Research to Impact: Genomics
Event Overview
Genomics is the most successful translational science of the past fifty years. This panel examines how it actually happened—not the textbook version, but the real infrastructure, policy barriers, clinical adoption decisions, and entrepreneurial choices that moved genomics from the research lab to patient care and funded companies.
We'll trace the full arc: what had to be abandoned from the research mindset to ship a product, when and why clinicians changed practice, how genomic tests got through the coverage wall, and which structural conditions made it work.
Why Attend
Walk away understanding:
The actual mechanisms that enabled genomics translation—not inspiration, but infrastructure
How researchers become founders, and what shifts in mindset and approach are required
The specific clinical and policy conditions under which new technologies get adopted at scale
Where the translation pipeline succeeded and where it still doesn't—and why
Lessons for other translation challenges: AI in medicine, health data infrastructure, and early-stage health innovation
Ideal For
Researchers and scientists considering commercialization or founding a venture
Clinicians and healthcare providers interested in adopting new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies
Policy makers, payers, and healthcare administrators overseeing coverage and reimbursement decisions
Entrepreneurs building health tech or life science companies
Anyone working at the bench-to-clinic intersection who wants to understand how translation infrastructure actually works
Program
6:00–6:15 PM · Check-In and Networking
6:15–6:20 PM · Opening Remarks
6:20–7:00 PM · Moderated Panel Discussion
7:00–7:10 PM · Audience Q&A
7:10–8:30 PM · Networking and Closing
Panelists
Shiron Lee The Scientist Who Crossed Over · Researcher → Founder
CEO of Re:Pair Genomics and principal consultant at Impact Consulting Group. Shiron holds an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto, with years of bench experience in gene therapy development. Currently pursuing an MBA at Rotman School of Management. She has successfully navigated the transition from academia to industry, entrepreneurship, and consulting, and brings direct experience in pitching, venture building, and the hard choices that separate research thinking from product thinking.
Luis Peña The Payer & Pathway Navigator · Policy, Reimbursement, Access
Team Lead, Provincial Genetics Program, Ontario Health. Luis leads complex, multi-stakeholder genomics initiatives and advises senior leadership and government partners on strategic health system direction. With a background in medical genomics and expertise in health policy and program design, he has led the development of evidence-based provincial guidance, testing standards, and investment recommendations across multiple clinical domains. He regularly translates policy into operational feasibility—the critical step most panels skip.
Laura Raiti, MD, FRACP – Cancer Genetics Fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children.
Dr Laura Raiti is a Paediatric Oncologist from Australia and is currently a Cancer Genetics Fellow and Garron Family Cancer Centre Research Fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto. Prior to her fellowship at SickKids, Laura completed her Paediatric Oncology fellowship training at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. In addition to being a Paediatric Oncologist, Laura is also training to be a Cancer Geneticist, and previously trained as a clinical genetics fellow at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services in Melbourne, Australia. Laura is passionate about the intersection of genomics, hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes and paediatric oncology, with the goal of improving the care including surveillance, management and outcomes for paediatric oncology patients.
Moderator
Donghoon Lee, PhD Co-Founder and CEO, Omphalos Lifesciences
Donghoon is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur building programmable virtual cell technology to make biology more accessible, designable, and predictable. He advises The Human Puzzle on translational science.
Partner
MEDVERGE AI
About The Human Puzzle
The Human Puzzle brings together researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders to solve the bottlenecks that slow health innovation. We identify high-impact challenges in health and life sciences, convene the right expertise, and support teams through structured collaboration from concept to implementation.