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SUMMARY:BioME Annual Conference 2026
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Join us at the BioME Annual Conference 2026 on October 14 at the Sheraton at Sable Oaks in South Portland. Learn about the life sciences industry in Maine and network with the biotech and medical device community at our biggest event of the year. The conference will feature panel sessions\, engaging talks\, presentations\, networking and expo tables. \nBioME Annual Conferences are open to all and provides the community with an opportunity to learn about the life sciences industry in Maine\, and connect with industry professionals\, academia\, research institutions and government. BioME Annual Conference brings together over 200 professionals to discuss our industry’s importance within the state\, partnerships and collaborations\, and the latest in scientific breakthroughs. \nStay tuned for details and registration.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn style=”btn-1 secondary” title=”REGISTER NOW” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmebio.app.neoncrm.com%2Fnx%2Fportal%2Fneonevents%2Fevents%3Fpath%3D%252Fportal%252Fevents%252F24353|target:_blank”][vc_column_text] \nSponsors\n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”16454″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Join us at the BioME Annual Conference 2026 on October 14 at the Sheraton at Sable Oaks in South Portland. Learn about the life sciences industry in Maine and network with the biotech and medical device community at our biggest event of the year. The conference will feature panel sessions\, engaging talks\, presentations\, networking and expo tables. \nBioME Annual Conferences are open to all and provides the community with an opportunity to learn about the life sciences industry in Maine\, and connect with industry professionals\, academia\, research institutions and government. BioME Annual Conference brings together over 200 professionals to discuss our industry’s importance within the state\, partnerships and collaborations\, and the latest in scientific breakthroughs. \nStay tuned for details and registration.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn style=”btn-1 secondary” title=”REGISTER NOW” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmebio.app.neoncrm.com%2Fnx%2Fportal%2Fneonevents%2Fevents%3Fpath%3D%252Fportal%252Fevents%252F24353|target:_blank”][vc_column_text] \nAgenda\n[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n10:30-11:00AM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nRegistration\, Expo Tables & Networking\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n11:00-11:15AM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nWelcome Remarks & BioME Updates\nAgnieszka Carpenter (BioME)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n11:15-11:30AM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nState of Maine Presentation\nGovernor Janet T. Mills (invited)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n11:30-12:15PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nPanel Discussion: Growing the Future of Life Sciences in Maine\nSpeakers:  Sarah Delmar (Delmar Group\, Moderator)\, Michael Duguay (Maine DECD)\, Dr. Beth Orcutt (Bigelow Laboratory)\, Dr. Jessica Chertow (MaineHealth Institute for Research)\, and Jennifer Fitz (BioPILOT Lab)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n12:15-12:30PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nPresentation: Wet Lab Space Incubator Grant\nDr. James Weis (Hatch.Bio Labs) and Dr. Aileen Huang-Saad (The Roux Institute)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n12:30-12:45PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nLife Sciences Champion Awards Presentation\nSenator Teresa Pierce (Maine State Legislature) and Heather Johnson (Former Maine DECD Commissioner)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n12:45-1:30PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nLunch Break\, Networking & Expo Tables\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n1:30-2:15PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nKeynote Address: A Better Time for Building\nDavid Johnson (Regional Growth Strategies and BioCrossroads)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n2:15-2:45PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nBreak: Networking and Expo Tables\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n2:45-3:15PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nStartups Presentations\nSpeakers: John Konsin (Prapela)\, Trevor Ruggiero (Looma)\, Veronica Achorn (Salmonics)\, and Dr. Srinidi Mohan (Satya Diagnostics)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n3:15-3:30PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nBreak: Networking and Expo Tables\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n3:30-4:15PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nPanel Discussion: How AI is Shaping the Future of Life Sciences\nSpeakers: Dr. David Watts (Colby College\, Moderator)\, Barry Wark (Ovation.io)\, Dr. Melanie Tory (The Roux Institute)\, Dr. Jens Rueter (The Jackson Laboratory) and Dr. Andre Khalil (University of Maine)\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n4:15-4:30PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nClosing Remarks\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_column_text] \n4:30-6:00PM\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”4/5″][vc_column_text] \nNetworking Reception\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text] \nSpeakers\n[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12987″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nDavid Johnson\, President\, Regional Growth Strategies LLC\, Keynote Speaker\nDavid L. Johnson is the president of Regional Growth Strategies LLC\, a consulting practice working with communities\, universities and foundations seeking to define collaborative opportunities to grow\, capitalize and sustain technology-based regional economies. \nJohnson has been involved in the hands-on work of economic development for nearly 25 years. He began this engagement as a finance lawyer and community volunteer\, seeking to organize and then co-founding Indiana’s life sciences initiative\, BioCrossroads\, in 2001-2002. Johnson went on to serve as the BioCrossroads CEO from 2005-2018. There\, he organized and led the capitalization of five seed and early-stage venture capital funds to support locally based life sciences start-ups. He also drove the formation and capitalization of several major public-private enterprises. These include the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute\, an industry-university applied research enterprise; OrthoWorx Indiana\, a spin-out organization focused on northern Indiana’s historically outsized concentration of major manufacturers and med-tech start-ups in orthopedics implants; and 16 Tech\, Central Indiana’s first innovation district\, rising on 50 acres of formerly blighted real estate in the heart of downtown Indianapolis and focused on advancing both community growth and innovation opportunities in healthcare and life sciences through a compelling place-based strategy. \nMore recently\, and in addition to his continuing leadership role at BioCrossroads\, Johnson also served as the CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) from 2012 until early 2023. CICP is a nationally recognized\, collaborative economic development organization of chief executives drawn from Indiana’s leading companies\, universities and philanthropic foundations (and the parent organization of BioCrossroads). At CICP\, Johnson identified key opportunities for and oversaw the formation of two additional branded initiatives: AgriNovus Indiana\, to organize and advance the state’s significant ag-biosciences sector; and Ascend Indiana\, to address shared and critical needs of industry leaders for an effective\, employer-focused platform to supply essential workforce and talent. At CICP\, Johnson also spearheaded efforts to join regional industry and academic leaders under a new initiative—AnalytixIN—in pursuit of timely opportunities for clinical and commercial applications in artificial intelligence and data analytics. \nJohnson is an honors graduate of Harvard University\, Harvard Law School and Oxford University\, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Currently\, he also serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow for the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13013″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nMichael Duguay\, Commissioner\, Maine Department of Economic & Community Development\nCommissioner Duguay is charged with overseeing more than two dozen experts across several bureaus whose mission is to help communities and businesses prosper through a variety of programs that provide everything from targeted tax relief to community block grants to tourism marketing. Previously\, as Vice President for Innovation and Executive Director of the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College in Waterville\, he helped hundreds of entrepreneurs market their products and scale their businesses\, and trained thousands of students to succeed in good-paying careers in Maine. Duguay began his economic development career at the Department of Economic and Community Development in 1990.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12921″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nSarah Delmar\, Partner\, Delmar Group\nSarah Upton Delmar is a partner at Delmar Group\, a consultancy dedicated to community building through ecosystem\, workforce\, and leadership development. She currently serves as a life sciences consultant to FocusMaine\, where she is helping to accelerate the growth of the sector through strategic planning\, ecosystem development\, and stakeholder engagement. She is also working with the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) to build lab infrastructure in the state through the recent shared lab RFP. \nSarah previously spent over a decade at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)\, where she led global expansion and was instrumental in building CIC’s premier shared lab platform. Her work there focused on creating programmatic and physical innovation infrastructure to support tech and life sciences startups in cities across North America\, Europe\, and Asia. \nOriginally from a rural town in Downeast Maine\, Sarah has recently relocated back to the state with her family. She chairs FocusMaine’s Bioscience Advisory Team and is passionate about supporting Maine’s innovation economy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12990″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nJohn Konsin\, Principal Owner & CEO\, Prapela\nFor 45 years\, John Konsin has solely focused on the challenges and rewards of commercializing Med Tech innovations to improve human health. \nHis latest endeavor is the Prapela SVS hospital bassinet pad\, which restores healthy rhythmic breathing and heart rate in newborns. The device was granted FDA De Novo marketing authorization on April 4\, 2025\, creating a new category of medical devices – vibrational therapeutic pads for infants. The company will initially focus on medical applications\, including reducing withdrawal symptoms in newborns exposed to opioids before birth and helping preterm babies breathe while minimizing their exposure to caffeine and invasive oxygen therapies. Prapela shipped its first production unit on August 6\, 2025\, and is accepting new orders for delivery in Q4. Over 95% of the company’s $8.6M+ funding is from non-dilutive grants\, including >$6M in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards from the National Institutes of Health. \nPreviously\, five of the Top 25 Medical Device companies in the world trusted John in leadership and executive roles. He led or assisted in generating over $5.4 billion in revenue and launched over 100 new products. His experience includes work in Medical Devices\, Diagnostics\, Imaging\, Durable Medical Equipment\, Biologics\, Wearables\, and Genetic testing. He has worked closely with physicians\, nurses\, therapists\, and leaders in Neonatology\, Orthopedics\, Pain Management\, OB/GYN\, and Cardiology specialties. As a 2X CEO\, his operational experience includes general management\, marketing\, sales\, finance\, HR\, operations\, R&D/product development\, clinical research\, quality\, and regulatory affairs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12992″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nBarry Wark\, Co-Founder & CSO\, Ovation.io\nBarry Wark is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Ovation.io\, a human multi-omic data company committed to accelerating the development of precision medicine. Ovation provides life sciences with access to high-quality\, consented\, multi-omic data linked to rich\, longitudinal phenotypic data at scale. Ovation’s data enables researchers to accelerate therapeutic target\, mechanism of action\, and biomarker discovery and validation. \nBarry holds a B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University and a PhD from the Program in Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of Washington.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12995″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nDavid Watts\, PhD\, Director\, Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence\, Colby College\nDavid brings to Colby College a wealth of experience in driving research\, development\, innovation\, scaling businesses\, and leading transformative technological advancements in AI\, hybrid cloud\, and enterprise systems. As a seasoned executive with deep expertise in both corporate and startup environments\, David has played a key role in co-creating AI-powered solutions that have reshaped industries. With a career spanning over two decades in high-growth companies\, including IBM\, David combines technical acumen with a strategic mindset\, enabling businesses and institutions to achieve sustained growth\, market leadership\, and impactful customer outcomes. \nCurrently serving on the Board of Directors for the GEM National Consortium\, where he chairs the Finance Committee\, David leverages insights from a distinguished career in leading innovation and growth\, focusing on growing impact by supporting the development of the next generation of STEM leaders.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11896″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nBeth Orcutt\, PhD\, Vice President for Research\, Senior Research Scientist\, Geomicrobiologist\, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences\nOrcutt has been the Vice President for Research (VPR) at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences since 2022. Building from an award-winning career in deep-sea science leadership\, she guides the bold strategic research priorities for the institution and relationships with external funders of over $15M annually in sponsored and contracted research projects. She also energizes blue economy innovation in Maine\, including overseeing innovation disclosures\, patenting\, and licensing processes for technology transfer at Bigelow Laboratory\, as well as partnering with others in the State to advance ocean-based solutions. \nOrcutt is also a globally-recognized expert in the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. She’s authored some of the most highly cited papers on understanding the ecosystem services provided in the deep sea by the microscopic realm of life. She is regularly invited to provide expert guidance to policy makers and scientific societies and is often quoted in the media on the topic. Orcutt is the Associate Director of the COBRA Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator\, spurring deep sea research to inform decision making. \nOrcutt’s expertise in deep-sea mining impacts stems from over a decade of leadership experience directing diverse and international teams of scientists and students in the exploration of the deep sea. Using seafloor exploration assets and deep-sea observatories\, her research has focused on discovering how “deep biosphere” microscopic life thrives in strange environments and how their living impacts global processes. Orcutt is a co-founder and co-instructor of the Deep-Sea Expedition Leadership Master Class\, which trains early career professionals on how to lead effective deep-sea expeditions. At Bigelow Laboratory\, she directs the Deep Biosphere Laboratory team. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from the University of Georgia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13000″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nSrinidi Mohan\, PhD\, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer\, Satya Diagnostics\nDr. Mohan is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration at the University of New England’s WCHP School of Pharmacy. He is also the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Satya Diagnostics\, a Maine-based company dedicated to advancing diagnostic technologies. He earned his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University and completed post-doctoral research at MSU and the University at Buffalo. His research focuses on optimizing treatment outcomes for high-risk breast cancer patients and exploring new therapeutic targets for age-related diseases.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13002″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nJessica Chertow\, PhD\, MBA\, Vice President of Research\, MaineHealth Institute for Research\nDr. Jessica Chertow is an infectious disease investigator with extensive work experience in government organizations including the CDC\, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases\, and National Heart\, Lung\, and Blood Institute. She has served as the Associate Director of Scientific Resources at the National Institutes of Health since 2022\, overseeing a broad portfolio spanning scientific support services\, safety\, and security. Before this position\, she served as Deputy Scientific Director in the National Heart\, Lung\, and Blood Institute (at NIH) from 2015-2022.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13011″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nAndre Khalil\, PhD\, Founding Director – CompuMAINE Lab\, University of Maine and Founder\, WAVED Medical LLC\nAt the University of Maine\, I am the founding director of the CompuMAINE Lab (Computational Modeling\, Analysis of Images and Numerical Experiments). I have co-authored 133 publications and obtained 44 grants/contracts totaling $8.4M (as PI\, co-PI\, or senior personnel)\, while developing or restructuring several undergraduate and graduate courses in Mathematics\, Statistics\, Chemical Engineering\, and Biomedical Engineering. I have trained (or am currently training) 31 thesis students (8 PhDs + 17 Masters + 6 Honors). In 2022 I received a Faculty Mentor Impact Award at the University of Maine. \nMy most focused project relates to breast cancer\, where I have co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications\, presented at several international conferences\, and advised 11 thesis students on this topic. I have secured over $1.5M in funding specifically for the breast cancer project from the Maine Cancer Foundation\, the National Cancer Institute\, the Maine Technology Institute\, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences\, the National Science Foundation\, and various accelerator programs. I am a co-inventor on three issued patents related to this work (two in the U.S. and one in Europe)\, and we recently filed for another provisional patent. In 2022 I founded a startup company called WAVED Medical LLC\, which was awarded an exclusive license from UMaine to commercialize our breast cancer risk assessment technology. At WAVED\, we went on to secure more grants from federal\, state\, and private entities\, which is leading to very exciting and promising results. \nThrough this work\, our academic research is now translating into clinical applications with the potential to save lives by improving early detection and risk assessment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13019″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nMelanie Tory\, PhD\, Director of Human Data Interaction\, The Roux Institute\nMelanie Tory is Director of Human Data Interaction Research at the Roux Institute\, Northeastern University. Her team focuses on empowering people to do more with data\, through the design and evaluation of novel visualization techniques\, human-data interactions\, and technology interfaces. She is especially focused on visualizations for health and engineering applications\, and the interplay between visualization and AI\, in alignment with other priority research areas at the Roux. In her previous role at Tableau\, Melanie managed an applied user research team and conducted research in natural language interaction with visualizations\, ultimately commercialized as Tableau’s Ask Data feature. She also worked as a faculty member in visualization at the University of Victoria\, where she explored topics such as collaborative and personal visual analytics. Melanie earned her PhD in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University and her BSc in Microbiology from the University of British Columbia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13021″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nJennifer Fitz\, BioPILOT Lab Manager\, The Roux Institute\nJennifer Fitz is the BioPILOT Lab Manager at The Roux Institute at Northeastern University\, where she leads operations supporting teaching\, research\, and entrepreneurship to advance research and development in biotechnology. In addition to her role with the BioPILOT\, she also provides support to the BioIN Lab at the University of Southern Maine. With a strong background in cell and molecular R&D\, Jennifer previously served as Co-Founder and Director at biotech start-up Hound Bio and has over a decade of industry experience at IDEXX Laboratories.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13022″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nVeronica Achorn\, Co-Founder\, Head of Operations\, Salmonics LLC\nVeronica is a seasoned professional who seamlessly blends scientific expertise with strong business acumen. She holds a B.S. in Marine Science and an M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine\, where her research focused on bacterial kidney disease in salmonids. She further honed her technical expertise at Kennebec River Biosciences and sharpened her leadership and business skills at VWR International. As a key driver behind the development of Salmonics\, she has played a crucial role in everything from laboratory setup and quality management to marketing and operations. Her passion for technology\, innovation\, and sustainability fuels her commitment to advancing science and ensuring a healthier environment for future generations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13030″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nJens Rueter\, MD\, Co-Founder\, Chief Medical Officer\, The Jackson Laboratory\nJens Rueter\, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer of The Jackson Laboratory and Medical Director for the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative. Rueter is a practicing hematologist/oncologist in Maine and has served as Medical Director for MCGI since its inception in 2016. In 2021\, Rueter was named JAX’s first CMO and serves as the institution’s principal medical advisor. \nRueter came to JAX from Eastern Maine Medical Center Cancer Care (EMMC) in Brewer\, Maine\, where he was Medical Director for EMMC’s Translational Oncology Program and the EMMC Biobank. He has been on staff at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center since 2010\, and a member of the JAX adjunct faculty since 2012. Prior to joining JAX\, Rueter collaborated with several JAX investigators and technicians on developing new approaches to treating cancers while advancing translational research at EMMC. After graduating from medical school in Berlin\, Germany\, Rueter completed his residency in internal medicine at Tulane University and fellowship training in hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11903″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nAileen Huang-Saad\, PhD\, MBA\, Director of Life Sciences and Engineering Programs and Associate Professor of Bioengineering\, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University\nAileen Huang-Saad is the Director of Life Sciences\, Health\, and Engineering Programs at Northeastern’s Roux Institute (Portland\, Maine) and an Associate Professor of Bioengineering. Leveraging her experience with design\, entrepreneurship\, education research\, and industry\, she seeks close the gap between higher education and professional practice. Specifically\, she is designing interdisciplinary experiential education life sciences\, health\, and engineering programs to attract\, retain\, and advance talent in the state of Maine. These programs are designed to re-imagine how higher education and communities can work together to impact economic and talent development. Dr. Huang-Saad currently serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Springer’s Biomedical Engineering Education and is a member of the Maine State Workforce Board and the National Academies’ Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education. She is also an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13036″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nJames Weis\, PhD\, Founder & CEO\, Hatch.Bio Labs\nDr. James W. Weis is an entrepreneur\, investor\, and researcher. He earned his Ph.D. from the MIT Media Lab for developing network-analysis algorithms to predict and prioritize high-impact scientific work\, published in Nature Biotechnology and featured by MIT News\, and his S.M. from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory for applying information-theoretic methods to protein simulations. As founder and CEO of Hatch.Bio Labs\, he built an incubation platform that has helped accelerate more than 60 startups over the last eight years\, collectively raising $3.6 billion USD\, creating over 3\,000 jobs\, and reaching a combined market valuation exceeding $13 billion USD. He also co-founded the MIT Biotech Group and the MIT Life Sciences Angel Group and co-instructed the Revolutionary Ventures course at the MIT Media Lab (cross-registered with MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13040″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nTrevor Ruggiero\, Founder\, Looma\nTrevor is a product design engineer and serial entrepreneur with deep expertise in bringing medical devices and life science products from concept to market. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering from Northeastern University and spent over a decade at one of Boston’s leading design firms\, where he helped biotech and medtech companies develop and launch breakthrough technologies. His work spans AI-powered point-of-care devices for blood analysis to automation systems for pathology labs. Trevor is listed as an inventor on numerous patents and has contributed to client projects that raised over $200 million in funding.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nParking information\nBioME will be covering parking for all attendees at this location only but you must register your vehicle. The gates will be open. Please meet us inside at the BioME registration desk to register your vehicle OR register your vehicle ahead of time using code BIOME (see attached PDF and scan the QR code). Please make note of your license plate number so you are able to register your vehicle if you do not do so ahead of time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13042″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text] \nSponsors\n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12970″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11910″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nDana O’Brien\, Founder & President\, BioHarbor Strategies\nDana O’Brien: Dana is the founder and president of BioHarbor Strategies\, a boutique public affairs consulting firm centered on boosting the blue bioeconomy through sustainability and science. He is an accomplished government and association executive with significant experience in public policy\, communications\, and coalition building. Dana has a record of securing lasting and impactful policy wins in complicated political environments and holds deep connections with players in government and across the food and agriculture value chain. He began his career on Capitol Hill serving as Legislative Director for Congressman Ike Skelton\, a bipartisan and respected leader on rural development and military affairs. He then served as Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture and Chief Sustainability Officer at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and as President of FocusMaine. Dana is a member of the BioME advocacy committee and the Maine Ballot Question Committee seeking voter approval of the Maine Research and Development Bond (Question #2) this fall. He is also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and serves on the Board of Directors of The Cultivating Change Foundation\, an organization dedicated to valuing and elevating LGBTQ+ people in food and agriculture. Dana is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and resides in Oguniquit with his husband Kevin Kelley and his dog\, Murphy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11900″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nPatrick Breeding\, Co-Founder & CEO\, Marin Skincare\nPatrick is a biotechnology entrepreneur and co-founder of Marin Skincare\, which develops active skincare ingredients from sustainable marine sources\, and brings products to people through their brand Marin Skincare. Marin creates gentle and effective skincare products for people with eczema\, psoriasis and dry skin using a glycoprotein found in lobster as the key ingredient. He is also a co-founder of KinoTek\, an innovative movement analysis startup using motion capture and virtual reality to visualize\, analyze and communicate biomechanical information to decrease risk of musculoskeletal injury. \nPatrick earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2017 and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2019 from the University of Maine. He is passionate about biotechnology research and commercialization in various fields\, spanning skincare\, marine bioresources\, drug development\, medical education and sports performance innovation\, and enjoys participating in regular K-12 outreach experiences motivating and mentoring students for careers in STEM.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text] \nSponsors\n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”11966″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1717603283971{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nSpeakers\n[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11353″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nMike Saxl\, Managing Principal\, Maine Street Solutions\nMike became Managing Principal of Maine Street Solutions and Counsel to Verrill following his service as a member of the Maine House of Representatives (1995-2002) and as Speaker of the Maine House (2000-2002). Mike brings over 30 years of professional public policy experience\, through his service an elected official\, a campaign operative\, state and federal policy staff\, and lobbying at all levels of government. Through those experiences\, Mike and the MSS team provide a cutting-edge combination of services to clients. \nMike grew up in Bangor\, graduated from Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law\, represented the West End of Portland in the legislature and currently resides in Belgrade.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11339″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nLucy Liaw\, PhD\, Faculty Scientist III and Professor\, MaineHealth Institute for Research\nLucy Liaw is currently a Faculty Scientist at MaineHealth Institute for Research where she leads a biomedical research program in cardiometabolic disease\, a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Metabolic Networks\, and two institutional training grants to support research experiences for undergraduate college students and MaineTrack medical students. She is passionate about training\, education\, and mentorship\, and accessibility of careers in STEM. Because of this\, she has overseen the Research Training and Education programs at MaineHealth Institute for Research for over a decade. Through her academic affiliations at University of Maine\, Tufts University School of Medicine\, University of Southern Maine\, and the Roux Institute\, she serves as a professor\, mentor\, and advocate for students and young professional advancing within biomedical sciences and research.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11361″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nBarbara Stewart\, PhD\, Chair of Science Department and STEM Coordinator\, Bangor High School\nBarbara is the chair of the science and engineering department at Bangor High School. She is also the research coordinator for the STEM Academy at Bangor which provides STEM research and educational opportunities for forty five students each year. Her students have achieved at the highest levels of science competition\, including the International BioGENEius\, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)\, and the National Junior Science and Humanities Research symposium (JSHS). She is also a founding member of Water for ME\, a nonprofit organization promoting water education and research in the state and throughout the world. \nBarbara earned at PhD in chemistry at the University of Maine\, a master’s degree in science education from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. After completing her post doc at the University of Massachusetts\, she moved back to Maine with her family to start an educational software company and work as a lecturer in the chemistry department at the University of Maine. She also grew up in Houlton and is proud of her county roots.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11374″ img_size=”thumbnail”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \nSarah Stillings\, Sr. Learning and Talent Program Manager\, Global Operations Program Management Office\, IDEXX\nSarah Stillings is a learning practitioner with more than a decade of experience designing\, developing\, and delivering learning experiences across K12\, Higher Education\, and corporate markets. She has developed and led learning programs at Pearson Education\, University of New England\, and IDEXX Laboratories\, helping learners build the skills they need to excel in their current roles and grow their careers. Sarah currently works in Global Operations at IDEXX Laboratories where she leads a diverse portfolio of learning and talent programs that align with the organization’s business objectives while nurturing the employee experience to improve retention\, performance\, and engagement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_btn style=”btn-1 secondary” title=”REGISTER NOW” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Fbiome-annual-conference-2023-registration-695343690697%3Faff%3Doddtdtcreator|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://biomaine.org/event/biome-annual-conference-2026/
LOCATION:Sheraton at Sable Oaks\, 200 Sable Oaks Dr\, South Portland\, ME\, 04106
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://biomaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BioME-Annual-Conference-2026-3-copy-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="BioME":MAILTO:info@mainebioscience.org
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