Biomedical Innovation Day: Advancing Brain Health

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
9:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker - Jim Sullivan, PhD, CEO, Vanqua Bio: "Vanquishing Neurodegeneration"

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Agenda

9:30 – 10:00 am Registration and Coffee

10:00 am Welcome & Introduction - Joseph DiMario, PhD -  Executive VP Research

10:15 am Brain Disease Research at RFU - Amiel Rosenkranz, PhD - Director, Brain Science Institute

10:45 am Keynote Speaker: Jim Sullivan, PhD, CEO, Vanqua Bio: “Vanquishing Neurodegeneration”

11:30 am Neurodegenerative Disease Panel – Moderator: Grace Stutzmann, PhD, Director, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Vidyadhara DJ, PhD – Asst. Professor, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Oihane Ularte Huarte, PhD, Director of Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer’s Association
• Joel Braunstein, MD, President & CEO, C2N Diagnostics
• Neelum Aggarwal, MD, FAMWA, Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center

12:30 pm Lunch Break

1:00 pm Psychiatric Disorders Panel – Moderator: Janice Urban, PhD – Director, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders

• Nicole Ferrara, PhD, Assist. Prof., Assoc. Professor, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders
• Joanna Dabrowska, PhD, PharmD, Assoc. Professor, Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders
• David Newton, Chief Business Officer, Akrivia Health
• Clare Thibodeaux, PhD, MBA, Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Cures Within Reach

2:00 pm RFU and Helix 51 New Research Endeavors (20’ each): Moderator: William Frost, PhD, Director, Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair

• EunJung Hwang, PhD – Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair
• Marc Glucksman, Ph.D./ Chief Innovation Officer & Massimiliano Moruzzi/ Chief AI Officer - Neurobolt
• Richard Rovin, MD/CEO - UP Oncolytics
• Judy Potashkin, PhD, Professor, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

3:20 pm Closing Words – Amiel Rosenkranz, PhD, Director Brain Science Institute

3:30 pm Event Closure