SPEAKERS
DR. RONAN O'HAGAN
CEO, Bectas Therapeutics
Former Director of Oncology Discovery, Merck
Former CSO, Xilio Therapeutics
Ronan is a proven leader in drug discovery and development with a successful track record in company building and in portfolio development from early discovery through IND and clinical proof-of-concept. He has over 20 years of experience in oncology R&D including bringing over 20 molecules through IND and into clinical development. Ronan was most recently the CSO at Xilio therapeutics where he built the R&D team from scratch, developed the protein engineering platform, and brought two programs through IND filings and two more to clinical candidate stage within three years. Previously, Ronan led Oncology Discovery and co-led Translational Oncology for Merck (MSD) supporting the R&D pipeline through leadership of discovery, translational, early clinical development and business development teams. Earlier, he was also the first scientist at AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc, with responsibility for developing the research portfolio and he rose through positions of increasing responsibility as the company moved from discovery into clinical development and grew from start-up stage through IPO.
DR. ALFRED SLANETZ
CEO, Geneius Biotechnoloagy
Former CEO, Bluebird Bio
Chairman, National Foundation for Cancer Research
Former Head of Product Development, Genetech
Dr. Slanetz is the founder of Geneius Biotechnology and has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company full time since its inception. Prior to co-founding the Company, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Bluebird Bio.
Dr. Slanetz also served as Vice President, Business Development of TRANSGENE in May 1996. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Manager, New Product Planning and Development at Genentech Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Slanetz was a Management Consultant for Arthur D. Little.
He received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Immunobiology from Yale University, as well as a Masters from Brown University.
DR. PHILIP FRIEDLANDER
Professor, Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mt. Sinai
Dr. Friedlander received medical school training at Columbia University where he obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. degree in Biology. He remained at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center to complete his postdoctoral training in Internal Medicine and subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He then joined the faculty of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital as an attending physician within the Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Programs and as an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
His clinical interests include the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for patients with melanoma, merkel cell carcinoma, advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and sebaceous gland tumors. At the Dana Farber Cancer Institute he acted as a principal investigator testing novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma including PARP inhibition, hsp90 inhibition, anti-apoptotic approaches, and immune modulatory and anti-CTLA4 based strategies. He investigated in non-melanoma skin cancers novel therapeutic strategies such as hedgehog signaling pathway inhibition in advanced basal cell carcinoma.
As a member of the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology and as the Director of the Melanoma Medical Oncology Program at Mount Sinai, he will be caring for patients with cutaneous malignancies and continue working to develop collaborative translational and basic science projects and treatments for patients with cutaneous malignancies.
DR. DARRYL DAVIS
Professor, Medicine, University of Ottawa
Dr. Darryl Davis is Clinician-Scientist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He directs the Cardiac Translational Research Laboratory. He is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and is cross-appointed as an adjunct professor within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
Dr. Davis earned his BSc in Biology and Pharmacology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He completed medical school and residency training in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Ottawa. The desire to understand, engage and expand novel cardiac therapies at a fundamental level prompted Dr. Davis to continue his postgraduate training in the laboratory of Dr. Eduardo Marbán. There, he developed novel techniques to culture heart-derived cells from routine myocardial biopsies with an emphasis on developing novel means of engineering stem cells to enhance potency, engraftment and retention. Recent work has focused on understanding the impact of paracrine signalling on cardiac dysfunction and cell modeling of heart rhythm disturbances.
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STEVEN M. FERGUSON, CLP
Deputy Director and Chair, Licensing and Entrepreneurship, NCI
Steven M. Ferguson currently serves as the Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining NIH Office of Technology Transfer in 1990, Mr. Ferguson served in marketing and management positions in biomedical firms subsequent to being a scientist at the National Cancer Institute. His healthcare experience has also included work as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for a rural 70-bed hospital. Registered to practice before the USPTO and a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), Mr. Ferguson also holds Master's Degrees in Business Administration (George Washington University) and Chemistry (University of Cincinnati) as well as Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Case Western Reserve University). Mr. Ferguson has been an economic reviewer for Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) as well as the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant programs and is an instructor for both the USDA Graduate School and the NIH FAES Graduate School where he is also the department chair for the new Certificate in Technology Transfer Program. Mr. Ferguson was also the Susan T. and Charles E. Harris Visiting Lecturer at the Watson School of Biological Sciences at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and has published articles on licensing and technology transfer issues.
MICHAEL L. SALGALLER, PHD
Director Invention Development and Marketing Unit (IDMU), NCI
Dr. Michael Salgaller leads the Invention Development and Marketing Unit (IDMU) within the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Technology Transfer Center, where he leverages over 20 years of business, scientific, and investment experience in various life science sectors to support technology development and commercialization. The IDMU serves in a business development role to foster licensing and collaborative activity between buy-side stakeholders and the NCI (as well as NIH in general). Immediately prior to returning to the NCI, Michael was a Vice President at The Conafay Group, a healthcare-focused government affairs firm in downtown DC, where he led alliance development activities centered on civilian health. He served as President of Biologics Consulting Group, a boutique firm providing professional services focused on regulatory affairs. Michael spent several years on the investment team of an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to the life sciences. He began his buy-side career as Vice President of R&D for Northwest Biotherapeutics, where he led the development of cancer cell therapies that achieved clinical benefit. He began his career as a Senior Scientist with Dr. Steve Rosenberg at the NCI. He is the author of “Biotechnology Entrepreneurship,” and teaches an entrepreneurship class at NIH. He is on the Board of Canines-N-Kids, a foundation supporting cooperation between researchers in pediatric and veterinary oncology. He has written over 70 scientific/business articles and book chapters. Dr. Salgaller received his PhD in Pathology from The Ohio State University.
ALLEN GOBBS
Founder & Managing Partner
Allan Gobbs is the Managing Partner at ATEM Capital, a New York-based Life Sciences venture firm. In recent years, Allan has seen five of his portfolio companies go public on NASDAQ, including notable names like Atea Pharmaceuticals, Marinus Pharmaceuticals, and Syndax Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, four of his portfolio companies have been successfully acquired, such as Tobira Therapeutics, which was bought by Allergan for up to $1.7 billion, and Amolyt Pharmaceuticals, AI-drug discovery peptide-based company acquired by AstraZeneca for up to $1.05 billion in July 2024.
Allan is also the CEO and Chairman of YCare, a digital health integrator in strategic partnership with Dell Technologies and InterSystems, and the Chairman of PGxAI, an AI-powered pharmacogenetics platform. He serves as the President of Virry Health, an AI-powered XR platform focused on tackling mental health conditions, and is a Board Member of Heos Machines, a 3D bioprinting startup. Prior to joining ATEM Capital, Allan was an investment banker at Barclays Capital and other financial institutions, where he advised on mergers, acquisitions, and capital market transactions totaling over $20 billion. He is also a member of the Forbes Business Council, the Private Directors Association, and serves on the Review Committee of the National Cancer Institute at the NIH.
BROOKE RAPHAEL
COO, Avicella Capital
Brooke brings over 20 years of experience across clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercialisation in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Her career spans roles at the intersection of strategy, operations, and capital markets, with a strong focus on supporting innovative healthcare companies through critical growth stages.
She currently serves as Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Avicella Capital, a US-based healthcare-focused venture capital fund, where she works closely with early-stage biotechnology and healthcare ventures to guide strategic development and investment pathways.
Brooke’s combined experience in venture capital, clinical development, and strategic leadership will be invaluable as we continue to advance our pipeline of therapies with transdiagnostic potential—designed to restore social behaviour and treat related symptoms across many diseases and disorders.
MAX COLBERT, MD, MBA
Investor, Medical Excellence Capital
Max Colbert MD, MBA is a physician-entrepreneur with a passion for transforming healthcare and improving lives through innovation and investment in the biotech industry. Prior to joining Medical Excellence Capital, Max served as Head of Business Development and Strategy for AI Optics, Inc. He also worked as a Venture Associate for Flying L Partners, a venture capital firm focused on the ophthalmology market. Additionally, he has consulted for various other life sciences start-ups guiding research and development, marketing planning, corporate and financing strategy, as well as clinical trial design and execution.
Max earned his medical degree from New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He attained his MBA degree from New York University Stern School of Business with a concentration in Healthcare and Finance.”
KAREN HARRIS
Executive Director, Mission Related Investments and Finance, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Estee Lauder FO
Karen Harris is a member of the ADDF’s executive team and serves as its Chief Financial Officer and Head of Mission Related Investments.
With a CFO background that spans both non-profits and investment banking, Ms. Harris is committed to increasing transparency and accessibility of complex financial information and heightening organizational effectiveness with robust financial governance, strategic planning, policies, controls, and training. She regularly presents to the ADDF’s Boards of Governors and Overseers, launched a board-level Finance and Audit Committee, and oversees the organization’s banking relationships. As Head of Mission Related Investments, Ms. Harris has also structured and stewarded dozens of venture-based investments for the ADDF, and she manages and monitors its extensive portfolio of securities and royalty arrangements with universities and biotech companies.
Previously, Ms. Harris served as Chief Financial Officer for the East Harlem Tutorial Program and Director of Development at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. She also led a career in the financial sector for 20+ years prior to her transition to non-profit leadership. Among other roles, Ms. Harris served as Global COO for global equity capital markets, a $1 billion dollar division with 190 bankers at UBS, and as a Director and investment banker at Merrill Lynch. She earned an MBA in Finance from Stanford Graduate School of Business, graduating first in her class, and a BA in Economics from Columbia University.
STEVEN ABERNATHY
CEO, The Abernathy II Family Office
Steven Abernathy is the Founder and Chairman of The Abernathy Group II Family Office. Prior to The Abernathy Group II Family Office, Mr. Abernathy was recruited by Shearson American Express in 1982 and joined its training program in 1983, eventually becoming Senior Vice President of Portfolio Management. In 1989, Mr. Abernathy joined Cowen & Co., a research and trading boutique specializing in healthcare and technology, as a Special Limited Partner and Director of its Executive Services Division. While at Cowen, Mr. Abernathy developed The Abernathy Group, a group of investment professionals specializing in asset management for experts in healthcare and technology. This collaboration between investment professional and client-expert was called the Collaborative Investing® style of portfolio management. This group was committed to furthering Mr. Abernathy’s goal of marrying the Collaborative Investing® style with value investing. The collaborative effort forged between Mr. Abernathy’s financial knowledge and the technology and healthcare expertise of his clients has produced “top-tier” results. In 1996, Mr. Abernathy co-founded The Abernathy Technology Research Institute, formerly known as The Abernathy Leet Institute for Financial Research, a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Abernathy is a member of CFA Institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts. Mr. Abernathy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree as a pre-med student from Fordham University. In addition to studying Biology, he completed extensive studies in music theory and received a full football scholarship.
Mr. Abernathy has been featured in many publications, including Fortune, Forbes, American Medical News, Nelsons Worlds Best Money Managers, Barron’s, Medical Economics, Physicians Money Digest, Ophthalmology Management, Orthopedics Today, The Physicians Personal Advisory, The Financial Times, Money Manager Review, Podiatry Management, Anesthesiology News, Hedge Mar, CPA Wealth Advisor, Business Week, Journal of Financial Planning, American Way, Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Biotechnology Investing, Wealth and Retirement Planner, Financial Advisor Magazine, Advisor Today, Journal of Retirement Planning and the cover of Money Magazine, among others, and on various television programs, including CBS MarketWatch, CNN, MSN and Bloomberg.
The Abernathy Group II and its predecessors have been ranked number 1, 16 times by Nelson’s World’s Best Money Managers since 1991.
SHERRY GRISEWOOD
Senior Investment Officer, FoxHill Asset Management
Sherry brings over 35 years’ experience as a Wall Street professional in investment banking, strategic advisory and executive coaching capacities primarily to early stage life science, med-device and related technology companies. Her experience and insights are focused helping managements of early stage companies in business and financial strategy and in company growth problem solving.
Sherry is an experienced public company and private company Board of Directors member, having served in various roles including public company Audit Committee Chair, Nomination & Governance Committee Chair and Compensation Committee member, for a number of public biotechnology companies and several private med-tech/device companies.
She has participated in over 90 transactions involving initial public offerings, secondaries, private placements, M&A and licensing/strategic collaborations for companies domiciled in the US, Canada, Scandinavia, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and China.
She started her career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette is a member of the CFA Institute, the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society International (TERMIS), the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, the European Federation of Biotechnology, Women in Bio and the Jazz Society of New Jersey.
DAN FARRELL
Founder and CEO, Privos Capital (FO)
Mr. Farrell is the Chairman & CEO of Privos Capital, a global Multi-Family Office LP (MFO). Privos partners with single family offices, multi-family offices, sovereign and royal families, their funds, foundations, and portfolio companies, in leading financial centers, as well as in the BRICS, N-11, and Frontier Countries of the Emerging Markets. The firm’s main business is working exclusively with its family office LP partners on global expansionist activities, capital allocations, strategic alliances, joint ventures, secondaries, directs, co-investments, and philanthropy. Privos has been active in Africa for many years in various sectors, including transportation, healthcare, alternative energy, consumer, technology.
Privos is active up and down the capital stack across most sectors, including technology, new media, real estate, alternative energy, life science, biotech, fashion, aviation, and infrastructure. In Los Angeles, we focus on film finance, gaming, and entertainment. In London, Luxembourg and Geneva, we serve our European and Arab family office partners while in Hong Kong we work with our Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Korean, and ASEAN region family office LPs.
In Africa, Privos has been active in various sectors, including transportation, alternative energy, agriculture, financial services, consumer goods, infrastructure, and telecommunications. A Privos Managing Director has spoken on stage at the United Nations in New York about Africa and the need for increased capital flows into the continent.
As a firm, Privos partners with our family office partners (SFO, MFO, HNWI, UHNWI) as allocators of capital across diverse asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds. We are active globally in Sustainable Investing (SI), Impact Investing, ESG, and SRI. Our firm is one of the leading multi-family office LP focused on moving large capital resources to help finance the 17 SDGs while achieving positive returns.
Mr. Farrell has lived and worked in New York, London, Europe, and the Middle East. He is one of the leading experts on the world-wide investments and fund allocations of global family offices. Mr. Farrell is a member of the Board of international asset management firm, serves as a senior strategic advisor to one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, a leading private equity fund, and a London and Silicon Valley technology accelerator that was involved in the launch of Uber, Spotify, Zappos, and other unicorns. Prior to joining Privos, Mr. Farrell was an equity partner in an international law firm. He is a frequent speaker world-wide at private equity, family office, ESG, sustainable investing, and alternative investing conferences from AVCJ in Hong Kong to the Harvard Club in New York. He has been featured in Bloomberg and the financial press. Mr. Farrell has four sons, two of whom attended Phillips Exeter Academy where Mr. Farrell served as a student advisor and mentor for many years.
STEVEN GREEN
Partner, Pillsbury
Steven Green advises emerging growth companies in the life sciences and technology industries across the full spectrum of business and legal issues throughout their corporate life cycles. He serves as a trusted advisor and guides his clients through company formation, early-stage financings, employment and executive compensation matters, capital raisings, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Steven also represents venture capital firms and strategic investors in structuring and executing investments in cutting-edge companies across the innovation economy.
Steven’s transactional work spans a wide range of industries and deal structures, with a focus on high-growth sectors, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, software and enterprise technologies. His practical, business-oriented approach enables clients to navigate evolving legal and regulatory frameworks while advancing their strategic objectives.
Prior to joining Pillsbury, Steven was a partner at the Silicon Valley office of an international law firm.
LILLIAN KIM
Partner, Pillsbury
Lillian Kim represents companies in a variety of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other significant corporate matters. Lillian also serves as a trusted advisor to boards of directors, special committees and executive management teams of public companies in connection with strategic matters, corporate governance and securities law compliance.
Lillian has extensive experience advising clients on their most significant corporate transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, going private transactions, joint ventures, tender offers, reorganizations and other complex transactions. She has advised clients in a wide range of industries, including technology, life sciences, financial services, real estate and consumer products.
Prior to joining Pillsbury, Lillian was a partner in the New York office of another international law firm.