Nucleate Global Virtual Summit
Want to dive into Nucleate—our programming, the Activator, entrepreneurship, and how you can get involved? This is your chance to be part of Nucleate’s history at our very first Virtual Alumni Summit! Join us for the inaugural Nucleate Virtual Alumni Summit, a global gathering designed to unite biotech founders, investors, and thought leaders shaping the future of life sciences.
Building on the energy of our in-person Summit, this virtual event invites our global community—spanning 45 chapters across 21 countries—to connect through dynamic panels, interactive sessions, and regional spotlights. Whether you're tuning in from Asia, Europe, or the Americas, this Summit is your chance to explore the cutting edge of biotech innovation, celebrate Nucleate’s global impact, and engage with alumni and leaders driving change across the ecosystem.
What to expect:
🌍 Global Perspectives — Hear from chapter leaders and founders in Asia, EMEA, and the Americas on regional innovation and biotech ecosystems.
💬 Catalyst Talks — Expert-led panels on topics ranging from gene editing and longevity to cross-border biotech collaboration and policy's role in shaping innovation.
🎤 Keynotes — Inspiring insights from renowned voices in science, industry, and government.
🤝 Networking Sessions — Meet alumni, mentors, and emerging leaders in biotech through facilitated virtual meetups.
🌱 Alumni Spotlights — Discover where Activator and Leadership alumni are now, and how their ideas have grown into impact and outcomes.
This Virtual Summit reflects Nucleate’s mission to democratize biotech education and build a connected, inclusive, and entrepreneurial life sciences community—worldwide.
🗓 Agenda – September 22, 2025 (ET)
9:00 - 9:20 | Welcome & State of Nucleate
9:20 - 10:00 | Fireside Chat: George Church on Building Biotech Companies
10:00 - 10:40 | Catalyst Talk: Activator Alumni (Tere Williams, Gleb Kuznetsov, Aaron Edwards)
10:40 - 11:20 | Catalyst Talk: Nucleate Leadership Alumni
11:20 - 12:00 | Networking Session Breakout Rooms
12:00 - 12:40 | Lunch Break
12:40 - 1:20 | Catalyst Talk: Genetic Editing at a Crossroads (Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, M.D., Ph.D., Jimi Olaghere, R. Alta Charo, J.D., Julie Saba, M.D., Ph.D.)
1:20 - 2:00 | Catalyst Talk: The Long Fight for Equity in Science: Then, Now, and Next
2:00 - 2:45 | Fireside Chat: Congressman Jake Auchincloss on Policy and the Future of Biotechnology
2:45 - 3:00 | Closing Remarks
Catalyst Talks:
Genetic Editing at a Crossroads: Gene editing is redefining what’s possible in medicine — from one-time cures to first-ever CRISPR fixes. This panel brings together pioneers across science, ethics, entrepreneurship, and patient advocacy to explore how technologies like CRISPR and RNA-editing are transforming therapeutic development. We’ll discuss challenges in delivery, regulation, and equitable access, plus what’s needed to build sustainable models for global impact.
Featuring:
🔬 Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, M.D., Ph.D. — Led the first-ever single-patient CRISPR treatment, published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
🌍 Jimi Olaghere — One of the first patients treated with CRISPR, now a global advocate for equitable access to gene therapies.
⚖️ Alta Charo, J.D. — National Academy of Medicine member and leading voice in biotech ethics and regulation.
🧪 Julie Saba, M.D., Ph.D. — UCSF pediatric oncologist, Nucleate alum, and 2023 Lilly Grand Challenge Prize winner pioneering gene therapies for SPLIS, a rare disease her lab discovered.
About the Host:
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.xyz for more information, and visit https://nucleate.xyz/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We would like to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs.
Platinum: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, MilliporeSigma
Philanthropic Support: Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Preferred Partners: Pillar VC, Amino Collective, Excedr, Mercury, Brex, Fedsprout
In-Kind Support: AcademicLabs, Lens.org, SynBioBeta