Unleashing the Power of Biotech in the Bay Area and Asia: Exploring Possibilities, Collaboration, and Risks

From finding a cure for cancer to anti-aging technology, biotech innovation is evolving faster than one can imagine. Investors are looking heavily towards new technologies and research that will defy what humanity knows about science today and achieve the impossible. As the land of innovation, capital, and top talent, the Bay Area has become a major hub for biotechnology. The world, especially Asia, has determined biotechnology as a key interest for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum coming up in San Francisco this November.  

Join Asia Society Northern California for a timely discussion on the future of biotechnology and the influence of the Bay Area and Asia. Speakers from a variety of fields, both on the science and policy front, will talk about how countries can collaborate to extend lives, improve healthcare, and what potential risks the rapid acceleration of biotechnology innovation may pose. 

AGENDA

3:30 PM – Registration and Networking Commences

4:00 PM – Opening Remarks and welcome from Asia Society Northern California

4:05 PM – Biotech in the Bay Area

4:15 PM – Panel Discussion -  Unleashing the Power of Biotechnology in the Bay Area and Asia: Exploring Possibilities, Collaboration, and Risks    

5:10 – 5:20 PM – Closing Keynote

5:20 – 6:30 – Happy Hour

SPEAKERS 

Richard Dasher has been Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University since 1994. He served concurrently as the Executive Director of the Center for Integrated Systems in Stanford's School of Engineering from 1998 - 2015. His research and teaching focus on the flow of people, knowledge, and capital in innovation systems, on the impact of new technologies on industry value chains, and on open innovation management. Dr. Dasher serves on the advisory boards for national universities and research institutions in Japan and Thailand. He is on the selection and review committees of major government funding programs for science, technology, and innovation and in Canada and Japan. He is an advisor to start-up companies, business accelerators, venture capital firms, and nonprofits in Silicon Valley, China, Japan, and S. Korea. Dr. Dasher was the first non-Japanese person ever asked to join the governance of a Japanese national university, serving as a Board Director and member of the Management Council of Tohoku University from 2004 - 2010. Dr. Dasher received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Linguistics from Stanford University. From 1986 – 90, he was Director of the U.S. State Department’s Advanced Language and Area Training Centers in Japan and Korea that provide full-time curricula to U.S. and Commonwealth Country diplomats assigned to those countries.

Dr. Regis B. Kelly is the Director of one of four California Institutes for Science and Innovation, created by the California Legislature to strengthen the academic foundation of its technology-based industries. QB3 is the only one of the four devoted exclusively to biology and to the life science industries. It is an innovation center made up of over 200 quantitative biologists at three northern California campuses (UCB, UCSC & UCSF) working at the interface of the physical and biological sciences and a team of professionals converting its discoveries into practical benefits for society.

From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Kelly served as Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California in San Francisco, where his major responsibility was the new Mission Bay campus.

From 1995 to 2000, Dr. Kelly served as Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF; from 1988 to 1995, he was the Director of UCSF’s Cell Biology Graduate Program; and from 1992 to 2000, he was the Director of the Hormone Research Institute at UCSF. He has published extensively in the areas of cell and neurobiology.

Mika Nishimura is a commercialization executive with extensive leadership experience in conceiving, planning, and launching disruptive medical technologies in 50 markets across North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.  She has an exceptional track record of leading businesses from inception to across different clinical segments, including cardiovascular, fertility, and oncology.

Mika is an independent director of SI Bone (NASDAQ – SIBN), an orthopedic/spine implant company, Accuray (NASDAQ – ARAY), a radiation oncology equipment manufacturer, and HOYA (Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime: 7741), a diversified manufacturer of life science and IT products leveraging advanced optics technologies.  In addition, she is also a board advisor to Tristel, plc, a UK public company, and a leader in high-level disinfection and decontamination technology.

Since 2011, Mika has been an Operational Partner with Gilde Healthcare Partners, a life-science focused venture fund with $2B under management and currently investing out of Gilde V, a $460M fund.

In her most recent operating role, Mika was Vice President, Commercialization at nVision Medical Corporation, an early clinical-stage company focused on early detection of ovarian cancer acquired by Boston Scientific for $275M.   Previously, Mika was Vice President, Commercial Development at Auxogyn, a company focused on reproductive health.  Progyny, Inc acquired the company in 2015.

Earlier in her career, Mika was Vice President, International Sales Operations and Marketing at ev3 Inc., where she held P&L responsibilities for the emerging markets.

Dr. Marietta Wu is Managing Director of Quan Capital, a life sciences venture fund with offices in China & US, and deep expertise in cross-border value creation and global investments.  She is a founding member of Zai Lab and served as COO and Director of the company prior to Quan Capital.  Zai Lab is a NASDAQ listed company widely recognized as a leader in bringing innovative and transformative medicines to China.  Over the past decade, Dr. Wu has been active in cross-border ventures and value creation in the life sciences industry.  She was Managing Director at Burrill & Company, leading Burrill’s investments and operation in Greater China, focusing on venture capital investing in China and Taiwan related life sciences opportunities.  She also served as acting COO of Waterstone, a specialty pharmaceutical company with key operations in China.   Dr. Wu is a frequent speaker and author on China and Taiwan life sciences topics, and a founding member of the China Healthcare Investment Conference.  Prior to her focus on healthcare investments and company building, Dr. Wu was Director of Strategy at Edwards Lifesciences.  She also held various financial and business development positions at Eli Lilly & Company.
 
Dr. Wu received her medical degree from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (formerly Shanghai Second Medical University), a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Medical College of Ohio, and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
 
Dr. Wu serves on the board of Alebund Biotech, Crescendo Biologics, Eluminex Biosciences, Innoforce, MEDx Translational Medicine, RareStone Group, Zenas Biopharma and Zidan Medical.  She was a board member of Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB), Kira Pharmaceutical, Jing Medicine Technology, Taiwan Liposome Company (GTSM: 4152), JHL Biotech (TWEM: 6540), and General Biologics Corporation (TWEM: 4117).

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