Navigating Biotech Innovation
This conversation brings together postdoctoral researchers with two leaders who have built and backed biotech ventures: Suman Lal (Senior Advisor, Cambridge Innovation Center and Founder Technology Innovation Studio) and Dr. Sophie He (VP Cell Therapy & Head of M&A and Partnering, Bracco). The discussion will cover how to evaluate whether an idea is worth pursuing, what differentiates successful founders and industry leaders from strong scientists, and how to build the network that opens doors. Both speakers will share candid perspectives on entrepreneurship, dealmaking and moving between academia and industry. This is a rare chance to hear unfiltered insights on how postdocs can transition from executing research to driving innovation at the commercial frontier.
About Guest
Dr. Sophie He serves as Vice President of Cell Therapy and Head of M&A and Partnering at Bracco, a multi-billion-dollar European pharmaceutical company. With 15 years of experience in biotech and medtech deal-making on both buy and sell sides, Sophie has spearheaded major transactions including Sanofi's $2.5B acquisition of Synthorx and €3.9B acquisition of Ablynx. Most recently, she led Blue Earth Therapeutics' spin-off and $76.5M Series A fundraising in the US, and has closed numerous licensing and partnership deals across radiopharmaceuticals, diagnostic imaging, and AI applications. Sophie is currently spearheading a new cell therapy division focused on innovative manufacturing processes leveraging proprietary microbubble platforms. She holds a PhD in Computational and Systems Biology from MIT and the National University of Singapore, and is a CFA charterholder. She serves on the board for Blue Earth Diagnostics and Blue Earth Therapeutics.
About Speaker
Dr. Suman Lal is a Senior Advisor to the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), the Venture Cafe Global Institute (VCGI) and the Founder of Technology Innovation Studio (TINS). Suman's primary interest is in technology commercialization where he has accumulated deep experience as an operator for the last 15 years, including working on biotech start-ups in the area of stroke, neuropathic pain, solid tumors and interventional radiology. Suman has an MD in clinical medicine and an MSc in human genetics and did his PhD in precision medicine & clinical pharmacology. He also received his MBA from MIT as a Sloan Fellow, focusing on innovation and global leadership.
About Moderator
Dr. Basit Salik is a cancer immunologist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital with a strong academic track record in leukemia biology, immune regulation and therapeutic target discovery. In his current role as a postdoctoral researcher in the Van Galen lab, he investigates hematopoietic stem cell biology, leukemia prevention and mechanisms of leukemic transformation with focus on translational applications. His research has identified therapeutic targets for aggressive leukemia and has been published in top-tier oncology journals. Basit has provided strategic advisory support to early-stage biotech ventures in oncology and immunotherapy. Basit completed a Mini-MBA in Biotech Commercialization and earned his PhD and BBiomedSc with First Class Honours from The University of Queensland, Australia. He is an EIR (Expert-in-Residence) at the Technology Innovation Studio (Cambridge Innovation Center), Senior Vice President of Harvard GSAS Consulting, and engages with ventures through the Harvard Biotech Incubator bringing a perspective that bridges rigorous science with strategic insight.
About TINS
Technology Innovation Studio (TINS) is an innovation studio that uses systems dynamics models to accelerate innovation. TINS carries out interest groups based programming and builds communities through curated events and complements this with expert-led concierge and consulting services. TINS has interests in venture creation and in doing syndicated investments in early-stage deep-tech companies.