BioHealth Capital Region Leaders welcome attendees to the 11th Annual Forum.
Alex Philippidis, Senior Business Editor at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), is back at the BioHealth Capital Region Forum to present the latest Top 10 Bio Clusters in the United States. For the second consecutive year, the BioHealth Capital Region proudly maintains its position in the Top 3, maintaining the goal that the BHCR set almost nine years ago to be ranked a Top 3 Bio Cluster by 2023. Discover how other regions are performing and explore the shifts and trends in the Top 10 Bio Clusters for 2024.
Pete Briskman, Executive Managing Director and Co-Lead of JLL's Mid-Atlantic Life Sciences Practice, returns to the BioHealth Capital Region Forum to provide an update on the BHCR and its noteworthy advancements in the life sciences sector. Pete's presentation will delve into local and national trends, highlight key achievements, and offer insights into the future of the region's life sciences landscape performance in 2023 and the outlook for 2024 and beyond.
With threatened cutbacks in federal funding for essential bio health research, new approaches on drug testing, and efforts to reshore bio manufacturing in the U.S, the Bio Health Capital Region is uniquely positioned to face both challenges and opportunities in the new federal environment. From NIH to the FDA, from our nationally ranked research universities to the private bio industry, no sector is immune from feeling the effects of research funding, new regulatory, and other headwinds facing our region.
With the new Administration and Congress, the challenges and opportunities for science and technology programs are enormous, from likely reductions in overall federal funding for research and development to focused opportunities in AI, quantum computing, and manufacturing. The Bio Health Capital is especially vulnerable given its outsized role in federal R and D, from being the home of NIH and FDA to our many leading research universities in the region, but also with opportunities in AI, quantum, and the intersection with bio health technologies.
Hear from leading national Science and Tech membership organizations on the impact of the changing landscape in federal funding, opportunities for increased interaction with the private sector and foundations, and what it means for growing the Bio Health Capital Region.
This panel will spotlight the latest initiatives from leading universities across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., designed to support and accelerate the growth of the region's pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and startup ecosystem. Join us to hear from academic leaders about the existence of critical resources, including state-of-the-art core facilities, entrepreneurial training through I-Corps programs, advanced biocontainment laboratories, and other transformative new centers with expertise relevant to pharma and biotech companies. Discover how these university-led efforts are creating new opportunities for industry collaboration, providing access to cutting-edge technology, and streamlining the path from discovery to commercialization.
Sponsored by Precigen and WellDoc
The FDA has been an area of significant focus as the perceived and real changes in this administration continue to evolve. The experts on this panel will comment on the current status and the developing advancements in knowledge and use of AI in their product and market clearance determinations.
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion tailored for life science innovators in the BioHealth Capital Region on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming the pharmaceutical industry. Our strategic pharma experts will share insights on:
- Discovery: Learn how AI accelerates the identification and prioritization of new or repurposed drug targets.
- Development: Discover how AI accelerates and optimizes designing, testing, and bringing new medications or therapies to market and improving patient outcomes, including accelerating clinical trials, identifying novel endpoints, diversifying trials, evaluating regulatory pathways and accelerating go/no decisions.
- Manufacturing: Explore AI applications to streamline production processes, reduce time and costs, and elevate product quality.
This panel will explore where AI is already making an impact, and how future AI developments and technologies may contribute to the availability and delivery of valuable medicines for improved patient outcomes.
Sponsored by Bora
The panel discussion, "Putting Quantum Computing into Practice: Solving Problems in Healthcare," will explore the potential of quantum computing to create positive change in the healthcare landscape. We will discuss how quantum technology can address some of the industry's most complex challenges, from accelerating drug discovery and designing personalized treatments to enhancing diagnostic accuracy and securing patient data. The panelists will discuss the current state of quantum applications, highlight emerging use cases, and examine the practical steps and collaborative efforts needed to bring these groundbreaking solutions from research to real-world patient care.
Funding from Philanthropy and Foundations to support bio health research is accelerating at the same time federal support is declining. Nearly 40 percent of R and D funding performed at universities is now funded by non-profit organizations. Cashed out bio entrepreneurs willing to give back to their alma maters are another source of funding for capital infrastructure and research. Hear how the Bio Health Capital Region is taking advantage of these new non-federal funding sources to grow the region's bio ecosystem.
Contributing to ongoing drug shortages, there are a number of key challenges, risks, and vulnerabilities within the current pharmaceutical supply chain based on various factors, such as overreliance on specific countries or single sources, quality, complexity of manufacturing, and pricing. The proposed tariffs on China and India (and other countries) add additional risk to the pricing and availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials. Several organizations, including Federal government agencies, are working together and coordinating efforts to build a robust and reliable pharmaceutical supply chain. These strategies include onshoring domestic manufacturing, the use of AI, automation, and biotechnology, and leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies and new synthetic pathways to produce critical medicines in the US. Updated policies, pricing agreements, and incentives will be key to the success in driving local manufacturing, along with other mitigation strategies such as stockpiling and ally-shoring. This panel will explore current efforts, challenges to overcome, recommendations, and actions underway toward building a resilient and sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain as a matter of health security.
Sponsored by Precigen and WellDoc
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of healthcare and biotechnology, offering new ways to enhance patient outcomes, streamline clinical workflows, and personalize treatment strategies. This session explores the latest AI-driven tools and applications that are reshaping patient care—from predictive analytics and early diagnosis to intelligent decision support and therapeutic optimization. Attendees will gain insights into practical implementations, ethical considerations, and real-world case studies demonstrating how emerging AI capabilities are improving safety, efficiency, and quality of care. Join leading experts in biotech and healthcare innovation as they discuss strategies to leverage AI responsibly for meaningful patient impact.
Experience the excitement as emerging companies pitch their innovative solutions to win cash and services. This competition showcases groundbreaking ideas and provides start-ups with invaluable exposure and networking opportunities.
This panel session offers an exclusive, multi-faceted look into AstraZeneca's new, state-of-the-art cell and gene therapy facility in Rockville, Maryland. Following a landmark investment in the region, this discussion will move beyond the architecture to uncover the strategic vision, technological innovation, and human capital that will power the next generation of treatments.
Industry leaders will share insights on the shifting landscape of biohealth investment, from early-stage funding to strategic growth capital, and the opportunities and challenges facing today’s investors and companies.
Sponsored by
Featuring the USP Impurities Rock Band