This panel will delve into how AI/ML technologies, coupled with biological and patient-derived data, are unlocking new possibilities in the fight against some of the most challenging diseases. Our panel features distinguished leaders at the forefront of drug discovery transformation who bring unique perspectives from their groundbreaking work in AI/ML-driven biotech, genomics, and neuroscience. They will share insights into recent breakthroughs, challenges, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field. This includes a deep dive into how cutting-edge computational tools are being used to develop predictive models for tracking the future risk of neurodegenerative disorders, apply large-scale foundation models for interpreting the sequence of the human genome, and leverage evolutionary insights from diverse mammals to develop new drugs for humans.
 

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with pioneers in the field, network with like-minded professionals, and be part of a conversation that is shaping the future of early-stage drug development. This event is expected to sell out; please register early. No on-site registrations will be available. Ticket includes non-alcoholic drinks and light appetizers.

Program

6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Check-in and networking
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Panel discussion
7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Q&A and networking

Speaker Bios

Christin Glorioso, MD, PhD, CEO & Co-founder of NeuroAge Therapeutics

Dr. Glorioso is a physician-scientist and co-founder and CEO of NeuroAge Therapeutics, a longevity techbio company that is creating therapies to and biomarkers for reprogramming brain aging. She was previously Head of AI of the Stanford spin-out TeachAids and Chief Strategist of the Bakar Aging Research Institute. Dr. Glorioso completed her postdoctoral training at MIT and holds an MD and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and CMU Medical Scientist Training Program. 

Avantika Lal, PhD, Principal ML Scientist at Genentech

Dr. Avantika Lal is a Principal Scientist in the department of Biology Research and AI Development at Genentech (Roche). Previously, she held senior research positions at Insitro and NVIDIA and was a postdoctoral fellow in Genetics at Stanford University. The focus of her research is developing large-scale foundation models to interpret the sequence of the human genome. She hopes to use these models to understand the mechanisms that link human genetic variation to phenotypes, and to discover novel drug targets for critical diseases.

Lauren Schiff, PhD, Associate Director at BigHat Biosciences

Lauren is a scientific leader at the intersection of drug discovery, automated high-throughput platform development, and machine learning. She is an Associate Director at BigHat Biosciences, focusing on scaling BigHat’s antibody platform, which combines a high-speed wet lab and machine learning models. Prior to joining BigHat, Lauren led drug discovery programs and platform development at Eikon Therapeutics, insitro, and Google. Lauren holds a PhD from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, an MS from the University of Sydney, Australia, and a BS from the University of Michigan.

Ashley Zehnder, MD, PhD, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fauna Bio

Ashley has been recognized for her work by the SF Business Times Women Who Lead in Life Sciences, an Emerging Woman Founder in Bio by the Wave Summit, as well as representing Fauna Bio for the Fortune AI Minute. She has spoken at numerous events promoting the use of AI and novel genomics in drug discovery and mentors early-stage founders through her work with On Deck Longevity Biotech and Nucleate Bio. She is a boarded avian veterinarian and her prior research focused on translational science, earning a PhD in cancer biology from Stanford. Her research works span >20 peer-reviewed publications, including Cell, Nature, and Nature Medicine.

Pricing Information

Register by September 19

• Members/Guests: $25
• Non-members*: $40

Register after September 19

• Members/Guests: $35
• Non-members*: $50

*Interested in joining Women In Bio? Click here to learn more about WIB membership and gain access to our video library, mentorship opportunities, and more. 

Please read WIB's Code of Conduct, In-Person Event Waiver, and Refund Policy.

Note: A confirmation email will be sent after registration has been completed. 

Maximum Capacity

75

Parking Information 
Free parking is available on-site at the Insitro parking lot.
 

Public Transit Information
From the South San Francisco BART station, take SamTrans 130 to the Grand Ave and Corporate Drive stop, then walk 0.6 miles to Insitro.

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