PARTNERS


#biolabsinvestorday
April 22nd | 9am - 4pm | The Curtis
INVESTORS






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a selection of participating investors and pharma
Panel Session
"Surviving the Startup Roller Coaster:
When to Pivot and When to Double Down."
Part of the Practical Knowledge Series,
Presented by:

Meet the moderator and panelists for the 2025 BioLabs Investor Day!

MODERATOR
Heather M. Rose, Ph.D., J.D.
Vice President of Technology Licensing and Startups, Jefferson;
President, BioStrategy Partners
Heather is Vice President of Technology Licensing & Startups at Thomas Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University as well as the current President of BioStrategy Partners. With over a decade of leadership in biotech innovation, she has guided hundreds of early-stage technologies through IP strategy, translational development, and commercialization. She oversees a portfolio of 700+ patents and over 50 active licenses, and leads initiatives to connect academic discoveries with market pathways. Dr. Rose holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Drexel University, and is a certified licensing professional and member of the U.S. Patent Bar.

Sabriya Stukes, PhD,
Partner, SOSV
Sabriya Stukes is a Partner at SOSV, a global venture capital firm providing multi-stage investment to founders making an impact on human and planetary health. A microbiologist, educator and science communicator, her expertise is in working with individuals to identify unmet community needs, design sustainable solutions, think critically about the world around them and craft compelling scientific narratives.

Erandi De Silva, Ph.D.
Investment Partner, Drive Capital
Erandi De Silva is a partner at Drive Capital. Prior to joining Drive, she co-founded Forge Biologics, a VC-backed gene therapy development and manufacturing company. She has over 15 years of experience in discovery research, translational therapeutic development, and partnering. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton and a B.S. (Honors) in Biological Sciences from Stanford. She has a strong commitment and track record in building and managing a diverse and innovative workforce. She was honored as one of the Fiercest Women in Life Sciences by Fierce Pharma.

Prof. Sunil Joshi, MSc MBA
CEO, Protelis Bio
Accomplished BioPharma executive with three decades in BMS, Bayer, Onyx, Halozyme & Gradalis Inc . One of the top thought leaders in commercialization of pharmaceutical medicines, clinical and commercial strategy, and M&A due diligence. Experienced in investor out-reach and capital raise. Marketing and strategy executive with enterprise leadership from Phase 1 to post launch. Former biotech CEO and Pharma senior leader with over a decade of governance experience. Problem solver, builder of high performance teams, teacher & mentor to senior leaders. Introduction Prof. Sunil Joshi is a senior Bio-Pharma executive experienced in running complex multi- functional organizations in US and International markets. A former head of Strategy & Cell Therapy Unit for Oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Joshi has broad experience, from running drug development organizations developing Phase I-III assets, to running sales and marketing organizations in launching today’s modern, innovative precision medicines. He is a problem-solver with experience in leading teams, creating new markets, and building strong organizations. His therapeutic area expertise includes Metablolic diseases, Anti-infectives and Oncology having launched multiple products such as Vitrakvi, Aliqopa, Erbitux, Sprycel, Yervoy. Prof. Joshi brings a wealth of Business Development experience being involved in in-licensing of multiple products like Yervoy, acquisition of Medarex, licensing of a MSLN CAR-T therapy etc. Prof. Joshi has experience raising capital and championing resource allocation for drug development. Currently Prof. Joshi is President of Strategius, a strategy consulting company, and teaches about Pharma & Biotech industry at Rutgers University. Career History Sunil Joshi started his career in Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in sales and over two decades at BMS, Prof. Joshi held various roles incl. product management, running an anti-infective brand in the US, in drug development taking drug candidates from pre-clinical to clinical stage, eventually leading the Oncology Business Unit for International markets launching multiple products. Subsequently, Prof. Joshi worked in biotechnology sector as a C-Suite executive at Halozyme Therapeutics, and CEO of Gradalis, Inc. Prior to starting Strategius Consultants, Prof. Joshi was the Head of Oncology Strategy & Head of Cell Therapy group at Bayer. Board Service & Other Activities Former Board Member, Gradalis Inc., a biotech company developing innovative cell therapy Advisory Board Member, Memorial Sloan Cancer Center Technology Development Fund Adjunct Professor, EJ Bloustein School, MHA Program, Rutgers University

Betty Woo, Ph.D.
Vice President/General Manager, Cell and Gene Therapy
Elizabeth Woo (Betty) serves as the Vice President of Cell, Gene and Advanced Therapies (CGAT) at Thermo Fisher Scientific. In her current role, Betty leads a business focused on the integration of fit-for-purpose solutions across the company, enabling CGAT developers and manufacturers to provide safe and effective therapies to patients worldwide. Prior to her current role, Betty started and led a corporate team dedicated to scientific collaboration with Thermo Fisher’s largest strategic customers. Over her 22-year tenure at Thermo Fisher, Betty has served in diverse leadership roles, ranging from general management to technical and commercial leadership positions, always focused on leveraging total company capabilities and innovation to serve customers. Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Betty took on various functional leadership roles at a biotechnology start-up, Cellomics, a pioneer in spatial imaging, including business development, product management, sales and marketing. In addition, Betty served on the faculty of University of Pittsburgh Medical School in the Department of Pharmacology, where she also completed her post-doctoral studies. She obtained her doctorate in pharmacology from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and undergraduate in biological science from Carnegie Mellon University. Betty serves on several advisory boards including the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, Standards Coordinating Body, International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy, and Pittsburgh Life Sciences Alliance

PRESENTING SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
Silver

Gold
Platinum

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Mission
More than ever, great life science startups need extensive investor connections to be successful. That's why BioLabs joins forces with key local ecosystem partners — drawing on our international network of investor relationships — to bring the money and the talent together.
With a successful track record of events in Heidelberg, Germany; Chicago, IL; Princeton, NJ; San Diego, CA and Paris, France, Philadelphia's now-annual Investor Day 2025 will bring together life science investors from across the country, and startups from Philly's groundbreaking ecosystem for a day of pre-selected lightning pitches, poster sessions a lively panel of expert and invite-only networking.

The Venue
The Historic Curtis Building
601 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
The Curtis, the reimagined landmark publishing house in Philadelphia's highly desirable Washington Square neighborhood, is fast becoming a hub for top life science companies. Life science tenants such as Imvax, Aro Biotherapeutics, and Vivodyne occupy lab — and in some cases cGMP — spaces within the historic building. BioLabs Philadelphia is thrilled to host both graduate suites and an upcoming showcase incubator as part of the rich and rapidly growing life science hub at the Curtis.























