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 (Jei Diwakar, Jeff Knox, Michael Retchin, Shree Padma Metur, Mandi Williams)
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 (Megan Tsao, Tamar Thompson, Malaika Lucien, Reginald Swift)
2:00 - 2:45 | Fireside Chat: Congressman Jake Auchincloss on Policy and the Future of Biotechnology
2:45 - 3:00 | Closing Remarks
Fireside Chats:
From Discovery to Company Creation: Few scientists have shaped modern biotechnology as profoundly as Dr. George Church. A pioneer in genetics and synthetic biology, his work has transformed genome sequencing, gene editing, and the field of synthetic life sciences. As Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT, he has trained generations of innovators who continue to drive the biotech revolution. Beyond academia, he has co-founded dozens of companies advancing gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and bio-based manufacturing, while spearheading initiatives like the Personal Genome Project to expand access to genomics.
This session will highlight how scientific breakthroughs become transformative ventures. Dr. Church will share lessons from building and advising biotech companies, from navigating the leap from discovery to startup, to securing funding and building teams that deliver real-world impact. His talk offers a roadmap for the next generation of scientists-turned-entrepreneurs to shape the future of biotech through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Featuring:
🧬 Dr. George Church — Harvard geneticist, entrepreneur, and global leader in genome sequencing, gene editing, and synthetic biology; co-founder of dozens of biotech companies transforming science into impact.
Policy at the Frontlines of Biotech: The future of biotechnology doesn’t unfold in labs alone—it’s shaped in the halls of Congress. This session features Congressman Jake Auchincloss, a leading voice on healthcare and innovation in Greater Boston and beyond. Serving on the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, he helps craft legislation that directly impacts biotech development, patient access, and the translation of science into real-world outcomes. We’ll explore how decisions on drug pricing, FDA reform, and R&D funding are redefining the path from discovery to delivery—and what leaders in the field can do to engage with policymakers to drive impact.
Featuring:
🇺🇸 Congressman Jake Auchincloss — U.S. Representative for Massachusetts, Marine Corps veteran, former Newton City Councilor, and business leader with experience in product innovation and venture development; a pragmatic advocate for healthcare, patient access, and biotech innovation.
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.
The Long Fight for Equity in Science: From the early struggles for representation to the systemic gaps that persist today, women’s participation in science has always been shaped by resilience and resistance. This Catalyst Talk traces the historical arc of equity in the life sciences—what has changed, what hasn’t, and what leadership must look like to drive lasting progress. We’ll examine why inclusion remains essential for innovation and how the next generation of leaders can unlock the full potential of global biotech.
Featuring:
🎤 Megan Tsao — PhD student in Human Genetics at McGill University and Nucleate leader, bridging genomics, strategy, and health innovation to translate science into real-world impact.
🌍 Tamar Thompson — Market access champion and health policy leader with executive roles at Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, and BMS; Chair of MassBio and board member advancing patient empowerment and equitable access.
⚖️ Malaika Lucien — STEM Policy Manager for Massachusetts, former Legislative Liaison to Governor Maura Healey, and strategist dedicated to expanding equity and opportunity across education, policy, and community.
🔬 Reginald Swift — Founder & CEO of Rubix LS, advancing health equity through patient-focused innovations and mentoring future biotech leaders across MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.
Nucleate Leadership Alumni: Leadership within Nucleate has proven to be more than just student experience—it’s been a launchpad for careers shaping biotech across academia, startups, and industry. This panel brings together alumni who once led chapters, built programs, and fostered communities, to reflect on the lessons of mission-driven leadership and the doors it opened. We’ll explore how early challenges in building teams and driving initiatives became the foundation for careers in venture, company creation, law, consulting, and beyond.
Featuring:
🎤 Jei Diwakar — Postdoctoral Researcher at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich and Nucleate’s EVP of Culture; led global initiatives and Summit Planning to connect scientists with biotech innovation.
💡 Jeff Knox — Investor at Innospark Ventures and former Co-Managing Director of Nucleate Boston; focuses on early-stage AI/data-driven biotech ventures.
🔬 Michael Retchin — Founder of Scale Medicine, former Nucleate Co-President; built the organization into the world’s largest biotech accelerator and drove venture, research, and AI-driven discovery.
🌱 Shree Padma Metur — Strategic Advisory Consultant at Trinity Life Sciences and former Nucleate Michigan MD; bridges academia and industry with focus on women’s health and translational science.
⚖️ Mandi Williams — Life sciences attorney at Washington University in St. Louis and Nucleate Board Director; founding EVP who built global partnerships and finance operations.
Activator Alumni Panel: The Nucleate Activator has launched some of the most promising biotech companies of the last decade. In this panel, alumni founders will share how their journeys began with Nucleate—and where they’ve gone since. From navigating the leap from academia to entrepreneurship, to tackling the hard realities of biotech company-building, these leaders will reflect on the lessons learned, opportunities seized, and challenges overcome along the way.
Featuring:
🌱 Tere Williams — Co-Founder & CEO of DUB Therapeutics; advancing self-delivering RNAi therapies for fibrosis and tissue regeneration, with a focus on equitable access and patient-centered innovation.
🔬 Gleb Kuznetsov — Co-Founder & CEO of Manifold Bio; leading a platform that combines massively multiplexed screening with AI-guided design to pioneer tissue-specific protein therapeutics.
💡 Aaron Edwards — Co-Founder & CEO of KiraGen Bio; building next-generation CAR-T therapies for solid tumors using an AI-driven multiplex editing platform to overcome the tumor microenvironment.
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