Venue
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210
The AI Drug Discovery & Development Team invites you to join us at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. You can find local accommodation here.
Shah Nawaz
Vice President & Chief Technology OfficerRegeneronPeter Clark
Vice President, Digital Chemistry & DesignNovo Nordisk RDUSMiles Congreve
Chief Scientific OfficerIsomorphic LabsDavid Hallett
Chief Scientific OfficerRecursionPhilip Tagari
Chief Scientific OfficerInsitroMorten Sogaard
Senior Vice President & Head, Astellas Innovation LabAstellas PharmaShane Lewin
Vice President, AI & MLGSKJustin Scheer
Vice President, In Silico DiscoveryJohnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineYue-Wang Webster
Vice President, Model Driven Drug Discovery PlatformsEli LillyGregory Goldmacher
Assistant Vice President, Clinical Research, Head, ImagingMerckDirk Van Hyfte
Chief Technology OfficerBioStrand (IPA)Shameer Khader
Executive Director, Precision Medicine & Computational BiologySanofiPetrina Kamya
President & Global Head, AI PlatformsInsilico MedicineWolfgang Colsman
Founder & CEOZONTALClaudette Fuller
Vice President, Non Clinical Safety & ToxicologyGenmabRameez Chatni
Global Director, AI Solutions, Pharmaceutical & Life SciencesClouderaClaire Zhao
Associate Director, AI/ML & Quantitative & Digital SciencesPFIZERZoran Krunic
Principal Product ManagerAmgenSince 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.
Ari Allyn-Feuer
Director, AI Intelligence ProductGSKMark Adams
Venture Capital PartnerTwo Bear CapitalArvind Rao
Associate Professor, Computational Medicine & BioinformaticsUniversity of MichiganZhiyong (Sean) Xie
Vice President & Head, AI & Data ScienceXellarbioAdam Root
Vice President & Head, Protein SciencesGenerate BiomedicinesEthan Pickering
Head, Data Science & ML ResearchBayerVirginia Savova
Senior Director, Head Cell-Targeted Precision MedicineAstraZenecaPeter Henstock
Senior Machine Learning EngineerIncyteNevin Gerek Ince
Director, Data & Solutions EngineeringNovo NordiskDaniyal Hussain
Executive Director, Technology Business DevelopmentGSKMichael Dandrea
Principal Data ScientistGenentechYves Fomekong Nanfack
PhD, Executive Director, Head, End to End AI Foundations, Large Molecules ResearchSanofiLingling Shen
Associate Director, Discovery SciencesNovartisSatarupa Mukherjee
R&D Leader, AI/ML (Digital Pathology)RocheKiran Nistala
Head, Functional GenomicsAlkermesMonica Wang
Head, Biologics & Novel Modality Discovery Capabilities & Products, Scientific InformaticsTakedaDavid Kombo
Principal ScientistSanofiHans Bitter
Head, Computational SciencesTakedaQi Song
Principal Scientist, Predictive Biology & AIBristol Myers SquibbPavan Choksi
PartnerArkitek VenturesMaria Florez
Senior ConsultantTuftsNathan Stover
PhD Student, Chemical EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAlexander Horspool
Associate Director, Innovation, Biotherapeutics DiscoveryBoehringer IngelheimShruti Vij
Associate Director, Data Analytics & ModelingTakedaBenjamin Stevens
Director, CMC PolicyGSKVeera Padmanabhan
Head, Manufacturing Science & TechnologyAstraZenecaVeera 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.
Irfan Ali Mohammed
Director, CMCAlexion PharmaceuticalsSreyoshi Sur
Former Scientist, Molecular Engineering & ModelingModernaXiao Li
Principal ScientistSanofiYi Hong
Associate DirectorGileadJack Geremia
CEOMatterworksPaul Petraro
Director, Real World Evidence AnalyticsBoehringer IngelheimJackie Hunter
Chief Executive OfficerOI Pharma PartnersIlknur Icke
Director, Digital ScienceNovo NordiskDr. Yaniv Altshuler
CEO & FounderAlphabiomeProfessor Roger Kornberg
Nobel Laureate in ChemistryAlphabiomeMelissa Landon
Head, Commercial & Business Development, AI & AutomationMilliporeSigmaTarun Walia
Senior Director, Decision ScienceNovo NordiskMark Kiel
Chief Science OfficerGenomenonMarcos Camara Donoso
Director, AI SolutionsHelixAIUli Stilz
Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory InnovationNovo NordiskYochi Slonim
Co-Founder and CEOAnima BiotechA 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.Christina V. McDonough
PrincipalFish & 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).
Crystal Culhane Ph.D.
PrincipalFish & 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.
Frédéric Chabot
Head of Corporate DevelopmentMindWalkFrédéric 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.
Justin Byers
Founder and Chief Executive OfficerAxio BioPharmaJustin Byers is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Axio BioPharma, an AI biomanufacturing company revolutionizing how monoclonal antibodies are developed and produced. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Axio launched in 2024 with a mission to accelerate and de-risk the development of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies through AI-driven process design and U.S.-based manufacturing.
Under Justin’s leadership, Axio has pioneered a data-rich, machine learning–powered approach that reduces process development timelines from years to days unlocking faster, more cost-efficient pathways for biotech partners. He has steered the company’s rapid growth, from establishing its state-of-the-art facilities to securing strategic partnerships, including collaborations to advance next-generation drug delivery technologies.
With a background at the intersection of biomanufacturing, technology, and entrepreneurship, Justin brings a vision of scaling biologics development with speed, reliability, and accessibility. He is committed to building Axio into a trusted partner for innovators worldwide, combining scientific rigor with cutting-edge AI to bring life-changing therapies to patients faster.Kevin Cochrane
Chief Marketing OfficerVultrKevin 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.
Steve Gibson
Chief Commercial OfficerStrangeworksSteve 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.