Second annual bionorthTX summit expected to attract 400 Life Sciences leaders
bionorthTX, the region's leading life sciences industry association, will hold its second annual iC3 Life Science Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at College Park Center at the University of Texas at Arlington.
"The summit provides senior executives, scientists, educators and community leaders with a forum to network, exchange ideas, learn, and promote business opportunities in our region," said bionorthTX co-founder and COO Kay Tieman said.
More than 400 industry, government, and university leaders are expected to attend the day-long event with presentations focused on the themes of Innovation, Collaboration, Capital Formation and Commercialization. Duane Dimos, UTA's vice president for research, said, "UTA is thrilled to be partnering with bionorthTX on the iC3 Life Science Summit, as co-hosting this meeting will also provide the opportunity for the life science community in North Texas to see the tremendous breadth of research we do in this field. As a Research-1 university, and with the upcoming ground breaking for our new research building, UTA is becoming a major force in life and health science research."
The Summit will begin with opening remarks from Vistasp Karbhari, UTA president, followed by a breakfast plenary session featuring a discussion of the state of the Texas life sciences industry and issues such as drug pricing pressure in the heat of the Presidential election. Participants include Brett Girior, MD, CEO of Health Science and Biosecurity Partners, managing director of the Kirchner Group and special advisor to the president of UNT Health Science Center; and Tom Kowalski, president and CEO of the Texas Healthcare and Life Science Institute.
New to the Summit will be an afternoon plenary session with Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and other invited government officials discussing the state and local efforts to develop a sustainable life sciences and health care ecosystem in North Texas.
The luncheon address will be delivered by John McWhorter, COO of the Baylor Scott and White Health System, followed by announcement of the Annual Helix Award. The award will be presented by Kern Wildenthal, M.D., PhD. president emeritus of UT Southwestern Medical Center and president of the Children's Medical Center Foundation.
Other confirmed speakers include:
- Al Gillum, president of ZS Pharma
- Deborah Hutchinson, president of Wound Management Technologies
- Doug White, vice president Institutional Advancement at UNT Health Science Center Fort Worth
- Frank Grassler, vice president for Technology Development at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- John Houston, CEO of Dualams
- John Liete, vice president of Oncology for Illumina
- Jon Weidanz, associate vice president of research at UTA
- Julie Goonewardene, associate vice Chancellor for Innovation and Strategic Investment & Managing director for the UT System Horizon Fund
- Andrew Offer, managing director and CFO, Scientific Health Development
- Kathleen Gibson, CEO of the Southwestern Medical Foundation
- Maxwell Lea, vice president corporate development & finance of DFB Pharmaceuticals
- Scott Boyle, senior director of business development of Caris Life Sciences
- Sunil Joshi, CEO of Gradalis
- Theodora Ross, MD, Ph.D., Director of the UT Southwestern Medical Center's Cancer Genetics Department.
The Summit also will feature exhibits from industry supporters and suppliers; poster presentations by life science companies raising funds, and the bionorthTX Talent Committee Career Connections exhibit. The event will conclude with a networking reception. Early-bird registration for members and non-members ends September 26. For more information on sponsorship opportunities visit: http://bionorthtx.org/life-science-summit/ or contact Kay Tieman at kay@bionorthtx.org.
Provided by University of Texas at Arlington