Science, Startups and Drugs: Translating Groundbreaking Research into Transformative Therapeutics

Join us for an inside look at the innovative and unique partnerships that are emerging between academia and the biotech industry as Dorothee Kern, professor of biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Brandeis, and Kevin Gillis ’89, partner and chief operating officer at Third Rock Ventures explore the intersection of business and science today. Moderated by Vipin Suri, PhD’01, chief scientific officer at Catamaran.

Remarkable advances in the development of drugs and vaccines have had a major impact on our ability to fight cancer, genetic, metabolic, and other diseases. The journey of these advances begins in basic research labs that explore fundamental mechanisms and details of physiological systems in health and disease. Translating the insights from research labs to drugs available to patients requires contributions from many partners of the healthcare ecosystem. Venture capitalists bring talented researchers and entrepreneurs together to translate ideas into actionable plans and provide early capital. Drug development specialists then execute the plans to bring drugs to patients.

As a basic research institution, Brandeis consistently punches above its weight and is home to several Nobel Prize winners. Brandeis researchers have embraced the vibrant Boston drug development ecosystem to develop safe and effective therapies for patients based on novel concepts discovered in academic research supported by the university and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.