BIOSPARK 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Sep 26th
2026
MIT Stata Center,
32 Vassar St, Cambridge,
MA 02139

The biotech field is entering a new phase defined by scientific convergence, capital discipline, and rapid translation of emerging technologies into therapeutic strategy. After several years of constrained financing, the sector is showing signs of renewed momentum, but investors remain highly selective and increasingly focused on differentiated platforms, clear clinical paths, and near-term value inflection points. At the same time, regulatory expectations, pricing pressure, manufacturing complexity, and geopolitical shifts are forcing companies to build more pragmatic and globally aware development plans.
We cordially invite you to join us at MIT for an immersive day of strategic foresight and high-level dialogue. The inflection point is here. Together, let us outline the paradigms that will shape the future of innovative medicines.
AI in Drug R&D
Harnessing AI agents, foundation models, and generative design to accelerate scientific discovery, target identification, and next-generation therapeutics.
Cardiometabolic / Immunology
Evaluating future medical leaders, biological circuits, and cross-functional assets transforming major clinical sectors.
RNA / Neuroscience
Breakthroughs in RNA drugs, transport systems, and refined methods for treating intricate, brain diseases.
Rare Diseases
Accelerating translational innovation, regulatory incentives, and commercial pathways in orphan diseases.
BioTech Business
Navigating cross-border partnerships, international market access, and evoling biotech venture investment.
Agenda Overview
Sep 26th, 2026 - MIT Stata Center, Cambridge • 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
08:30 AM Registration & Networking
08:45 AM Opening Remarks
09:00 AM Keynote Talk | Prof. Adrian Krainer
09:50 AM Panel Discussion | Ushering in a New Era of RNA Medicines for CNS Disease
10:45 AM Coffee Break
11:15 AM Panel Discussion | From Tool to Powerhouse: AI's Next Era in Drug R&D
12:00 PM Sponsor Presentation
Morning Sessions
12:15 PM Lunch-and-Learn | Small-group sessions with sponsor experts: Biocytogen · Foley Hoag
Lunch Break
01:15 PM Keynote Talk | Prof. Joseph Wu
02:05 PM Panel Discussion | Rare Disease: from Possibilities to Impact
02:50 PM Coffee Break
03:20 PM BioSpark Monthly News Yearly Review
04:25 PM Panel Discussion | Investing in a New Biotech Era: Triangulating with Investors and Founders
05:25 PM Closing Remarks
Afternoon Sessions
Keynote Speakers


St. Giles Foundation Professor
Director, Cardiovascular Institute
Simon H. Stertzer Professor
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)
Stanford University
Tom Defay, PhD
Vice Chair of the BeginNGS Newborn Sequencing Consoritum
Alexion AstraZeneca
Session Hosts & Speakers
(Listed alphabetically by first name)




Ahmed Mousa
CEO
Avery (Qinghong) Yan, PhD
Chris Bahl, PhD
Vicore Pharma
Founder & CEO
Riboway Therapeutics
President, CEO & Founder
Chris Garabedian
AI Proteins
Chairman & CEO
Xontogeny




Christie Higuera
Program Director
Daniel Lee, MD
Daniel Tardiff, PhD
MGH / Center for Rare Neurological Diseases
Principal
Blackstone Life Sciences
CSO
David Friend, MD, MBA
CAMP4 Therapeutics
Senior Advisor
McKinsey & Company

David Jenkins, PhD
CSO
BioCryst

Joanne Kotz, PhD
CEO
Atalanta Therapeutics

Leon (Jun) Tang, PhD
Founder
InScienceWeTrust BioAdvisory

Ranjan Batra, PhD
CSO
Dyne Therapeutics

Yuzhen Yu
Business Deelopment manager
ICE Bioscience


Devin (Tenghui) Chen, PhD
Director, Data Science, Neuroscience
Eli Lilly

Jun Jimmy Wang, PhD
Associate Professor
New York University

Lihua Yu, PhD
President, R&D
DoveTree Medicines Unus Inc

Stephanie Oestreich, PhD, MPA
Managing Director
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

Zaven Kaprielian, PhD
Consultant
KapNeuro Consulting

Donovan Chin, PhD
Senior Vice President, Drug Design
Recursion

Kasper Roet, PhD
CEO & Co-founder
QurAlis Corporation

Morgan Xu, PhD, JD
Partner
Foley Hoag LLP

Xiaole Shirley Liu, PhD
Co-founder & CEO
GV20 Therapeutics

Zeshan Ahmed, PhD
VP, Neuroscience Next Gen Therapeutics
Eli Lilly

Hong Yue, PhD
Scientist
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Kexin Huang, PhD
Co-founder & CEO
Phylo

Oxana Beskrovnaya, PhD
Chief Innovation Officer
Dyne Therapeutics

Yaguang Si, PhD
Senior Director of Preclinical Research
Chordoma Foundation

Shahid Azim
CEO | Managing Partner | Co-Founder
C10 Labs

*Free for MIT Students:
In honor of our collaboration with MIT CEO, MIT students attend free. Email to info@biospark.org for your coupon code. Limited to current students — please bring your MIT student ID for check-in.


Register for the Event

Sat, Sep 26MIT Stata CenterSep 26, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EDTMIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Conference Partners

We are proud to collaborate with these industry leaders to advance the future of biotechnology and scientific innovation.
