The Institute for Engineering and Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University are bringing together experts from industry, government, non-profits and academia to discuss foundational research, technology development and product commercialization toward creating an advanced biomanufacturing industry for the United States. Our invited speakers and panelists will discuss ongoing research in biofabrication and cell manufacturing, government funding and regulatory considerations for biomanufactured tissues and organs, and clinical implementation of regenerative medicine products.
Agenda
Morning Sessions
- 8:00 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Check-in
- 8:30 – 8:40 AM: Opening Remarks, George Christ
- 8:40 – 9:00 AM: Keynote #1: Nikki Hastings, President, C'ville BioHub
- 9:00 – 10:00 AM: Session 1: Building the biomanufacturing economy
- Chair/Moderator: Barbara Boyan
- Panel: John Newby (CEO, VA Bio); Tai Mai (Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation); Nicolai Shuman (Activation Capital)
- 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Session 2: Challenges in Biomaterial Development
- Chair: Michael Mancini (Pascal Medical Corporation)
- Keynote #2: Thomas Barker (UVA)
- Panel: Elaine Horn-Ranney (CEO, Tympanogen); George Christ (UVA); Mike McLure (VCU,
decellularized matrices)
- 11:30 – 12:15 PM: Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
- 12:15 – 1:30 PM: Session 3: Challenges in Cell and Gene Therapy
- Chair: Michael Floren
- Panel: Tessa DesRochers (pancreatic Islets); Dr. X. Lucas Lu; Heather Branscome (MSC - EVs); Cath Bollard (Car-T Cells)
- 1:30 – 2:00 PM: Keynote #3: Gretchen McCandles (VCU), Brain Inflammation & Sex Differences
- 2:00 – 3:00 PM: Session 4: Novel Therapeutics
- Chair: Markham Luke
- Panel: Josh Cohen (Drug delivery using Click-Hydrogels); Manoj Babu (Syngene); Nicholas Johnson (VCU)
- 3:00 – 3:15 PM: Break
- 3:15 -4:45 PM: Session 5: Biomanufacturing of Organoids and Multi-tissue Structures
- Chair and Keynote #4: Sharon Presnell (LifeNet Health)
- Panel: Richard McFarland; Jacob Flemming (Curi Bio); Rebecca Pompano (UVA); Ryan Purcell (VT)
- 4:45 – 6:00 PM: Poster Session & Happy Hour (Extended networking session)
- 6:20 – 6:35 PM: Closing Remarks & Poster Awards: George Christ, Rob Gourdie, Barbara Boyan
Poster session winners
Lodging
301 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia 23220
3 minute drive/4 minute walk to VCU Engineering Research Building
The VCU rate of $152/night is based on availability. Guests can email universityservices@gracereservations.com and mention the VCU College of Engineering Symposium to qualify for the group rate. Agents will always respond within 24 hours, typically within one hour.
For urgent requests, guests may call the direct line at (502) 234-9599 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST.
101 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220
4 minute drive/5 minute walk to VCU Engineering Research Building
The VCU rate of $255 per night is based on availability, but not available on Friday and Saturdays. Guests may call the reservation line at (888) 918-1895 to check.
501 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
5 minute drive/16 minute walk to VCU Engineering Research Building
The VCU rate of $175 per night is based on availability. Guest may call (804) 344-4300 to make their reservation and will need to specify they are reserving under “Virginia Commonwealth University” not VCU. Only valet parking is offered, which ranges from $41-51 a day.
