2026 Preliminary Agenda
Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering
Connect Capital and Science to Shape the Future
May 19, 2026
As part of the 25th Annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, the 3rd Annual Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering Conference (May 19, 2026) delivers an executive-level platform for investors, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs driving the next wave of biotech and precision medicine. This boutique event convenes C-suite leaders from venture capital, private equity, corporate venture arms, growth-stage companies, and pharma. The 2026 program zeroes in on AI-driven discovery, platform- vs. product-investment models, evolving M&A and partnership strategies, IPO and private liquidity pathways, and regulatory shifts shaping capital deployment. Sessions are designed to provide investors with clear insights into market dynamics, risk-adjusted returns, and scalable innovation strategies. Through candid discussions, fireside chats, and curated panels, participants will explore how capital is being allocated, where innovation pipelines are headed, and how to identify long-term winners. Alongside investor-focused dialogue, attendees gain access to 150+ exhibits, 11 scientific tracks, and global partners from 30+ countries to broaden their market perspective.
Preliminary Agenda
Chairperson's Remarks
Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis
William T. Mayo, Senior Vice President, Research Technology, BMS , Senior Vice President, Research IT , Bristol Myers Squibb
Leadership at the Cutting Edge: Innovation, Strategy & Biotech’s Next Frontier
From Start-Up CEO to Global AI Leader: What the Future of Drug Discovery Tells Us About Tomorrow’s Best Investments


Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Driving Innovation Together: The New Rules of VC, Pharma & Industry Leader Collaboration
William T. Mayo, Senior Vice President, Research Technology, BMS , Senior Vice President, Research IT , Bristol Myers Squibb
Panelists:
Sandeep Burugupalli, Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca , Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D , AstraZeneca
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Innovation at the Helm: CEO Journeys through Company Building & Market Breakthroughs
Joanne L. Viney, PhD, Co-Founder & President & CEO, Seismic Therapeutic , Cofounder & President & CEO , Seismic Therapeutic
Panelists:
Catherine Sabatos-Peyton, PhD, CEO, Larkspur Biosciences, Inc. , CEO , Larkspur Biosciences Inc
Rachel Humphrey, MD, President and Founding CEO, Normunity , President and Founding CEO , Normunity
Adam Townsend, CEO, Merida Biosciences , CEO , Merida Biosciences
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Funding the Modern Pipeline: Capital Strategy across Biology, Technology, and Informatics
Rebecca Stevenson, Head, Healthcare Investment Banking, Americas, HSBC , Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, Americas , HSBC
Panelists:
Luba Greenwood, CEO, Gallop Oncology , CEO , Gallop Oncology
Sophie Jones, CFO, Seismic Therapeutic , CFO , Seismic Therapeutic
Stephanie Oestreich, Managing Director, Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF , Managing Director , Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Discovery to Delivery: Innovation in Life Sciences and the Models that Scale It
Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , VP , Bessemer Venture Partners
Panelists:
Cris De Luca, Partner, Sanofi Ventures , Partner , Digital Investments , Sanofi Ventures
Bill Fitzgerald, Head, Biotechnology Markets Americas, Google , Head , Biotechnology , Google Inc
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
The Future of Lab Funding: Building Stronger Pathways between Academia, Capital, and Spinouts
Michael Langer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, T.Rx Capital , Head of Search and Evaluation , Corp Dev , Pear Therapeutics
CONFERENCE CONTENT
Eileen Murphy, MEd
Conference Producer
781-738-0049
emurphy@healthtech.com
PARTNERING & SPONSORSHIP
Brian Caine
Business Development Manager, Investor Series
(+1) 908-809-0946
bcaine@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com
