Ben Solomon is a board-certified pediatric geneticist who focuses on the use of genetics and genomics to identify, understand and care for patients with both rare and common genetic conditions as well as broad applications of genomic medicine.  In addition to his laboratory, clinical, and research leadership and advocacy, Dr. Solomon has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and textbooks, and is an active lecturer and educator.  Dr. Solomon attended medical school at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, completed his residency and fellowship training in pediatrics and clinical genetics at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health and at Children’s National Medical Center, and served as Chief of the Division of Medical Genomics at the Inova Translational Medicine Institute.  In 2016, Ben became the head of GeneDx, a large (500+ employee) genetics and genomics laboratory based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Bob Silverman leads the “External Drug Discovery Partnering” team of Roche Partnering. Among other matters, Bob is responsible for delivering a structured and systematic approach to venture capital that translates to reach into drug discovery stage innovation via deals originating from venture capital interactions. Prior to his current role, from 2010 – 2012 Bob was a project leader for Merger & Acquisitions, in the Strategic Partnering Group of Roche Partnering. From 2003 – 2010 Bob was a Global Licensing Director for Roche Pharma Partnering, responsible for negotiating intellectual property based licensing agreements across the full value chain of the Pharma business, ranging from enabling technologies and early phase opportunities to clinical stage assets to promoting and divesting marketed products. From 2001 – 2003 Bob was a Global Licensing Attorney. He joined Roche in 1993. Early in his career at Roche Bob was Senior Counsel for the US Affiliate patent department. Bob holds a degree in Chemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and is a registered patent attorney.

For the past 12 years Dr. Silber has been an active angel investor and strategic advisor in the mid-Atlantic region. He is a Founding Principal of Blu Venture Investors and also a member of the Baltimore Angels. He spent 15 years as an entrepreneur, founding In Vitro Technologies in 1991 and eventually selling it in a successful exit in 2006. He has a PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology and Masters degree in Public Health. Dr. Silber is the author of numerous publications, holds several patents, is the recipient of numerous business awards and serves on a number of for-profit and nonprofit boards.

Prior to the Department of Commerce, Bret Schreiber has worked for over 20 years in the field of government and community relations, driving policy and economic development initiatives and developing strong ties to local, state and national legislators. As Senior Director for the Office of BioHealth and Life Sciences, Schreiber is working to establish Maryland as the Nation’s premier ecosystem for the BioHealth and Life Science industry.  Previously, as Director of Education and Innovation for the Maryland Department of Commerce, Schreiber worked with Maryland’s Colleges and Universities, and the State’s innovators, entrepreneurs and startups to leverage their economic potential and impact on Maryland’s economic vitality.

Schreiber also served as Director of Governmental and Community Relations for Harford County Maryland,  Vice-president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), leading policy development and involved in organizational operations for Maryland’s 12 independent nonprofit higher education institutions, and also spent 10 years working with the Johns Hopkins Institutions helping to plan, implement, and manage the Johns Hopkins Institutions’ strategic State agenda with elected and appointed officials.  

A Harford County resident, Mr. Schreiber holds a degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University.  

Dr. Michael Salgaller leads the Invention Development and Marketing Unit within the National Cancer Institute’s Technology Transfer Center, where he leverages over 20 years of business, scientific, and investment experience in various life science sectors to support technology development and commercialization. Previously, he provided technical and strategic expertise to The Conafay Group, a DC-based government affairs firm – leading efforts on non-dilutive funding and alliance development. Previously, he was a key member of the business development team for the healthcare practice at SAIC, a Fortune-500 government contractor. He helped lead and deepen relationships with the Department of Health and Human Services – especially NIH and FDA – as well as foundations and patient advocacy groups. Before SAIC, he was a long-time industry executive who has held various positions in early-stage biotechnology and boutique professional service firms. In addition, Dr. Salgaller was on the investment team of Toucan Capital, a $120M early-stage venture firm dedicated to the life sciences, where he guided company formation and helped raise follow-on financing. He began his career as a Senior Staff Scientist with Dr. Steve Rosenberg at the National Cancer Institute, where he oversaw a lab developing immunotherapies for patients with terminal cancer.

Dr. Salgaller serves on the Life Sciences Advisory Board of the Maryland-Israel Development Center, as well as NCI liaison to the Maryland Technology Council. He is an advisor to DC ArchAngels and the Cooperative Angel Alumni Group. He is the author of “Biotechnology Entrepreneurship,” which is used as a reference text for courses at NIH and Catholic University, among others. He is the author of over 100 articles, presentations, and book chapters, and is on the editorial boards of several journals. Dr. Salgaller received his PhD in Pathology from The Ohio State University.

Tina Reed is the Executive Healthcare & Hospitals Editor who oversees FierceHealthcare, FierceHospitals and FiercePracticeManagement. She has been reporting on health for about a decade, previously writing on the business of healthcare, the explosion of precision medicine, the evolution of cancer care and innovation in the delivery in the healthcare.

Dr. Steve Projan is the Head of Infectious Diseases & Vaccines Innovative Medicines unit (iMED) at MedImmune, leading a cross-functional team dedicated to the therapeutic area strategy, prioritization and advancement of the company’s infectious disease and vaccine portfolio.

Dr. Projan joined MedImmune in 2010. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Projan served as vice president and global head of Infectious Diseases at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA. He previously spent 15 years at Wyeth in roles of increasing responsibility with his last post as vice president and head of Biological Technologies. During his time at Wyeth, Dr. Projan started the Biologics Discovery Group (covering all therapeutic areas) and initiated multiple collaborations and partnerships, most notably with Cambridge Antibody Technology (now a part of MedImmune/AZ). Prior to Dr. Projan’s work in the industry, he spent 14 years at the Public Health Research Institute and presently has over 110 publications to his credit.

Dr. Projan received a bachelor of science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and masters of arts and philosophy in biological sciences and a doctorate in molecular genetics from Columbia University.

Dr. Present began his career over 35 years ago as a university-based orthopedic oncological surgeon, later becoming Chief of Orthopedic Surgical Oncology and Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU School of Medicine. During this time, he founded Osteotech Inc., a medical device company which pioneered the industrialization and commercialization of bone and tissue transplantation and was eventually sold to Medtronic Inc. In the mid 1990’s, Dr. Present left his everyday practice of medicine to become a full-time investment portfolio manager at Kingdon Capital and then Managing General Partner of Weiss Peck & Greer- Farber Present Fund, a 600-million dollar equity hedge fund, which was eventually sold to Robeco/Rabo Bank N.V. Since 2003, Dr. Present has led his team in the discovery, creation and financing of companies in the healthcare and technology space. He was the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Palyon Medical Corporation, a medical device company with a unique and patented drug delivery system. In 2014 he co-founded Pansend Life Sciences LLC, a subsidiary of HC2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCHC) dedicated to investing broadly in life sciences and healthcare.

Cherine E. Plumaker began her career at Weiss Peck & Greer-Farber Present Fund as an equity analyst focusing on the healthcare and consumer industries. In rapid succession, she became portfolio manager and ultimately Head of Trading and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Upon the sale of Weiss Peck &Greer- Farber Present Fund to Robeco/Rabobank N.V., Ms. Plumaker partnered with Dr. Present and became Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Palyon Medical Corporation. In 2014 she co-founded Pansend Life Sciences LLC, a subsidiary of HC2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCHC) dedicated to investing broadly in life sciences and healthcare. Ms. Plumaker received a B.S in Economics from Rutgers University.

Jim serves as chairman and CEO of HemoShear Therapeutics. Prior to joining HemoShear in 2009, he spent 18 years with PRA Health Sciences where he was a member of the executive team that grew the company into a leading global clinical trials management organization and took the company public. After retiring from PRA, he was an advisor to the Coulter Translational Research Partnership in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Virginia where he met HemoShear’s co-founders. In 2014, Mr. Powers was selected to join PharmaVoice’s Top 100 Most Inspiring leaders in healthcare. He currently serves on the board of Virginia BIO and is chairman of the Virginia BIO Foundation. Mr. Powers received a B.S. in administration and management science from Carnegie-Mellon University.