Conference Report: Community, Innovation, Impact

This April, NYSCF convened biomedical leaders from across academia, industry, government and non-profits to discuss cutting-edge research at the 19th annual NYSCF Conference. This year’s conference, held for the first time at Hunter College, empowered scientists to share their work and build new collaborations.

AI in Biomedicine

With AI already revolutionizing science research, pioneers at the intersection of AI and biomedicine met for a timely exploration of how AI technology can accelerate the quest for cures. Moderated by Endpoints News’ Senior Biopharma Correspondent Andrew Dunn, the panel featured: Anastasia Gamick, Convergent Research; Grant Mitchell, MD, Every Cure; Justin Scheer, PhD, Johnson & Johnson; and Vega Shah, PhD, NVIDIA. Their conclusion: AI is poised to transform robotic automation and drug discovery.

Breaking into Biotech

Launching a new biotech requires determination, financing, and big ideas. That was the conclusion shared by experienced leaders in the VC and biotech startup space. Matthew Herper of STAT News moderated a discussion featuring Karen Heidelberger, Deerfield Management; John Mendlein, PhD, Flagship Pioneering; Viq Pervaaz, NYC Economic Development Corporation; and Carlo Rizzuto, PhD, Versant Ventures. Audience members honed in on the balance of profit and public good in biomedical research and asked how entrepreneurial researchers can best fund their dream startups.

Poster Session

Over 100 scientists presented their exciting research at our cocktail poster reception. Poster sessions are a crucial opportunity for informal discussion between researchers at different institutions, leading to innovative ideas and bold new collaborations.

Life Sciences Driving Economic Development in NYC

Andrew Kimball, President and CEO of the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), opened the conference with remarks highlighting the crucial investments NYCEDC has made in New York’s biomedical infrastructure. These investments are fueling NYC’s rapid emergence as a global leader in biomedical research.

“NYCEDC is excited with the work that NYSCF is leading on how to use AI and machine learning, to discover new therapies for debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and macular degeneration.”

-NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball

Susan L. Solomon Memorial Keynote Address

NYSCF–Robertson Investigator alumna Paola Arlotta, PhD (Golub Family Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University) delivered the Susan L. Solomon memorial lecture. Dr. Arlotta captivated the audience with unpublished data on her groundbreaking ‘chimeroids’ (mini-brains made from the cells of multiple patients.) Her lab is using chimeroids to study how different the brain cells of different people respond to treatments in different ways.

Immunology

Type 1 diabetes researcher Sonja Schrepfer, MD, PhD (Sana Biotechnology) revealed that they can now engineer insulin producing cells that avoid the immune system. These cells were transplanted into humans and show stable insulin production, providing hope for a type 1 diabetes treatment that doesn’t require immune suppression.

Neurological Disorders

Marina Breshteyn, PhD (Neurona Therapeutics) discussed her groundbreaking research on a stem cell treatment for epilepsy. Researchers at Neurona create stem cells from blood, then turn these stem cells into neurons which are implanted into epilepsy patients. Dr. Bershteyn showed promising preliminary clinical data.