Dr. Shahrukh Hashmi is currently the Director of Research at the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE and a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Minnesota, US).
He graduated from Baqai Medical University, Pakistan, as the top graduate receiving Gold Medal from the President of Pakistan. He received master’s degree (MPH) from Yale University, Connecticut, US. He is triple-boarded from the United States, being Diplomat of the American Board of Preventive Medicine/Public Health, Internal Medicine, and Hematology. He has served as PI or Co-PI on many industry-sponsored and NIH-sponsored trials. His research interests include Aging Biology/Healthspan, Artificial Intelligence, and Cellular therapies (CAR-T cells and Gene Therapy). He has authored >300 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including in JAMA journals, Lancet journals, and NEJM, has an H-index of >50, and citations of >10,000.
He chairs many international professional committees/groups including being the Chair of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplant’s (WBMT) Global Emergencies Committee (Geneva, Switzerland), Founding Chair of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Survivorship SIG (Chicago, Illinois, US), and Ex Co-Chair of the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Registry’s (CIBMTR) Health Services Committee (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US). He is also an adjunct faculty at Khalifa University, UAE, and at Mohamad Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
His achievements include establishing the first BMT survivorship program of Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, establishing the first Clinical Trials Unit (Clinical Research Department) of Saudi Arabia at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, KSA, and establishing the UAE’s first Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) at SSMC/Mayo Clinic in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He also carries IND for one of the first senolytics for First-in-Human Trials from the US-FDA and continues to serve as PI or Co-PI on Aging trials on healthspan.
Dr. Hashmi is also active as a Board Member of many organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, Cancer Patient Care Society (Rahma) UAE, Emirates Thalassemia Society UAE, Rose Nwatu Cancer Foundation Board (US), besides being the Associate Editor of JTCT (highest impact factor journal in the field of Cellular Therapies), and on Editorial Boards of numerous peer-reviewed journals.
Yasmine Hayek Kobeissi, Ph.D., is an accomplished investment specialist with an interdisciplinary background, adeptly blending finance, molecular biology, and biochemistry knowledge.
With over three decades of experience in roles such as CEO of a Single Family Office, Investment Advisor, and Founding Partner/Co-CIO, her expertise in risk management, investment strategy, and biotech company valuation is bolstered by her academic credentials, including a Ph.D. in Management and Finance, focusing on applied mathematical fractal geometry, a Certificate in Quantitative Finance, a BSc in Molecular Biology, and specialized certifications from Harvard Medical School and the University of Cambridge.
Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D., was named President and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research. A trailblazer in cancer research, Dr. Glimcher’s research identified key transcriptional regulators of protective immunity and the origin of pathophysiologic immune responses underlying autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Dr. Glimcher speaks nationally and internationally on cancer, immunology, skeletal biology, and translational medicine, and has contributed more than 350 scholarly articles and papers to the medical literature.
Dr. Glimcher is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Memberofthe American Philosophical Society, a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, and the former President of the American Association of Immunologists. She is a member of the Cancer Research Institute, Prix Galien, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Repare Therapeutics, Abpro Therapeutics and Kaleido BioSciences, Inc. Scientific Advisory Boards, the Lasker Award Jury, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Association of American Cancer Institutes, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and served on the Vice President’s Blue Ribbonpanel. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Waters Corporation. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Corporation and Analog Devices, Inc.
Dr. Glimcher is amagna cum laud graduate of Radcliffe College and holds an M.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Jorge Guzman is the chief executive officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and oversees Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s strategy and operations of 5,300 caregivers and continues to serve as a consultant and Staff physician in the hospital’s Critical Care Institute.
His vision led to significant growth in medical operations, including the expansion of many service lines such as multiple solid organ transplant, complex neurology and cardiac services, and the growth in the cancer programs, amongst others.
Dr. Guzman is a long-standing healthcare steward with 15+ years at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Guzman was Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s vice president of Regional Hospital Medical Operations. Committed to innovation, he oversaw the development of the ICU telemedicine program (eHospital) at Cleveland Clinic and holds two patents registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, he completed a healthcare MBA at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.
Anya Schiess is Co-Managing Partner of Life Science Private Capital (“LSPC”) within J.P. Morgan Private Capital, a division of J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives in J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Anya joined J.P. Morgan Private Capital in 2022. Alongside Gaurav Gupta, Anya is co-managing partner of the LSPC platform, which leverages the global scale, robust healthcare service ecosystem and healthcare data intelligence of J.P. Morgan to invest in life sciences and healthcare companies.
Prior to joining LSPC, Anya was previously a founder and General Partner of Healthy Ventures. Healthy Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in healthcare and life science technology. Previously, Anya was a venture capitalist at Thomas, McNerney & Partners where her focus included biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and genomic technology. Anya has co-founded, helped build, or served on the boards of over 30 companies. Prior to investing, Anya was a healthcare operator and led strategy and business development for Cardinal Health’s medical services, distribution, and laboratory businesses as well as several sales & marketing leadership roles at Medtronic. She has launched neurological, cardiovascular, and cardiac rhythm therapies around the world.
Anya earned a B.A. cum laude from Princeton University and an M.B.A. with honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Biography
Michael is an Executive Director leading Digital Health within the Business Development Innovative Technologies function at Bristol Myers Squibb. Michael is responsible for evaluation and execution of Business Development investments and transactions in support of Digital Innovation priorities at BMS.
During his 28 years at Bristol Myers Squibb, Michael has worked across Europe, Asia Pacific and the US in a variety of roles leading and developing high performing, diverse teams, while growing his responsibility and knowledge of the Biopharmaceutical Industry.
Prior to his current role, Michael had responsibility for Alliance Management with a specific focus on late-stage partnerships including: clinical collaborations, translational medicine and diagnostics partnerships, digital partnerships as well as commercial alliances.
Michael has also held roles at BMS responsible for oversight of IT, Infrastructure, and adjacent services in support of Business Development priorities (M&A, divestitures, strategic alliances, collaborations and licensing) at Bristol Myers Squibb. This involved the full spectrum of the deal lifecycle from pre-deal diligence, operational and synergy reviews, ‘Day-1’ planning and post-deal implementation support.
In addition to his IT/Corporate Services experience in supporting Business Development, Michael has supported Manufacturing Operations Globally, Product & Process Development, Engineering & Quality functions.
Michael began his career in Ireland as Chemist with Bristol Myers Squibb in 1994, after completing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Chemistry and Business Administration postgraduate studies. Michael currently resides in Princeton, NJ.
Sophie M. Balzora MD, FACG, is a Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Balzora has focused her academic efforts on improving physician engagement and enhancing the patient experience through objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs).
As Chair of ACG’s Public Relations Committee, Dr. Balzora’s primary goal is to disseminate the College’s message of the importance of colorectal cancer awareness to the general public and arm its members with tools to do the same. She is a member and incoming Vice Chair of ACG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and co-founder of ACG’s #DiversityinGI Social Media Campaign. In October 2020, her work in the College has been recognized with the ACG President’s Special Recognition Award.
Dr. Balzora serves on the Patient Education Sub-Committee of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCF)’s National Scientific Advisory Committee, the social media team of the CCF’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Journal, and as a member of Fight CRC’s Health Equity Committee. She has also recently been accepted into the inaugural cohort of the Office of Diversity Affairs’ Faculty Leadership Development Program through the NYU Langone Academy.
Dr. Wyborski received his B.S. (Chemistry) from the University of Notre Dame and his doctorate (Biochemistry) from Indiana University (Bloomington). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on neuronal gene expression in the lab of Dr. David Gottlieb in the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine.
Dr. Wyborski is currently the Director of IBD Ventures Investments at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation where he oversees a growing portfolio of therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, and digital health applications focused on improving IBD patients’ lives. He began his drug development career at Pfizer where he conducted preclinical research in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardiovascular, and inflammation. He led discovery programs in neurotrophic factors, nuclear receptors, and kinases. After his time at Pfizer, he led a research group in the consumer product field by developing products for skin care. Prior to coming to the Foundation, Russ was a Director of Technical Operations at BioMotiv, a start-up company which functioned as a Drug Development Accelerator in Cleveland, OH. In this role, he conducted technical diligence on potential new investments while leading a company (Koutif Therapeutics) through IND filing for an inhibitor of an E3 Ligase for Crohn’s Disease. He has consulted for several academic technology transfer offices at institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is passionate about accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for patient’s unmet needs.
Greg Lewis has over 21 years of working in the pharmaceutical marketing sector at large global agencies as well as small boutique shops. In 2019, he joined Calcium as President and Managing Partners – prior roles included Managing Partner at WPP’s Grey Health Group and President at Havas Health and You.
With a range of experience from biologics to toothpaste, and from large DTC-launched brands to specialty products, he has a keen understanding of the fundamentals needed to drive brand growth in today’s marketplace. He has acted as an integrated world-wide team lead on large global brands for J&J, Pfizer, and Bayer, yet he understands the nuances of becoming a trusted partner at more agile and entrepreneurial client organizations.
Greg has led multiple cross-functional marketing launches and campaigns including all on- and off-line professional promotion, medical education, pharmacy outreach, PR and DTC efforts. He likes to connect the dots and has served in lead integration roles as a Brand Chemist for JNJ’s anti-TNF Golimumab, a US Team Leader for Boehriger Ingelheim and as a Global Brand Leader over-seeing Pfizer’s Hematology portfolio.
Greg received a dual degree in marketing communications and political science from Villanova University. He has taken executive classes at the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth and the Harvard Business School. In 2017 and 2020, he was recognized as a Transformational Leader by PM360 and in 2020 was named as one of the 100 Most Inspiring People by Pharma Voice. He sits on two non-profit boards and lives in Mt Lakes, NJ with his wife and 5 children.