Martin Tuchman School of Management Hosts Biotech-Themed Disruptive Technology Conference

On Friday, August 14, 2020, the Leir Research Institute (LRI) at the Martin Tuchman School of Management (MTSM) hosted its annual conference titled “Disruptive Technologies, Regulations, Business - Implications in the BioTech Industry,” where academics, students, and industry professionals gathered to explore disruptive technologies and business solutions to address the prevailing health and societal issues of the day.

The conference was organized by the by the Leir Research Institute along with the Martin Tuchman School of Management and the Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology, and drew attendees from across the globe to hear over a dozen presentations discuss the latest implications in the biotech industry through the lens of disruptive technologies, regulations, and business.

The conference was kicked off by the Conference Chair and Acting Director of the Leir Research Institute, Junmin Shi, who framed the importance of identifying and understanding the intersections of research, business, technology and regulation as we look to address the realities of living in a COVID-19 world. Innovation and disruptive technologies will become vital in supporting the “new normal.” MTSM Dean Oya Tukel welcomed everyone to the conference and presented highlights and ongoing initiatives at the school bringing vital research and value to NJIT and to the surrounding community. This includes collaborative work in developing and bringing a mobile medical unit to University Hospital to address health facility shortages. Tukel was followed by Yi Chen, former director of the LRI who provided an overview of the institute emphasising the mission of integrating business, technology and society, and highlighting the innovative research conducted by NJIT faculty affiliated with LRI. 

The conference structure was designed to highlight each of the three main thematic areas: Disruptive technologies, business and regulation. The first panel focusing on disruptive technologies, moderated by Onowunmi Sadik, distinguished professor and chair in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at NJIT,  introduced four presentations on how disruptive technologies are developing new approaches and solutions in the biotechnology sector. The keynote for this panel was Dr. Liang Schweizer, CEO and co-founder, HiFiBiO Therapeutics who presented opportunities for innovative biologics in the health care industry. Schweizer presented innovative approaches that are transforming drug discovery and development by combining data intelligence with single-cell science to achieve high resolution for target discovery, drug candidate identification, lead optimization and patient selection. This is particularly important in addressing gaps in COVID-19 treatment and prevention. 

Following the keynote were three presentations made by leading research scientists: Dr. Jeffery Kaye, Layton Endowed professor of Neurology and  Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, who presented on the need for evidence engines for health applications; Edgardo Farinas, associate professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science at NJIT, who presented his applied research on directed evolution and its potential impact on systems and synthetic biology; and Mengyan Li, associate professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science at NJIT who presented his research on how biotechnology is enabling solutions to combat the global water crisis. 

The second session of the conference focused on the role innovative technologies play in business and biotechnology and was moderated by Michael Ehrlich, associate professor of Finance, MTSM, NJIT. The keynote speaker for this session was Derek Choy, president and co-founder of AKTANA, a global leader in decision support for life sciences, who presented on the future of life science commercial engagement and implications of innovative technologies amid COVID-19. The panel discussion in this session consisted of dynamic presentations by Genevieve Leveille, CEO and founder of Agriledger, and Xin (David) Ding,, assistant professor and director of Master of Healthcare Analytics and Intelligence at Rutgers University. Leveielle highlighted her company’s work in developing and applying innovative technology and applications of digitized supply chain tracing of value and products and its implications in supporting emerging economies and possible application in the fight against COVID-19.  Ding presented his research on the use of block chain technologies in combating the growing opioid crisis and addressing gaps in the supply chain of drug development to patients and how the prescription of opioids does not necessarily lead to opioid overdose and death. The panel concluded with an engaging Q&A session where all presenters discussed the future of the biotech business sectors in our new COVID-19 reality. 

The third and final session of the conference focused on the regulatory environment surrounding the biotechnology industry and was moderated by Wayne Fox, professor of practice, MTSM, NJIT who identified the importance that regulation plays in the development and application of research, products and technology within the biotech industry especially during times of crisis. The keynote speaker for this session was Sau (Larry) Lee, Office of Testing & Research, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug and Evaluation Research at Food and Drug Administration Center, who presented the FDA’s perspective and approach in regulating advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and the benefits to patients and industry. The session panel consisted of presentations from Sasha R. Pailet Koff, senior director Global Customer Experience at Johnson & Johnson, who presented a discussion on the intersection of digital technologies and physical engagement and how regulation plays a role in the growing cyber-physical revolution taking place in health care, and Antonio (Tony) Crincoli, senior director, team leader & head of Upjohn Global Engineering at Upjohn (Division of Pfizer), who presented on the innovations taking place in biologics manufacturing facilities and the challenges between regulation and proprietary technologies in biomanufacturing. 

The conference concluded with remarks and thanks from Atam P. Dhawan, senior vice provost of research at NJIT. Dhawan highlighted the need for these types of engagements and dialogues amongst three key pillars of the biotech industry and the role that the industry plays in bringing forward disruptive and innovative technologies, research and collaborations in addressing the societal needs of a post COVID-19 reality. He concluded by thanking the conference committee, the efforts of the LRI, the Leir Foundation and the accomplished presenters in bringing their research and technologies together in this virtual conference and encouraged ongoing collaboration and innovation in bringing positive and progressive solutions to the world.