2026 Preliminary Agenda






Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering
Connect Capital and Science to Shape the Future
May 19, 2026
As part of the 25th Annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, the 3rd Annual Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering Conference (May 19, 2026) delivers an executive-level platform for investors, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs driving the next wave of biotech and precision medicine. This boutique event convenes C-suite leaders from venture capital, private equity, corporate venture arms, growth-stage companies, and pharma. The 2026 program zeroes in on AI-driven discovery, platform- vs. product-investment models, evolving M&A and partnership strategies, IPO and private liquidity pathways, and regulatory shifts shaping capital deployment. Sessions are designed to provide investors with clear insights into market dynamics, risk-adjusted returns, and scalable innovation strategies. Through candid discussions, fireside chats, and curated panels, participants will explore how capital is being allocated, where innovation pipelines are headed, and how to identify long-term winners. Alongside investor-focused dialogue, attendees gain access to 150+ exhibits, 11 scientific tracks, and global partners from 30+ countries to broaden their market perspective.
Preliminary Agenda

Chairperson's Remarks

Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , VP , Bessemer Venture Partners

Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis

William T. Mayo, Senior Vice President, Research Technology, BMS , Senior Vice President, Research IT , Bristol Myers Squibb

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Leadership at the Cutting Edge: Innovation, Strategy & Biotech’s Next Frontier

Photo of Michael Nally, CEO, Generate:Biomedicines , Chief Executive Officer , Generate:Biomedicines
Michael Nally, CEO, Generate:Biomedicines , Chief Executive Officer , Generate:Biomedicines
Photo of Rahul Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO, Clora, Inc. , Founder & CEO , Clora Inc , Clora
Rahul Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO, Clora, Inc. , Founder & CEO , Clora Inc , Clora

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Engineering Access: Scalable Genomics, Technology & the Future of Medicine

Photo of Michael Chambers, Founding CEO, Aldevron , Founding CEO , Aldevron
Michael Chambers, Founding CEO, Aldevron , Founding CEO , Aldevron
Photo of Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , VP , Bessemer Venture Partners
Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , VP , Bessemer Venture Partners

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Driving Innovation Together: The New Rules of VC, Pharma & Industry Leader Collaboration

Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis

Panelists:

Sandeep Burugupalli, Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca , Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D , AstraZeneca

Cris De Luca, Partner, Sanofi Ventures , Partner , Digital Investments , Sanofi Ventures

Rohan Ganesh, Partner, Obvious Ventures , Partner , Obvious Ventures

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
At the Helm: Emerging and Established CEOs in Debate on Building Companies

Joanne L. Viney, PhD, Co-Founder & President & CEO, Seismic Therapeutic , Cofounder & President & CEO , Seismic Therapeutic

Panelists:

Rachel Humphrey, MD, President and Founding CEO, Normunity , President and Founding CEO , Normunity

Catherine Sabatos-Peyton, PhD, CEO, Larkspur Biosciences, Inc. , CEO , Larkspur Biosciences Inc

Adam Townsend, CEO, Merida Biosciences , CEO , Merida Biosciences

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Funding the Modern Pipeline: Capital Strategy across Biology, Technology, and Informatics

Rebecca Stevenson, Head, Healthcare Investment Banking, Americas, HSBC , Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, Americas , HSBC

Panelists:

Luba Greenwood, CEO, Gallop Oncology , CEO , Gallop Oncology

Sophie Jones, CFO, Seismic Therapeutic , CFO , Seismic Therapeutic

Stephanie Oestreich, Managing Director, Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF , Managing Director , Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
The Future of Lab Funding: Building Stronger Pathways between Academia, Capital, and Spinouts

Michael Langer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, T.Rx Capital , Head of Search and Evaluation , Corp Dev , Pear Therapeutics

Panelists:

Jason Fuller, Partner, Deerfield Managment , Partner , Deerfield Management

Sam Reiman, Director and Trustee, Richard King Mellon Foundation , Director , Richard King Mellon Foundation

Aaron Weaver, Chief Commercial Officer, Molecule AG , Chief Commercial Officer , Molecule AG

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Innovation in Science & Business Models Advancing Drug Discovery

William T. Mayo, Senior Vice President, Research Technology, BMS , Senior Vice President, Research IT , Bristol Myers Squibb

Panelists:

Bill Fitzgerald, Vice President of Growth and Ecosystem, SandboxAQ , Vice President of Growth and Ecosystem , SandboxAQ

Irene Rombel, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, BioCurie Inc. , CEO & Co Founder , BioCurie Inc.


CONFERENCE CONTENT
Eileen Murphy, MEd
Conference Producer
(+1) 781-738-0049
emurphy@healthtech.com

PARTNERING & SPONSORSHIP
Brian Caine
Business Development Manager, Investor Series
(+1) 908-809-0946
bcaine@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com