Philadelphia's Future of Innovation Founded on an Illustrious Past

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Philly Builds Bio+ 5th Annual Symposium for Life Science Innovation and Development

September 15, 2026

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At the Intersection of Life Sciences and Real Estate

Launched in 2018, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Builds Bio+ initially focused on the growth and development of the life science cluster in New York City, but its work now encompasses the Greater NY Metro area (which includes New York City and surrounding counties of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.) In 2022, Builds Bio+ held the first annual Symposium in Philadelphia.

Philly Builds Bio+: Inaugural Symposium for Life Science Innovation and Development was designed to bring the life science and real estate communities together around the key drivers of the life science industry in Philadelphia (its opportunity and potential), and the opportunities and challenges of life science real estate development in the region.

The Symposium concluded with the introduction of a new membership and programming initiative, called Philly Builds Bio+ led by leading members of the Philly life science and real estate development community.

Become a Member

Philly Builds Bio+ Symposiums:

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Philly Builds Bio+ works to educate and increase the visibility of commercial life sciences opportunities through events, research, reports, and educational programs in the Philadelphia area.

View a moving documentary about the revolutionary technologies being developed by scientists and doctors in Philadelphia entitled "Of Medicine and Miracles" (trailer) recently introduced at the Tribeca Film Festival

VIDEOS

Philly Builds Bio+ Symposium

A Special Full-Day Conference for Life Science, Design and Real Estate Professionals

The speakers at the Philly Builds Bio+ Symposium include prominent leaders from the academic and life sciences sector and life science real estate development community, focusing on new voices that had not yet been heard in Philly's life science conversations in order to offer new information and a new perspective. The Symposium has taken place annually since 2022.

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Steering Committee

Nancy Kelley - Nancy J Kelley and Associates - Builds Bio founding member
Nancy J Kelley

Nancy J Kelley
+ Associates

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Mitch-Simpler - Builds Bio+
Mitch W. Simpler

Jaros, Baum
& Bolles

Hunter Roberts Construction logo - Builds Bio Founding member
Jonathan L Mechanic - Builds Bio+
Jonathan L. Mechanic

Fried Frank

Fried Frank logo - Builds Bio Founding member
James-McKenna - Builds Bio+
James C. McKenna

Hunter Roberts
Construction Group

Hunter Roberts Construction logo - Builds Bio Founding member
John Sabey - Builds Bio+
John Sabey

Sabey Datacenter
Properties

Sabey Data Centers - logo

Philly Builds Bio+
Steering Committee

Looking to get involved with Philly Builds Bio+? Join a leadership Committee!

Builds Bio+ Leadership Committees are locally-focused, multidisciplinary groups of professionals involved in real estate development (developers, building owners, brokers, lawyers and financial institutions, architects, construction and engineering firms, permitting firms, consultants), as well as key players in the life science industry (individual investors, venture capitalists, CEOs, pharma, entrepreneurs, executives, potential tenants), community leaders and policy makers at the State and local level.

Joining one of our Leadership Committees means you're committing to meet monthly to develop/work on your Leadership Committee's Agenda, share best practices, updates and industry news, and collaborate on events/programming to help drive a community of engagement.

Contact Us to Learn More
NY Metro Builds Bio events 1
Nancy J Kelley - Philly Builds Bio Steering Committee
Nancy J Kelley

Founding Member, Builds Bio+
President & CEO,
Nancy J Kelley + Associates

Mitch Simpler - Philly Builds Bio Steering Committee
Mitchel W. Simpler

Builds Bio+
Founding Member
JB&B, Partner Emeritus

Laurie Actman - Philly Builds Bio Steering Committee
Laurie Actman

PennCenter for Innovation @UPenn, Chief Marketing & Communications Program Officer

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Amy Armstrong

Senior Event Specialist
IPS - Integrated Project Services

Melina Blees - Philly Builds Bio Steering Committee
Melina Blees

BioLabs Philadelphia
Site Director

Tracy Brala Philly Builds Bio
Tracy Brala

University Science Center
Senior Vice President
Strategy & Partnerships

Steven Eberling - Philly Builds Bio Committee
Steven E. Eberling

IPS Integrated Project Services
Executive Vice President

Rebecca L Grant - Philly Builds Bio Steering Committee
Rebecca L Grant

City of Philadelphia
DVM, Director, Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Department of Commerce

Eric Hacherl -Philly Builds Bio Committee
Eric Hacherl, PhD


Kyttaro Therapeutics
Chief Operating Officer

Louis P Kassa III- Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
Louis P. Kassa, III, MPA

Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and PA Biotechnology Center
Chief Executive Officer

John Pennett - Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
John Pennett

EisnerAmper
Partner in Charge – Technology and Life Sciences Practice

Tom Piombino Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
Tom J. Piombino, PE

IPS-Integrated Project Services
Managing Director, Americas

Ellen Sisle Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
Ellen Sisle

Jacobs
Science & Research Global Principal

Lee Tetreault Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
Lee Tetreault

Safety Partners
Director, Sales and Marketing

Nelson Way - Philly Builds Bio Symposium Steering Committee
Nelson Way

Ensemble
Director, Leasing & Development

Leadership Committee
Chairs and Secretaries

Membership & Planning

NYC Builds Bio+ (NYCBB+) aspires to educate an integrated base of real estate and life science professionals, increase the visibility of commercial life science opportunities, and grow life science real estate development in the Greater New York Metro Area and beyond.

Our members are a critical resource in helping to achieve these goals. This Committee will work to support members and expand membership while identifying topics and services important to members. NYCBB+ connects commercial life science opportunities to the Greater New York Metro’s real estate development community through events, research, reports and educational programs.

The Membership and Planning Committee will also help to organize and implement these activities as well as identify issues of importance and concern for the community.

Meeting Time:

Second Wednesday of each month at 11 am
Monthly Meeting Minutes

Co-Chairs:
  • Bill Brody, Vice President, Henegan Construction Co
    - bbrody@henegan.com
  • Laura Gallo, Director of Marketing, Brand & Growth, Group PMx - lgallo@grouppmx.com

Academic Medical Institutions

Over the last 20 years, much of the new life science development in New York City has been undertaken by the major academic and medical institutions, expanding the footprint of life sciences in the City, providing life science infrastructure and building spectacular new life science environments that are shaping the way research and healthcare delivery will be done in the future. The NYC Builds Bio Academic Institutions Committee will work to foster relationships between academic institutions in the Greater New York Metro area and the local life science community to create opportunities for knowledge sharing and to help bridge the gap between institutional research, commercial technology development, and life science real estate development.

Meeting Time:

First Monday of each month at 4 pm
Monthly Meeting Minutes

Co-Chairs:
  • Trevor Boz, PE, PMP, LEED, AP, Senior Vice President, WSP - trevor.boz@wsp.com
  • Raquel Diaz, Senior Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company - rdiaz@gilbaneco.com
  • David Schwartz, Regional Leader for Science and Technology, HOK - david.schwartz@hok.com

Interested in
becoming a member?

Get information about membership levels

Builds Bio+ Goals

  • Identify and promote the areas amenable to life science development

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  • Increase knowledge and awareness of trends in life sciences

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  • Encourage interest in and knowledge about the benefits of retrofitting existing real estate from office into life science space

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  • Foster and promote a collaborative exchange between life sciences, design and real estate professionals

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  • Expand professional and public awareness of the economic and social benefits of life science employment

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  • Support public policies that will advance the life sciences and life science development industries

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  • Hold a range of workshops, meetings and events to discuss these issues

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