Join us for our panel discussion focused on why the Midwest is emerging as a leading hub for sustainable life sciences innovation. We'll explore the strategies for commercializing therapeutics, medical devices, and health IT in a competitive global market. We'll also discuss how to structure BD&L deals that provide both capital and long-term viability. Get best practices for navigating the IPO and M&A process and find out what buyers are looking for in 2026.

Program

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.  Networking
6:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Opening Remarks
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Panel
7:30 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.  Closing Remarks
7:40 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Networking

Speaker Bios

Meesha Dogan, PhD, CEO of Cardio Diagnostics

Dr. Dogan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cardio Diagnostics, a precision medicine company specializing in integrated genetic and epigenetic cardiovascular tests. A pioneer in the application of ML/ AI to molecular data, she holds a PhD in biomedical engineering and is an inventor on multiple patents for heart disease detection technology. Her work has been recognized by Fast Company and Nature for its potential to transform cardiac care. She led Cardio Diagnostics through the launch of their IPO in 2022  in order to develop and commercialize clinical tests by leveraging a proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Integrated Genetic-Epigenetic Engine for improving prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Mackenzie Hagey, Vice President of Portfolio and Program Strategy at Vanqua Bio

Mackenzie is the Vice President of Portfolio and Program Strategy at Vanqua Bio, where she focuses on developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. With a deep background in clinical operations and project management, she previously held leadership roles at Harpoon Therapeutics, Alector, and Gilead Sciences. She holds a degree in biochemistry from UCLA and is an expert in navigating complex drug development pipelines. She has supported the programs and teams that enabled the licensing agreement between Vanqua and Biogen of the peripherally-directed C5aR1 program for a $70 million upfront payment and follow-on milestones up to $0.99B.

Julia Monfrini Peev, Managing Partner at PACE Healthcare Capital

Julia is the founder of PACE Healthcare Capital, an early-stage investment fund focused on healthcare tech and digital health businesses. Daughter of entrepreneurs, she is passionate about building successful businesses solving critical issues in healthcare. Before starting PACE, Julia was a Director at CDPQ, Canada’s second largest pension plan with over $275B of AUM, where she co-led direct private equity investments in the healthcare sector in North America and LATAM. Prior to joining CDPQ, Julia was a partner at Blue Hill Capital Ventures, providing consulting services to PE funds and their healthcare portfolio companies, and also worked at Monitor Clipper Partners (“MCP”), a $2B mid-market PE fund investing in founder-led businesses in North America and Europe. Julia started her career at Merrill Lynch, in Leveraged Finance and then Healthcare M&A. Julia holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School where she was the recipient of the Marguerite Carriere fellowship and A.L. Littauer award. She also earned a master's in management from ESCP Europe.

Casey Qadir, Founder & CEO of Hubly Surgical

Casey is the Founder and CEO of Hubly Surgical, where she led the development and commercial launch of a patented, FDA-cleared auto-stopping cranial drill (Hubly Drill) designed to prevent accidental brain injury during surgery. A former neuroscience researcher and a Northwestern CLP Scholar and software engineer at JPMorgan Chase, she combines technical expertise with a mission-driven approach to neurotechnology medical devices. She was recently recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her impact on the healthcare industry.

Ritu Shah, CEO of ClostraBio

Ritu is a seasoned biotech executive with over 20 years of experience in drug development and strategic portfolio management. Currently Ritu serves as the CEO of ClostraBio and she specializes in scaling early-stage life science startups toward successful funding and acquisitions. Her track record includes leadership roles at Pyxis Oncology and Shire (now Takeda), where she managed billion-dollar immunology portfolios. At ClostraBio she is now overseeing the commercial launch of their unique probiotic called CLB101™ as a dietary supplement for various applications related to maintaining and promoting gut health.

Rachel Strick, Vice President of Business Development & Acquisitions at AbbVie

Rachel serves as the Vice President of Business Development & Acquisitions for AbbVie, overseeing the Immunology, Specialty, and Eye Care platforms. She is a key architect of the company’s external innovation strategy, leading high-stakes licensing and acquisition deals to bolster AbbVie’s pharmaceutical pipeline. Before joining AbbVie, she built her strategic expertise in consulting at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Pricing Information

• Members: Free
• Non-Members*: $15

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

Maximum Capacity

100