug Discovery Biology strategy meeting.

Brenda Wang

Senior Director / Subject Matter Expert In vivo Pharmacology Discovery Biology, WUXI AppTec

Zhifeng Yu

Director of Assay & DEL Screen WUXI AppTec

Carlos Pedraza

Associate Vice President and Head of Biology (US) Sai Life Science

Christopher Locher

CEO Versatope Therapeutics

Diane Joseph-McCarthy

Executive Director, Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center Boston University

Elina Lavit

Vice President of Business Development OncoNano Medicine

Huseyin Mehmet

Executive Director. New Ventures University of Massachusetts Medical School

Jason Deng

Senior Director WuXi Apptec

Jim G. MacKrell

Associate Vice President, Head East Coast (US) Venture Science Team Eli Lilly and Company

Dr. Jim MacKrell is Vice President and Head of East Coast Venture Science within Lilly New Ventures at Eli Lilly and Company. He is responsible for supporting the strategy and implementation of Lilly’s early phase external innovation and partnering initiatives. Since joining Lilly in 2013, Dr. MacKrell has served roles in early discovery, strategy, external innovation, and as a leader of Lilly’s early trailblazer teams, championing innovative ways to bring Lilly science to patients with speed. He has led multiple programs through the portfolio, delivering several NMEs into clinical testing in the metabolic disease space. He is passionate about identifying emergent scientific assets, technologies, platforms and portfolio opportunities across the early biotechnology landscape. With goal to deliver novel science and innovation into Lilly’s portfolio, he strives to create opportunities for partnership. Dr. MacKrell holds a degree in biology and biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a doctorate in Molecule Physiology from the University of Michigan Medical School.

Joseph Mancini

Vice President-Research adMare BioInnovations

Karim Azer

Vice President, Head of Platform & Discovery Axcella

Dr. Karim Azer is the Vice President, Head of the Systems Biology Platform & Discovery at Axcella Therapeutics. He leads the data and discovery sciences organization at Axcella, bringing together innovations in data sciences and discovery sciences to advance novel pipeline opportunities through the application of systems biology, design of novel endogenous metabolic modulator combinations for new indications, and the translation of these combinations into the clinic. Prior to Axcella, Karim led quantitative sciences efforts at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute where His work was focused on leveraging the spectrum of systems biology, including computational biology, systems pharmacology, modeling and data science, to address research and development needs of the institute, in the areas of tuberculosis, malaria, diarrheal and enteric diseases, and maternal neonatal health. Prior to that, Karim was at Merck and Sanofi, where he led and applied systems biology and pharmacology, and data science efforts towards advancing drug discovery and development programs across a wide array of therapeutics areas. Karim received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at NYU, and holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Courant Institute at NYU, and B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from Rutgers University. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry since 1997, employing a wide variety of systems biology approaches to address drug discovery and development initiatives in R&D.

Li Peng

Chief Scientific Officer Palleon Pharmaceuticals

Marcie Glicksman

Vice President, Biology EnClear Therapeutics

Marija Tadin-Strapps

Vice President & Head, Target Sciences Pfizer

Marija Tadin-Strapps is Vice President & Head, Target Sciences (TS). In this role Marija leads efforts to generate novel drug target hypotheses in areas of emerging science utilizing human genetics, functional genomics, AI/Machine Learning, and data mining tools, as well as experimental hypotheses validation to deliver differentiated targets. TS partners with other teams across ES&I, most notably the Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) as well as disease biology and technology line teams working across disease areas of interest to Pfizer. Marija brings over 15 years of industry experience in organizations ranging from early start up and small biotech to large pharma, spanning RNA therapeutics, cell therapy, and the use of human genetics and functional genomics for new target validation, biomarker discovery and translational research across multiple disease areas. Prior to joining Pfizer, Marija was at SQZ Biotechnologies after her stint as Head of Biology at Omega Therapeutics. Before Omega, Marija worked for ten years at Merck & Co. Marija earned her B.A. degree in Biology with honors from Goucher College and her Master and Doctorate degrees in Genetics and Development from Columbia University. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on the use of chemically modified siRNAs and the use of human genetics for new target discovery.

Megan Gibbs, Ph.D., BscPharm, FCP

Vice President and Global Head, Clinical Pharmacology & Quantitative Pharmacology Astrazeneca

Megan Gibbs is currently the Vice President, Global Head of Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology at AstraZeneca. In this role, she leads an organisation of R&D scientists that supports all ongoing clinical drug development programmes and global market applications across Oncology, Vaccines, Immune Therapy, Neurosciences, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic, Respiratory and Immunology across Gothenburg, Sweden, Cambridge United Kingdom, Gaithersburg, Maryland, Waltham, Massachusetts and Barcelona Spain. She also leads a group supporting ADC discovery and development.  Her key focus is clinical pharmacology and use of quantitative methods such as systems modelling and data and AI to impact drug development decision making across the drug discovery to development stages including submissions and post market and life cycle management.  Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Megan held positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer and Amgen after completing her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Drake University followed by a PhD in Pharmaceutics from the University of Washington.
Megan is a Fellow of American College of Clinical Pharmacology and has served on number of scientific boards including the American College of Clinical Pharmacology Board of Regents, University of Washington Corporate Advisory Board and University of Florida Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics Leadership Council. She is an invited lecturer at Harvard School of Public Health and panellist at University of Cambridge Centre of AI in Medicine.  She also has over 100 posters, publications and invited presentations.
Megan lives in Boston with her family. Outside of work, she enjoys skiing, mountain biking and fishing.

Ming “Tommy” Tang

Director of Computational Biology, Head of CompBio Immunitas Therapeutics

Pedro Serrano

Senior Director, Head of RNA and Protein Modulation Takeda

Prashant Nambiar

SVP, Research and Development Strand Therapeutics

Robert Foti

Senior Director, Preclinical Development MERCK

Shane Hegarty

Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder AXONIS Therapeutics

Sridhar Prasad

Head of Protein Science Ventus Therapeutics

Stefan Kirov

Vice President, Head of Computational Biology Flare Therapeutics

Yi Xing

Senior Director of Drug Creation, Head of Structural Biology and Rational Design Seismic Therapeutic

See the full agenda and facilitator line-up Download the strategy meeting brochure for full details

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

Who Should Attend the Event?

Chief Scientific Officer

Vice President, Head Research Pharmacokinetics

Global Head, Modeling and Simulation

Vice President of Biology

Head of Discovery Chemistry, Screening Biology & Operations

Head of Discovery Biology

Head of Structural Biology & Biophysics

Head of Target Science, Target & Translational Science

Head of Protein & Structural Sciences

Head of Pharmacology

Discovery DMPK & ADME

Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics

See Which Topics Are Discussed at the Strategy Meeting

08:30 – 09:00

RNA Targeting Outside of Vaccines (Topic TBC)

Megan Gibbs Ph.D., BscPharm, FCP, Vice President and Global Head, Clinical Pharmacology & Quantitative Pharmacology Astrazeneca

09:00 – 10:00

Roundtable Tracks

TARGET IDENTIFICATION & HIT VALIDATION
Integrated Omics Approaches for Target Identification and Validation: Harnessing the power of integrative analyses that combine genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics data to identify and validate drug targets
-Marija Tadin-Strapps
Vice President & Head, Target Sciences
Pfizer

DMPK / ADME & TOXICOLOGY
Integration of In Vitro and In Silico ADME Models: Combining in vitro ADME assays with computational models to enhance the prediction of drug properties and optimize drug discovery processes.
-Marcie Glicksman
Vice President, Biology
EnClear Therapeutics

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO PHARMACOLOGY
In Vivo-like In Vitro Systems: The Quest for More Physiologically Relevant Drug Screening
-Joseph Mancini
Vice President-Research
adMare BioInnovations

IN SILICO BIOLOGY
Unraveling Drug-Target Interactions: Advancements in In Silico Modeling and Simulation
-Karim Azer
Vice President, Head of Platform & Discovery
Axcella

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS
Structural Biology and Biophysics for the next generation of First-in-Class targets
-Sridhar Prasad
Head of Protein Science
Ventus Therapeutics

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INVESTMENT & COLLABORATIONS
Why integrating deep scientific expertise matched with operational and business strategy is key for attracting investment in early stage drug discovery
-Jim G. MacKrell
Associate Vice President, Head East Coast (US) Venture Science Team
Eli Lilly and Company

11:30 – 12:30

Roundtable Tracks

TARGET IDENTIFICATION & HIT VALIDATION
Biophysical Methods in the realm of “Target Identification & Hit Validation”
-Ishrat Jalal
Senior Scientist Discovery Biology Unit
WUXI AppTec

DMPK / ADME & TOXICOLOGY

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO PHARMACOLOGY
Preclinical Discovery Strategies for Enhanced Clinical Outcomes
-Brenda Wang
Senior Director / Subject Matter Expert
In vivo Pharmacology Discovery Biology, WUXI AppTec

IN SILICO BIOLOGY
Lipid Gpcrs Structural And Computational Approach: Advantages, Challenges, Limitations And New Modalities In Drug Discovery

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INVESTMENT & COLLABORATIONS
The Client is Always Right = The Client is Never Wrong!
-Carlos Pedraza
Associate Vice President and Head of Biology (US)
Sai Life Science

14:00 – 15:00

Roundtable Tracks

TARGET IDENTIFICATION & HIT VALIDATION
Targeting Undruggable Proteins: Exploring innovative strategies, including small-molecule approaches, PROTACs, and RNA-based therapeutics, for targeting traditionally challenging or “undruggable” proteins
-Huseyin Mehmet
Executive Director. New Ventures
University of Massachusetts Medical School

DMPK / ADME & TOXICOLOGY
Emerging Technologies for ADME and Toxicology: Highlighting cutting-edge technologies, such as high-content screening, omics-based approaches, and imaging techniques, for improved ADME profiling and toxicity assessment
-Robert Foti
Senior Director, Preclinical Development
MERCK

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO PHARMACOLOGY
Improving Translatable Pre-Clinic Models In-Vitro & In-Vivo Pharmacology for Better Characterization of Properties and Drug Leads
-Megan Gibbs, Ph.D., BscPharm, FCP
Vice President and Global Head, Clinical Pharmacology & Quantitative Pharmacology
Astrazeneca

IN SILICO BIOLOGY
“RWE and OMICs data analytics: Defining the Right Indication and Population and Increasing the Chances of Success.”
-Stefan Kirov
Vice President, Head of Computational Biology
Flare Therapeutics

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS
Advancing Drug Discovery Through Structural Biology: Exploring Structure-Guided Computational Approaches
-Diane Joseph-McCarthy
Executive Director, Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center
Boston University

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INVESTMENT & COLLABORATIONS
Navigating The Constantly Changing Market To Raise Funds And Refine R&D Strategy
-Elina Lavit
Vice President of Business Development
OncoNano Medicine

15:30 – 16:30

Roundtable Tracks

TARGET IDENTIFICATION & HIT VALIDATION
Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting RNAs with Small Molecules
-Pedro Serrano
Senior Director, Head of RNA and Protein Modulation
Takeda

DMPK / ADME & TOXICOLOGY
Toxicity Biomarkers and Safety Assessment: Discussion of the latest advancements in identifying and validating toxicity biomarkers for early detection and prediction of drug induced toxicities
-Prashant Nambiar
SVP, Research and Development
Strand Therapeutics

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO PHARMACOLOGY
Predictive Models for Drug Efficacy in Neuropharmacology: Leveraging In Vivo and In Vitro Data
-Shane Hegarty
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
AXONIS Therapeutics

IN SILICO BIOLOGY
Artificial Intelligence in Drug Design: From Generative Models to Reinforcement Learning
-Ming “Tommy” Tang
Director of Computational Biology, Head of CompBio
Immunitas Therapeutics

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS
Structural Biology Beyond Purified Proteins -Leveraging Structure Predictive Technologies to Aid High-Resolution – Cryo-EM Based Technologies
-Li Peng
Chief Scientific Officer
Palleon Pharmaceuticals

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INVESTMENT & COLLABORATIONS
Maximizing Capital Efficiency By Balancing Internal Capabilities And External CRO’s
-Christopher Locher
CEO
Versatope Therapeutics

Why should you attend this meeting?

Understanding recent advances and alternatives for drug discovery stages discovery, development and preclinical stages that could lead to cost cutting, efficiency and early detection

Leveraging multi-omics analysis data, its advantages and limitations to further the possibilities for drug discovery applications

Exploring the discrepancy in drug metabolism between different genders and ethnic diversification that could lead to understanding the pharmacokinetics distinction between genders and ethnicity

Collaborative approaches and networking opportunities with different top-tier industry solution providers

Werngard Czechtizky

Head, Medicinal Chemistry, RIA AstraZeneca

Andreas Bender

Professor, Molecular Informatics University of Cambridge

Ian Churcher

Chief Scientific Officer Amphista Therapeutics Limited

Garry Pairaudeau

Chief Technology Officer Exscientia

Garry Pairaudeau is currently Head of Hit Discovery at AstraZeneca; the group comprising HTS, Comp Chem, Virtual screening and DEL is responsible for generating high quality starting points for AstraZeneca. In addition, the group works extensively with academic centres of excellence through open innovation and strategic collaborations with groups such as MRC, CRUK, Life Arc and many others to help support academic drug discovery. Garry also chairs the Global Chemistry Leadership team in AstraZeneca responsible for chemistry strategy and has been particularly active in building Automation and Machine learning capabilities.
He has experience leading projects through all phases of Drug Discovery contributing to multiple clinical candidates in the respirator,y inflammation and CV areas. He has a long standing interest in lead generation, innovation, in chemistry, hit identification and diversity screening. Prior to taking up his current position in 2012 he was Director of Chemistry for the cardiovascular research area at Alderley Park.
Specialties: Medicinal Chemistry 
Lead Generation 
Leadership, Strategy and Change Management 
Innovation and Culture Change 
Building and managing external relationships

Marie Wikstrom Lindholm

SVP, Head of Molecular Design Silence Therapeutics

György Keseru

Principal Investigator Research Centre for Natural Sciences

Graham Simpson

SVP, Drug Discovery Dunad Therapeutics

A creative and passionate scientific leader with a strong track record of establishing, driving and delivering innovative drug discovery programs in pharma and biotech. Keen interest in, and appreciation of the broader business challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry; well networked throughout the global pharmaceutical and academic communities. Experienced and ambitious drug discovery leader with 12 years pharmaceutical industry experience. Recognised platform and programme leader, delivering multiple breakthrough innovations and successful discovery milestones. Broad therapeutic area experience and track record of innovation and delivery
Specialties: Chemistry Department Head/Leader, PROTACS, macrocyclic peptides, phenotypic screening, parallel synthesis, complex organic total syntheses, HTS analysis, rational medicinal chemistry and drug design, knowledge-based design, managing CRO workplans, innovative modalities, next-generation in-silico design, artificial intelligence.

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Hotel & Venue

Le Méridien Boston Cambridge

Le Méridien Cambridge-MIT’s elegant guest rooms and suites offer a place of luxurious sanctuary and unmatched comfort. Explore unique programs inspired by the brand’s European heritage. Born in a glamorous era of travel, Le Méridien believes everyone should explore the world in style.

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Fresh Biology Insights

What makes our strategy meetings unique?

Roundtable Discussions

Unrivalled Networking

Personalised Agenda

Solutions to your Problems

Industry Researched Topics

Senior Decision Makers

Meet Our 2023 Facilitators

Brenda Wang

Zhifeng Yu

Carlos Pedraza

Christopher Locher

Diane Joseph-McCarthy

Elina Lavit

Huseyin Mehmet

Jason Deng

Jim G. MacKrell

Joseph Mancini

Karim Azer

Li Peng

Marcie Glicksman

Marija Tadin-Strapps

Megan Gibbs, Ph.D., BscPharm, FCP

Ming “Tommy” Tang

Pedro Serrano

Prashant Nambiar

Robert Foti

Shane Hegarty

Sridhar Prasad

Stefan Kirov

Yi Xing

Who Should Attend the Event?

Chief Scientific Officer

Vice President, Head Research Pharmacokinetics

Global Head, Modeling and Simulation

Vice President of Biology

Head of Discovery Chemistry, Screening Biology & Operations

Head of Discovery Biology

Head of Structural Biology & Biophysics

Head of Target Science, Target & Translational Science

Head of Protein & Structural Sciences

Head of Pharmacology

Discovery DMPK & ADME

Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics

See Which Topics Are Discussed at the Strategy Meeting

BREAKFAST & REGISTRATION

OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

RNA Targeting Outside of Vaccines (Topic TBC)

Roundtable

Roundtable Tracks

REFRESHMENT BREAK

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

Roundtable

Roundtable Tracks

NETWORKING LUNCH

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Roundtable

Roundtable Tracks

REFRESHMENT BREAK

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

Roundtable

Roundtable Tracks

DRINKS & CANAPES RECEPTION

Why should you attend this meeting?

Our 2023 Lead Sponsor

Our 2023 Co-Hosts

Our 2023 Exhibitor

Le Meridien Cambridge Boston