2026 Agenda





Clinical Trial Venture, Innovation & Partnering
Accelerating Innovation, Accessibility and Scale
2/2/2026 - February 3, 2026 ALL TIMES EST
As part of the renowned 17th Annual SCOPE Summit, the 4th Annual Clinical Trial Venture, Innovation & Partnering Conference, taking place February 2-3, 2026, offers a focused, executive-level platform designed for forward-thinking investors, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of clinical research. This high-impact, boutique event convenes a distinguished audience of C-suite executives from investment firms, growth-stage and mature companies, large pharma, hospitals, and corporate venture arms. With a dual focus on current market dynamics and long-term forecasting, this conference delivers actionable insights into emerging investment trends, scalable innovation strategies, and the evolving landscape of clinical trial partnerships. Attendees will benefit from candid discussions, fireside chats, and curated panels led by industry pioneers, covering capital allocation strategies, innovation pipelines, regulatory tailwinds, and risk-adjusted returns. Explore the exhibit hall featuring high-growth start-ups and established players, and gain visibility into breakthrough technologies, investment-grade opportunities, and strategic collaborations that will define the clinical trial ecosystem over the next decade. Whether you're seeking to inform your investment thesis, identify acquisition targets, or shape your corporate venture strategy, this event is engineered to support long-term value creation, portfolio growth, and strategic decision-making.

Tuesday, February 3

    Networking Coffee Break & Roundtable Discussions

    Clinical Trial Venture, Innovation & Partnering: The Official Opening

    Plan your time and make the most of full access to all SCOPE Summit offerings—including the Keynote Sessions. Explore the full agenda here: https://www.scopesummit.com/


    Chairperson's Opening Remarks

    Dave Stevenson, Managing Director, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund , Managing Director , Global Health Innovation Fund , Merck

    Venture, Innovation & Partnering Executive Coffee Connect

    Kick off the day in the Venture, Innovation & Partnering Room with a high-energy, access-driven networking session reserved exclusively for registered program participants and speakers. Meet C-suite leaders, top-tier investors, pioneering innovators, and main stage keynotes, including:

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    Eliav Barr, Head, Global Clinical Development and CMO, Global Clinical Development, Merck & Co.
    Sandeep Burugupalli, Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca
    Kenneth A. Getz, Executive Director and Professor, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development
    Jeremy Goldberg, Operating Partner, Healthcare, Arsenal Capital Partners
    Jared Saul, MD, CMO, Commercial Healthcare and Life Sciences, Amazon Web Services
    Shawne Moran, Head, In-Country Study Operations-Americas, EMD Serono/Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany


    This is an intimate environment designed for meaningful, fast-moving connection—a unique touchpoint available only within this program.

    MARKET OVERVIEW:
    Life Sciences Outlook 2026—What Does It Mean for Clinical Trials?

    Photo of Andy Bolt, Leader, Life Sciences R&D Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP , Principal, Leader, Life Sciences R&D Practice , Deloitte Consulting LLP
    Andy Bolt, Leader, Life Sciences R&D Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP , Principal, Leader, Life Sciences R&D Practice , Deloitte Consulting LLP

    To better understand industry priorities and concerns, Deloitte conducted its fourth annual Life Sciences Outlook Survey from August to September 2025. The survey included 280 C-suite executives from biopharma and medtech companies across the United States, Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom), and Asia (China and Japan).  This presentation will focus on Deloitte’s findings and insights from this recent survey.

    Panel Moderator:

    PANEL DISCUSSION:
    Investor Outlook: Corporate Venture Perspectives

    Photo of Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis
    Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis

    Panelists:

    Photo of John R. Pavletic, Executive Director, Lilly Ventures , Executive Director , Lilly Ventures
    John R. Pavletic, Executive Director, Lilly Ventures , Executive Director , Lilly Ventures
    Photo of Dave Stevenson, Managing Director, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund , Managing Director , Global Health Innovation Fund , Merck
    Dave Stevenson, Managing Director, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund , Managing Director , Global Health Innovation Fund , Merck
    Photo of Megann Vaughn Watters, Vice President, New Ventures & Strategic Alliances, Labcorp , Vice President, New Ventures & Strategic Alliances , Labcorp
    Megann Vaughn Watters, Vice President, New Ventures & Strategic Alliances, Labcorp , Vice President, New Ventures & Strategic Alliances , Labcorp
    Photo of Carrie Williams, Vice President & Partner, McKesson Ventures , VP & Partner , McKesson Ventures
    Carrie Williams, Vice President & Partner, McKesson Ventures , VP & Partner , McKesson Ventures

    Panel Moderator:

    PANEL DISCUSSION:
    Investing in Data-Driven Workflows

    Photo of Kindra Tatarsky, Partner, Cerity Partners Ventures , Partner , Cerity Partners Ventures
    Kindra Tatarsky, Partner, Cerity Partners Ventures , Partner , Cerity Partners Ventures

    Panelists:

    Photo of Mike T. Franklin, Vice President, Clinical Central Services & Innovation, Eli Lilly & Co. , Vice President-Clinical Central Services and Innovation , Clinical Central Svcs & Innovation , Eli Lilly & Co
    Mike T. Franklin, Vice President, Clinical Central Services & Innovation, Eli Lilly & Co. , Vice President-Clinical Central Services and Innovation , Clinical Central Svcs & Innovation , Eli Lilly & Co
    Photo of Mark Lee, MD, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, N-Power Medicine , CEO & Founder , N-Power Medicine
    Mark Lee, MD, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, N-Power Medicine , CEO & Founder , N-Power Medicine
    Photo of Jennifer Lum, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Biospring , Co Founder & Managing Partner , Biospring
    Jennifer Lum, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Biospring , Co Founder & Managing Partner , Biospring
    Photo of Zach Taft, CEO, IgniteData , CEO , IgniteData
    Zach Taft, CEO, IgniteData , CEO , IgniteData

    Venture, Innovation & Partnering Curated Leadership Lunch (Sponsorship Opportunities Available)

    Join us for a dynamic, program-exclusive lunch designed to catalyze insight, opportunity, and collaboration. Curated discussion tables—shaped by our distinguished co-chairs—bring together select executives, investors, and innovators for focused, thematic conversations that spark new thinking and new partnerships. This elevated experience is open only to Venture, Innovation & Partnering participants and speakers.​


    Table: What Gets Pharma to Say Yes and Investors to Pay Attention 

    Denise Bronner, PhD, Founder & CEO, Empactful Ventures


    Table: M&A Outlook for 2026—Headwinds and Tailwinds 

    Tom Sabia, Managing Director, Braff Group


    Table: Stop Chasing Data, Start Engaging Patients—The Tech-Enabled Path to Research Outcomes 

    Noga Leviner, Co-Founder & CEO, PicnicHealth


    Table: Transforming Clinical Development with a Patient-Derived Foundational AI Model 

    Speaker to be Announced, StuffThatWorks


    Table: Quantum Tech: Implications for Drug Development and Clinical Trials

    ​Celia Merzbacher, QED-C Executive Director

    Chairperson's Afternoon Remarks

    Rana Lonnen, General Partner, Science Capital , Managing Director , dRx Capital , Novartis

    KEYNOTE FIRESIDE CHAT
    Investor Fireside Chat

    Photo of Carolyn Magill, Venture Partner, Define Ventures , CEO and Venture Partner , Define Ventures
    Carolyn Magill, Venture Partner, Define Ventures , CEO and Venture Partner , Define Ventures
    Photo of Sunny Kumar, MD, Partner, Informed Ventures , MD, Partner , Informed Ventures
    Sunny Kumar, MD, Partner, Informed Ventures , MD, Partner , Informed Ventures

    INNOVATION SHOWCASE

    Showcase Remarks

    Lori Ellis, Chief Mischief Officer, Open Door Salon , Head , Insights , BioSpace

    Innovation Showcase companies are emerging and growth-stage organizations tackling critical challenges in the clinical trial ecosystem through new technologies, products, or platforms. During the Showcase, each company delivers a brief, focused overview of the specific problem they are solving, how their solution creates meaningful impact across the clinical trial lifecycle, and why it represents a compelling opportunity for strategic and financial stakeholders. The session is designed to connect these innovations with a highly engaged audience of clinical operations leaders, investors, strategics, and industry executives actively seeking scalable solutions and differentiated growth opportunities in clinical trial innovation.

    Panel Moderator:

    PANEL DISCUSSION:
    Scaling Patient Recruitment & Site Strategy: Unlocking Efficiency, Speed, and ROI in Clinical Trials

    Photo of Laura Y. Hilty, Principal, Investments & Growth, HealthX Ventures and CSO, IgnteData , Principal , Investments & Growth , HealthX Ventures
    Laura Y. Hilty, Principal, Investments & Growth, HealthX Ventures and CSO, IgnteData , Principal , Investments & Growth , HealthX Ventures

    Panelists:

    Photo of Skip Fleshman, Partner, Aulis Capital , \Partner , Aulis Capital
    Skip Fleshman, Partner, Aulis Capital , \Partner , Aulis Capital
    Photo of Sean Lynch, Clinical Innovation Head, Innovative Trial Operations, Novartis Pharmaceuticals , Clinical Innovation Head , Innovative Trial Operations , Novartis Pharmaceuticals
    Sean Lynch, Clinical Innovation Head, Innovative Trial Operations, Novartis Pharmaceuticals , Clinical Innovation Head , Innovative Trial Operations , Novartis Pharmaceuticals
    Photo of Maulik D. Mehta, Managing Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures , Managing Partner , Excelerate Health Ventures , TriNetX Inc
    Maulik D. Mehta, Managing Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures , Managing Partner , Excelerate Health Ventures , TriNetX Inc
    Photo of Maya R. Said, ScD, Founder & CEO, Outcomes4Me , Founder & CEO , Outcomes4Me Inc
    Maya R. Said, ScD, Founder & CEO, Outcomes4Me , Founder & CEO , Outcomes4Me Inc
    Photo of Sam Srivastava, CEO, WCG , CEO , WCG
    Sam Srivastava, CEO, WCG , CEO , WCG

    Panel Moderator:

    PANEL DISCUSSION:
    Entrepreneurship Lessons & Operator Insights

    Photo of Mitesh Rao, MD, Founder & CEO, OMNY , Founder & CEO , OMNY
    Mitesh Rao, MD, Founder & CEO, OMNY , Founder & CEO , OMNY

    Panelists:

    Photo of Wout Brusselaers, CEO, Deep 6 AI , CEO , Deep 6 AI
    Wout Brusselaers, CEO, Deep 6 AI , CEO , Deep 6 AI
    Photo of Ariel B. Katz, CEO & Co-Founder, H1 , CEO & Co Founder , H1
    Ariel B. Katz, CEO & Co-Founder, H1 , CEO & Co Founder , H1
    Photo of Michelle Longmire, Co-Founder & CEO, Medable, Inc. , Co Founder & CEO , Medable Inc
    Michelle Longmire, Co-Founder & CEO, Medable, Inc. , Co Founder & CEO , Medable Inc
    Photo of Eirini Schlosser, Founder & CEO, Dyania Health , Chairman and CEO , Dyania Health
    Eirini Schlosser, Founder & CEO, Dyania Health , Chairman and CEO , Dyania Health

    Chairperson's Closing Remarks

    Sunny Kumar, MD, Partner, Informed Ventures , MD, Partner , Informed Ventures

    Networking Happy Hour

    Close the day with momentum. Our program-exclusive happy hour in the Venture Innovation & Partnering Room provides an elegant, energizing atmosphere for deepening conversations with fellow executives, investors, and innovators. This is a high-value connection space available solely to participants and speakers in the Venture Innovation & Partnering Program — the perfect setting to turn ideas into opportunities.

    Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall

    Wrap up the day with colleagues, friends old and new at SCOPE’s Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall. Enjoy drinks, network with exhibitors, and enter to win fabulous raffle prizes (must be present to win). Keep the evening going with dinner at Rosen Shingle Creek’s restaurants—no Orlando traffic required!