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:

​

Eliav Barr, Head, Global Clinical Development and CMO, Global Clinical Development, Merck & Co.

Sandeep Burugupalli, Head, Data Science & Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca

Jeremy Goldberg, Operating Partner, Healthcare, Arsenal Capital Partners

Jared Saul, MD, CMO, Commercial Healthcare and Life Sciences, Amazon Web Services


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 Guillaume Carbonneau, Vice President Operational Data Insights, Novo Nordisk , Vice President, Operational Data Insights , AI & Digital Innovation (R&D) , Novo Nordisk
Guillaume Carbonneau, Vice President Operational Data Insights, Novo Nordisk , Vice President, Operational Data Insights , AI & Digital Innovation (R&D) , Novo Nordisk
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 with Denise Bronner, PhD, Founder & CEO, Empactful Ventures


Table: M&A Outlook for 2026—Headwinds and Tailwinds with Dexter Braff, President, Braff Group


Table: Stop Chasing Data, Start Engaging Patients — The Tech Enabled Path to Research Outcomes with Noga Leviner, Co-founder and CEO, PicnicHealth


Table: Transforming Clinical Development with a Patient-Derived Foundational AI Model Speaker to be Announced, StuffThatWorks



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

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 Maulik D. Mehta, Managing Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures and Former President, Safety & Pharmacovigilance, TriNetX, Inc. , President , Safety & Pharmacovigilance , TriNetX Inc
Maulik D. Mehta, Managing Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures and Former President, Safety & Pharmacovigilance, TriNetX, Inc. , President , Safety & Pharmacovigilance , TriNetX Inc
Photo of April Monge, Global Head, Innovation Capability Center for Recruitment, Novartis Pharma AG , Global Head , Innovation Capability for Recruitment , Novartis Pharma AG
April Monge, Global Head, Innovation Capability Center for Recruitment, Novartis Pharma AG , Global Head , Innovation Capability for Recruitment , Novartis Pharma AG
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

Panel Moderator:

Foundational Investments in Biotech: Balancing Mission, Capital, and Clinical Impact

Photo of Jessica J. Federer, Board Member, Angelini Ventures , Board Member, Angelini Ventures , Angelini Ventures
Jessica J. Federer, Board Member, Angelini Ventures , Board Member, Angelini Ventures , Angelini Ventures

Panelists:

Photo of Michael Banyas, Health Specialist and SBIR/STTR Program Lead in Community Health and Population Sciences, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities , Health Specialist and SBIR/STTR Program Lead in Community Health and Population Sciences , National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Michael Banyas, Health Specialist and SBIR/STTR Program Lead in Community Health and Population Sciences, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities , Health Specialist and SBIR/STTR Program Lead in Community Health and Population Sciences , National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Photo of Stephanie Oestreich, Managing Director, Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF , Managing Director , Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF
Stephanie Oestreich, Managing Director, Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF , Managing Director , Myeloma Investment Fund of the MMRF
Photo of Tracy Warren, Senior Managing Director, Go Red for Women Fund, AHA Ventures, American Heart Association , Sr Managing Dir , Go Red for Women Fund , American Heart Association
Tracy Warren, Senior Managing Director, Go Red for Women Fund, AHA Ventures, American Heart Association , Sr Managing Dir , Go Red for Women Fund , American Heart Association

Chairperson's Closing Remarks

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

Networking Happy Hour (Sponsorship Opportunities Available)

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 (Sponsorship Opportunities Available)

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!