2024 Program Agenda will be available in June!
Program Agenda |
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| 9:15am – 10:00am |
Coffee & Registration Pre-Function |
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| 10:00am – 11:00am | Central Massachusetts’ Essential Role in End-to-End Life Sciences Development – Opening Plenary Presentation
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10:00am – 11:00am |
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| 11:00am – 11:15am |
Break – Visit Exhibits Pre-Function |
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| Tracks | Science | Workforce | Real Estate |
| 11:15am – 12:00pm | Breakout Presentation | Panel Session | Breakout Session |
| Scale-Out versus Scale-Up Biomanufacturing
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11:15am – 12:00pm |
Workforce capabilities needs for emerging modalities beyond biologics
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11:15am – 12:00pm |
Biotech – Worcester is the place to be!
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11:15am – 12:00pm |
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| 12:00pm – 12:15pm |
Break – Visit Exhibits Pre-Function |
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| 12:15pm – 1:15pm |
Keynote Luncheon – The Continued Regionalization of the Life Sciences Ecosystem 12:15pm – 1:15pm |
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| 1:15pm – 1:30pm |
Break – Visit Exhibits Pre-Function |
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| 1:30pm – 2:15pm | Fireside Chat | Breakout Session | Breakout Session |
| Navigating Drug Development with AI
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1:30pm – 2:15pm |
Workforce Development Training Program and Micro credentials accessing talent
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1:30pm – 2:15pm |
Collaborative Approach to Growing Central Massachusetts
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1:30pm – 2:15pm |
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| 2:15pm – 2:30pm |
Break – Visit Exhibits Pre-Function |
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| 2:30pm – 3:15pm | Panel Session | Breakout Session | Breakout Session |
| The Commercialization Process “Trends and Future Challenges”
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2:30pm – 3:15pm George Tetler- Moderator (Partner, Bowditch & Dewey) |
Addressing Life Science’s Unmet Needs Through Corporate & Academic Partnerships
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2:30pm – 3:15pm |
JLL GMP Overview
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2:30pm – 3:15pm |
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| 3:15pm – 3:30pm |
Break – Visit Exhibits Pre-Function |
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| 3:30pm – 4:15pm | Future of RNA Therapeutics
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3:30pm – 4:15pm |
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| 4:15pm – 6:00pm |
Closing Reception Pre-Function |
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Jason Cordeiro
Chief Operating Officer, MassBio
Jason is the Chief Operating Officer. He joined MassBio in September of 2018 as the Vice President of Consortium Operations. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Jason is responsible for managing business services for our members including; all Edge purchasing and rewards programs, supporting partnering initiatives, sponsor visibility and branding, and MassBioHub sales.
Jason received a B.S. in Biology from Emmanuel College. He had worked at BIDMC researching the effects of NSAIDS on ovarian, prostate, and breast cancers and had spent nine years with Thermo Fisher Scientific in various commercial roles. He currently resides on the South Shore with his wife and two children.
William Aitchison, PhD
Head of US Operations and Key Account Executive Advisor, WuXi Biologics
Dr. William Aitchison joined the Group in 2020 as Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing. In July 2023, Dr. Aitchison was appointed as Head of US Operations and Key Account Executive Advisor.
Dr. Aitchison has over 30 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of vaccines and biopharmaceutical products. Prior to joining WuXi Biologics, Dr. Aitchison was Senior Vice President, Technical Operations for TESARO (GSK), Senior Vice President Global Manufacturing Operations at Sanofi Genzyme and Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing Operations at Sanofi Pasteur.
Dr. Aitchison obtained his Master’s degree from the University of Toronto School of Pharmacy and his PH.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Head of Manufacturing, Resilience
Shawn Fitzpatrick works at Resilience and is the Head of Manufacturing at the Marlborough site which is in currently in construction nearing completion.
Shawn has over 25 years of experience in Biotechnology primarily in Manufacturing related roles of increasing responsibility across small and large pharm companies including TKT, Shire, Takeda and Wuxi Biologics. Strong background in facility start-ups and commercial launch.
In addition he is a Board Member for the Just-a-Start Corporations a non-profit focused on promoting equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity. One educational program includes biotechnology education.
Ben Benton
Dean of Math and Science, Quinsigamond Community College
Ben Benton is currently the Dean of Math and Science at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Until recently, Ben also served as the Biotechnology Program Coordinator and Professor of Biology at QCC. As dean, Ben facilitates partnerships between QCC faculty and biotechnology efforts at MassBioEd, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, and other Massachusetts colleges. Two of the goals of these efforts are to improve science and math curriculum to match the skill sets needed by local biotechnology companies as well as developing transfer pathways between community colleges and four-year institutions for science and math majors. Additionally, as faculty he developed articulation agreements between local high schools and the QCC biotechnology program.
Prior to his appointment at QCC, Ben spent over a decade at several small biotechnology companies in the New York and Boston areas directing programs in drug target validation and drug discovery in the fields of inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. He received his Ph.D. in Tumor Cell Biology from Northwestern University and did his postdoctoral studies at Osaka University and Rockefeller University on the genetics of cell cycle regulation.
Marion Glenn
Head of Technology, Resilience
Marion Glenn, Head of Technology: Marion Glenn is the Head of Technology for Resilience Marlborough and Allston. Marion is a seasoned biotechnology engineer and leader with over 18 years of experience in the field in both start-ups and large pharma. She started her career in the Process Development group at Genentech, California, later acquired by the Roche Group. She held different positions throughout her career within local and Global MSAT, Global Procurement and Global Supply Chain. She received her Master of Sciences degree in Biochemical Engineering from the Engineer School PolyTech of Marseille, FRANCE.
Michael Murphy
Northeast Regional Director, ICQ Consultants
Jorgo Tollkuci
Section Manager, Ops Training and Talent Pipelining, AbbVie
I am the Ops Training and Talent Pipelining Section Manager at AbbVie, Worcester, MA. I have been in the biotech industry for about 10 years. My experiences are working in Cell Culture, Purification and Core Support roles in multiple biomanufacturing companies. During the past 10 years I have learned many skills in all manufacturing departments. AbbVie has enabled me to share the knowledge I have gained from my experiences, in my current role. I am very passionate about helping new talent join the biotechnology industry and continuously drive the development/advancement of current employees in alignment with their career goals.
Nicholas Willnow
Director of Strategic Operations, Abbvie
As Director of Strategic Operations for the Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering organization at AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Nicholas helps set and drive strategic initiatives for the introduction, manufacture and release of Biologics. A key focus for Strategic Operations is building and enabling our Talent Pipeline. It is through building a diverse, confident, and empowered team that AbbVie continues to make possibilities real. Nicholas is part of a team of individuals that works with peer organizations and education partners to drive talent into Biopharma while also ensuring the best onboarding and career development experience at AbbVie.
Nicholas held roles in Manufacturing, Validation and Process Engineering early in career prior to spending five years in Operations Management. These roles – coupled with a passion for talent sourcing, development and culture – helped build a foundation that enabled the creation and expansion of the Strategic Operations function at AbbVie Bioresearch Center.
Nicholas received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a MS in Engineering Management from Drexel University.
Lindsey Drawbridge
BHR Specialist, Abbvie
Lindsey has been with AbbVie for 3 years and in her role as BHR Specialist. She directly supports both the Manufacturing and Engineering functions of ABC in Worcester. Lindsey is passionate about finding new talent for the biopharma industry and drive training and development to support employees through their career journeys.
Kenneth L. Turner
President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Kenneth Turner is President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), an economic development and investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts. He directs and oversees the center’s operations, investment strategy, programs, and partnerships.
Prior to joining the MLSC, Mr. Turner served as Director of Diversity & Inclusion/Compliance with Massport. He oversaw and managed the Authority’s multiple diversity programs, including business and supplier diversity, workforce diversity, and airport concessions, as well as all compliance initiatives associated with Massport’s Disadvantaged/Minority/Women Business Enterprise programs.
Previously, Mr. Turner served as Deputy Secretary for Administration & Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. He has over 20- years of general management and executive experience in various Fortune 100 media and package goods companies including having served as Senior Vice President of Emerging Markets at AOL Time Warner as well as having held various marketing positions at Hallmark Cards and Hasbro Toys.
A retired U.S. Navy Captain and submarine nuclear weapons system officer with 26- years of service, Mr. Turner holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Arts from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA.
Amy Morrissey
Partner, Bowditch
Amy Morrissey is a corporate attorney who solves complex business issues with sound, real-world legal advice. Maximizing business value through legal expertise, strong business acumen, and a keen ability in strategic planning and execution, she has led transformational change, positioning companies for growth and sustainability in Board Advisor, Senior VP, Operational Consultant and General Counsel roles.
Serving clients in a range of industries, often as their outside general counsel or part-time general counsel, Amy is a strategic legal professional, business leader and board strategist. She has driven exceptional growth for companies through acquisitions and by establishing legal, corporate, compliance, risk and pricing models; guaranteeing financial value; and delivering outstanding ROI for public and private corporations.
Amy’s expertise includes:
- Business strategy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- IPO and private placement preparedness
- Private placements including angel and venture capital equity financings
- Corporate governance
- Contract review and negotiation, including complex technology contract negotiation and ERP
- Export/import compliance
- Counseling, compliance and training
- Internal investigations
- Employment policies and review
- A seasoned negotiator, Amy is skilled in drafting and negotiating complex contracts, providing expert counsel, and directing company policy on a range of in-house and external legal matters. She is known for her ability to counsel and collaborate with executive management on business transactions, disputes, risk management strategies, and general legal and compliance matters for startups and Fortune 100/500 companies.
Amy serves as the editor of the firm’s Corporate Insights publication.
Dr. Mark Wingertzahn
Mark Wingertzahn is a seasoned pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive with an outstanding track record of advancing R&D pipelines in multiple companies and across multiple therapeutic areas in growth-stage and scale-up companies. Over his 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors he has a proven track record of securing capital through devising drug development strategies that have secured over 15 NDA/CTA regulatory approvals including two first-in-class products.
Mark is currently the Senior Vice President of R&D and Head of Regulatory Affairs and Translational Medicine at Puretech Health where he is responsible for all aspects of global regulatory affairs as well as leading Translational Medicine Efforts across the company which involves designing and leading the implementation of strategic vision and study design to enable target identification, indication selection, early indices of biological activity and patient stratification/selection across the PureTech Portfolio.
Prior to Puretech, Mark was at Kaleido Biosciences, a Flagship Pioneering company, where he designed and implemented the clinical program pipeline and raised funds for their microbiome backed portfolio. Mark was successful in driving two novel chemical entities towards IND/CTA filings and generated novel clinical data in the Pathogen, Respiratory and GI space that realized nearly 150 M dollars in dilutive and non-dilutive funding.
Prior to joining the Flagship-backed biotechnology ecosphere, Mark was head of Global Clinical Development at GSK and prior to that was the Head of Global Clinical Research at Pfizer Consumer Health. During this time his global team of over 100 developed novel NDA medications in the pain and CNS space and were responsible for several Rx-to-OTC switches including Viagra in Europe and Voltaren in the US and worldwide markets. His ability to develop novel clinical development paths for established medications and novel combinations was able to increase the combined year-1 portfolio value to over 250 M dollars in year 1 of launch and increase the IP protection for across the entire portfolio.
Prior to his tenure at Pfizer, Mark held roles of increasing complexity in the areas Medical and Scientific Affairs, Clinical Development and Business Development at the VC-backed (Nordic Capital) Nycomed, where his teams achieved multiple U.S. and Ex-U.S. drug approvals for prescription modalities to treat CNS, endocrinologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, GI, pain disorders and post-surgical wound healing and was on the deal team responsible for sale of Nycomed to Takeda for 13 billion USD.
Mark served as an Instructor of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Life Sciences & Allied Health at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
Mark continues to hold board seats on several public and private emerging biotechnology companies enabling him to continue to drive his personal passion to work alongside regulators to devise a path to realize the full therapeutic potential of medications and deliver them to patients who will benefit most from new and emerging treatments.
Delcie Bean
Chief Executive Officer, Paragus I.T.
Since founding the company at the age of thirteen, Delcie Bean has transformed Paragus I.T. into one of the most successful, fastest-growing IT firms in the region. The company’s unique corporate culture and strategic approach to providing outsourced I.T. services to small-to-medium sized businesses have earned many accolades, including Inc. Magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing businesses and Forbes Magazine’s 25 Small Giants.
As the company has grown, so has Delcie’s commitment to equity and inclusion. In 2014, he created Tech Foundry, an educational nonprofit designed to address the need for a skilled I.T. workforce by providing in-depth training for promising individuals from marginalized or underrepresented communities. In 2016, Delcie began the process of transitioning Paragus to a 100% employee-owned company.
Today, Delcie is on a mission to grow Paragus into a $250 million firm with offices all throughout the country. In doing so, Delcie aims to create more than 100 employee-owner millionaires. Most recently, Paragus expanded into Central Massachusetts by acquiring Comportz Technologies and opening an office in downtown Worcester.
When he isn’t at the helm of Paragus, Delcie is living the quiet life with his wife of 19 years and their three boys in southern NH, serving as a trustee of Bay Path University, and fulfilling his commitment to lifelong learning through his service to YPO.
Andrew Stern
Bowditch, Associate
Andrew Stern is an associate in the Business & Finance Practice Area. Andrew’s practice focuses on commercial lending and debt securities. He advises clients in the facilitation and structuring of tax- exempt, tax-credit and taxable bond financings and has experience with derivative swap transactions and regulatory compliance. Andrew serves as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel, purchaser’s counsel, issuer’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel on a variety of conduit and municipal bond transactions. He also represents clients in connection with insolvency matters.
As an avid technologist, Andrew is well-versed on the topic of AI and machine learning and advises businesses on how to mitigate risks. Earlier this year, he presented a seminar on legal issues surrounding blockchain and decentralized financing. Prior to joining Bowditch, Andrew clerked for the Honorable Frank J. Bailey and the Honorable Janet E. Bostwick in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. During law school, Andrew was the research editor for the Uniform Commercial Code Reporter-Digest, the Boston College Law School law journal. He also worked as a summer and fall law clerk at a Boston law firm.
Besides work An avid Red Sox baseball fan, Andrew plays the piano, loves music by Billy Joel, and enjoys spending time on the water and studying marine life.
AFFILIATIONS
- Member, Finance Subcommittee, Bankruptcy Law Section, Boston Bar Association
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
ARTICLES; TALKS
- “Full Disclosure – Tips, Tricks and Traps for the Unwary in Navigating Public Finance Disclosure Obligations, Part II – The Financial Data Transparency Act and the Evolution of Financial Disclosures in Public Finance,” Bowditch, March 30, 2023
- “Full Disclosure – Tips, Tricks and Traps for the Unwary in Navigating Public Finance Disclosure Obligations, Part I – The Current Disclosure Landscape in Public Finance,” Bowditch, March 16, 2023.
- “24th Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference 2023,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., Boston, January 12, 2023.
- “Cryptocurrency, Web3 and Decentralized Finance,” Bowditch, September 7, 2022
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Massachusetts
EDUCATION
- J.D., Boston College Law School
- B.A., University of Connecticut
Kwesi Foster
Program Manager for Biomanufacturing WFD Programs- Center for Workforce Development & Continuing Education, Quinsigamond Community College
Kwesi is experienced in Human Resources supporting Research and Development, such as Oncology and U.S. and Europe HR Group Teams. Kwesi has experience working with a leading global biopharmaceutical company supporting Global Biologics, Gastrointestinal GI diseases, and Pharma Sciences. He has experience with human capital management systems. HR functionality providing benefits, payroll, time tracking, compensation analysis, workforce planning, performance management, merit increases, asset management, leave and attendance management, and integration with other capabilities: HR reporting and equal employment opportunity. Different experiences include coordinating government affairs; human resources cooperate communications, legal, compliance, and labor relations.
Kwesi has assisted in fostering an inclusive workplace by launching Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, change management, and strategic planning efforts for businesses overseeing workplace compliance investigations, candidate screening, background checks, coordinating onboarding, and candidate interview logistics in the government, pharmaceutical, life sciences and healthcare industries.
Mari Cooney
Director of Apprentice Expansion, Quinsigamond Community College
Mari Cooney as Director of Apprentice Expansion. Mari brings to this position over 20 years of experience. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Electricians, Home Inspectors, and Real Estate Appraisers at the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Mari earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Worcester State University.
Jon Weaver
President & CEO, Massachusetts Biomedical Initatives
Jon is the President & CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI). MBI is the longest running life science business incubator in the Commonwealth and focuses on supporting startups from Concept to Clinical Trials. MBI also serves as the hub of the biotech ecosystem in Central MA and a leader in economic & workforce development policy.
Under his leadership, MBI has more than doubled the size of its incubator operations, established a series of new business support, and created several new workforce programs. In 2020, MBI expanded into 17 Briden Street, and in 2022, they purchased the building. The site currently houses MBI’s StartUp, ScaleUp, and Pilot Biomanufacturing Center’s focused on creating a sustainable and flexible path for entrepreneurs to scale from Concept to Clinical Trials. MBI serves as an extension of the Founder’s startup team and offers a comprehensive support system to support their efforts to bring products to patients.
MBI serves as a thought leader and hub of the ecosystem in Central MA. As an example, MBI formed the Biomanufacturing Workforce Initiative with MassHIRE to bring together our academic and industry partners around solving workforce gaps and has established a Workforce Challenge Grant program to support innovative workforce programs that close gaps for diverse populations to enter the industry. As an economic development advocate, MBI serves on the City of Worcester’s Economic Development Coordinating Council and supported the development of the Reactory Biomanufacturing Park, Gateway Park, UMass Medicine Science Park, & Redstone Center.
Jon received his Bachelors and MBA from Assumption University. He previously served as Vice President, Real Estate at MassDevelopment and Senior Project Manager at the Worcester Business Development Corporation. Prior to assuming the role of President & CEO, Jon served as the Chief Operating Officer of MBI for four years. Jon is a current Board Member of Assumption University, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, the Venture Forum, UMass Chan Clinical Translational Sciences Community Advisory Board, Berkshire Bank Central MA Advisory Board, Grafton Community Advisory Group, and Alumni Advisor to the Worcester Student Government Association.
Tiffany Gallo
Director of Project Management, Timberline Construction
Tiffany Gallo brings nearly 20 years of relevant industry experience to her role as Timberline’s Director of Project Development. With a background in estimating and a passion for relationship building, Tiffany works closely with our Estimating and Preconstruction team to meet our client’s goals while managing cost and schedule. She bridges our preconstruction and business development efforts, collaborating with our clients and internal teams to set the overall project direction.
As a senior team member, Tiffany focuses on building market strategies to secure new sectors while nurturing existing ones in Central and Western Massachusetts. Throughout her career, she has developed relationships with a wide range of clients, including academic institutions like Clark University and Phillips Exeter, healthcare providers like Reliant Medical Group, and developers such as The Davis Companies. In the residential sector, she has worked on notable projects such as the Kelly Square Lofts and Worcester Public Market. As a Worcester native herself, Tiffany has strong ties to our Central Massachusetts clients and subcontractors.
Devin Gleeson, PMP
Vice President of Life Science & Technology , Timberline Construction
Taking advantage of Timberline’s already robust life science and technology portfolio, Devin is responsible for bringing his industry knowledge, best practices, processes and standards to continue providing our clients with exceptional service while driving strategic growth with our leadership team.
Devin brings more than 20 years of project management, construction and engineering experience from top life science and technology companies. His career project experience is varied throughout the pharmaceutical, bio-pharmaceutical and semi-conductor industries and ranges from leading a $250 million GMP manufacturing facility expansion to the construction of a $1 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility. Devin’s accomplished background will boost the ability of our team to perform highly technical projects for our clients.
Devin joins us most recently from DPS Global Group where he was a Director of Project Management, responsible for over $75 million in projects for Ipsen Biopharma and Organogenesis. Prior to DPS he has worked with and consulted for several companies such as Entegris, Covidian, MannKind, Pfizer, ConocoPhillips, British Petroleum and Intel.
JT Kelley
Fidelity Bank
John “JT” Kelley brings over 20 years of experience in all facets of Commercial Lending and Banking. JT has been with Fidelity bank for 12 years. He exemplifies Life Design banking, using the CARE Process to help every client every time. JT is active in the community. This includes being a board member with Nortstar Ice Sports as well as coaching ice hockey at the youth level and high school at Shrewsbury High School.
Patricia Wynne
Director of Intellectual Property for BRIDGE Innovation & Business Development, UMass Chan Medical School
Patricia is the Director of Intellectual Property for BRIDGE Innovation & Business Development at UMass Chan Medical School. Her team is responsible for the receiving, filing, and management of UMass Chan IP portfolio, including core IP, out-licensed IP, government compliance, supporting agreements and more. The work of IP management is integral to the success of BRIDGE’s mission to serve as the hub for all commercialization activities at UMass Chan.
Patricia earned a PhD in Neurobiology from UMass Chan and an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She is a USPTO registered patent agent.
Carole Burns
Director, New Ventures, UMass Chan BRIDGE Office of Innovation and Business Development
Carole is the Director of New Ventures for BRIDGE Innovation & Business Development at UMass Chan Medical School. In her role, she identifies and evaluates the commercial potential of UMass Chan inventions, coordinates research and development strategy to achieve necessary value inflection points, and aligns advanced assets with strategic partners or investors for company formation or out-licensing.
Prior to joining UMass Chan, Carole worked at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures and the Penn Center for Innovation at UPenn. Carole earned her PhD from the University of Utah and is a registered Patent Agent with the USPTO.
Dr. George Pins
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Pins serves as a professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department and is the co-director of the WPI Value Creation Initiative. Dr. Pins has more than 25 years of experience in the design, development, and evaluation of implantable biomaterials. His research program focuses on the development of biomimetic scaffolds and 3D model systems to guide functional tissue regeneration. Specifically, his lab takes cues from native tissue development and wound healing mechanisms to develop instructive scaffolds that emulate native tissue architecture and cellular microenvironments. These studies inspired the design and biofabrication of collagen and fibrin microthreads, as well as composite scaffolds with precisely tailored structural and mechanical properties, and the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to strategically promote skeletal muscle, myocardial tissue and skin regeneration. His research has been funded by the Whitaker Foundation, NIH, NSF, DoD, ONR, AHA as well as industrial partners. Dr. Pins received his B.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University, and completed his post-doctoral training in bioMEMs and tissue engineering at the Center for Engineering in Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Pins serves on the Leadership Advisory Council for ARMI BioFab USA and he is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
Catherine D. Bouthillier
Senior Manager, Healthcare Corporate Partnerships, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Catherine D. Bouthillier is the Senior Manager of Healthcare Corporate Partnerships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). In this capacity, she specializes in coordinating academic-industry partnerships in MedTech and BioTech; offering tailored solutions in research and development as well as training.
Her ability to promptly, and affordably, access the formidable resources at WPI encompasses facilities such as: PracticePoint, Cell Engineering Research Equipment Suite (CERES), Biomanufacturing Education & Training Center (BETC), and the Intentional Design Studio (IDeaS).
Organizations expedite their research initiatives and optimize operational timelines within budgetary guidelines by leveraging her network of industry experts, faculty, students and state agencies.
Prior to her tenure at WPI, Catherine held pivotal leadership roles, including Regional Vice-President, Regional Director, and Director of Strategic Solutions; overseeing business operations totaling over $50 million across a multi-state region from Michigan to Pennsylvania.
Spearheading collaborations with international and domestic organizations, crafting bespoke workforce solutions, building diverse teams, formulating strategic business plans, and orchestrating successful sales & marketing campaigns; she consistently increased YOY operating income by 40%, GP increased by over 100% and CM increased over 100%.
Catherine’s fervent commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals grappling with serious illnesses and mobility challenges drives her constructive collaboration between academia and industry.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Catherine dedicates her free time to philanthropic pursuits, prominently volunteering with traumatized children, cherishing moments with her sons, and indulges her passion for the arts by frequently attending theatre, museums, and concerts.
Robert Dempski
Sr. Manager Healthcare Partnerships, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rob Dempski is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA). Supported by federal grants, foundations and corporate sponsorships, Dr. Dempski maintains an active research group focused on the molecular basis of high incidence neuropathologies. To do this he uses a variety of tools including single-molecule fluorescence assays, computational and NMR approaches. At the same time, as co-founder of WPI’s IDeaS and a member of WPI’s Interactive Media and Game Development Program, Dr. Dempski brings together artists and developers to build, implement and assess programs in AR, VR, mobile app development and simulation. Notable projects have focused on laboratory safety, protein structure visualization and continuous flow chemistry concepts. Finally, Dr. Dempski can be found across campus using experiential learning tools to improve student connectivity with a focus on first-year students.
Dr. Dempski received his B.S. in Biochemistry/Cell Biology from Bucknell University. In 2003, he was conferred his Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the direction of Professor Barbara Imperiali. Here, he studied the molecular mechanism of oligosaccharyltransferase, the enzyme which catalyzes N-linked glycosylation. Dr. Dempski continued his career as a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany conducting research with Professor Ernst Bamberg. In this position, he focused on linking the conformational dynamics of the Na + ,K + -ATPase to ion transport.
Robert Coughlin
Managing Director, New England’s Life Science Practice Group Lead, JLL
Current Responsibilities
Mr. Coughlin is a Managing Director at JLL and is the New England’s Life Science Practice Group lead. He specializes in the representation of lab, GMP manufacturing and technology space. Robert delivers creative solutions that align real estate strategies with scientific business objectives.
Experience
Robert most recently operated as the President & CEO of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, where his mission was to advance Massachusetts’s leadership in the life sciences to grow the industry.
Robert has spent his career in both the public and private sectors. Before joining MassBio, he served as the Undersecretary of Economic Development within Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, where he prioritized both healthcare and economic development issues and was a strong advocate for the life sciences industry in Massachusetts. Prior to that, he was elected as State Representative to the 11th Norfolk district for three terms.
Robert has also held senior executive positions in the environmental services, capital management and venture capital industries.
Education, Affiliations and Recognitions
Robert is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy where he majored in Marine Engineering and served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve. In 2011, the American Diabetes Association honored Bob with their Father of the Year Award. In 2012, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation honored Bob with the CF Foundation Volunteer Leadership Award and in 2013 he received the Boston Irish Business Award from the Boston Irish Business Association. In 2014, he was awarded for his leadership in Biotechnology by the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research. He received the NTSAD advocate of the year in 2015 and was named to the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50, Top 50 Most Influential Bostonians. In 2016, he was honored with the Boston Biotech CEO Lifetime Achievement Award. His latest honors include the first-ever awarded Governor Paul Cellucci Fatherhood Award from the Children’s Trust and the Breath of Life Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2017). In 2021, Bob Coughlin received the Henri A. Termeer Memorial Innovator in Health Award from NEHI.
Sam Crossan
Senior Vice President, JLL
Sam currently serves as a Senior Vice President at JLL, where he specializes in tenant advisory and occupier representation services in Greater Boston. Additionally, Sam assists his local clients with portfolio management, brokerage and consulting services globally and leverages the power and scope of JLL’s market-leading platform. Sam’s comprehensive ‘single point of contact’ approach allows his clients to focus on their core business, offering creative and innovative real estate solutions that support both short and long-term business objectives.
Current Responsibilities
Sam’s experience ranges from assignments within the professional services, medical, nonprofit and media industries; however, his core focus is the technology and life science verticals. Transcending traditional brokerage offerings, Sam leverages JLL’s market leading data analytics and proprietary technology to provide best-in-class counsel including location and demographics analytics, financial analytics and geo-mapping capabilities and works in concert with JLL’s Project & Development Services team, applying JLL’s extensive construction, development and project management expertise to provide full-service solutions for clients. Sam actively volunteers with Make-A-Wish of Massachusetts & Rhode Island and Rosie’s Place.
Some of Sam’s significant tenant representation transactions include SimpliVity Corporation (multiple transactions totaling 149,000 SF), Spirit Delivery & Distribution (94,000 SF), Kala Pharmaceuticals (66,000 SF), Global Atlantic Financial Group (47,000 SF), Warner Bros. (31,000 SF), Fujifilm Medical Systems (28,000 SF), Epsilon Associates (22,000 SF), Lumicell Inc. (21,000 SF), Stanley Black & Decker (21,000 SF).
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) Board (2016 – 2020)
Co-Chair REFA Membership Committee.
Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), Emerging Committee (2012-present)
Dr. Athma Pai, PhD
Assistant Professor, UMass Chan Medical School- RNA Therapeutics Institute
Athma A. Pai is an RNA systems geneticist who uses functional genomics and computational approaches to address open questions in mammalian gene regulation. Athma received her Ph.D. from the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, working with Yoav Gilad and collaborating closely with Jonathan Pritchard’s group on human and comparative genomics analyses. She then moved on to postdoctoral research as a Jane Coffin Childs fellow at MIT working with Christopher Burge, focusing on understanding the changes in mRNA splicing after immune response and developing methods to measure the dynamics of such processes. Athma assumed her current position as an Assistant Professor in the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in January 2018. Her lab works on developing and applying methods to study the kinetics of RNA processing and understanding how various steps in RNA maturation are coordinated through lifecycle of an RNA molecule. Her work has been recognized with professional awards and grants such as the NIH Maximizing Investigators Research Award, NSF CAREER Award, and the UMass Chan Early Career Achievement in Science and Health Award.
Dr. Craig Mello, PhD
Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School- RNA Therapeutics Institute
Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine
Dr. Craig C. Mello received his B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry from Brown University in 1982, and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1990. From 1990 to 1994 he conducted postdoctoral research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. He has been a member of the University of Massachusetts Medical School faculty since 1995, and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator since 2000. His pioneering research on RNAi, in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Fire, has been recognized with numerous awards culminating with the prestigious 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
In much the same way that we use short search queries to navigate the World Wide Web, cells use short segments of genetic code to find and regulate matching information. The proteins that mediate these searches are highly conserved in plants and animals and are essential for viability and fertility. Craig Mello is investigating how these search mechanisms work and how organisms use them to regulate, share, and propagate genetic information.
For more information about Dr. Mello’s research, please visit his Howard Hughes Medical Institute page at:
https://www.hhmi.org/research/rna-interference-and-development-c-elegans
