2020 SoCal Taiwanese Biotechnology Digital Event

Challenges and Opportunities for Biotechnology Community during Coronavirus Pandemic

August 23, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic directly influences our daily routine, jobs, and economy. How did biotech industry, startup spaces, and academia deal with the recent COVID-19 crisis?

Speakers

Li-Fan Lu (Associate Professor, University of California San Diego)
Li-Fan Lu received his Ph.D. in Immunology from Dartmouth College. He did his postdoctoral training first at the University of Washington and then at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where he was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fellow. In 2011, he received the K99/R00 Career Development Award through NIAID. He is currently an associate professor in molecular biology department at University of California San Diego. His research focuses on identifying the molecular determinants of differentiation and function of regulatory T cells.
Jessie Ni (Vice President Research And Development at BioLegend)​
Dr. Jessie Ni is the Vice President of Product Development at BioLegend, Inc. Jessie owns expertise and proven track record in developing and commercializing cell culture and characterization tools and reagents, such as recombinant cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, assay kits and culture media. By working closely with many key researchers including ones from the US National Institutes of Health, Jessie has led the teams to develop many first to market reagents needed by scientists in advancing immunology, oncology, stem cells and neuroscience research and applications. Jessie received her B.S. in Agriculture Chemistry from National Taiwan University, her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and post-doctoral training in Immunology from University of Minnesota. She also has a Master of Management of Technology degree from Carlson School of Management.
​David Stern (Professor, Boyce Thompson Institute)
David is President and CEO and a faculty member of the Boyce Thompson Institute, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Plant Biology at Cornell University. As a plant biologist, he has contributed to our understanding of the evolution of plant cells and the molecular signaling inside of them. His laboratory has used knowledge of plant’s photosynthesis process to manipulate the enzyme Rubisco, which utilizes atmospheric CO2, to improve the growth and resilience of maize plants. As President, David oversees 17 faculty, a senior leadership team, and various other research associates and core facilities directors, all focused on BTI’s mission: To advance and communicate scientific discovery in plant biology to improve agriculture, protect the environment, and enhance human health.
The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is a life science research institution with a workforce of approximately 160 individuals, who form a vibrant community of scientists, support staff, administrative professionals, trainees, and affiliates. Amplifying the reach of its research, BTI prioritizes environmental stewardship, and outreach to teachers, students and community members. BTI is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Cornell University and located on its Ithaca, NY campus.
David graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in molecular biology, and received Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Cambridge University and Stanford University in 1982 and 1986, respectively. He joined BTI in 1989 and in 2001 became the Vice President for Research. In 2004 he assumed the position of President. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society of Plant Biologists, and a former Guggenheim Fellow and NSF National Young Investigator.
Julio de Unamuno IV (CEO, LabFellows)
Julio de Unamuno IV is the Founder & CEO of LabFellows, the largest independent provider of lab operations management solutions with over $300M lab spend and over 1 million square feet of lab space under management across the US. He has more than 16 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry ranging from R&D to quality, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing. He currently serves on UPS Healthcare Advisory Board, and is interim Director of ePIC BIO national consortium digitizing the life sciences supply chain. Mr. de Unamuno holds a BA in Biochemistry from the University of San Diego and MBA from the Rady School of Management at University of California at San Diego.