This exceptional group of experts in synthetic biology, RNA therapeutics, advanced therapies and Artificial Intelligence will provide invaluable guidance as we continue investing in the future of biotech innovation.
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Luis Serrano, Ph.D. Director, CRG (Centre for Genomic Regulation).
Dr. Luis Serrano earned his Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the CBM (Madrid, Spain) and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research in protein folding at the MRC (UK) under Prof. A.R. Fehrst. In 1993, he became a Group Leader at EMBL (Heidelberg, Germany), focusing on protein folding and design. A decade later, he was appointed Head of the Structural & Computational Biology program at EMBL, where he pioneered research in Systems and Synthetic Biology.
In 2006, Dr. Serrano returned to Spain to establish a Systems Biology research program, serving as vice-director before becoming Director of CRG in July 2011.
His current research focuses on Synthetic Biology, particularly in engineering and designing biological systems. A recognized leader in the field, he is a member of EMBO and RACEFyN and has received several prestigious international awards, including the Marie Curie Excellence Award, three ERC Advanced Grants and prizes like the Premi Ciuta de Barcelona, Fundacion Cobos and Jaume I in new technologies.
He has been a Coordinator in multiple EU-funded research projects and has co-founded 6 startup companies.
Begoña Carreño, Ph.D. Chief Business Development Officer at Aspeya.
Dr. Carreño is currently the Chief Business Development Officer at Aspeya (formerly known as Vectura Fertin Pharma) in Switzerland. Prior to this, she spent 18 years at Novartis Pharma AG in its Business Development and Licensing (“BD&L”) group, her last role being World Wide BD&L Head in the Ophthalmology Franchise, based in Basel, Switzerland.
Dr. Carreño has over 20 years of pharmaceutical development experience. She is a seasoned and energetic BD&L professional who has led the BD&L efforts at Novartis across five different therapeutic franchises in the last 15 years, including cardiovascular & metabolism, respiratory, arthritis, bone, and musculoskeletal diseases.
She has a proven track record in licensing deals, M&A, as well as developing collaborations within cross-functional, multicultural, and matrix environments at global, regional, and country levels. Before joining Novartis, she was the Head of External Pharmaceutical Projects at Almirall (Barcelona, Spain).
She is a non-executive board member at ProQR, a public company specialized in RNA editing, and a member of the Business Advisory Board at the IRB in Barcelona.
Dr. Carreño holds a Ph.D. in Drug Delivery from the London School of Pharmacy (UK) and a BSc in Biochemistry from Keele University (UK).
Josep Maria (Pep) Martorell, Ph.D. Associate Director, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).
Dr. Josep Maria Martorell has extensive experience in academic and scientific management, particularly in the intersection of research and government policy. He holds a degree in Physics from the University of Barcelona (UB) and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Ramon Llull University (URL).
His career includes serving as Director-General of Research for the Government of Catalonia for five years, where he played a key role in shaping regional research policies. Since April 2016, he has been Associate Director at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), contributing to strategic scientific advancements.
Dr. Martorell has also participated in executive training programs at ESADE (VV-2004) and IESE (PDD-2009). In addition to his academic and governmental leadership, he is an active Business Angel and mentor for several tech start-ups in Barcelona.
Theresa Heggie. Biopharmaceutical Executive & Board Member.
Theresa Heggie is a highly accomplished executive in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, with extensive leadership experience spanning global commercial strategy and operations, business development, and market access
She joined Freeline as CEO in June 2020, overseeing the company’s clinical development from its headquarters north of London. Previously, she was SVP, Head of CEMEA at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a pioneering biotech firm specializing in RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. She has also held senior roles as Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Bupa and SVP, Global Commercial Operations at Shire Human Genetic Therapies, where she also served as CEO of Jerini following its acquisition by Shire. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at Baxter and Janssen.
Ms. Heggie currently serves on the Boards of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals and ProQR Therapeutics. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.
Dr. Timothy Lu. Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Senti Bio.
Dr. Timothy Lu is a leader in synthetic biology and biopharmaceutical innovation. Since co-founding Senti Bio in 2016, he has served as the company’s CEO, overseeing the development of advanced gene and cell therapies.
Dr. Lu joined MIT as a faculty member in MIT’s Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science departments in 2010. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Lu pioneered work in engineering smart genetic circuits for therapeutic applications. He has co-founded and advised multiple biotech companies, including Senti, BiomX, Corvium, Eligo Bioscience, Engine Biosciences, Synlogic, and Tango Therapeutics.
Dr. Lu earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from MIT through the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program. His groundbreaking work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NIH New Innovator Award, US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, MIT Technology Review’s TR35, and the Navy and Army Young Investigator Prizes.