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BIO Announces Gene Editing and Synthetic Biology Programming for 2018 World Congress

April 27, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 26, 2018) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced programming information for gene editing and synthetic biology at the 2018 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology. Programming around these topics will kick off on Tuesday, July 17, with a plenary panel of experts to discuss how gene editing tools like CRISPR are revolutionizing the production of everyday products. Programming will continue with breakout sessions throughout the week, featuring executives from biotechnology companies, consumer goods producers and the government to explore the various applications for gene editing and synthetic biology in the field of industrial biotechnology.

The 2018 World Congress will be held July 16-19, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

“From biobased consumer goods to renewable chemicals and fuels, gene editing and synthetic biology are innovations that hold tremendous promise in the field of industrial biotechnology,” said Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, Industrial and Environmental at BIO. “The plenary program and breakout sessions will feature experts from across the industry to discuss how gene editing and synthetic biology will advance the biobased economy and what challenges may lie ahead.”

The plenary panel will feature welcoming remarks from Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO.  Additional details include:

CRISPR and Gene Editing Tools to Advance Industrial Biotechnology

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

11:30 am – 1 pm

Moderator: Roger Wyse, PhD, Managing Partner, Spruce Capital Partners

Speakers:

  • Neal Gutterson, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, Corteva Agriscience (agriculture division of DowDuPont)
  • Stephan Herrera, Vice President, Strategy and Public Affairs, Evolva
  • John Melo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amyris, Inc.
  • Sylvia Rowe, President, SR Strategy, LLC

Breakout sessions in the gene editing and synthetic biology track include:

The Intersection of Biology, Robotics, And Deep (Machine) Learning

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Moderator: James Barber, President, Barber Advisors LLC

Speakers:

  • Jason Kelly, Founder and CEO, Ginkgo Bioworks
  • Alexandre Zanghellini, Co-Founder and CEO, Arzeda, Inc.
  • Jim Lalonde, Senior Vice President, R&D, Codexis

Biofoundries and Industrial Production

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

2:45 pm – 4 pm

Moderator: Michael Koepke, Head of Synthetic Biology, LanzaTech

Speakers:

  • Emily Leproust, CEO, Twist Bioscience
  • Jay Fitzgerald, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Michael Fero, CEO, TeselaGen

Biotechnology: Enabling the Biobased Economy

Thursday, July 19, 2018

8:30 am – 9:45 am

Moderator: Kevin Jarrell, CEO, Modular Genetics

Speakers:

  • Neil Parry, R&D Program Director, Unilever
  • Alex Dehgan, CEO, Conservation X Labs

The Innovators Dilemma: The Convergence of Renewable Chemicals and Synthetic Biology

Thursday, July 19, 2018

10:15 am – 11:30 am

Moderator: Joel Stone, President, ConVergInce Advisors LLC

Speakers:

  • Eric Steen, CEO, Lygos
  • Gihan Hewage, Research Associate, Lux Research Inc.
  • Bryan Tracy, CEO, White Dog Labs

All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time in print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

Registration is now open for all attendees.

For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress. For assistance, please contact worldcongress@bio.org.
 

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