About
The transformative nature of synthetic biology is poised to revolutionize healthcare as we know it. From its crucial role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic to its groundbreaking success in curing life-threatening ailments like sickle cell anemia, synthetic biology is proving to be a beacon of hope in modern medicine. But this is merely the tip of the iceberg. In these sessions, we'll explore synthetic biology's pioneering possibilities: envisioning cells programmed to eradicate diseases, combating the impending menace of antibiotic resistance with re-engineered microbes, and proactively halting future pandemics. Beyond these, could we be on the cusp of unveiling groundbreaking therapies for mental health? As we delve deeper into the fusion of technology and biology, we discover that the bounds of what's achievable are only limited by our imagination. Join us in this journey as we uncover the limitless potential of biology in shaping a healthier, brighter future.
Speakers
Agenda
Agenda
Monday
May 05
Tuesday
May 06
A Critical Moment: How Pharma Can Save an Endangered Species
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The 450-million-year-old horseshoe crab stands at the center of a perfect storm in 2025. As demand for injectable drugs and vaccines skyrocket—from GLP-1 inhibitors to cancer therapies—pharmaceutical companies face a pivotal choice that will determine both the future of drug safety testing and the fate of these ancient marine creatures. This May, the U.S. Pharmacopeia officially recognizes synthetic alternatives as equal to horseshoe crab blood for endotoxin testing—marking a watershed moment for the industry and the endangered horseshoe crab. Join us to discover why industry leaders like Eli Lilly and GSK are racing to adopt recombinant alternatives that prove more reliable, safe, and cost-effective than traditional methods.
Turning Breakthrough Health Innovations into Real-World Impact
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The Bristol BioDesign Institute and Science Creates are at the heart of a rapidly growing ecosystem at the intersection of deep tech and synthetic biology. From engineered red blood cells revolutionizing targeted therapeutics to next-gen bacterial sensing for rapid, precise infection detection, the ecosystem is driving critical solutions to address our greatest global health challenges. Join this exclusive session to connect with the pioneers pushing the boundaries of synthetic biology innovation and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnering.
Strategic Alliances: How Pharma Thinks About Computational Drug Discovery Partnerships
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This session explores how pharma companies approach and build effective partnerships with computational drug discovery firms. Industry experts will share insights on best practices for data sharing, strategies for navigating cultural challenges with biotech and startups, and the role of explainable AI in fostering trust. The discussion will also cover common mistakes companies make when approaching pharma and the considerations around using proprietary algorithms versus open-source models to advance drug discovery.
Machine Learning and AI Tools to Guide Engineering of Human Therapeutics
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Join us for an in-depth look at how biotechnology leaders are harnessing machine learning and data-driven approaches to engineer novel human therapeutics right now—well beyond the “someday” promises of AI. In this session, experts from pioneering organizations will share real-world insights into using big data and advanced analytics to accelerate everything from target discovery to clinical development. Discover how these teams are unlocking fresh possibilities for personalized treatments, improving success rates, and shaping the future of human health through powerful, actionable applications of ML and AI.
Wednesday
May 07
Universal Immunity
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What if immunity wasn’t just personal—it was programmable, portable, and universal? This session explores the cutting edge of immunological engineering, converging rapid-response vaccine platforms, AI-designed antibody libraries, and global health deployment systems to build a world no longer vulnerable to pandemics. From biofoundry-enabled vaccine design to distributed manufacturing and last-mile delivery, the conversation will examine the technological, clinical, and infrastructural shifts needed to create scalable immune resilience—across pathogens, across borders, and across populations. Join us as we reimagine the immune system not as a biological lottery, but as an engineered global asset.
The Future of American Bioinnovation
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How does a nation turn bio-revolution headlines into hospital-ready cures? This conversation surveys the full innovation stack—from lab-bench breakthroughs in gene and cell therapies to the gritty realities of bioprocess scale-up, supply-chain resilience, and workforce training. We’ll unpack the manufacturing leaps required to mass-produce living tissues, explore emerging automation that slashes cost and variability, and ask what policies, public-private partnerships, and investment models can keep America at the cutting edge of regenerative medicine. Expect a candid look at the roadblocks ahead—quality-control analytics, raw-material bottlenecks, reimbursement hurdles—and the bold engineering solutions poised to overcome them.
Reprogramming Drug Delivery: How Synthetic Biology is Unlocking the Next Generation of Therapeutics
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Synthetic biology is redefining drug delivery, enabling breakthroughs in precision, targeting, and bioavailability. But what does synthetic biology really mean in this space? This panel brings together a diverse group of entrepreneurs and pharmaceutical leaders to discuss how they integrate synthetic biology to overcome key delivery challenges. Panelists will also explore the strategic questions of building a drug delivery company: Should they develop their own therapeutics or partner with pharma? How do they avoid commoditization and create lasting value? Join us for a dynamic discussion at the intersection of science and strategy in next-generation drug delivery.
The Living Future: How SynBio, Genomics, and Regenerative Medicine are Transforming Human Health
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Synthetic biology is blurring the lines between biology and technology, unlocking breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, biofabrication, and personalized healthcare. This panel brings together leading innovators who are shaping the future of human health. Join this session to explore the role of multidisciplinary technologies in healthcare. Understand how genomics, synthetic biology, and regenerative medicine are personalizing treatment and examine the ethical and practical challenges in deploying next-gen biotechnologies.
Thursday
May 08
A Rallying Call to Work on Longevity
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In this keynote, Peter Diamandis, will issue a rallying call to redefine how we think about aging and harness the synergy of biotech, AI, and bold thinking to push the boundaries of healthy lifespan extension. He will draw on insights from The Longevity Insider’s Guide to present transformative solutions poised to disrupt the healthcare landscape. He will spotlight how entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors can join forces to accelerate breakthroughs and overcome the most urgent challenges in aging. By shifting from scarcity to possibility, he will show how collective innovation can usher in an era of unprecedented longevity, redefining what it means to thrive at every stage of life.
SynBio Solutions: Fast-Tracking Vaccines and Personalized Medicine for Global Health
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This session will highlight the critical role synthetic biology plays in developing vaccines, a need highlighted by the global health crisis. This conversation will also expand on vaccine development within the cancer community and speak to advancements within personalized medicine. Our expert panel will discuss the latest advancements in synthetic biology that enable faster, more effective vaccine production, crucial for responding to emerging and specialty diseases. This session will also cover various cancer vaccines and the possible use of the N of 1 study. Attendees will gain insights into people designing human vaccines using various bioinformatics tools and learn best practices to get vaccines more rapidly approved through the FDA.
