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AI-Powered Robotics & Intelligent Lab Automation
Unite Physical and Digital to Build the Intelligent Laboratory of the Future
5/20/2026 - May 21, 2026
Laboratories are no longer defined by stand-alone instruments or isolated automation. In 2026, the focus shifts to connected, computationally aware, and AI-ready lab environments where robotics, data architecture, and digital infrastructure function as a unified system. The AI-Powered Robotics & Intelligent Lab Automation track explores how organizations are integrating robotic workcells, orchestration engines, laboratory data platforms, and cloud/edge computing into end-to-end, interoperable R&D ecosystems. Discussions span connected lab design, multimodal automation, data lineage and metadata frameworks, workflow harmonization, and the governance models required to scale digital and robotic transformation across sites. Speakers will share real-world strategies for building modular, multi-robot environments; preparing laboratory data streams for AI-driven experiment planning; and evolving from human-centric processes to hybrid human–machine scientific operations. Designed for automation engineers, R&D digital leaders, informatics architects, and operations strategists, this track provides the technical, architectural, and organizational playbooks needed to build the intelligent research environments powering next-generation discovery.

Tuesday, May 19

Recommended Pre-Conference Workshops and Symposia*

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Cambridge Healthtech Institute is pleased to offer six pre-conference Workshops scheduled across two time slots (9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:15–4:15 pm) and three Symposia from 8:30 am–3:45 pm. All are designed to be instructional, interactive, and provide in-depth information on a specific topic. They allow for one-on-one interaction and provide a great way to explain more technical aspects that would otherwise not be covered during the main conference tracks that take place Wednesday–Thursday.

*Separate registration required. Additional details:

Symposia: www.bio-itworldexpo.com/symposia

Workshops: www.bio-itworldexpo.com/workshops

PLENARY KEYNOTE PROGRAM

Grab Your Seat! 25th Annual Golden Ticket Prize Giveaway & Organizer’s Remarks*

Cindy Crowninshield, Executive Event Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute , Executive Event Director , Cambridge Healthtech Institute

*Must be present to win.

Welcome Remarks from the City of Boston and the Office of Mayor Michelle Wu

Photo of Donald Wright, Interim Chief, Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cabinet, City of Boston , Interim Chief , Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cabinet , City of Boston
Donald Wright, Interim Chief, Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cabinet, City of Boston , Interim Chief , Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cabinet , City of Boston

PLENARY KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Rare Conversations: Explorations of the Research, Funding, and Advocacy for Rare Diseases

Photo of Thomas Bartlett, Ambassador, MG Uniter Myasthenia Gravis, Amgen , Patient Ambassador - MG Uniter Myasthenia Gravis , Patient Advocate , Amgen
Thomas Bartlett, Ambassador, MG Uniter Myasthenia Gravis, Amgen , Patient Ambassador - MG Uniter Myasthenia Gravis , Patient Advocate , Amgen
Photo of Catherine Brownstein, PhD, Manager, Molecular Genomics Core Facility, Boston Children's Hospital; Scientific Director, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research Gene Discovery Core; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School , Assistant Professor , Boston Children's Hospital
Catherine Brownstein, PhD, Manager, Molecular Genomics Core Facility, Boston Children's Hospital; Scientific Director, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research Gene Discovery Core; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School , Assistant Professor , Boston Children's Hospital
Photo of Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences , Breyer Capital
Morgan Cheatham, MD, Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Breyer Capital , Partner, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences , Breyer Capital
Photo of Sebastien Lefebvre, Head of Technology, Data and AI, Aurelis Insights , Head of Technology, Data and AI , Aurelis Insights
Sebastien Lefebvre, Head of Technology, Data and AI, Aurelis Insights , Head of Technology, Data and AI , Aurelis Insights
Photo of Dylan V. Livingston, Founder and President, The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) , Founder and President , The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI)
Dylan V. Livingston, Founder and President, The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) , Founder and President , The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI)
Photo of William Van Etten, PhD, Co-Founder, CEO & Principal Scientist, StarfleetBio , Co-Founder, CEO & Principal Scientist , StarfleetBio
William Van Etten, PhD, Co-Founder, CEO & Principal Scientist, StarfleetBio , Co-Founder, CEO & Principal Scientist , StarfleetBio
Photo of Susan J. Ward, PhD, Founder & Executive Director, cTAP , Founder & Executive Director , cTAP
Susan J. Ward, PhD, Founder & Executive Director, cTAP , Founder & Executive Director , cTAP

In a unique plenary series of intimate conversations, we will explore the models, drivers, and challenges facing rare disease research. By uniting leaders in precision medicine, bioinformatics, national rare-disease infrastructure, and real-world legislative advocacy, we will give attendees an expansive, cross-disciplinary view of what’s required to deliver faster, more accurate, and more equitable rare-disease cures.

Welcome Reception & 25th Anniversary Celebration in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

The Bio-IT Kickoff Reception is a reunion, reconnect with friends, explore cutting-edge research, and celebrate innovation! This year, join us in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Bio-IT World Conference & Expo with cake and champagne as we mark a quarter century of advancing science and technology. Enjoy poster presentations, networking, and vote for the Best of Show and Poster awards.

Close of Day

Wednesday, May 20

Bio-IT World’s 5K Rise and Shine Fun Run! (Sponsorship Opportunities Available)

RUN COORDINATORS:
Bridget Kotelly, Senior Conference Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Eileen Murphy, Conference Producer, Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Lace up and join Bio-IT’s Coordinators for the Fun Run on Wednesday, May 20! Sprint, jog, walk, or talk-your-way-through—ALL abilities are welcome. This informal event is all about getting moving together. Full details to come…just don’t forget your sneakers!

Registration and Morning Coffee

PLENARY KEYNOTE PROGRAM

Grab Your Seat! 25th Annual Golden Ticket Prize Giveaway & Organizer’s Remarks*

Allison Proffitt, Editorial Director, Bio-IT World and Clinical Research News , Editorial Dir , Bio-IT World

*Must be present to win.

PLENARY KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
The Collaboration Breakthrough: How Federated Learning Is Rewriting the Rules of Drug Discovery

Photo of Mohammed AlQuraishi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Systems Biology, Columbia University , Assistant Professor , Systems Biology , Columbia University
Mohammed AlQuraishi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Systems Biology, Columbia University , Assistant Professor , Systems Biology , Columbia University
Photo of Jonathan B. Gilbert, PhD, Senior Director, Ecosystem Growth and Contributor Partnerships, Eli Lilly and Company , Sr. Director - Ecosystem Growth and Contributor Partnerships , Eli Lilly and Company
Jonathan B. Gilbert, PhD, Senior Director, Ecosystem Growth and Contributor Partnerships, Eli Lilly and Company , Sr. Director - Ecosystem Growth and Contributor Partnerships , Eli Lilly and Company
Photo of José-Tomás Prieto, PhD, Director of AI Programs, Apheris , Director of AI Programs , Apheris
José-Tomás Prieto, PhD, Director of AI Programs, Apheris , Director of AI Programs , Apheris
Photo of Woody Sherman, PhD, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, PsiThera , Founder and Chief Innovation Officer , PsiThera
Woody Sherman, PhD, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, PsiThera , Founder and Chief Innovation Officer , PsiThera
Photo of Christina Taylor, PhD, Senior Science Fellow and Computational Molecular Design Lead, Bayer , Senior Science Fellow and Computational Molecular Design Lead , Bayer
Christina Taylor, PhD, Senior Science Fellow and Computational Molecular Design Lead, Bayer , Senior Science Fellow and Computational Molecular Design Lead , Bayer
Photo of Arman Zaribafiyan, PhD, Head of Strategic Alliances, AI Simulation, SandboxAQ , Head of Strategic Alliances, AI Simulation , SandboxAQ
Arman Zaribafiyan, PhD, Head of Strategic Alliances, AI Simulation, SandboxAQ , Head of Strategic Alliances, AI Simulation , SandboxAQ

The pharmaceutical industry sits on a collective treasure trove of proprietary structural biology data, yet competitive concerns have historically prevented the data sharing necessary to train the most powerful AI models for drug discovery. Federated learning is changing this paradigm, enabling biopharma companies to collaborate on AI model training while keeping sensitive data secure and confidential. This plenary session explores the groundbreaking AI Structural Biology (AISB) Network, where industry leaders are pooling proprietary protein-ligand structure data to collaboratively train OpenFold3, an AI model designed to predict molecular interactions with precision approaching X-ray crystallography. Through the federated computing platform, thousands of experimentally determined protein–small molecule structures remain securely at their original locations while contributing to a shared learning framework that no single organization could achieve alone. This session reveals how federated learning solves the industry's most persistent challenge: unlocking collective intelligence while protecting intellectual property. ​Attendees will hear directly from consortium leaders about: 

  • The technical architecture enabling privacy-preserving collaborative AI training across competing organizations 
  • Real-world implementation of federated learning platforms and computational governance frameworks 
  • Strategic rationale for industry collaboration: why sharing model training beats going it alone 
  • Impact and outcomes from early OpenFold3 results in predicting binding affinities and accelerating small molecule discovery 
  • The future of collaborative AI in biopharma, from structural biology to clinical development

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

Start your morning with coffee, connections, and cutting-edge research! Enjoy poster presentations, network in the Exhibit Hall, vote for awards, and a chance at a fabulous raffle prize!

BUILDING THE CONNECTED LAB: UNIFYING DATA, AUTOMATION, AND ROBOTIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Organizer's Welcome Remarks

Eileen Murphy, Conference Producer, Cambridge Healthtech Institute , Conference Producer , Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Chairperson's Remarks

Robert Bryn Fenwick, Innovation and Technology Consultant, EPAM Systems, Inc. , Innovation and Technology Consultant , EPAM Systems Inc

Building a Connected Lab, Backward From the Data Consumer

Photo of Derrick Miyao, Co-Founder and CSO, Satomic , Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer , Research , Satomic
Derrick Miyao, Co-Founder and CSO, Satomic , Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer , Research , Satomic

A connected lab is only as useful as the data the next person downstream can actually use. At Satomic, we bet that in-house data, generated on our own platform, is the right foundation for predictive chemistry models, so we built our DataGen automation platform around the needs of training those models from day one.This case study covers the bet, the early decision to define how information would flow in and out of the system before any of it was built, and three concrete choices that fell out: running production and discovery chemistry on shared infrastructure, meeting instruments where they are rather than where vendors promise they will be, and using software to optimize plating around the operator. We close with what we have learned about where the real bottlenecks live in a connected lab, and why, when those early decisions are right, scaling becomes a question of equipment and orchestration rather than redesign.

How Autonomous Labs Will Replace the Lab Bench

Photo of Jason R. Kelly, PhD, CEO, Ginkgo BioWorks, Inc. , Co-founder and CEO , Ginkgo BioWorks Inc
Jason R. Kelly, PhD, CEO, Ginkgo BioWorks, Inc. , Co-founder and CEO , Ginkgo BioWorks Inc

This talk focuses on the real-world implementation of autonomous labs—drawing directly from active projects with OpenAI and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Ginkgo's collaboration with OpenAI connected GPT-5 to Ginkgo's autonomous lab, improving cell-free protein synthesis reaction costs by 40% over the scientific state of the art. In parallel, the DOE commissioned over 100 integrated laboratory robots to enable national-lab scale automation for R&D as part of the White House's Genesis Mission to bring AI to science.

How Data Standards and AI Are Converging to Create AI-Ready Laboratory Data

Photo of Vincent Antonucci, PhD, Composition of Matter Product Line Leader, Merck & Co. , Composition of Matter Product Line Leader , Merck & Co
Vincent Antonucci, PhD, Composition of Matter Product Line Leader, Merck & Co. , Composition of Matter Product Line Leader , Merck & Co

Robust data standards enable creation of high-quality FAIR datasets that power trusted AI models. As laboratories become increasingly automated and data-rich, standards ensure that data from instruments, robotics, and digital workflows can be integrated and reused. At the same time, AI is rapidly accelerating automated data standardization. This talk explores how the convergence of AI and data standards enables creation of semantic, AI-ready datasets and faster scientific insight in modern automated development environments.

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Moderated Panel Discussion with Session Speakers

Photo of Robert Bryn Fenwick, Innovation and Technology Consultant, EPAM Systems, Inc. , Innovation and Technology Consultant , EPAM Systems Inc
Robert Bryn Fenwick, Innovation and Technology Consultant, EPAM Systems, Inc. , Innovation and Technology Consultant , EPAM Systems Inc

Panelists:

Photo of Vincent Antonucci, PhD, Composition of Matter Product Line Leader, Merck & Co. , Composition of Matter Product Line Leader , Merck & Co
Vincent Antonucci, PhD, Composition of Matter Product Line Leader, Merck & Co. , Composition of Matter Product Line Leader , Merck & Co
Photo of Jason R. Kelly, PhD, CEO, Ginkgo BioWorks, Inc. , Co-founder and CEO , Ginkgo BioWorks Inc
Jason R. Kelly, PhD, CEO, Ginkgo BioWorks, Inc. , Co-founder and CEO , Ginkgo BioWorks Inc
Photo of Derrick Miyao, Co-Founder and CSO, Satomic , Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer , Research , Satomic
Derrick Miyao, Co-Founder and CSO, Satomic , Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer , Research , Satomic

Session Chairperson Synthesis and Closing Remarks

Photo of Robert Bryn Fenwick, Innovation and Technology Consultant, EPAM Systems, Inc. , Innovation and Technology Consultant , EPAM Systems Inc
Robert Bryn Fenwick, Innovation and Technology Consultant, EPAM Systems, Inc. , Innovation and Technology Consultant , EPAM Systems Inc

Transition to Lunch

Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

Bio-IT's hall is bigger than ever; one break won’t cut it! Enjoy dessert and coffee after lunch, explore booths and posters, vote for awards, and participate in our raffle for a chance to win a prize!

ENTERPRISE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: ARCHITECTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND CHANGE ACROSS AUTOMATED AND ROBOTIC R&D

Chairperson's Remarks

Petrina Kamya, PhD, Global Head of AI Platforms & Vice President, Insilico Medicine; President, Insilico Medicine Canada , Global Head of AI Platforms, VP , Insilico Medicine, Canada

Semantic Management Elevates Data and Language Models for AI Readiness in Life Sciences & Pharma

Photo of Julia Fox, PhD, Director, Data Ontologies, Takeda , Director, Data Ontologies , Takeda
Julia Fox, PhD, Director, Data Ontologies, Takeda , Director, Data Ontologies , Takeda

Semantically driven Data & Digital Transformation spearheads adoption of digitized Clinical Data Standards, Domain ontologies and embedded data models. At Takeda, we drove multiple efforts to broadly define and support metadata-driven approaches in Clinical Trial & Data management, NextGen Lab solution implementation and adoption and cohesive Master data and Data platform integration. Driving cross-functional stakeholder alignment via close collaboration with Clinical Sciences, Therapeutic Areas, IT and Business units across Pharma organizations brings cohesion to the Data ecosystem and accelerates user adoption. This presentation will focus on approaches to developing aligned common data models for institutionally shared metadata object definitions supported by scientific and clinical ontologies. With a Linked-data mindset, harmonized metadata and richly uniformly annotated datasets can be more readily incorporated into LLMs, accelerate analysis and innovation, drive insights and deliver AI-ready FAIR data.

Organizational Frameworks for Scaling Digital and Robotic Change

Photo of John Cesarek, Senior Director of Automation Engineering, Cellares , Senior Director of Automation Engineering , Cellares
John Cesarek, Senior Director of Automation Engineering, Cellares , Senior Director of Automation Engineering , Cellares

As cell therapy manufacturing scales, traditional QC models built on manual workflows and siloed systems are becoming limiting. Today’s bottlenecks stem from a lack of end-to-end integration rather than assay performance. This talk explores how to design a scalable QC infrastructure that unifies automated assays, reagent and sample management, and LIMS/MES data into a coordinated, high-throughput environment. We will highlight strategies to standardize workflows, integrate upstream processes, and embed QC within manufacturing to increase throughput and reduce risk, with a focus on achieving global consistency across automated QC platforms, positioning QC as a critical, scalable infrastructure for commercial production.  

Standardizing Data and Workflow Models across Organizational Teams

Photo of Ben Miller, Head, Operations, Leash Bio , Head , Operations , Leash Laboratories
Ben Miller, Head, Operations, Leash Bio , Head , Operations , Leash Laboratories

Modern experimental sciences can generate data faster than teams can analyze and interpret it. We present an automated data analysis system designed to accelerate collaboration between data scientists and laboratory scientists. By integrating experiment design, and analysis into a unified workflow, we shorten iteration cycles, improve reproducibility, and enable faster scientific and organizational decision-making. This talk describes some of the techniques needed to build systems like this at any organization.

Panel Moderator:

Moderated Panel Discussion with Session Speakers

Petrina Kamya, PhD, Global Head of AI Platforms & Vice President, Insilico Medicine; President, Insilico Medicine Canada , Global Head of AI Platforms, VP , Insilico Medicine, Canada

Panelists:

John Cesarek, Senior Director of Automation Engineering, Cellares , Senior Director of Automation Engineering , Cellares

Julia Fox, PhD, Director, Data Ontologies, Takeda , Director, Data Ontologies , Takeda

Ben Miller, Head, Operations, Leash Bio , Head , Operations , Leash Laboratories

Moderator Synthesis and Closing Remarks

Best of Show Awards Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

Unwind with colleagues at our lively reception! Explore posters, vote for the best, network with exhibitors, enjoy a drink, and try to win a raffle prize. Celebrate Best of Show winners!

Close of Day

Thursday, May 21

Registration Open

Continental Breakfast with Breakout Discussions

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST WITH BREAKOUT DISCUSSIONS (IN-PERSON ONLY)

Connect & Collaborate: Breakfast Networking Roundtables (Sponsorship Opportunities Available)

Start the day with small-group roundtable discussions designed to spark collaboration and exchange insights across the Bio-IT community. Attendees join themed tables—spanning AI, data ecosystems, foundational models, and more—for focused, peer-driven discussions that foster problem-solving, connection, and cross-functional perspectives ahead of the plenary keynote.

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 1: Knowledge Graphs

Tom Plasterer, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, Knowledge3 , CEO & Founder , BioPharmaceuticals R&D , Knowledge3 LLC

  • How are knowledge graphs supporting reliable scientific intelligence
  • Lessons from early deployments
  • Remaining challenges and barriers to scale​

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 2: From Molecules to Qubits: A Collaborative Conversation on Pharma’s Quantum Future

Christopher Bishop, Chief Reinvention Officer, Improvising Careers , Podcast host , Improvising Careers

  • Learn how leading global pharma companies are applying quantum principles to real-world research. 
  • Discover the quantum companies transforming traditional processes around drug development and drug discovery.
  • Discuss how quantum, along with HPC and AI, is poised to help researchers tackle historically intractable problems and potentially find new treatments for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.​

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 3: From AI Tools to Autonomous Discovery: Are We Ready for Agentic AI in Drug Discovery?

Parthiban Srinivasan, PhD, Professor and Director, Centre for AI in Medicine, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, India , Professor and Director , Centre for AI in Medicine , Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation

  • Where are we today? Are AI tools truly integrated into workflows, or still operating in silos?
  • What changes with agents? How do LLM-based agents shift drug discovery from prediction to decision-making?
  • What is blocking autonomy? Data quality, validation, trust, or organizational readiness for AI-driven discovery?​

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 4: Bridging Tech Transfer and Industry: Unlocking Real Collaboration at Bio-IT

Nancy Wetherbee, Director Commercialization, Research Innovation Center, Northeastern University , Dir Commercialization , Research Innovation Ctr , Northeastern Univ

  • Where are the highest-value collaboration opportunities between academia/TTOs and industry (biopharma, startups, AI/data, investors), and what makes them actually work?
  • What types of partnerships are most effective in practice (licensing, co-development, startup creation, sponsored research), and how do both sides evaluate quality and fit quickly?
  • What specific formats, access points, or structures at the Bio-IT event would actually drive follow-up, partnerships, and deal-making?

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 5: Supporting Innovation While Managing Risk: The CIO’s Dilemma in AI-Driven R&D

Chris Dwan, Fractional CIO, Triveni Bio , Independent Consultant , Dwan, LLC

  • How do CIOs enable rapid AI and data innovation without breaking governance, compliance, or data integrity frameworks?
  • What separates pilot-stage innovation from scalable, production-grade systems? Where do most organizations fail?
  • How do leaders manage emerging risks (model bias, data provenance, regulatory exposure) while still pushing competitive advantage?

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 6: Real-World Data and Evidence: Unlocking Value Beyond Clinical Trials

Michael Liebman, PhD, Managing Director, IPQ Analytics, LLC , Managing Dir & Co Founder , IPQ Analytics LLC

  • How real-world data is being used alongside clinical and experimental data
  • Challenges in standardization, access, and regulatory acceptance
  • Opportunities to improve outcomes, access, and long-term patient insights

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 7: Beyond Data Management: Why AI Fails without Institutional Memory in Life Sciences

Alexandra Brocato, CEO & Co-Founder, Beakr, Inc. , CEO & Co Founder , Beakr Inc

  • Why critical experimental knowledge is lost across ELNs, LIMS, and siloed teams, and the cost of reinventing work 
  • How structured experimental memory makes past decisions, failures, and context reusable across teams
  • How organizations can make scientific knowledge reusable for both humans and AI

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 8: Intellectual Property in Biotech: Strategy, Patents, and Trademarks

Elizabeth F. Jackson, Acting Director, Northeast Regional Outreach Office, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office , Acting Director , Northeast Regional Outreach Office , U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

  • How to think strategically about IP early in biotech and AI-driven research
  • Common pitfalls in patent and trademark applications and how to avoid them
  • Navigating ownership, protection, and commercialization of innovations

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 9: Are Bioinformatics Workflows Broken? Rethinking Pipelines in the Age of No-Code and AI

Daniel Clarke, Biomedical Software Developer, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Biomedical Software Developer , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  • Why do current workflow systems fail most scientists in practice? 
  • Can no-code and AI-driven workflows meet standards for reproducibility, validation, and clinical readiness? 
  • What would a “production-ready” workflow ecosystem actually look like across teams and organizations?

IN-PERSON ONLY –
TABLE 10: Data Readiness for AI: Why Most AI Programs Fail Before They Start

Bahador Marzban, PhD, Principal Data Scientist, Innovative Medicine R&D, Johnson & Johnson , Principal Data Scientist , Innovative Medicine R&D , Johnson & Johnson

  • The gap between AI ambition and the reality of data foundations, platforms, and operating models
  • What “AI‑ready data” actually means in practice—beyond pilots, dashboards, and proofs of concept 
  • Where AI initiatives most often break down: data integration, data quality, metadata, and governance at scale​

PLENARY KEYNOTE PROGRAM

Grab Your Seat! 25th Annual Golden Ticket Prize Giveaway & Organizer’s Remarks*

Cindy Crowninshield, Executive Event Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute , Executive Event Director , Cambridge Healthtech Institute

*Must be present to win.

Bio-IT World 2026 Innovative Practices Awards Ceremony (Winners Announced)

Allison Proffitt, Editorial Director, Bio-IT World and Clinical Research News , Editorial Dir , Bio-IT World

Since 2003, Bio-IT World’s Innovative Practices Awards have recognized outstanding technology innovation advancing life sciences research. The 2026 winners highlight excellence in open science, patient advocacy, global data access, and real-world AI through collaborations involving Arizona State University and Starfish Storage, CareDx, ASAP Discovery Consortium, and Novartis with Genedata AG. Together, these projects illustrate the modern R&D data lifecycle, from unlocking legacy data to enabling collaboration and driving clinical decision-making.

Bio-IT World 2026 Emerging Innovator Award—NEW (Winner Announced)

Allison Proffitt, Editorial Director, Bio-IT World and Clinical Research News , Editorial Dir , Bio-IT World

The Emerging Innovator Award recognizes one exceptional early-career researcher advancing the future of life sciences through breakthrough work in biomedical data, computational methods, or technology-enabled discovery. The 2026 awardee will deliver a 20-minute plenary keynote at Bio-IT World, highlighting the impact of their research and the forward-looking direction of their work. 

EMERGING INNOVATOR AWARD PRESENTATION: Scalable Connectomics for AI-Ready Brain Data

Photo of Ons M'Saad, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO, panluminate Inc. , Co-Founder & CEO , panluminate Inc.
Ons M'Saad, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO, panluminate Inc. , Co-Founder & CEO , panluminate Inc.

Mapping the brain at synaptic resolution—connectomics—could transform neuroscience, medicine, and AI. Until now, the field has depended on electron microscopy: slow, expensive, difficult to scale, and limited to structure alone. Dr. Ons M’Saad presents a new optical approach that adds molecular context to large-scale brain maps, opening new ways to study neurodegenerative disease and inform more biologically grounded AI.

PLENARY KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Generative AI across Drug Discovery Tasks

Photo of Jeremy L. Jenkins, PhD, US Head, Discovery Sciences, Novartis BioMedical Research , US Head , Discovery Sciences , Novartis BioMedical Research
Jeremy L. Jenkins, PhD, US Head, Discovery Sciences, Novartis BioMedical Research , US Head , Discovery Sciences , Novartis BioMedical Research

Many steps in drug discovery are informed by large-scale biological and chemical data, from genomics to the chemical universe, to phenotypic cell profiling. Generative-ML models are increasingly being deployed across these domains, including single-cell foundation models for target discovery, generative chemistry for rapid ligand design, and transfer learning to accelerate image analysis. Practical applications of generative AI in early drug discovery will be described, including simulated functional-genomics screens with in silico perturbations; compound design conditioned on protein pockets; and in silico-labeling approaches that replace traditional image staining. Together, these advances illustrate how generative AI is transforming how drug discovery research is conducted.

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Competition Winners Announced (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

Bio-IT is all about connections! Explore booths, award-winning posters, and network with clients, colleagues, and exhibitors. Grab coffee, build relationships, and stay for a chance to win a raffle prize!

AUTOMATION AS INFRASTRUCTURE: MODULAR, ROBOTIC, AND MULTIMODAL DISCOVERY PLATFORMS

Organizer's Remarks

Eileen Murphy, Conference Producer, Cambridge Healthtech Institute , Conference Producer , Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Chairperson's Remarks

Leanna Duraj, Senior Account Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific , Senior Account Manager , Thermo Fisher Scientific

Automation as Strategic Robotic Infrastructure for Integrated Discovery

Photo of James Abraham, Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences, GSK , Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences , GSK
James Abraham, Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences, GSK , Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences , GSK

Modular Robotic Automation Architectures for Multi-Modality Workflows

Photo of Todd DeCollo, Principal Scientist, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Director, Advanced Robotics and Data Orchestration , Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Todd DeCollo, Principal Scientist, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Director, Advanced Robotics and Data Orchestration , Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Modular robotic automation is transforming labs from isolated workcells into orchestrated, modality-agnostic platforms spanning discovery and development. This talk details architectures that standardize labware and data, integrate robotics for conveyance and transportation, and unify high-level functions such as solid/liquid dispensing, mixing, incubation, sampling, and pH control. A recently deployed system will be presented as a case study, illustrating how orchestration, scheduling, and structured data pipelines accelerate DMTA (Design-Make-Test-Analyze), increase instrument utilization, enable remote monitoring and unattended operation, and lay the groundwork for AI-ready, closed-loop optimization and autonomous knowledge generation.

The "First Mile" of Lab Data: Operationalizing Data Flow in Heterogeneous Research Environments

Photo of Christopher Perkins, Director, Lab IT and Operations, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Director , Lab IT and Operations , Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Christopher Perkins, Director, Lab IT and Operations, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Director , Lab IT and Operations , Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Modern lab automation platforms depend on reliable integration across diverse instruments, yet many research environments still operate with fragmented workflows, legacy systems, and manual data movement. This talk examines the “first mile” barriers that limit scalable data orchestration and automation in practice. Christopher Perkins (Broad Institute) presents strategies for integrating heterogeneous instruments into automation-ready environments through metadata standardization, edge-based architectures, automated ingestion pipelines, and cloud-connected workflows that improve interoperability and support scalable, AI-ready research infrastructure.

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Moderated Panel Discussion with Session Speakers

Leanna Duraj, Senior Account Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific , Senior Account Manager , Thermo Fisher Scientific

Panelists:

Photo of Todd DeCollo, Principal Scientist, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Director, Advanced Robotics and Data Orchestration , Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Todd DeCollo, Principal Scientist, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Director, Advanced Robotics and Data Orchestration , Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Photo of James Abraham, Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences, GSK , Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences , GSK
James Abraham, Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences, GSK , Senior Director, Scientific Enablement Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences , GSK
Photo of Christopher Perkins, Director, Lab IT and Operations, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Director , Lab IT and Operations , Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Christopher Perkins, Director, Lab IT and Operations, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Director , Lab IT and Operations , Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Moderator Synthesis and Closing Remarks

Leanna Duraj, Senior Account Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific , Senior Account Manager , Thermo Fisher Scientific

Session Break and Transition to Lunch

Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

Feeling tired? Recharge during the final Networking Exhibit Hall break! Visit booths, explore posters, connect with peers, and turn in your Game Cards for a chance to win a raffle prize.

AI IN THE LAB: TURNING ROBOTIC AND DIGITAL DATA INTO ACTIONABLE DECISIONS ACROSS THE DMTA CYCLE

Presentation to be Announced

Presentation to be Announced

Automated Data Capture and Metadata Frameworks in Robotic Workflows

Photo of Ilja Kusters, PhD, Associate Director, Assay Automation & Qualification, Generate:BioMedicines , Associate Director , Assay Automation & Qualification , Generate:BioMedicines
Ilja Kusters, PhD, Associate Director, Assay Automation & Qualification, Generate:BioMedicines , Associate Director , Assay Automation & Qualification , Generate:BioMedicines

AI-enabled drug discovery depends on high-throughput experimental data that is contextualized, reproducible, and decision-ready. At Generate:Biomedicines, robotic workflows explore complex protein fitness landscapes, while automated metadata capture links samples, plates, methods, instruments, timing, and conditions into queryable data trails. This talk highlights how augmented modular labs, AI-powered assistants, and integrated infrastructure reduce friction and enable adaptive, AI-ready experimentation across the Design-Make-Test-Analyze cycle, from automated execution to informed decisions at scale.

AI-Driven Autonomous Lab Automation: What is Feasible Now?

Photo of Petrina Kamya, PhD, Global Head of AI Platforms & Vice President, Insilico Medicine; President, Insilico Medicine Canada , Global Head of AI Platforms, VP , Insilico Medicine, Canada
Petrina Kamya, PhD, Global Head of AI Platforms & Vice President, Insilico Medicine; President, Insilico Medicine Canada , Global Head of AI Platforms, VP , Insilico Medicine, Canada

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Moderated Panel Discussion with Session Speakers

Kelcy Newell, PhD, Senior Director, Robotics and Automation Development, AstraZeneca , Senior Director , Robotics and Automation Development , AstraZeneca

Panelists:

Petrina Kamya, PhD, Global Head of AI Platforms & Vice President, Insilico Medicine; President, Insilico Medicine Canada , Global Head of AI Platforms, VP , Insilico Medicine, Canada

Ilja Kusters, PhD, Associate Director, Assay Automation & Qualification, Generate:BioMedicines , Associate Director , Assay Automation & Qualification , Generate:BioMedicines

Moderator Synthesis and Closing Remarks

Close of Conference


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Conference Tracks

T1: Data Platforms & Storage Infrastructure