2023 Biotechnology Conference

Babak Beheshti, Ph.D., Dean, NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences

Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D. is Professor and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences (CoECS) at New York Institute of Technology.

Babak’s experience in higher education spans over 35 years, where he has served as a full-time faculty member, President of the Senate, Associate Dean, and Dean. As dean of the engineering college, Babak led the college to the introduction of its first two Ph.D. programs in computer science and engineering, two new Bachelor’s and one new Master's degree programs, in addition to leading the college through its fastest climb in national rankings: #33 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (National - no doctorate) – a climb of 13 places since 2020, and #191 Best Computer Science Undergraduate Programs (National - no doctorate), a new ranking in 2021– a climb of 40 places since 2020.

Chad Bouton , M.D., Vice President of Advanced Engineering and Director of the Neural Bypass and Brain Computer Interface Laboratory, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health

Prior to joining the health system, Chad Bouton was a research leader at Battelle, the world’s largest nonprofit research and development (R&D) organization, and was involved in medical device R&D programs for 18 years. He developed cancer detection algorithms in the late 1990s to help surgeons pinpoint and remove tumors more effectively. Later, he developed neural decoding methods that allowed the first paralyzed person with a brain implant to move again with their own thoughts.

Cat Donaldson, Ph.D., M.B.A, is Executive Director of Alexandria Real Estate’s flagship LaunchLabs incubator at the Alexandria Center for Life Sciences in NYC. In this role, Cat is focused on running NYC’s premier life sciences incubator, shepherding, and supporting new company creation and growth, and engaging with the NYC entrepreneurship ecosystem. Previously, Cat was Chief Development Officer at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, developing scientific programs and leading resourcing strategy for the world-renowned life sciences research institute on Long Island, NY. Throughout her career, Cat has spearheaded and fostered many multimillion-dollar research initiatives, spanning academic research and educational programs and start-up companies. Cat is fundamentally motivated by facilitating and accelerating the real-world impact of innovation and discovery in the life sciences.

A. Martin Gerdes, Ph.D., Professor/Department Chair Biomedical Sciences, NYITCOM College of Osteopathic Medicine

After developing and validating accurate techniques to assess changes in cardiac myocyte shape and number, Martin Gerdes, Ph.D., defined how these cells remodel in physiological and pathological conditions. He demonstrated that the dilated, thin-walled ventricle characteristic of systolic heart failure was due to a maladaptive change in myocyte shape (increased length with no change in diameter) rather than slippage of myocytes past each other. In addition, Gerdes showed that chronic hypothyroidism alone can eventually lead to dilated heart failure with a maladaptive change in myocyte shape and impaired coronary blood flow. His research has shown that serum thyroid hormone levels may underestimate the true incidence of low cardiac tissue hormones in heart disease.

Daniel A. Grande, Ph.D. graduated from Long Island University with a BS in biology and completed his PhD in anatomy and cell biology at New York University. He completed his post-doctorate in biomechanics at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He began his scientific career at the Hospital for Joint Diseases/Orthopedic Institute studying regenerative medicine and tissue engineering technologies for repair of the musculoskeletal system. In 1990, Dr. Grande established the orthopedic research laboratory at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and continues investigating novel regenerative therapies including stem cells, growth factors, biomaterials and 3D bioprinting.

Brooke Grindlinger, Ph.D. serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at the New York Academy of Sciences.

In this role, Brooke leads strategic development and scientific oversight of the Academy's international portfolio of scientific conferences and related multimedia publications across the broad spectrum of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Sustainability, Computer Science, and Engineering. Through this platform — and via strategic alliances with external organizations, foundations, and individuals — the Academy convenes leading international scientists from academia, industry, and government sectors in focused efforts to catalyze advances in science, medicine, engineering, and innovation for the benefit of society.

Azhar Ilyas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering & Computing Sciences, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)

Azhar Ilyas is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. Prior to joining New York Tech, he was a post-doctoral fellow at Texas A&M University in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2013. His research experience and interests are in the general areas of biomedical engineering, nanoscience, and nanotechnology, with a particular focus towards their application in disease diagnostics and bone regeneration.

In 2016, Ilyas came to New York Tech, where he established the Bio-Nanotechnology and Biomaterials (BNB) Laboratory. The research in this lab focuses on two major themes: 1) point-of-care disease diagnostics; and 2) osteoinductive materials for bone-implant systems.

Kyle Kaniecki, Ph.D., Vice President of Life Sciences and Healthcare at the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

In his role at the EDC, Dr. Kaniecki works to help implement the mayor’s $1B LifeSci NYC initiative to create jobs and establish New York City as a global leader in life sciences. Before joining the EDC, Dr. Kaniecki was an entrepreneur at a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in NYC, worked at Columbia University’s tech transfer office, and has a long history working in academic research and drug development. Dr. Kaniecki has a B.S. in Zoology from UW-Madison, an M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in Genetics and Development from Columbia University.

David Lewandowski, Director, Business Development Cell and Gene Therapy, Azenta Life Sciences.

In his current role at Azenta Life Sciences, he drives industry conversation around and scale up for cell and gene therapy distribution models including R&D, manufacturing, and distribution of final products. As a past ISBER President (Intl Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories), he established a partnership with the Society for Cryobiology to develop the first Liquid Nitrogen-Based Storage Facility Best Practices. Currently he is a co-chair for the ISCT (Intl Society for Cell Therapy) Cold Chain Management & Logistics Working Group and is passionate about supporting discussions related to scaling cryogenic distribution models from the factory to the pharmacy.

Richard McFarland, Ph.D., M.D., Chief Regulatory Officer of ARMI/BioFabUSA

Prior to ARMI he was Associate Director of Policy for FDA/CBER’s Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies and its predecessor office, the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies. In this position, he was heavily involved in policy development for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and alternatives to animal use in regulatory decision making. Dr. McFarland received his B.S., Ph.D., and M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed his anatomic/clinical pathology residency and immunopathology fellowship training at UT Southwestern in Dallas.

Michael Nizich, Ph.D., Director of the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC), New York Institute of Technology

Michael Nizich is the director of the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) and an adjunct assistant professor of computer science at New York Institute of Technology. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in information technology in a variety of industries, including aviation, education, law enforcement, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. Nizich has held IT leadership positions in both private and publicly held companies.

John Pennett, Partner, Eisner Advisory Group LLC

Pennett is the Partner-in-Charge of the National Technology and Life Sciences Group. He has 35 years of public accounting experience, with a strong emphasis on public and private life science and technology companies. John is a frequent writer and speaker on industry topics. He is the publisher of Catalyst, a newsletter focused on delivering informative content on both business and technical issues affecting entrepreneurs in the technology and life sciences space.

Daniel Savarino, D.O., an established and highly skilled physician, has over 10 years of experience in Sports Medicine. He obtained his medical degree at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a Family Practice Residency at North Shore – LIJ Hospital at Plainview, where he served as Chief Resident from 2007-2008.

Dr. Savarino’s practice Apex Center for Regenerative Medicine is the first in the State of New Jersey to provide the Emsculpt NEO, a non-invasive body shaping procedure that provides simultaneous fat elimination and muscle building. Dr. Savarino has become a Clinical Trainer and Mentor for the BTL (Emsculpt NEO) as well as BioTE (hormones). His practice is now an Academic Center, where he works with and trains other medical professionals on these procedures.

Carmella L. Stephens, Ph.D., Partner, Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP

Carmella L. Stephens, a patent attorney with over 25 years experience, counsels a wide range of clients including biotechnology and pharmaceutical corporations as well as academic institutions on issues relating to biotech and pharmaceutical patents. Her experience includes development and management of complex U.S. and foreign patent portfolios based on assessment of the client’s business interests. The majority of her patent practice focuses on patent prosecution, IP due diligence, and preparation of opinions relating to patent eligibility, validity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate.

Filippos Tourlomousis, Ph.D.. Founder of Biological Lattice Industries, and, as reported in MIT News, the inventor of a new way of making “scaffolding for biological cultures that could make it possible to grow cells that are highly uniform in shape and size, and potentially with certain functions. The new approach uses an extremely fine-scale form of 3-D printing, using an electric field to draw fibers one-tenth the width of a human hair.