Insights to Impact | Bench to Batch – Accelerating IND Readiness
Insights to Impact is BioBuzz's highly curated event series exclusively for biopharma industry leaders and professionals.
Agenda
4-6pm — VIP Program (Invite-Only)
Please note that space for the program portion is very limited and reserved for industry leaders, ecosystem builders, sponsors, and partners.
6-9pm — Holiday Mixer + Networking
Everyone is encouraged to join us for the networking + holiday mixer immediately following the program at 6:00pm.
Host
United Therapeutics
Founded to find a cure for a daughter’s rare disease, United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company transforming care for people with chronic and life-threatening conditions. Our purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies and technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, we do good. We are also the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation.
Overview
VIP Program (Exclusive)
4:00pm Check-In + VIP Networking
4:45pm Welcome
4:50pm Opening | Doing the Right Thing: When Your Mission Becomes a Mandate
Jay Cormier, Vice President of Strategy and Operations, United Therapeutics
5:10pm Panel | Bench to Batch: Accelerating IND Readiness
One of the most pivotal moments in drug development is the transition from promising early science to GMP manufacturing and IND submission. This discussion-driven session explores the technical, operational, and strategic decisions that determine how quickly — and how successfully — a therapeutic program advances toward the clinic.
Attendees will explore:
Scaling processes from discovery through development
Quality systems and operational readiness for GMP
Regulatory expectations and path-to-IND considerations
Innovations that accelerate timelines without compromising rigor
Expert Panel
Timothy Fouts, Chief Scientific Officer, ABL, Inc.
Greg Merril, Executive Director, Chariot Biosciences
Heidi Kenty, MBA, PMP, Senior Director, Global Cell Therapy Business Strategy & Portfolio, AstraZeneca
Cliff Carroll, Executive Director, New Modalities and Platform Technology, Global Technical Operations, AstraZeneca
Jim Watson, Chief Solutions Officer, ProjectFarma (moderator)
This program offers a deep, candid look at what it takes to move from bench to batch with confidence — and the lessons that can advance the next wave of clinical breakthroughs.
Holiday Mixer + Networking
6-9pm | $35 Admission
Join us after the VIP program for BioBuzz's Holiday Mixer — a festive, end-of-year gathering that brings together innovators, investors, founders, consultants, and partners from across the BioHealth Capital Region.
We'll toast the ideas, progress, and partnerships that shaped 2025 — and set the stage for what’s ahead in 2026.
Sponsors
This event is made possible by the support of our Series Sponsors:
ABL, Inc. (ablinc.com)
Ascend Advanced Therapies (ascend-adv.com)
Cartesian Therapeutics (cartesiantherapeutics.com)
CRB Group (crbgroup.com)
Fulton Bank (fultonbank.com)
Heffron Company (heffroncompany.com)
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) (hjf.org)
InfoPathways (infopathways.com)
ProjectFarma (projectfarma.com)
QIAGEN (qiagen.com)
TEDCO (tedcomd.com)
Workforce Genetics (workforcegenetics.com)
Lead Event Sponsor: Ascend-ABL
We are thrilled to have Ascend Advanced Therapies (Ascend) and Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL) as the Lead Sponsor for this event and our exclusive CDMO partner for our Insights to Impact Series this year (2025).
Ascend-ABL is a gene-to-GMP CDMO specializing in high-quality, cost-effective advanced therapy development and manufacturing. We are dedicated to advancing therapeutics, vaccines, and other biological products through effective partnership with our clients to patients in need.
With ABL’s 60+ years of experience working on a diverse range of infectious diseases with organizations including industry, government, and academic entities plus Ascend’s 30+ years of AAV innovation expertise, Ascend-ABL provides robust capabilities for the development and production of multimodal virus-based oncolytic therapies, cell & gene therapies, viral vaccines and immunotherapies from the bench to commercialization.
Ascend-ABL has facilities in Rockville, MD, Alachua, FL, and Munich, Germany. Learn more about your long-time, BioHealth Capital Region neighbor, ABL at abclinc.com and be sure to FOLLOW them on LinkedIn. Learn more about Ascend at ascend-adv.com and be sure to also FOLLOW them on LinkedIn.
Important Information
This event is FREE for industry leaders and professionals, providing a unique opportunity to gain insights on important industry trends and connect with fellow life science professionals, entrepreneurs, and advocates in a peer-oriented setting. Vendor and service provider attendance is paid and restricted to ensure a high-value program.
We encourage you to share this with those in your network who are passionate about strengthening the BioHealth Capital Region’s biotech ecosystem and would benefit from attending.
NOTE TO VENDORS + SERVICE PROVIDERS
Vendors that operate in the same category as any of our sponsors will be restricted from attendance unless pre-authorized by the associated sponsor. BioBuzz reserves the right to restrict registration and entry as we deem necessary. Refunds will be provided when tickets if/where necessary.