Alan Colman, Executive Director
Singapore Stem Cell Consortium, Singapore

In July 2007, Alan Colman took the post of Executive Director of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium and Principal Investigator at the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology, having  been with ES Cell International (ESI) since April 2002 (first CSO and then CEO).   His main interests concern basic research into stem cells and the translation of that research into the clinic.  Alan Colman obtained a BA degree in Biochemistry in Oxford (1971) and a PhD under John Gurdon, a pioneer of the field of nuclear transfer, at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK (1974). After a series of academic appointments in Oxford and Warwick Universities, he became Professor of Biochemistry in the University of Birmingham, UK. The focus of his academic career was the area of eucaryotic protein secretion, with a particular emphasis on the use of frog oocytes and eggs as in vivo test tubes.  From 1987 until March 2002, he was research director of the company PPL Therapeutics in Edinburgh, UK.  This company specialized in the production of transgenic livestock that produced human therapeutic proteins in their milk   PPL attracted considerable media attention because of their participation, together with the Roslin Institute, in the technique of somatic nuclear transfer.  This work led to Dolly, the world’s first sheep cloned from an adult somatic cell (1996), Polly and Molly, the first cloned transgenic livestock (1997),  Diana and Cupid, the first livestock with targeted genetic changes (2000), Millie et al., the first cloned pigs (2000) and, finally, Austin and crew, the first homozygous, alpha gal transferase knock out pigs (2003)

Alan Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer
Novocell, USA

Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., joined Novocell in February 2006 as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director. Prior to Novocell, Dr. Lewis served as CEO and Director of Signal Pharmaceuticals before its acquisition in 2000 by Celgene, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule drugs for cancer and immunological diseases. He then served as President of the Signal Research Division at Celgene. Dr. Lewis previously held the position of Vice President of Research at Wyeth-Ayerst, where he spent 15 years leading research efforts in diabetes, CNS, cardiovascular, inflammatory, allergy, and bone metabolism diseases. Dr. Lewis currently serves as a Director of BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., and Cytochroma, Inc. He holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Wales in Cardiff and completed his postdoctoral training at Yale University.

Alejandro A Aruffo, VP Global Pharmaceutical Development
Abbott Bioresearch Center, USA

Dr. Alejandro Aruffo is vice president, Global Pharmaceutical Development.  Previously, he served as vice president, Abbott Immunology R&D and president, Abbott Bioresearch Center.  Aruffo joined Abbott in 2002 and was appointed to his current role in April 2005.  Prior to joining Abbott, Aruffo served in a number of positions of increasing responsibility at Bristol-Myers Squibb, including vice president of Cardiovascular and Metabolics Drug Discovery, vice president, Immunology, Inflammation, Pulmonary and Dermatology Drug Discovery and director of the Departments of Inflammation and Cellular Interactions.

Aruffo has authored 182 research articles, 30 review articles and is listed as a co-inventor on 28 scientific patents. He received bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of    Washington in Seattle and his doctorate in biophysics from Harvard University.  

Andre Wan, Deputy Executive Director
Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

The BMRC oversees the biomedical research institutes of A*STAR at Biopolis, supports biomedical research in the universities and hospitals through competitive grants, coordinates thematic biomedical research activities across public sector agencies in Singapore and develops collaborations with local and international research partners.

Prior to joining A*STAR in Nov 2004, Dr. Wan worked in the Ministry of Health (MOH) headquarters where he held appointments as Deputy Director, Health Services Development; Director, Professional Standards and Development; and Director, Health Regulation. His previous scope of work included planning of national disease control programmes, policies for training and registration of healthcare professionals, licensing of healthcare institutions, quality improvement of clinical services, traditional and complementary medicine, laboratory biosafety and regulation of biomedical research.

Dr Wan graduated in 1988 with an MBBS degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He received his Master of Medicine (M.Med) in Public Health from NUS in 1994. In 1998, he was awarded an MOH fellowship for training in health promotion programme planning and evaluation, which he pursued at various centres in the USA, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore under the Chapter of Public Health Physicians. 

Ansbert Gadicke, Founder & General Partner
MPM Group, USA

Dr Gadicke originally trained as a physician and subsequently held post-doctoral research positions at Harvard University and MIT. To gain business experience, Dr Gadicke then spent three years as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked with top management from pharmaceutical, diagnostic, biotechnology and health insurance companies, in the areas of business strategy, pharmaceutical product development, marketing, company valuation and acquisitions.

In 1992, Dr Gadicke left BCG & founded MPM. For some time, MPM continued part of the work Gadicke had done at BCG, ultimately recruiting one of its clients, Dr. Michael Steinmetz, the global head of Biotechnology at Hoffmann-LaRoche, to join the firm and to help raise the first venture fund, BioVentures I, in 1997. Nobel laureate, Dr. David Baltimore, was then recruited as the chair of the medical and scientific advisory board.

MPM capital is now one of the world's largest dedicated investors in life sciences with committed capital of more than $2.5 billion. MPM is uniquely structured to invest globally in healthcare innovation. In addition to its BioVentures family of venture capital funds, MPM invests in the public markets through its BioEquities hedge fund.

Arnd Hoeveler, Head of Unit – Health Biotechnology,Directorate General for Research
European Commission, Europe

Arnd Hoeveler received his PhD from the Institute of Genetics at the University of Cologne. In 1991 he was awarded a full Professorship in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in France. He served several positions in France before joining the Research Directorate at the European Commission in 1996. Between 2001 and 2006 he served as Head of Unit, covering Infectious Diseases, and led several European programmes dealing with HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

In October 2006 he took charge of the European Commission's Health Biotechnology programme, dealing with Diagnostics, Regenerative Medicine, Animal Replacement Strategies, Child Health, and the Innovative Medicine Initiative. He is a board member of the European Federation of Immunological Societies and serves on several International Advisory Boards.

Brian Salmon, Chairman and Managing Director
Austrianova Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore

Chris Mason, Director, Stem Cell + Regenerative Medicine Bioprocessing Unit, Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, University College London, UK

Dr. Chris Mason is a recognised leader in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. His particular interest is facilitating the realistic translation of the fantastic discoveries made in the laboratory into effective and affordable therapies that will benefit patients, the NHS and in the process create a successful UK industry.

Originally graduating from Imperial College with a degree in molecular biology and St. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School with a medical degree, Chris then specialised in surgery. Chris is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. In addition, he has a PhD in Biochemical Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Peter Dunnill (UCL). Today, Chris leads the Regenerative Medicine Bioprocess Group of 20 researchers in the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering at UCL. The research group focuses on the vital aspect of the translation of stem cell and regenerative medicine science into routine clinical practice. In order to achieve this goal, the group has multiple collaborations throughout the stem cell community including leading scientists, clinicians, companies and government organisations.

In order to encourage active participation of all the future key players required to build a successful UK sector, Chris together with Dr. Stephen Minger (King’s College London), founded the London Regenerative Medicine Network (LRMN). The LRMN is the world’s largest network of its kind. Since its launch in early 2005, it has hosted over 60 international speakers, plus well in excess of 6,000 people have attended the regular monthly meetings including scientists, clinicians, reporters, politicians, industrialists and patient groups. In addition, Chris is a member of the Steering Committee of the UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN), member of the MRC Stem Cell Clinical Liaison Committee, sits on the Editorial Boards of the journals, “Regenerative Medicine” and “Tissue Engineering” and was the Mission Leader of the DTI funded Global Watch Mission “Advanced Cell & Tissue Therapies” which visited the West Coast of North America in September 2006.

Christopher Bravery, Pharmaceutical Assessor, Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), UK

Christopher Bravery is currently a Pharmaceutical Assessor in the biologicals and biotechnology unit, licensing Division at the MHRA where he undertakes quality assessment of new biological medicines as well as variations to existing licenses the majority being via the Centralised procedure administered by the EMEA. Further duties at the MHRA include assessment of clinical trials applications and scientific advice. Christopher also undertakes scientific advice for the EMEA, and is a member of the cell products working party. Previous employment includes over 8 years R&D experience in biotech, including creation of transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation at Imutran Ltd (owned by Novartis) and a range of cell therapy products at Intercytex Ltd. Christopher has a PhD in transplantation immunology from Imperial College London

Enrico Bastianelli, Chief Executive Officer
Bone Therapeutics, Belgium

Dr Bastianelli has acquired a broad pharmaceutical industry experience in fields such as Sales & Marketing, R&D, Licensing, Corporate Development and Strategy. He started his career in the Pathology Department of the Erasmus University Hospital in Belgium, before joining Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals in 1996, where he was involved with the marketing of ethical and over-the-counter drugs in the field of bone diseases. In 1999, he went on to become a Consultant for McKinsey & Co, where he spent most of his time on strategic and organizational missions for major pharmaceutical as well as for biotechnology companies all over Europe. From its creation in 2002 until mid-2006, Dr Bastianelli has worked as VP Corporate Development for ProSkelia, the Aventis spin-out focused on bone diseases and hormone disorders, who became ProStrakan, after the merger with Strakan, a Scottish specialty pharma company.  As a member of the executive committee, he was responsible for the management of the R&D portfolio, resources allocation and planning, alliances and collaborations and downstream integration. He was one of the main contributors to the merger with Strakan. Since June 2006, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics SA, a Belgian-based Cell Therapy company, specialized in Bone Diseases.

Edward A Madden, Associate Director & International Counsel
Biogen Idec, Switzerland

Edward is based in Zug, Switzerland where he acts as associate director and international counsel with Biogen Idec responsible for assisting the groups development in Asia Pacific. Edward joined Biogen Idec after having previously acted as director of the award winning Intellectual Property Department within Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd in Bangkok Thailand. Prior to joining Biogen Idec, Edward also spearheaded a number of groundbreaking patent litigation cases before the Thai courts and also led the defence of compulsory licence attempts by the Thai government against patents held by Merck & Co, Abbott Laboratories and sanofiaventis. He has advised various industry representative and government bodies such PReMA, the European Commission and the United States Trade Representative. Recognised as an AsiaLaw regional expert in the field of IP in 2006 and 2007, Edward has published extensively on IP and pharmaceutical related topics.

Gordon Binder, Managing Director, Coastview Capital, USAFounder & former CEO, Amgen Inc, USA

Gordon Binder, founder and former CEO of California-based Amgen, is among biotech’s most respected business minds, owing to his shepherding of Amgen to the world’s largest biotech today. Under his leadership, the breakthrough recombinant human erythropoietin (Epogen), treatment for anemia in kidney disease patients, became the biotech industry’s blockbuster product with sales surpassing $2 billion in 2001.

Mr Binder has been chairman of both BIO and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and he is currently on the boards of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the California Institute of Technology and the American Enterprise Institute. In 2000, Mr Binder retired from Amgen but his clear biotech vision combined with his sharp financial mind led him to another new chapter in his career as he founded Coastview Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in biotech companies, where is he is currently Managing Director. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the biotech business, he won the 2005 Global Leadership Award by Biotechnology Roundtable.

Greg Bonfiglio, Managing Partner
Proteus Ventures, USA

Mr. Bonfiglio is the Founder & Managing Partner of Proteus Venture Partners - a new fund focused solely on regenerative medicine.   He is in the process of raising the investment capital for that Fund.   Proteus will invest in the leading private companies in cell therapies, tissue engineering, and aesthetic medicine.   Proteus also will invest in companies making the devices that will enable regenerative medicine therapies, as well as companies using stem cells as in vitro tools for drug discovery and development. Mr. Bonfiglio was an early investor in the field of stems cell & regenerative medicine companies.  From 2000 – 2005, Mr. Bonfiglio was a General Partner with Anthem Venture Partners – an early stage venture fund in California.   Anthem funded Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC.OB) in 2000, and Mr. Bonfiglio led the team that took the Company public in early 2005.   In addition, Mr. Bonfiglio is on the Board of VistaGen Therapeutics, one of the leading companies using hESLs as in vitro tools.  Mr. Bonfiglio continues to be an active participant in the field of Regenerative Medicines.   He is a frequent speaker at Regenerative Medicine Conferences.  He is a Member of the ISSCR and is on their Industry Committee.  He also is a Member of the ISCT and is on their Commercialization Committee. Mr. Bonfiglio has over 25 years experience working with technology companies.    While at Anthem, Mr. Bonfiglio led investments in both biotechnology and IT deals.  He was responsible for managing Anthem’s investments in Advanced Cell Technology, and Corus Pharma, as well as several IT companies.  Anthem has generated top 5% returns for its investors. 

Prior to joining Anthem, he was a Partner with Morrison & Foerster, where he worked extensively with technology clients.   He represented both emerging and mature companies, in matters pertaining to intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, employment, and corporate restructurings.  

Mr. Bonfiglio was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, from 1996 to 2000.   Since 1995, he has been a regular Guest Lecturer at the UC Berkley Haas Business School, in the Top Down Law program.     

Guotong Xu, Acting Director
Institute of Health Sciences, China

Guo-Tong Xu, MD/PhD, graduated from Harbin Medical University with a bachelor degree in 1982. He later received a MD degree from Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and a PhD in pharmacology from University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), USA. After trained in Alcon Lab., Inc., R&D, and NEI/NIH, He was appointed as an assistant professor at UNTHSC, before he returned to China in 1997. After relocated back to China, he served as the director of Sino-American Rainbow EyeCare Center at Nanjing (1997-1999), the country director of ORBIS International (1999-2001) and special professor in Shanghai Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Shanghai Second Medical University. Currently, he is a Principal Investigator, Professor and the Acting Director of the Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. In 2006, his lab was accepted as a member of the Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology of CAS. Dr. Xu's research focuses on aging and metabolic eye diseases, including the development of new drugs and new therapies for diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Stem cell approaches are major efforts for the treatment of AMD in his lab. He is now in charge of the establishment and development of a network of stem cell banks in China.

Hisafumi Okabe, Head, Research Planning and Coordination
Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan

Dr. Okabe graduated from Tohoku University, Sendai Japan and further trained in Biochemistry at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokyo University. After studying the mechanisms of gene expression of RNA viruses at Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, he was a post doc at Yale University to study ras oncogene actions. He joined Roche Japan in 1991 and started his career for drug discovery as a pharmacologist. He was involved in several projects from small molecules to biologics at Roche Japan, and continued his career after the merger of Roche and Chugai in 2002. Now he is in charge of research coordination in Chugai.

Hyang-Sook Yoo, Director, Fred Hutchsinson Cancer Research Center
KRIBB Collaboration Center, Korea

She was born in Seoul Korea and received her BS and MS degrees in pharmacy at Seoul National University (1972 and 1974). She then went to USA on a Fullbright Scholarship to study in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology and received MA degree from University of California, Santa Babara, and received Ph.D degree in Molecular Biology from University of Pittsburgh (1985).
She did her postdoctoral training in the field of Eukaryotic gene expression at University of Tennessee, Memphis (1985-1987) and returned to Korea. She has been a senior research scientist at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) since 1987. In December 1999, she was appointed as the director of the 21st century frontier Functional Human Genome Project of Korea and served as a director untill May 2006. She is now a director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center(FHCRC) – KRIBB collaboration center at KRIBB. Her research interests are in the fields of cancer genome, eukaryotic gene expression, cell cycle regulation and signal transduction. She was the head of the Biochemistry laboratory (1990-1995), Cell Cycle and Signal Transduction Research Unit (1995-1999), and Genome Center (1999) at KRIBB. She was also the adjunctive professor of Korea University, Department of Bioengineering (1994-1996), and Chungnam National University, College of Pharmacy and Department of Microbiology (1996-2003).  She had served as a member of presidential science and technology advisory committee from 2001 to 2005.

Since she has served as a director of the 21st century Functional Human Genome Project of Korea (1999-2006), she has taken in charge of planning the scope of functional genome project of Korea, and choosing the proper principal investigators who are experts in the corresponding research areas. The goal of her project has been to identify the target genes or proteins that are associated with stomach and liver cancers common in Korean population using genomic approach and to develop to develop diagnostic kits and/or therapeutics for these cancers. Recently she has been appointed as a KRIBB team leader of International Cancer Biomarker Consortium led by Lee Hartwell at FHCRC. She is focusing on discovery of biomarkers for liver and stomach cancers using now both genome and proteomics approach.      

In-Chull Kim, Chief Executive Officer
LG Life Sciences, Korea

In-Chull Kim was born on July 7, 1951 in Seoul, Korea.  He attended Seoul National University in Seoul and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1974 and Master’s Degree in 1977 in Pharmacology. To understand his profession in depth, he studied abroad at University of Illinois and received Ph.D in Physical Science in 1985. In-Chull Kim worked as a Post Doc at Rockefeller Foundation for 1 year. Afterward, he joined Duke University Medical Center as a researcher in 1986, and moved to Glaxo as a Head researcher in 1988.

In-Chull Kim came back to Korea to work as a general manager in Lucky in 1993 and was promoted to Vice President in 1995, when the company ‘Lucky’ changed its name to ‘LG Chem’. While he was working in LG Group, he worked as the Head of the Pharmaceutical Development Lab until 2001.

In August 2002 when LG Life Sciences was separated from LG Chem, In-Chull Kim was relocated to Business Department, working as The Head of Business development. He was promoted executive vice president in 2005 and worked as The Chief of Sales Division. In 2006, In-Chull Kim positioned as “President & CEO” in LG Life Sciences.

Iwao Nozawa, Chief Executive Officer
alphaGEN, Japan

Iwao Nozawa, Ph.D joined alphaGEN in March 2006 with over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry.  alphaGEN is a biopharmaceutical company which was established in 2004 to contribute human health and quality of life through RNAi-related therapeutics development.  Prior to alphaGEN he served as President for GenoFunction which is a subsidiary of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.  He received his M.S. in polymer science at Science University of Tokyo and Ph.D. in pharmaceutics at Josai University.

Jian Ni, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientist
Human Antibodomics, China

Dr. Jian Ni is CEO and Chief Scientist of Human Antibodomics Inc., Chairman of Human-Human Hybridomas LLC. He is Chairman, Committee of Medicinal Biotech,Vice President, Shanghai Society of Biotechnology, Chairman, Committee of Interferon and Other Cytokines, Executive Director, Chinese Society of Microbiology, Director, Committee of Monoclonal Antibody, China Medicinal Biotech Association, Co-Chairman, Committee of Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Ministry of Health, President, Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association, USA, 2001-2003, Director, Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association, USA,  1999-2007.  He received many honors and awards, such as Award for national outstanding returned scholars, 2003, Shanghai excellent returned scholars, Scientific foresight advisor for Shanghai government, Privileged expert of China Department of State (2005), Award for outstanding achievement in development of Pudong New Area (2005). He served as an advisor to several government and professional organizations, has been frequently invited to be Meeting Chair, Session Chair or Committee Member for several major international conferences for Biopharma and Antibody . He is currently a Visiting Professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Second Military Medical University and Nanjing Medical University. Dr. Ni co-founded Human Antibodomics Inc., Shanghai Fuchun Zhongnan Biotech Inc., CYBRDI, Inc., USA and ShanXi Chao Ying Biomedicine R&D Ltd., China.

Dr. Jian Ni obtained his M.D. from Second Military Medical University and Ph.D. from University of Cambridge. Dr. Ni was a Post-doctoral Fellow at the National Cancer Institute and University of California, Irvine. He is an American Society of Clinical pathologists board certified Specialist in Immunology.  Dr. Ni was a Senior Scientist of Human Genome Sciences, Inc., and has many years of experience in biomedical research, immunology, oncology and protein chemistry, and industrial experience in functional genomics, therapeutic protein and antibodies discovery and development. He has published more than 80 scientific articles in top scientific journals (IF >600), Inventor of 148 issued US patents, three of the HGS genomic derived clinical trial antibodies were based on his patents. A few apoptosis related genes discovered by Dr. Ni and his collaborators were reviewed by Science Journal as top ten breakthroughs of the year 1996.

John Sinden, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
ReNeuron, UK

John Sinden graduated in Psychology from the University of Sydney, Australia with a First Class honours and University Medal. He undertook his doctorate in Neurosciences at the University of Paris VI, working with Jacques LeMagnen at the College de France. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford and joined the Institute of Psychiatry in London, now part of Kings College in 1985. In 1997, as Reader in Neurobiology of Behaviour, he co-founded ReNeuron along with two colleagues and seed and first round funding from Merlin Biosciences. He joined the Company full time in November 1998 and has been Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Director since. Listed on the London AIM market, ReNeuron is a world-leading stem cell therapy company with an IND for its lead product, a stem cell therapy for disability post-stroke filed with the US FDA.

June-Young Park, Chief Technology and Business Development Officer
ISU Abxis, Korea

Dr. Park is Chief Technology and Business Development Officer at ISU Abxis (South Korea). She graduated her Ph.D. at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea) and had studied Parkinson disease at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston). After joining at ISU Abxis in 2004, she has been intensively involved in R&D and business development in Korean antibody industry. Her presentation covers some experiences of biosimilar and new drugs in antibody therapeutics

Kakihara K, Director
Riken (Singapore representative office), Japan

Lorraine Hahn, Journalist & TV presenter, Former TV Talk show host & Anchor
CNN and CNBC, Hong Kong

Ms. Hahn is based in Hong Kong having spent her journalist career focused on Asian business issues. Her reputation developed over 20 years as a prominent journalist, presenter and talk-show host, most recently with CNN. Ms Hahn is an experienced moderator, interviewing business leaders, heads of state and other personalities. She was named "highly commended news presenter/anchor" at the Asian TV Awards in December 1999

Ms. Hahn was host of CNN International's regional chat show, Talk Asia until November 2006. She previously anchored CNN’s long-running Asia TV programme, CNN's Biz Asia (1998 -2000). Ms Hahn also spent 3 years at CNBC hosting its flagship program, Business Tonight, as well as The Winners, Talk of Asia and NBC Asia Evening News. She also covered the historic Hong Kong 1997 handover.
Before CNBC, she was a senior producer and anchor in Hong Kong for Television Broadcasts Ltd. (TVB).  Ms. Hahn entered television broadcasting as a senior reporter and anchor for TVB's general and financial news units in 1988 before moving on to the English-language, daily program, The Financial Report. Her career in broadcasting began with Hong Kong's Commercial Broadcasting Corporation. She has lectured at Hong Kong University and gives talks on journalism and media. Ms Hahn also holds a degree in Business and English Literature from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. She was born in Singapore & subsequently emigrated to Canada. 

Mahendra Rao, Vice President Stem Cells Technologies
InVitrogen, USA

Melanie Lee, Executive Vice President
UCB group, UK

My passion and focus has always been directed at scientific discovery.  Since being a child of 8 years old I have been aware that science and medicine captivate my interest.  My academic grounding, in molecular genetics in three complex systems of DNA repair and recombination, RNA splicing and cell cycle, was broad and important for my future career.  It culminated in my being sited by Sir Paul Nurse in his inaugural ceremony in Stockholm on receipt of his Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2001.

My industrial career through Glaxo, GlaxoWellcome, Celltech and now UCB has required the daily use of my scientific knowledge; initially as a bench scientist and subsequently to lead scientific teams.  Integrity and innovation are core values that form the hallmark of good science for me. My teams have always published prolifically in prestigious journals, patented key technological advances and have led key areas of biology and chemistry, demonstrating their cutting edge science. In recent years my focus has turned to Drug Development and R&D Strategy, ensuring strength in our approach and alignment with Corporate Strategy.  I work through people, have great pleasure in seeing them develop and I have a key focus to value difference.  Difference breeds breadth of perspective, knowledge and vision. I am privileged to work alongside so many intelligent people and find it a thrill to help them to develop themselves and their careers. 

UCB is also a company in transition towards being a leading Global Biopharmaceutical Company.  This involves a lot of change internally and attention to the world around us. UCB is an exciting place to be. I am committed to facilitating the inter-dependence of academic and industrial science whether it is to enhance UCB’s drug pipeline, through Chairing Cancer Research Technology and through my role as Trustee and Vice-Chair of Cancer Research UK.  The importance of academia and industry working together is crucial to innovation and advancing science and human health.  I am an advocate for UK academia and plc and love seeing success through partnership between the two.

Murali K. Prahalad, Vice President, Molecular Biology Essentials
Invitrogen Corporation, USA

Dr. Prahalad currently holds the title of Vice President, Molecular Biology Essentials at Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq: IVGN), a global leader in reagents and tools for life science and biomedical research.  In this role, he is responsible for the general management of Invitrogen’s Transfection and Selection, Nucleic Acid Separations, Cloning and Competent Cells, Custom Primers and Bioinformatics businesses.  Dr. Prahalad joined Invitrogen in April of 2005 as a Director in the Corporate Development Group where his primary responsibilities focused on mergers and acquisitions.  Prior to assuming his current role in July of 2007, Dr. Prahalad coordinated all of Invitrogen's in-licensing activities for nearly two years.

Prior to joining Invitrogen, Dr. Prahalad was the Vice President of Business Development for Sequenom Inc., a San Diego, CA-based biotechnology company.  His professional experience also spans management consulting and information technology.  He was a consultant with The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C. and later was a Co-Founder of zGraffiti, Inc., a McLean, Virginia based software firm specializing in CRM solutions for online retailers.  Dr. Prahalad completed his B.Sc. with Honors from the University of Michigan in1992. He went on to complete his Masters in Medical Sciences and Doctorate in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology from Harvard University in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

Paul Anderson, Managing Director
Orthocell, Australia

Paul is CEO of emerging Australian start-up company OrthoCell Pty Ltd and has over 15 years of experience within the health care industry.  His expertise lies in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice in the development of emerging medical technologies. This encompasses applying the regulatory framework to the product and the accompanying ‘grey area’ interpretation, rebating pathways, marketing, sales, developing Orthopaedic relationships, strategic planning and financial planning. His strengths also include excellent communication and presentation skills which are integral in the integration of these processes. Paul has a strong track record with his previous board position with Verigen Australia Pty Ltd a human cell therapies company having successfully commercialised Autologous Chondrocyte Technologies in Australian New Zealand And SE Asia.  Paul oversaw the growth of the company through to its eventual acquisition in 2005 by Genzyme.

Paul Watt, Vice President, Technology Development
Phylogica, Australia

Paul Watt completed his doctorate in transcriptional control in the laboratory of Nick Proudfoot at Oxford before taking up postdoctoral appointments in DNA topology (Wang lab) at Harvard and in genome stability (Hickson Lab) Oxford, where he cloned and characterised the gene for Sgs1, the yeast homologue of the helicase involved in Bloom and Werner syndromes.  Working at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, he was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the school of Paediatrics and Child Health of the University for Western Australia.  Paul Watt has published thirty seven peer reviewed scientific papers, several of which have been cited hundreds of times and he has raised millions of dollars of research grant funding from both the US and Australia.  Dr Watt is the primary inventor on more than a dozen families of patent applications, several of which are granted in the US and Europe and was the founder of a medical devices company InfaMed Ltd., which was acquired by Visiomed Group Ltd (ASX:VSG).  This profitable company is commercialising an FDA-approved, CE-marked paediatric drug delivery device which he developed which is now distributed internationally with millions of dollars in annual sales.  Dr Watt is also a founding director and VP of Drug Discovery for Phylogica (www.phylogica.com, ASX:PYC), a public company commercializing a new class of naturally derived peptides known as Phylomers which are protected internationally with a suite of granted patents.

Peter Buckel, Chief Executive Officer
SuppreMol GmbH, Germany

Peter Buckel studied Biology at the University Munich with focus on Microbiology and Biochemistry. His diploma and PhD thesis contributed to the regulation of protein synthesis and ribosomal structure and genetics. He started his professional career at Boehringer Mannheim leading a team through the development of recombinant enzymes, antigens and antibodies, applied in diagnostic applications and as research tools. He initiated the first Biopharmaceutical projects within his Biotechnology department, finally leading to market introduction of Reteplase and Recormon, today one of the top selling product of Roche. As Head of Global Research of Boehringer Mannheim he initiated a program called “Molecular Medicine” leading to a network of joint venture companies for cellular services and therapies. After his successful career in Pharma Industry, Peter Buckel served as CEO in Xantos and Atugen, as well as a member in scientific and supervisory Boards in several international Biotech and Pharma companies and for governments in Germany, Ireland and Singapore. In 1996 he was appointed Professor for Biology at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich.

Philippe Kourilsky, Chair of Molecular Immunology, College de FranceFormer Director General, Pasteur Institute, France 

An eminent scientist and expert in molecular immunology and tumor immunity, Professor Kourilsky had a rapid scientific career both in the academic and corporate setting. He is the Chair of Molecular Immunology at the College de France and was formerly Director General of the prestigious Pasteur Institute.

Professor Kourilsky was also a co-founder of Transgene, a gene therapy company based in France and was the President of Research of Pasteur Merieux Connaught (today Sanofi Pasteur) from 1993 to 1996. A winner of several scientific awards, he has published over 300 publications, including two reports for the French government and two scientific reference books. He is a member of the Academy of Sciences and l'Academia Europea.

Rosanne Dunn, Founder and Head of Clinical Development
Immune System Therapeutics, Australia

Satish Totey, Chief Scientific Officer
Stempeutics Research Labs, India

Satish Totey is Director, Manipal Institute of Regenerative medicine and Chief Scientific Officer, Stempeutics research Pvt. Ltd. He did his DVM and MS in Veterinary Medicine and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He carried out postdoctoral research at University of Wisconsin, Madison and National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. He spent around 20 years at National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and his research interest was molecular signaling during pre-implantation embryos. He is pioneered in transgenic research in India and developed more than 17 transgenic mice lines for several human diseases. He also worked on gene knockout and studied TGF beta knockout animals. He was also working on human and ovine growth hormone and expressed these proteins in E.coli and achieved highest ever yield in fed batch culture.

He was among a small number of researchers who pioneered the isolation and characterization of pluripotent stem cells from human embryo, which provided an important framework for the development of human embryonic stem cells. His derived human embryonic stem cells lines have been listed in NIH stem cell registry. He has also developed up-scaling of mesenchymal stem cells and currently conducting phase-I and II clinical trials for myocardial infarction, leg ischemia, cerebral stroke and Multiple Sclerosis.

His research group currently focuses on the extrinsic factors involved in maintenance of the pluripotent state in human embryonic stem cells, and those factors that drive their commitment into progenitor cells representative of the three embryonic germ layers.

Silviu Itescu, Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor
Mesoblast Limited, Australia

Professor Silviu Itescu is the Founder of Mesoblast Limited. He is Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York and Professor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne. While working as a clinician in the United States to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs, he began a global search to find a more effective therapy which led him to South Australia’s Hanson Institute where scientists had identified rare, extremely potent adult stem cells with the properties needed to regenerate heart tissue and to form new blood vessels to improve the heart’s blood supply. The same cells – mesenchymal precursor cells - were also able to replace bone at the site of fractures and form new blood vessels to deliver nutrients and oxygen to new bone. Professor Itescu established Mesoblast to commercialise these patented cells for bone fractures, spinal disease and for regeneration of damaged joint cartilage and intervertebral discs; and Angioblast Systems Inc. for cardiovascular and other applications.

Stephan Fischer, Senior Vice President
Roche Pharma Research, Germany

Stephan obtained his PhD in Microbiology from the Technical University of Munich. He has spent more than 25 years in the area of recombinant proteins in various roles. He was a Post Doc at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory where he focussed on protein structure research. He then joined Boehringer Mannheim as a Senior Scientist where he developed technologies and products for Diagnostics and Pharma. Stephan was a member of the team that brought recombinant erythropoietin to the market. As the research project leader and later as international project manager he also contributed to take reteplase from discovery to launch in Europe and the US. During this task he became a Director of Pharma Project Management. After the acquisition of Boehringer Mannheim by Roche he became a Program Director Oncology and was a member of he global management team for Oncology research. Today, Stephan is a Senior VP for Biologics R & D within Roche Pharma Research in Penzberg, Germany.

Subhra R. Chakrabarti, Head, Molecular Immunology and Drug Discovery Group
Shantha Biotech, India

Suet Wun Lim, Chief Executive Officer
National Healthcare Group, Singapore

Dr Lim Suet Wun is Group Chief Executive Officer of the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and concurrently Chief Executive Officer of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in Singapore. He has 20 years experience in hospital management.  A medical doctor by training, Dr Lim received his MBBS from the National University of Singapore (NUS).  He received Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Public Health degrees, both from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1990.  

NHG Institutions work closely with academia and industry to do collaborative translational and clinical research. There are currently more than 800 ongoing research projects in NHG, of which about one-quarter are clinical trials. Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, and Cardiology are the top five disciplines in NHG involved in active research. In March 2007, NHG became the first public healthcare institution outside of USA to achieve Full Accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).

Dr Lim is a member of the Board of Directors for the Joint Commission International (USA).  He is a member of the Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee led by the Chairman of Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore.  He has led several Singapore Ministry of Health committees including the review of Singapore’s Medishield Insurance Scheme.

Thomas Okarma, President and Chief Executive Officer
Geron, USA

Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., has served as Geron Corporation’s President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors since July 1999. He is also a director of Geron Bio-Med Limited, a United Kingdom company and Geron’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TA Therapeutics, Ltd, a Hong Kong company and a joint venture between Geron and Biotechnology Research Corporation of Hong Kong. From May 1998 until July 1999, Dr. Okarma was the Vice President of Research and Development. From December 1997 until May 1998, Dr. Okarma was Vice President of Cell Therapies. Dr. Okarma currently serves on the Board of BIO and was Chairman of the Board of Overseers of Dartmouth Medical School from 2001 to 2006.  From 1985 until joining Geron, Dr. Okarma, the scientific founder of Applied Immune Sciences, Inc., served initially as Vice President of Research and Development of Applied Immune Sciences and then as chairman, chief executive officer and a director of Applied Immune Sciences, until 1995 when it was acquired by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer. Dr. Okarma was a Senior Vice President at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer from the time of the acquisition of Applied Immune Sciences until December 1996. From 1980 to 1985, Dr. Okarma was a member of the faculty of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Okarma holds a A.B. from Dartmouth College and a M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University.  

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