September 17, 2024

Speaker Biographies

Valerie Chai, PhD
Director, Center for Genetic Diseases; Professor
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Dr. Chai earned her PhD in Microbiology from Cornell University and pursued postdoctoral research at UT Southwestern Medical Center, focusing on telomere dynamics in cancer and aging. In 2008, she established a lab at Washington State University, later moving to Chicago to join Loyola University Chicago as a Full Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology and becoming the Director of the Center for Genetic Diseases at Rosalind Franklin University. Her research explores genome stability, particularly how it is maintained during disrupted DNA replication and how mutations contribute to cancer. Her lab was the first to identify the CST protein complex's role in stabilizing stalled replication forks, and she is investigating cancer cells' mechanisms for evading chemotherapy damage. Dr. Chai’s research is supported by NIH R01 grants, and she serves on several NIH and DOD study sections and scientific journal editorial boards.

Dalit Barkan, PhD
Head of the Laboratory for Tumor Dormancy and Metastasis
Department of Human Biology 
University of Haifa (Israel)

Dalit Barkan earned her PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science and completed her post-doctoral research at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Upon returning to Israel through the Returning Scientists program, she established her laboratory within the Department of Human Biology at the University of Haifa. Dr. Barkan’s research focuses on novel strategies to prevent distant recurrence (metastasis) of breast cancer, a primary cause of mortality among breast cancer patients. Her lab is dedicated to developing innovative biological tools to stop dormant tumor cells from awakening and causing new tumors. Recognized with numerous international awards, Barkan’s research has resulted in five patent applications derived from significant discoveries. Additionally, she serves as a scientific consultant for VujaDe Sciences, leveraging her technology for drug discovery. On a personal level, Dr. Barkan’s research is not merely a passion but a life mission, shaped by her own experience as a breast cancer survivor. She is a firm believer that our pioneering research holds the potential to introduce novel therapies, save lives, and offer hope to millions of breast cancer patients worldwide.

Dimitra Georganopoulou, PhD
Board Member, Women in Bio — Chicago Chapter
General Partner, Qral Ventures

Dimitra Georganopoulou, PhD, is an experienced biotech professional with extensive knowledge in scouting innovative projects in personalized medicine, therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and health IT. Previously, she was the director of commercialization at Northwestern University, where she supported the launch of multiple startups and helped establish multiple strategic partnerships and licensing deals. She is on the investment committee for various investment programs and a commercialization mentor for many early-stage companies and prestigious innovation education programs. She also worked at Baxter supporting late-stage technology scouting and tech assessment for due diligence of M&A deals. Dr. Georganopoulou earned a PhD in bioelectrochemistry from University College London.

Michelle Hoffmann, PhD
Executive Director
Chicago Biomedical Consortium

Dr. Hoffmann earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of California Berkeley with Professor Joshua Kaplan and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brandeis University in the laboratory of Professor Gina Turrigiano. Hoffmann, who holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brandeis University, recently concluded her role as Senior Vice President of Deep Tech at P33, where she focused on enhancing Chicagoland’s innovation economy. With 15 years of experience in the life sciences industry, she has a strong background in assessing and strategizing for companies at various stages, from emerging ventures to established firms. Previously, Dr. Hoffmann was a Senior Vice President at Back Bay Science Advisors, where she led projects and managed significant transactions, including the sale of an epigenetics platform to Gilead and an acquisition by AbbVie. Her career also includes roles at Deloitte Research, Leerink Swan Strategic Advisors, Capgemini/LECG, and Fuld+Company.

Wren Michaels, PhD
Assistant Director, Center for Genetic Diseases
Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Michaels received a B.S. in microbiology from Kansas State University in 2015 and a PhD in cell biology from Rosalind Franklin University in 2020. Her work focuses on the pre-clinical development of drugs to treat genetic disease including cystic fibrosis, with a specificity in therapeutics that modulate pre-mRNA splicing and gene expression to ameliorate disease. Dr. Michaels’ work has resulted in the discovery of multiple antisense oligonucleotide drug platforms targeting CFTR splicing that effectively restore protein function for the treatment of rare CFTR mutations causing cystic fibrosis. Her doctorate and postdoctoral research has been funded by multiple awards and grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

David Mueller
Professor
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School; School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Dr. Mueller completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Michigan in 1976, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from Wayne State University in 1981. He then undertook postdoctoral studies in Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago from 1981 to 1985. In 2000-2001, he was a Fogarty Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, U.K. The Mueller Lab, research focuses on the structure and function of mitochondrial ATP synthase, the gene product and regulation of Cln3 associated with Batten disease, and the broader understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases using techniques in crystallography, biochemistry, and yeast genetics.

Timothy Walbert
Former Chairman, President & CEO
Horizon Therapeutics

Tim Walbert is the former president, CEO, and chairman of Horizon Therapeutics, where he transformed the company into a leading player in rare diseases before its planned acquisition by Amgen. Prior to Horizon, he was CEO of IDM Pharma Inc., which was acquired by Takeda, and held senior roles at NeoPharm Inc. and Abbott (now AbbVie), where he led the global development of HUMIRA. His career also includes significant roles at G.D. Searle, Merck & Co., and Wyeth. Walbert currently serves on the board of Century Therapeutics, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, various advisory boards, and has previously been involved with multiple public biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He is a member of several prominent Chicago business clubs and holds a Bachelor of Arts in business from Muhlenberg College.

Heather Walsh, PhD
Executive Director of New Business Opportunities
Astellas Pharma

Before joining Astellas, Heather led mHUB and previously managed the Medical Operations team at Baxter, where she oversaw research grants, medical affairs activities, and collaborations with clinical research organizations. She also established and led Baxter’s External Innovation function, enhancing partnerships with universities, incubators, and medical centers, and supported global business units with transformational innovation. Heather’s career at Baxter began with leading technical assessment teams for mergers, acquisitions, and venture investments. Prior to Baxter, she was Assistant Director and Head of Business Development at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where she managed technology commercialization, developed high-value contacts, and launched initiatives like a proof-of-concept fund and the redesigned Polsky Accelerator program.

Joe Whalen
Former Senior Vice President of Global Alliances
Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics

Joe has nearly 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in licensing, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. Since joining Horizon in 2010 as one of its first 20 employees, he has played a key role in numerous acquisitions, contributing to Horizon’s growth into a publicly traded company with a market capitalization over $15 billion, more than 2,000 employees, and annual net sales exceeding $3 billion. Before Horizon, Joe held significant roles at Baxter Healthcare, focusing on transactions in its Medication Delivery business, and at Searle, where he supported various finance functions. He is actively involved in the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the Industry Advisory Board of the Harper Cancer Institute, iBio, and the External Advisory Council at Rosalind Franklin University. Joe holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame.

Agenda

• 8:30 am – 9:00 am Registration, Networking
• 9:00 am – Welcome: Wendy Rheault, PhD, President & CEO, Â鶹ӰÒôMS
• 9:05 am – 9:30 am “Â鶹ӰÒô Research and Innovation in 2024” – Ronald S. Kaplan, PhD, Executive Vice President for Research, Â鶹ӰÒôMS; Vice Dean for Research, Chicago Medical School; Professor
• 9:30 am – 10:15 am Keynote Speech: “The Impact of Genetic Diseases: A Personal Story” – Timothy Walbert, former Chairman, President & CEO, Horizon Therapeutics
• 10:15 am – 10:45 am “Genetic Disease Research at Â鶹ӰÒô: Overview and Mission” – Valerie Chai, PhD, Director
• 10:45 am – Coffee Break
• 11:00 am – 11:45 am Â鶹ӰÒô Genetic Disease Research (20 minutes each including Q&A)
  • Introduction: Dr. Valerie Chai
  • David Mueller, PhD: “Batten Disease”
  • Wren Michaels, PhD: “Cystic Fibrosis”
• 11:45 am – 12:30 pm Helix 51 Company Presentations: (15 minutes for each company + 5 minutes Q&A)
  • Moderator: Joe Whalen, former Senior Vice President of Global Alliances, Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics
  • MountView Therapeutics – Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Katz Diagnostics – Fibromyalgia
• 12:30 – 1:00 pm Lunch and Networking
• 1:00 pm – “The Chicago Biomedical Consortium: Directions for 2024 and 2025” – Michelle Hoffmann, PhD, Executive Director
• 1:30 pm – “Women in Bio Update” – Dimitra Georganopoulou, PhD, Board Member and Partner, Qral Ventures
• 2:00 pm - “Novel Strategies to Prevent Metastasis in Breast Cancer” – Dalit Barkan, PhD, Head of the Laboratory for Tumor Dormancy and Metastasis, University of Haifa (Israel) 
  
  • Introduction: Dr. Valerie Chai
• 2:30 pm – Â鶹ӰÒô New Directions in Cancer (20 minutes each including Q&A)
  • Introduction: Dr. Valerie Chai
  • Najla Arshad, PhD
• 3:00 pm – Coffee Break
• 3:15 pm – “Astellas Pharma Overview” – Heather Walsh, PhD, Executive Director of New Business Opportunities
• 3:45 pm – Helix 51 Cancer Company Presentations: (15 minutes for each company and 5 minutes Q&A)
  • Moderator: Dr. Heather Walsh
  • UP Oncolytics
  • Artec Biotech
• 4:30 pm – “Â鶹ӰÒô Biomedical Innovation Day Conclusions and Summary” – Dr. Ronald Kaplan