Monday, June 10, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM PT
REGISTER FOR TRACK 3
Our field of Microphysiological Systems (MPS) is characterized by rapid evolution, with ongoing technological advancements driving our understanding of human biology and the development of predictive drug testing models, as well as applications in regenerative and personalized medicine. This rapid progress is made possible by the close collaboration between the academic and private sectors.
The Educational Session of the MPS meeting is designed to facilitate the interaction between young scientists and established leaders in both the academic and company environment in our field through a combination of hands-on experience and discussions. Moreover, young investigators in our field frequently face the decision of pursuing a career path in academia or industry.
In 2024, we are thrilled to introduce a novel format for the Educational Session. We plan to elevate the educational experience by presenting three distinct education sessions, each catering to different facets of our field:
- Track 3 – Career in Industry. This session is tailored to provide the younger segment of our society with an opportunity to engage with scientists who have successfully translated their work into entrepreneurial ventures. Participants can explore the business side of our field, from launching startups to finding new ways to apply research in the real world and in pharma. We aim to foster innovation and collaboration, nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit within our community.
- Why you should attend. Participants will have the unique opportunity to connect with scientists who’ve successfully transitioned their research into entrepreneurial ventures and into the private sector.
HOW SIGN-UP WORKS:
Participants may only sign up for three (3) sessions.
Please sign up for one session per time slot.
Presenters
Rhiannon Hardwick
Bristol Myers Squibb
Sessions: 1:00pm-1:20pm; 1:25pm-1:45pm; 1:50pm-2:10pm
Rhiannon achieved a BS in biochemistry and BFA in dance from the University of Oklahoma. She attained her PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Arizona and completed postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rhiannon’s first industry role was at Organovo leading a team focused on development of a 3D bioprinted liver model. She transitioned to a project toxicologist role supporting discovery and development programs at Theravance Biopharma and currently is a Scientific Associate Director in Discovery Toxicology at Bristol Myers Squibb where she serves as a project toxicologist. Rhiannon leads a lab team interested in utility of complex in vitro models and MPS in the identification and characterization of tox liabilities. She is a board-certified toxicologist, guest lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, IQ MPS Affiliate member, and serves on the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Industry Advisory Board and the European Organ on a Chip Society Industrial Advisory Board.
Yufang He
Merck
Sessions: 1:00pm-1:20pm; 1:25pm-1:45pm; 1:50pm-2:10pm
Yufang is a Director in the 3D Technologies Lab at Merck, where she leads the 3D Biofabrication product line. In this role, Yufang drives the development of advanced 3D platforms and tools for drug discovery and development applications. She evaluates technical strategies and facilitates the integration of innovative technologies to create new 3D solutions. Yufang works closely with cross-functional teams within Merck as well as external partners to strengthen the company’s biofabrication capabilities. Her prior experience in data and information management brings a unique perspective to her current work advancing bioengineering approaches for pharmaceutical research.
Madhu Nag
InSphero AG
Sessions: 1:00pm-1:20pm; 1:25pm-1:45pm; 1:50pm-2:10pm
Dr. Madhu Nag is the Chief Scientific Officer at InSphero, the premier 3D in vitro models company equipped with the platform and expertise to revolutionize drug discovery, enabling researchers to reach their full potential. InSphero’s reliable, scalable and reproducible suite of 3D InSight™ Platforms for Liver Safety, Liver Disease, Islet Biology, and Oncology & Immunology are used by the top pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Dr. Madhu is a scientific and executive leader with extensive expertise in developing preclinical MicroPhysiological Systems (MPS) and 3D models. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular and Cellular Oncology from George Washington University and her master’s in Bioscience Business from Keck Graduate Institute. Before joining InSphero, she was director of the Trans NIH RNAi Facility at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS/NIH) and Program Director at US FDA.
Andrei Georgescu
Vivodyne
Sessions: 2:10pm-2:30pm; 2:35pm-2:55pm; 3:00pm-3:20pm
Paul Vulto
MIMETAS
Sessions: 2:10pm-2:30pm; 2:35pm-2:55pm; 3:00pm-3:20pm
Paul Vulto is CEO and co-founder of MIMETAS, today’s global leader in Organ-on-a-Chip technology. The company develops human tissue and disease models that are used to test and develop novel drugs. MIMETAS works with the majority of large global pharmaceutical companies, deploying her platform to develop drugs for diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and fibrosis. Prior to founding MIMETAS, Paul held positions at a.o. Leiden University, Freiburg University, and Silicon Biosystems. Paul authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and is inventor on more than 15 patent families. He holds a cum Laude Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a cum Laude PhD in microsystems engineering. Since 2023 Paul is admitted as a fellow to the Netherlands Academy of Engineering.
Madhu Nag
InSphero AG
Sessions: 3:20pm-3:40pm; 3:45pm-4:05pm; 4:10pm-4:30pm
Dr. Madhu Nag is the Chief Scientific Officer at InSphero, the premier 3D in vitro models company equipped with the platform and expertise to revolutionize drug discovery, enabling researchers to reach their full potential. InSphero’s reliable, scalable and reproducible suite of 3D InSight™ Platforms for Liver Safety, Liver Disease, Islet Biology, and Oncology & Immunology are used by the top pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Dr. Madhu is a scientific and executive leader with extensive expertise in developing preclinical MicroPhysiological Systems (MPS) and 3D models. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular and Cellular Oncology from George Washington University and her master’s in Bioscience Business from Keck Graduate Institute. Before joining InSphero, she was director of the Trans NIH RNAi Facility at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS/NIH) and Program Director at US FDA.
Thomas Neumann
University of Washington
Sessions: 3:20pm-3:40pm; 3:45pm-4:05pm; 4:10pm-4:30pm
Dr. Neumann is an entrepreneur in the MPS space. His career started at the University of Halle, Germany, where he developed some of the first organoid models. At the University of Washington in Seattle, he developed a technology for generating perfusable living microtissues in microfluidic devices. In 2007 he founded Nortis, one of the first organ-on-chip companies which he led as CEO and CSO until recently. Dr. Neumann has been playing a prominent role in promoting the emergence and growth of the MPS field through scientific collaborations, involvement in MPS-focused consortia, and interactions with the NIH, FDA, NASA, and other organizations.
Kim Homan
Genentech, Inc.
Sessions: 3:45pm-4:05pm; 4:10pm-4:30pm
Kim directs the Complex in vitro Systems lab at Genentech, a core group focused on employing new predictive tools to enhance clinical translational outcomes. She has prior experience holding key leadership positions in two biotech startups, one of which she co-founded while in graduate school at UT Austin. Prior to that, as a co-appointed postdoc at Roche and at the Wyss Institute in Harvard, Kim invented methods to bioprint human tissues and use them to model drug disposition, mode of action, and safety. Kim holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering; she is also a former United States Marine Corps officer and veteran.