About the Series

This series focuses on the science and art of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Our goal is to highlight the work of some of the most innovative thinkers and leaders in this space, and to discuss the current, past, and future challenges and opportunities we face in this critical field.

PRE EVENT

Lessons From My Professional Journey

9 – 10 AM
TBD
Students/postdocs only

RARE DISEASE DAY

All day poster exhibition

9 AM – 4 PM
TBD
Students/postdocs only

MAIN EVENT

Antisense Technology, Past, Present, and Future

10:30 – 11:30 AM
TBD

Lunch

12:30 PM

Donald E. Ingber, MD, PhD, is an internationally recognized physician-scientist, bioengineer, and innovator whose research has transformed our understanding of how mechanical forces regulate cell behavior and human disease.

He is the Founding Director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, where he leads interdisciplinary teams developing bioinspired technologies that advance medicine, biotechnology, and sustainability.

Dr. Ingber is widely known for pioneering the fields of mechanobiology and organ-on-chip technology. His laboratory has developed microengineered human Organ Chips that faithfully replicate the structure and function of human organs, providing powerful alternatives to animal models for drug discovery, toxicology testing, and personalized medicine. His research has also contributed significantly to tissue engineering, tumor angiogenesis, nanobiotechnology, systems biology, and translational medicine.

Earning his BA, MA, MPhil, MD, and PhD from Yale University, he has authored more than 500 scientific publications, holds approximately 200 patents, and has founded eight biotechnology companies that have translated laboratory discoveries into commercial and clinical applications. Dr. Ingber is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His many honors recognize pioneering contributions to biomedical engineering, mechanobiology, and translational medicine, as well as his leadership in advancing technologies that bridge engineering and the life sciences.

Dr. Barry L. Berkowitz is a distinguished figure in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with nearly 40 years of experience in drug discovery and development. He has founded and led several successful organizations, including Bessor Pharma, where he serves as Founder and Chairman. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in forming strategic alliances with major pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Wyeth, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Dr. Berkowitz has held leadership roles in multiple companies, including Myco/Chemgenics (acquired by Millennium Pharmaceuticals), New Chemical Entities (acquired by Albany Molecular), and Fibrogen. Earlier in his career, he held senior research positions at SmithKline & French and the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Northeastern University and later obtained his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of California, San Francisco. His contributions to the field have been widely recognized, and he continues to play a pivotal role in advancing pharmaceutical research and development.

OCTOBER 24, 2025

Antisense Technology, Past, Present, and Future

with Stanley T. Crooke, MD, PhD

Stanley T. Crooke is a pioneering scientist and entrepreneur in the field of RNA-targeted theraputics, and is widely regarded as the father of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) medicine and has made groundbreaking contributions to drug discovery and development.