Biotech -- SPECIAL LOCATION
This special program will address challenges facing biotech and life science entrepreneurs in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
Puget Sound region. Participants will discuss how they are finding success and overcoming various obstacles, including the "funding gap" between grant and early-stage venture capital, tech transfer issues and other structural impediments in the Puget Sound as compared to other parts of the country. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>
The panel discussion will be moderated by Michelle Burris, SVP/CFO of Trubion Pharmaceuticals. The presenting company is Amnis Corp, represented by David Basiji,Chief Executive Officer . Amnis is an early stage Seattle-based company that is developing
a breakthrough technology for high speed imaging and analysis of cells in flow. The event will be held at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and early arri! vers wi ll have the option of a facilities tour.
Moderator
Michelle Burris, Sr. Vice President and CFO, Trubion Pharmaceuticals
Presenting Company
Dave Basiji, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Amnis Corporation
Panelists
Marty Simonetti, President and Chief Executive Officer, VLST Corporation
Ron Seubert, Applied Precision
Mike Kranda, Vulcan Capital
BIOs
David Basiji earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Washington, where he developed an ultra-sensitive DNA and protein analysis platform for the Human Genome Project, a technology that was later commercially licensed to Oxford GlycoSciences. He is a founder and CEO of Amnis Corporation, as well as a co-inventor of the company's platform ImageStream technology. He has raised three rounds of venture financing for a total of $22 million and currently holds 24 U.S. patents.
Michael Kranda oversees life sciences venture investments for Vulcan Capital. He has spent more than 20 years developing biotechnology platforms, products and companies, including protein therapeutics, small molecule drugs and drug discovery and development platforms. He sits on the board of directors of several companies including PTC, Raven, BiPar Sciences, Nura, and Cumbre and the W.B.B.A. Mr. Kranda was the CEO of Oxford GlycoSciences (OGS) for six years, establishing the company as the leading proteomics platform-based drug discovery company. Prior to that, Michael spent 12 years at Immunex (now Amgen) where he served as president and chief operating officer. At Immunex, Mr. Kranda was responsible for sales and marketing, manufacturing and operations. Earlier, he served as chief of staff in the office of the King County prosecutor. Mr. Kranda holds a BA and an MBA from the University of Washington School of Business.
Michelle Burris is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Trubion Pharmaceuticals. Burris, a seasoned public- company finance executive, brings 20 years of financial management and planning experience to Trubion. She previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer for Dendreon Corporation. Prior to Dendreon, she spent more than 10 years at Corixa Corporation, most recently as senior vice president and chief financial officer, where she participated in the development and approval of Bexxar(R), an antibody drug approved for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the negotiation of rights to the drug, and the eventual sale of Corixa to GlaxoSmithKline. Burris also played an integral role in raising over $400 million of capital through public offerings, other equity transactions and company acquisitions. Prior to entering the biotechnology field, she served in numerous management positions at The Boeing Company and, prior to that, as a research analyst at Cypress International Inc., a technology consulting firm.
Martin A. Simonetti has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of VLST Corporation since November 21, 2005. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Simonetti was employed at Dendreon Corporation, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President Finance and Treasurer. From 1991 to 1998, he was employed at Amgen Inc., serving as Vice President Operations and Finance of Amgen BioPharma and its Director of Colorado Operations. From 1984 to 1991, he worked at Genentech, Inc., first as a scientist in its Medicinal and Analytical Chemistry Department and later as a financial analyst and group controller. Mr. Simonetti serves on the board of directors of Icagen, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICGN) based in Durham, North Carolina and IntegriGen, Inc., a privately held company based in Novato, California. He is also a member of the Deans executive advisory board for the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University. Mr. Simonetti received an M.S. in Nutrition from the University of California, Davis and an M.B.A. from the University of Santa Clara.
