Bio-innovation Plenary Panel

On behalf of the International Organizing Committee (below), I am honored as Convening Chair, to extend this invitation for your participation as a Bio-innovation Plenary Panelist at the Global Congress on Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Innovations (BEBI-2026) in Boston- Cambridge, MA, USA on March 23-26, 2026.

This congress serves as a vital interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of scientific knowledge, technological advancements, and translational research that are redefining the future of healthcare and human well-being. I am joined by a distinguished group of scholars from all over the globe who comprise the International Organizing Committee (below). The congress will include Plenary, Keynote and Featured presentations. Additionally, the Chair has developed a moderated Bio-innovation Plenary Panel and a Biomedical Engineering Education Panel.

Bio-innovation Plenary Panel
A moderated plenary session to address the multiple “lab-to-fab” and “bench-to-bedside” issues and challenges in bringing biomedical innovations and technologies to market. This panel features an academic entrepreneur who has initiated laboratory-based research that has been successfully commercialized, two technology transfer executives who shepherd the transition from the academy to commercial entities, and a consultant who provides guidance and council in navigating these early-stage challenges.

Run of Show (70 min):
• The Convening Chair (Tony) opens the session, says a few choice words regarding the goals of the Bio-Innovation Panel, and introduces the Moderator (Cecelia) (5 min)
• The Moderator (Cecelia) says a few choice words about her role in the innovation ecosystem and introduces the panelists. (5 min)
• Each panelist says a few choice words from their unique perspective within the bio- innovation ecosystem. (4x5 = 20 mins)
• Panelists then respond to pre-screened questions and/or scenarios presented to the panel by the moderator. (30 mins)
• Moderator accepts a few questions from the audience (10 min)

Moderator
Cecilia Zapata-Harms, MS, MHA.
CEO, Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc.; COO, AtlantisVR; Managing Partner/ Advisor, 3rdEyeBio, LLC

Panelists
Saurabh Biswas Ph.D.
Executive Director, Technology Transitions, TEES, Texas A&M University
Co-founder of Corinnova (cardiac assist device), Shape Memory Medical (shape memory foam- based devices) and Cologenomics (cancer biomarker)

Susan Drapeau, Ph.D.
Vice President, Bruder Consulting and Venture Group
BCVG provides product development, regulatory, compliance, reimbursement and commercialization support for companies engaged in tissue repair and regeneration.

Samir Mitragotri, Ph.D.
Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Wyss Institute Harvard University
Co-founder of Sontra Medical (now part of Echo Therapeutics), Fqubed, Stratagent, Seventh Sense Biosystems (now YourBio Health), Dx Biosciences, Entrega, CAGE Bio, Fount Bio, and i2o Therapeutics.

Tong Sun, M.S., MBA
Executive Director, Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS); Assistant Dean, School of Medicine at University of Washington.
Founder of the Translational Science Entrepreneurship Program (TSEP) and the Technology Development Center (TDC) to provide expert consultation services in regulatory support, business development and project management to academic investigators and start-up companies.