CBSA’s Colorado Life Sciences Innovation Forum brings together the big thinkers and bold leaders from our state who work on the leading edge of health innovation. C-level leaders, innovators, and researchers from our community connect and collaborate at this highly anticipated conference and trade show. At the conference, our community will discuss the revolutionary technologies in development by Colorado companies, share insights on emerging trends, and dig into the issues impacting our industry.

---

Registration Details –

---

Innovation Forum Schedule

7:00-8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast 

8:00-8:45 a.m. Breakfast Keynote: Forging the Life Sciences Frontier: Advancing Colorado as a Leading Life Sciences Hub

9:00-9:45 a.m. Discussion Session: The Future of Life Sciences: AI & Data Driven Outcomes

9:45-10:15 a.m. Networking Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall

10:15-11:00 a.m. Discussion Session: Taking on Rare Disease Through Advocacy, Research, and Investment

11:15-12:30 p.m. Lunch Keynote: Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Pioneering CSU Researcher

12:30-1:15 p.m. Book Signing and Networking Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall – Pre-order one of Dr. Temple Grandin’s award-winning books

1:15- 2:15 p.m. Discussion Session: Partnerships for Innovation: Creative Approaches

2:30-3:10 p.m. Discussion Session: Investor Insights

3:15-4:00 p.m. Innovation Showcase

4:00-5:30 p.m. Closing Reception and Innovation Showcase Winner Announcement

 

---

Innovation Forum Details

7:00-8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast 

8:00-8:45 a.m. Breakfast Keynote: Forging the Life Sciences Frontier: Advancing Colorado as a Leading Life Sciences Hub

Colorado continues to gain recognition as a top-ranked hub for health innovation. We bring together visionary leaders focused on the state’s economic development to discuss how Colorado can reach a critical mass of resources and infrastructure to accelerate health innovation.

Speakers include:

Elyse Blazevich – President and CEO, Colorado BioScience Association (Moderator)

Meredith Moon – Chief Economist and Director of Economic Competitiveness, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation

Mike Freeman – General Partner and CEO, Innosphere Ventures

Joe Guiles, Ph.D. – AVP of Chemical Development, Nucleic Acid Solution Division, Agilent Technologies

Raymond Gonzales – President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation

Mike Falleroni – Principal – Site Selection and Business Incentives, Ryan, LLC.

(Learn more about our distinguished speakers.)

Thank you to our Opening Keynote sponsor:

 

9:00-9:45 a.m. Discussion Session: The Future of Life Sciences: AI & Data Driven Outcomes

The future of life sciences is rapidly evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven outcomes. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat diseases, accelerate drug research and discovery, improve patient outcomes, increase operational efficiency and productivity, and better financial results. Join us for an exciting session on how AI and data-driven outcomes are transforming the future of life sciences.

Speakers include:

Tim Elwell, Ph.D., MBA – Global Advisory Services Leader – Healthcare & Life Sciences, Quantiphi (Moderator)

August Allen – Chief Technology Officer, Enveda Biosciences

Chris Haddad – Senior AI/ML Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services

Mani Prakash – Vice President – Enterprise Research & Development, Medtronic

Jodi Scott – Partner, Hogan Lovells

(Learn more about our distinguished speakers.)

Technology Funding Opportunity for CBSA Members

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data-Driven Decisions are transforming the future of life sciences. That is why CBSA is launching our first-ever technology funding program.

In a collaboration with Quantiphi (Amazon Web Services AI/ML Partner of the Year), up to $500,000 will be made available to CBSA members for use in technology-driven business innovation. The application process and program details will be announced at this year’s Colorado Life Sciences Innovation Forum.

Thank you to our Discussion Session Sponsor:

 

9:45-10:15 a.m. Networking Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall

 

10:15-11:00 a.m. Discussion Session: Taking on Rare Disease Through Advocacy, Research, and Investment

Companies and organizations in our state seek to treat, and ultimately cure, diseases seen as incurable. We hear from the innovators and advocates working to advance breakthroughs from the bench to the patient’s bedside.

Speakers include:

Michele Oshman – Vice President for External Affairs, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) / Executive Director, Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) (Moderator)

Jessica Wolfe, MBA – Head of Pipeline Patient Engagement, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry representative for Colorado Rare Disease Advisory Council

Jeff Porter – Board President & Founder, Prader Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado

Clay Smith, M.D. – Chief Medical Officer, OncoVerity

Mike Mattoon – Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy, Acadia Pharmaceuticals

(Learn more about our distinguished speakers.)

Thank you to our Discussion Session Sponsors:

 

11:15-12:30 p.m. Lunch Keynote: Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Pioneering CSU Researcher

World-Renowned Inspirational Autism Activist, Best-Selling Author, Animal Welfare and Behavior Expert 

A pioneering researcher, designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, Dr. Grandin teaches courses on livestock behavior and facility design and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling, and animal welfare.

She is one of the most accomplished and well-known adults with autism in the world, and is considered a philosophical leader of both the animal welfare and autism advocacy movements. Dr. Grandin’s message emphasizes the significance of neurodiversity in all fields, and she has spoken on both autism and cattle handling, appearing in a variety of spaces, including NPR, her 2010 TED Lecture titled, “The World Needs ALL Kinds of Minds,” the BBC special, “The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow,” ABC’s “Primetime Live,” “The Today Show,” an HBO full-length film about her life, and more.

Thank you to our Lunch Keynote sponsor:

 

12:30-1:15 p.m. Book Signing and Networking Coffee Break in Exhibit Hall – Pre-order one of Dr. Temple Grandin’s award-winning books! 

The Colorado Life Sciences Innovation Forum will offer an exciting opportunity to have your book signed by Dr. Temple Grandin after her lunch keynote!

Proceeds will benefit Colorado BioScience Institute’s efforts to cultivate and diversify Colorado’s life sciences workforce from classrooms, to campuses, to careers.

CBSA’s trusted charitable partner, Firefly Autism, will also be onsite.

 

1:15- 2:15 p.m. Discussion Session: Partnerships for Innovation: Creative Approaches

Colorado companies are finding sources of investment and support from strategic partnerships. Our expert panel will cover critical partnerships for life sciences companies at all stages of commercialization. We’ll focus on IP protections, working effectively with regulators, partnering on clinical trials, successful relationships with federal agencies, and outsourced manufacturing.

Speakers include:

David Walker, Esq. – Shareholder, Sheridan Ross (Moderator)

Kanchana Iyer, M.S. – Senior Consultant, Regulatory Affairs, Halloran Consulting Group

David Trollinger – Director, National Jewish Health; Business Development, Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Vikhyat Bebarta, M.D. – Director, CU Center for COMBAT Research

Gary Pestano, Ph.D. – Chief Development Officer, Biodesix, Inc.

Sally M. Dyer – SVP, General Manager, Colorado Operations, Umoja Biopharma

(Learn more about our distinguished speakers.)

 

2:30-3:10 p.m. Discussion Session: Investor Insights: Local and National Perspectives

Leading investors share insights on the current investment climate and outline the key factors that capture their attention when reviewing investment opportunities.

Michael T. Nelson, J.D., Ph.D. – Partner, Cooley LLP (Moderator)

Mark Lupa, Ph.D. – Managing Partner, Buff Gold Ventures

Juan Cueva, Ph.D. MBA – Senior Director, Early Innovation Partnering, Johnson & Johnson Innovation

(Learn more about our distinguished speakers.)

3:15-4:00 p.m. Innovation Showcase

CBSA is delighted to announce the three early-stage companies selected to present during the Innovation Showcase at this year’s Colorado Life Sciences Innovation Forum. They will pitch to our audience and a panel of judges, and the winner will receive a cash prize.

Our presenting companies are:

A liquid biopsy diagnostics company striving to be the leader in optical spectroscopy-based clinical diagnostics.

A preclinical cell and gene therapy company developing cures for autoimmune diseases.

A company that supplies natural replacement biomaterials to the next generation of implantable medical devices.

Thank you to our Innovation Showcase sponsors:

 

4:00-5:30 p.m. Closing Reception and Innovation Showcase Winner Announcement

Thank you to our Reception sponsor: