8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

REGISTRATION, BREAKFAST, AND
INCUBATOR / EXHIBITOR INNOVATION HALL

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

WELCOME

SpeakerS:

• • Nancy J Kelley, JD/ MPP
    President & CEO, Nancy J Kelley + Associates
    Founding Member, Builds Bio+

• • Jamie Gauthier
    Councilmember, 3rd District, Philadelphia City Council

• • Rebecca L. Grant, DVM
    Senior Director, Life Sciences & Innovation,
    Department of Commerce, City of Philadelphia

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM

OPENING KEYNOTE: LEADING IN LIFE SCIENCES: BUILDING MOMENTUM IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA

Speaker:

• • Jonathan A. Epstein, MD
    The Robert G. Dunlop Professor; Dean, Perelman School of Medicine
    Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania Health System

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM

RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS EMERGING AS REVOLUTIONARY NEW CANCER THERAPY

SPEAKERS:

• • Colin G Miller, PhD, CEO, The Bracken Group
  • David Mankoff, MD. Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania; Associate Director for Education and Training, Abramson Cancer Center
  • Kathy Spencer-Pike, Chief Commercial Officer, Nucleas Radiopharma

The past two decades have brought a sea change in the way many types of cancer are treated and promise a transformation of radiation oncology in the next few years. Researchers are developing a new class of drugs called radiopharmaceuticals, which deliver radiation therapy directly and specifically to cancer cells. Philadelphia is a Center of Excellence for the development and commercialization of these treatments.

The last several years have seen an explosion of research and clinical trials testing new radiopharmaceuticals. These studies have suggested that targeting radiation therapy at the cellular level has the potential to reduce the risk of both short- and long-term side effects of treatment while at the same time enabling even tiny deposits of cancer cells to be killed throughout the body.

Due to their radioactive nature, radiopharmaceuticals are subject to strict regulations and are typically administered by specialists like nuclear medicine physicians.
Radiopharmaceuticals are produced through various methods, including nuclear fission, neutron reactions and the cyclotron method and require special facilities for both production and commercialization.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY’S MOST PROMISING NEW VENTURES

SPEAKERS:

• • Stephen G. Nappi, Associate Vice President, Technology Commercialization and Business Development, Temple University

REPRESENTATIVE COMPANIES:

• • Michael J. Cerminaro, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Thrombolex

    Thrombolex, Inc., is an early stage medical device manufacturer focused on the design and development of endovascular catheter-based therapies for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolic disorders. The Company has developed a pool of medtech based intellectual property ("IP") in partnership with Temple University Research Hospital. Thrombolex is in the process of commercializing this IP Portfolio and is focused on completing a 510(k) regulatory pathway with the FDA.

• • Justin D. Northrup, Principal Scientist, Head of R&D, ThirdLaw Molecular

    ThirdLaw Molecular Inc. has pioneered the development of a groundbreaking new platform for targeted drug discovery.  The mission of the Company is to create a revolutionary category of molecules that transform how diseases are diagnosed and treated – more safely and effectively.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

NETWORKING BREAK AND INCUBATOR/EXHIBITOR INNOVATION HALL

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

2025 WASHINGTON IN REVIEW AND THE “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL”

Moderator:

• • James C. Greenwood, Former Senior Policy Advisor, DLA Piper (Retired), Past President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (2005 – 2022) and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1993 – 2005)

SPEAKERS: 

• • Bridget Mackolin, Corporate Tax Senior Manager, EisnerAmper
  • Maria C. Tripplaar, Of Counsel, Ballard Spahr
  • Kevin Batche, Vice President, Procurement & Logistics, Senior Associate, IPS-Integrated Project Services
  • Anjali Rajadhyaksha, PhD, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Research; Professor, Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Get ahead of what’s coming with expert commentary on federal life science funding, tax implications for the biopharma and life sciences ecosystem and the impact of inflation on life science capital projects, amongst other things.

This session will cover the most impactful provisions of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a sweeping update to the U.S. tax code that builds on, extends and permanently alters many elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), as well as other developments in Washington since January, 2025.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

KEYNOTE: THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

Speakers:

• • Anyssa Lucena, Founder, Genuine Climbing
    Breast Cancer Survivor and AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide

"CLIMBING WAS THERE TO HELP ME FEEL STRONG AND CAPABLE AGAIN. EVERY TOUCH OF THE ROCK GAVE ME A GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT THINGS WERE GOING TO BE OK."

"THERE IS NO BETTER THERAPY OR TREATMENT FOR THE SOUL THAN SUNSHINE, COOL AIR, HIGH FREQUENCY COMPANY AND A ROPE. CLIMBING IS GOOD MEDICINE AND I'M WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR EVERYONE"

Anyssa has been climbing and guiding for over 15 years and strongly believes that climbing is a means to deeper healing and self-knowledge.  Anyssa was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2022 and was inspired to turn her challenging experience into something that can help other women.  Her cancer experience is a gift that she shares with other women, to help them know it’s going to be ok and to show them that it’s ok to feel disconnected and confused and still find their true, genuine selves at the end.

Genuine Climbing is dedicated to uplifting women both physically and emotionally by offering free rock climbing experiences for those affected by cancer.  Rock climbing helps heal women dealing with cancer because it combines physical exercise with mental empowerment. The physical activity helps build strength, endurance, and flexibility, which are essential for recovery. Mentally, the challenge of climbing fosters resilience and a sense of accomplishment, helping to shift focus away from the illness. Add in a supportive environment and the healing power of nature and you have the best and most fun treatment you will ever experience.

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM

NETWORKING LUNCH AND
INCUBATOR / EXHIBITOR INNOVATION HALL

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM

WELCOME TO THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS

• • Dr. Nina Ahmad, Councilmember At-Large, Philadelphia City Council

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

PHILADELPHIA HUB FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Speakers:

• • Nelson Way, Vice President, Leasing and Development, Ensemble
  • Sumit Verma, Co-Founder & Partner, Orchestra Life Sciences
  • Thomas J. Piombino, Managing Director, Americas, IPS-Integrated Project Services

Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger recently visited the Philadelphia Navy Yard to highlight a $30 million investment through the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program. The funding supports the development of the Philadelphia Navy Yard Greenway District, helping to transform 54 acres into shovel-ready sites for advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and commercial use that will help grow Pennsylvania’s economy, foster innovation, and create jobs. The investment in Philadelphia is part of the Governor’s first round of PA SITES funding — a total of $64 million awarded to 11 strategic sites across the Commonwealth.

The $30 million grant awarded to Ensemble/Mosaic Navy Yard LLC will fund utility infrastructure, soil excavation, grading, and stormwater management to develop the Greenway District — accelerating a transformative redevelopment at one of Philadelphia’s most strategic business campuses. This work will prepare six lots for up to 700,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing and commercial space — part of a broader $6 billion redevelopment effort expected to generate 12,000 new jobs.  https://navyyard.org/blog/navy-yard-awarded-30-million-from-pa-sites-program-to-drive-job-growth-and-economic-development/

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

NIIMBL’S PROJECT BLACKHAWK: TRANSPORTABLE BIOMANUFACTURING FOR NATIONAL READINESS

SPEAKERS:

• • Eric Hacherl, PhD, Viral Vector Program Lead, NIIMBL
  • Thomas J. Piombino, Managing Director, Americas, IPS-Integrated Project Services
  • Mason Gibbs, PMP, Sr. Project Manager, Planning and Project Delivery, University of Delaware

Led by the University of Delaware through the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), Project Blackhawk pioneers a modular, pod-based approach to plasmid DNA manufacturing. This initiative demonstrates the feasibility of constructing GMP-capable facilities that are mobile, rapidly deployable, and adaptable to minimal infrastructure environments. Designed to surge biomanufacturing capacity in response to public health emergencies, Project Blackhawk exemplifies NIIMBL’s mission to de-risk and accelerate innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing while strengthening the U.S. workforce and economy.

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

PHILADELPHIA LEADS HIV CURE RESEARCH

SPEAKERS:

• • Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil
    Co-principal Investigator, iCure
    Institute EVP and Founding Director
    HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, The Wistar Institute
    

• • Drew Weissman, MD, PhD
    Co-principal Investigator, iCure
    2023 Nobel Laureate
    Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The HIV Cure and Viral Disease Center strives to transform scientific discoveries into real-world solutions that improve global health by advancing innovative, cutting-edge research in viral diseases and immunology to uncover future therapeutic targets and cure HIV and other viral infections.  The Center is housed in a new $24 million, 25,000 sq ft Wistar North Campus at University City.

In August, 2025, The Wistar Institute announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted a five-year, $17 million research award to launch iCure Consortium, a Philadelphia-based consortium of more than 95 leading HIV researchers co-led by Dr. Montaner and Dr. Weissman.  The goal of the iCure Consortium is to advance strategies to cure HIV through tailored personalized medicine.

Other institutions participating in this study include Johns Hopkins Medicine and iCure co-principal investigator Robert Siliciano, M.D., Ph.D., the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia FIGHT, the Ragon Institute at Harvard University, George Washington University, Duke University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

RECEPTION AND INCUBATOR/ EXHIBIT INNOVATION HALL