The MIT Startup Exchange Lightning Talks listed below are part of the full agenda for 2024 MIT Tokyo Life Science Symposium.
Innovation in healthcare and biotechnology is accelerating through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data, alongside technological advances in regenerative medicine and gene delivery. The 2024 MIT Tokyo Life Science Symposium, co-hosted with LINK-J, will feature MIT faculty and MIT-connected startups speaking on the latest healthcare technologies that will enable new treatments for cancers, metabolic disorders, genetic diseases, and more.
Topics will include advances in DNA nanotechnology and synthetic biology, alongside the implications for pharmaceutical and synthetic biology applications. The role of sophisticated AI tools for identifying new drug candidates will be explored, as well as cutting-edge Machine Learning models that couple drug efficacy with synthesis and manufacturing considerations. A key focus will include biomanufacturing breakthroughs, from advanced reactor systems to the design of pilot-scale continuous manufacturing approaches for mRNA therapeutics.
Attendees can take advantage of this opportunity to explore collaboration potential and network with academic leaders, healthcare providers, and global industry partners.
Founder, Biomixing
Ines Herrero is a mathematician with a Ph.D. in Business Management, combining quantitative expertise with strategic insight. With a strong background in fostering relationships between academia and industry, she offers a unique perspective on interdisciplinary collaborations. Having spearheaded the inception of three successful startups, her entrepreneurial spirit continues to fuel innovation at Biomixing, driving advancements in this cutting-edge field. Ines epitomizes the integration of academic knowledge and practical application, bridging the gap between theory and real-world outcomes.
Co-Founder and CEO, Kano Therapeutics
Floris is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kano Therapeutics, a biotech startup enabling cell and gene therapies based in Cambridge, MA. She holds a PhD in Biophysics from the Technical University of Munich, focusing on DNA nanotechnology. She started the company based on her postdoctoral research work in Mark Bathe’s BatheBioNano lab at MIT. Floris was awarded MIT’s 2020 Innovative Woman in Entrepreneurship Award, the Activate Global fellowship, Pillar VCs Founder to Watch in Biotech Award 2021, The Wave Summit 21 Emerging Woman Founders Award, and most recently, the Termeer Fellowship for first-time CEOs.
CEO, Quantiscope
Kevin Christopher, JD/MBA, is the dynamic CEO of Quantiscope, known as a pioneering force in AI-driven solutions for drug discovery and biomanufacturing. With a distinguished background in law, business, and technology, Kevin brings a multifaceted perspective to his role. Operating from Salt Lake City's prestigious Altitude Lab, Kevin fosters an environment of excellence and collaboration, inspiring teams to push boundaries and achieve unprecedented breakthroughs.
Founder and CEO, Tiba Biotech
Karl Ruping is CEO and co-founder (with Jasdave Chahal and Christian Mandl) of Tiba Biotech, an MIT and Whitehead Institute venture focused on mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. He began his career as a patent attorney, specializing in international patent litigation and intellectual property licensing for both emerging ventures and global clients. Karl’s technical expertise includes bioinformatics, molecular modelling and large-scale computing.
Karl studied economics at Colby College, computer science at Temple University, and was a Research Fellow at MIT’s School of Engineering. He holds a juris doctorate from Boston University, after which he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. Today he is a member of the International Advisory Committee of Harvard’s Asia Center, and is an advisor to a number of MIT-related startups and student-led programs.
Disclaimer: MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.