Oregon Bio Digital 2020: Amplifying Diversity of Discovery, Access and Economics

View and/or download the Conference Guide.

Conference 2020:

How the Pacific Northwest accelerates and amplifies the growth and diversity of our life science and biotech clusters will be under the microscope at the Oregon Bio Digital 2020: Amplifying Diversity of Discovery, Access and Economics Conference, commencing over three half-days November 17, 18 and 19.

“Attendees from our region and across the U.S. and beyond will get a unique view of emerging research, entrepreneurial thought leadership and early-stage companies in the Northwest,” said Liisa Bozinovic, executive director of the Oregon Bioscience Association. Participating from the agriculture, consumer products, diagnostic technology, digital health, genetics and genomics, medical device, research tools and therapeutic categories.

Registration is now open (below) for the seminal event where participants will explore regional collaborations, virtual power networking and new and/or growing companies as well as meet rising-star biotech firms and leaders. Added Bozinovic, “Attendees can meet other life science and biotech leaders and funders, and get in on the developing innovation and technology taking shape here.”

Oregon Bio is excited to announce keynote speaker, the international Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s (BIO) new president and CEO, Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, a physician and molecular immunologist will address the event

Pitch and Partner 2020:

“Attendees from our region and across the U.S. and beyond got a unique view of emerging research, entrepreneurial thought leadership and early-stage companies in the Northwest,” said Liisa Bozinovic, executive director of the Oregon Bioscience Association.

Of a pool of eight researchers, science expert judges to pick two winners each representing the Basic Research or Translational Research categories. Conference attendees at large selected the People’s Choice winners in each category.

• Pitch & Partner 2020 Basic Research judges’ winner: Amy Robbins, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oregon with her presentation about how “Semi-Automated Cellular Tracking Reveals Basal Epidermal Migration Guides Skeletal Ray Branching in Zebrafish Fins.”
• Robbins won a cash prize of $1,000, Oregon Bio 1-year membership at Industry Core Level (valued at $275) and entry for an Oregon Bio BioPro class, with a 1-day value of $475.
• Amy also won the People’s Choice Award for this category.

For the Pitch & Partner 2020 Translational Research judges’ winner:

• Anthony Tahayeri, a Research Assistant at Oregon Health & Science University for his presentation called “Tooth-on-a-Chip: A Microdevice for Development and Screening of Dental and Oral Care Therapies.”
• Tahayeri won a cash prize of $1,000, legal support for intellectual property protection from Miller Nash Graham & Dunn valued at $500, an Oregon Bio 1-year membership at Industry Core Level valued at $275 and entry for an Oregon Bio BioPro class, with a 1-day value of $475.
• The People’s Choice winner in this category went to Adie Wilson-Poe, Ph.D. of Legacy Research Institute who presented about “Reducing Opioid Risks: The Efficacy of Inhaled Cannabis Vapor.”

Of a pool of 10 startups, commercialization and economic development expert judges selected one Early-Stage and one Later-Stage company. Conference attendees at large selected the People’s Choice winners in each category.

For the Pitch & Partner 2020 Early-Stage Startup category:

• Inherent Targeting and Connor Barth, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO, won the judges’ approval for his startup that focuses on “Nerve Tracing to Improving Surgical Outcomes and Reducing the Cost of Intraoperative Nerve Damage.”
• Barth won a cash prize of Silver Level Membership in Oregon Bio valued at $3,300, a cash prize of $2,500, legal and intellectual property protection from Graham Miller Nash Graham & Dunn valued at $1,000, BioPro Classes, with a 2-day value of $775 and a virtual reception with industry leaders and legislators.
• Inherent Targeting also snagged the People’s Choice Award for the Early-Stage Startup category.

For the Pitch & Partner 2020 Later-Stage Startup category:

• Emmanuel Akporiaye, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Veana Therapeutics, Inc., for his company’s “Developing Safer and Effective Oral Cancer Therapies.”
• Akporiaye won a cash prize of Silver Level Membership in Oregon Bio valued at $3,300, a cash prize of $2,500, legal and intellectual property protection from Graham Miller Nash Graham & Dunn valued at $1,000, BioPro Classes with a 2-day value of $775 and a virtual reception with industry leaders and legislators.
• The People’s Choice Award for the Later-Stage Startup category went to Jacques Zaneveld, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Lazarus 3D, Inc., for “Improving the Quality of Healthcare and Patient Outcomes through Breakthrough 3D Printing Technologies.”

Career 2020:

New this year will be a career search and resource event – Career 2020 – the career search, match, meet and resource event will happen Nov. 17 to connect hiring employers and recruiters with qualified job seekers directly through an interactive, online platform. Life science, biotech, and advanced manufacturing organizations will take part along with training and certificate program experts to meet/recruit talent. Booth exhibitors can register here. Career participants register here.

“We’re creating a virtual experience that will have something for everyone interested in the ongoing growth and expansion of the life sciences and biotech cluster here,” said Liisa Bozinovic, executive director of Oregon Bioscience Association. “We see the economic indicators showing the region’s bio-economy as strong and gaining strength, and illustrating how these clusters are a key part of the Northwest’s recovery strategy.”

Sponsors 2020:

The Oregon Bio Digital 2020: Amplifying Diversity of Discovery, Access and Economics event partners include Presenting Sponsor BIO, Pitch Sponsor PhRMA,  and Panel Sponsors and Platinum Members: AbSci, AdvaMed, Biotronik/MSEI, City of Eugene, Genentech, and University of Oregon. Networking and contributing sponsors include VWR International, CAI, Davis Wright Tremaine, Skanska, NIKON, Oregon Health & Science University OTRADI/Oregon Bioscience Incubator, Summit Development Group, and  TE Connectivity. In Kind sponsors include LASTLink, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Catalyze, Saturday Academy, TiE Oregon, Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator and Riff.

To invest in sponsorship opportunities, email Julie@oregonbio.org