2026 BioInnovation Group (BIG) Executive Summit
Introduce the key objectives and strategic themes of the 2026 BioInnovation Group, focusing on the barriers slowing innovation adoption and the collaborative actions needed across industry, government, investors, and technology developers to build stronger commercialization pathways for breakthrough biopharma technologies.
- Derek Adams, PhD - CEO, Stellular Bio
Scientific breakthroughs only change lives when innovation turns discovery into real-world therapies and cures. This inspiring presentation explores how transformative technologies, collaboration, and bold thinking have accelerated every major scientific modality — and why continued innovation is essential to delivering the next generation of treatments faster.
- Jorg Thommes, PhD - Manager, CMC Consulting
The biopharma industry continues to face significant challenges in adopting transformative technologies — both within organizations and across the broader ecosystem. While these barriers are not unique to biopharma, many other industries have successfully overcome similar obstacles. In this session, one executive shares how he turned to leaders outside the biopharmaceutical industry to understand the strategies, mindsets, and operational models they used to accelerate innovation adoption — and what lessons proved transferable and successful within biopharma.
Explore how emerging scientific modalities — including cell and gene therapies, RNA technologies, engineered biologics, AI-enabled therapeutics, and personalized medicines — are reshaping the future of healthcare and redefining the demands placed on biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing.This session will bring together leaders across industry, academia, technology, and regulatory organizations to examine the manufacturing, analytical, digital, and regulatory challenges associated with advancing these complex therapies from concept to commercialization. Panelists will discuss the infrastructure investments, technology innovations, workforce capabilities, and collaborative strategies needed to accelerate development timelines, improve scalability, reduce risk, and enable broader patient access.
- Susan Abu-Absi, Ph.D. - Chief Operating Officer, Be Biopharma
- Sarah Yuan - Chief Technical Officer, Cabaletta Bio
Participants will examine the unique challenges encountered across the three stages of technology commercialization—Innovation & Validation, Translation & Commercial Readiness, and Market Adoption & Scale. Drawing on the collective expertise of industry, academia, government, investors, and technology developers, each Round Table will identify the most significant barriers limiting progress and explore the underlying causes behind them. The goal is to develop a shared understanding of where technologies struggle most and why, creating a strong foundation for identifying meaningful solutions.
Expected Deliverables:
• Prioritized list of the most significant challenges
• Identification of the root causes driving those challenges
Round Table Facilitators and Co-Facilitators:
- Olga Paley - Director, Takeda
- Andrew Zydney, Ph.D. - Bayard D. Kunkle Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
- Sarah Yuan - Chief Technical Officer, Cabaletta Bio
- Gregg Nyberg - Chief Technology Officer, Landmark Bio
- Chris Major - Founding Partner, BioProcess360
- Brooke Luck - Program Manager, BioMaP-Consortium, HHS
- Maurice Phelan - President, Sartorius North America
- Leslie Wolfe, PhD - Director, Downstream Process Development, KBI Biopharma
- Sifan Zheng - Senior Associate, Global Health Investment Corporation
Securing capital is more challenging than ever. Join angel investors, venture capitalists, private equity leaders, and government funding experts for a candid discussion on what it takes to get funded in today's market.
Learn what investors are looking for, the common mistakes that derail promising opportunities, how expectations have changed, and the practical steps you can take to become investment-ready.
Leave with actionable insights on where to find capital, how to position your company, and what you need to do to improve your chances of success.
Workshop 1 Facilitators:
- Neal Gordon - Senior Advisor, Flagship Pioneering
- Charlie Purtell - Vice President, Danaher Ventures
- Andrey Zarur - Founder and CEO, Greenlight Biosciences Inc.
- John Bonham-Carter - Board Member, Stellion Biosystems
- Meg Wood - Managing Director, NYBC Ventures
Building on the challenges identified in Session 1, participants will develop practical, collaborative actions that can accelerate technologies through the three stages of commercialization—Innovation & Validation, Translation & Commercial Readiness, and Market Adoption & Scale. Discussions will focus on the unique role the BioInnovation Group (BIG) can play by connecting stakeholders, sharing knowledge, fostering partnerships, and advancing initiatives that deliver measurable impact within the next one to two years.
Expected Deliverables:
• Recommended BIG initiatives
• Key stakeholders and organizations to engage
• Action plans with measurable outcomes and defined next steps
Round Table Facilitators and Co-Facilitators:
- Olga Paley - Director, Takeda
- Andrew Zydney, Ph.D. - Bayard D. Kunkle Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
- Sarah Yuan - Chief Technical Officer, Cabaletta Bio
- Gregg Nyberg - Chief Technology Officer, Landmark Bio
- Chris Major - Founding Partner, BioProcess360
- Maurice Phelan - President, Sartorius North America
- Brooke Luck - Program Manager, BioMaP-Consortium, HHS
- Leslie Wolfe, PhD - Director, Downstream Process Development, KBI Biopharma
- Sifan Zheng - Senior Associate, Global Health Investment Corporation
Practical Steps to Start Your AI & Digital Transformation Journey
Everyone is talking about AI—but where do you actually begin?
This interactive workshop cuts through the hype and focuses on the practical steps organizations can take today to prepare for AI and digital transformation. Hear firsthand from technology innovators, AI solution providers, and digital transformation experts as they share real-world successes, lessons learned, and the challenges companies face moving from concept to implementation.
Discover why data readiness matters more than algorithms, how connected manufacturing systems unlock the full potential of AI, and what separates successful transformation initiatives from those that stall.
Most importantly, you'll leave with a realistic roadmap, actionable next steps, and a clearer understanding of how to move from data collection to predictive and adaptive operations.
If you're looking for practical guidance—not just AI buzzwords—this workshop is for you.
Workshop 2 Facilitators:
- Jessica Gage - Senior Segment Marketing Manager, Cytiva
- John Spohn - Agent, Agile GXP
- George Bero - Director of Product, Predictive Monitor
The Executive Round Table Recap brings all participants together to share the key findings and recommendations developed during the day's discussions. Each Round Table will present its proposed initiatives, highlight the stakeholders required to advance them, and outline practical action plans with measurable outcomes that BIG can help achieve over the next one to two years. The session will conclude by identifying the Top Three Recommendations that will form the foundation of the 2026 BIG Executive Summit White Paper, establishing a collaborative roadmap for accelerating innovation adoption across the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Olga Paley - Director, Takeda
- Sarah Yuan - Chief Technical Officer, Cabaletta Bio
- Gregg Nyberg - Chief Technology Officer, Landmark Bio