Stanford and BIO Announce New SPARK Showcase Event at 14th Annual BIO Investor Forum

Academic researchers in the SPARK network to showcase drug development programs ready for partnering or venture funding

Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2015) – The Stanford University School of Medicine Spark Program and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announce a new program – the SPARK Showcase Event – to feature the latest academic research for venture capital firms and business development executives seeking opportunities to expand their pipelines. The symposium will feature a keynote speech by Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen, SPARK Director and George D. Smith Professor in Translational Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine.

“We are very excited to partner with the BIO organization in an effort to showcase academic translational research projects. The main goal of our efforts is to bring novel therapeutics to patients and this is a fantastic opportunity to meet with investors,” said Prof. Mochly-Rosen.

“We are pleased to host this event to share the latest and greatest scientific discoveries coming out of academia and establish valuable connections to expedite development of these early stage assets for future treatments and cures,” said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. “The BIO Investor Forum is historically well-attended by the venture arms and business development units of major pharmaceutical companies, as well as smaller specialty pharma/biotech companies who are all seeking the next breakthrough innovation that will transform patient care.”

Through the SPARK Showcase event, academics researchers who are interested in partnering opportunities will present their programs and engage in one-on-one discussions regarding potential collaborations. Each year, the BIO Investor Forum hosts approximately 125 company presentations and sets up an estimated 1,400 partnering meetings designed to connect scientists, researchers and emerging growth company CEOs with potential partners and investors.

“The focus of the BIO Investor Forum is to facilitate meaningful connections that will result in collaborations and partnerships designed to expedite the delivery of breakthrough treatments and cures,” said Greenwood. “Expanding the scope of our partnering activities to engage with the academic community is a tremendous opportunity for industry leaders looking for the next big scientific discovery that holds promise for patients in need of cures for debilitating and life-threatening diseases.”

The SPARK Showcase event will take place at the BIO Investor Forum at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, October 19, from 1:00-6:30 PM and advanced registration is required.

The SPARK Translational Research Program started 9 years ago at Stanford University. The program has yielded 22 startup companies and 7 additional projects that have been licensed to existing companies. Over the past five years, nearly twenty universities in the US and in four other continents have adopted the SPARK approach to help academic researchers advance early discoveries into products that will benefit human health.

The BIO Investor Forum is an international biotech investor conference focused on early and established private companies as well as emerging public companies. The event features plenary sessions, business roundtables and therapeutic workshops, company presentations, networking opportunities and partnering meetings. BIO One-on-One Partnering provides an opportunity to arrange meetings between investors; companies; and industry business development professionals, licensing and therapeutic franchise heads. As the biotech industry continues to innovate and grow, developing new therapeutics that will better the world, this event play a key role in generating the partnerships that will help bring new therapies to market.

For more information on the BIO Investor Forum, including registration, program and partnering information, please visit this link. For more information on BIO, please visit this link. Media registration is now open and can be accessed here.

About the SPARK Translational Research Program

The SPARK Program at Stanford University was formed to be a knowledge base and accelerator for Translational Science. SPARK is a unique partnership between university and industry whose purpose is to provide the education and mentorship necessary to advance research discoveries from the bench to the bedside. SPARK provides access to specialized knowledge and technical expertise regarding drug and diagnostic development, dedicated core laboratory facilities, and sources of funding to support translational efforts. 

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