Global Entrepreneurship Week features event about careers in drug, medical and diagnostic discovery

Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship will celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from 4 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in Walter Rotunda with an event focused on careers and entrepreneurship in the sciences, exploring innovators in drug discovery, medical devices and diagnostics. 

Students, educators and researchers who attend can meet executives and entrepreneurs from around the globe to learn about career and start-up opportunities in several exciting science industries.

“The biosciences industry has exploded over the last decades and a great diversity of careers exist in these industries, not only for scientists but also for engineers, business majors and communication professionals,” said Kevin King, executive director of Corporate Engagement at Ohio University. “This event will allow students to learn about the multitude of career opportunities across these sectors; some of which didn’t even exist 10 years ago.”

The event will feature several prominent speakers, panels and two networking receptions. Keynote speaker Patrick Connelly, chief executive officer at Pin Hill Ventures and senior Vertex Pharmaceuticals fellow emeritus, will open the evening with remarks on, “Creating Innovative Medicines While Building a Biotech Business – Lessons Learned.”  Connelly was one of the original scientists at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the inventor of medicines which treat cystic fibrosis. 

“This is the first time the Center for Entrepreneurship has been able to join with the College of Arts and Sciences and the University’s Office of Research and Creative Activity to create an event,” said Paul Mass, Entrepreneur-in-Residence and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “We hope this event will educate and inspire students throughout the University who are interested in building a career or business in some of the most fertile areas of science for innovation and entrepreneurial activity.”

The first panel, “The Science of Business in the 21st Century: Drug Discovery,” will begin at 5:40 p.m. The panelists will be Laura Brege, general partner at Red Rock Ventures and former chief financial officer at Cor Therapeutic; Tim Coleman, vice president of operations at Immunomic Therapeutics; and Jon Wang, chief scientific officer and senior vice president at CStone Pharmaceuticals. The panel will be moderated by John Kopchick, distinguished professor and Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University.

The second panel, “Entrepreneurship in Bioscience: No Cookie Cutter Approach,” will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be moderated by John Lewis, president and CEO at BioOhio. Panelists will be Jon Snyder, founder and executive advisor at Neuros Medical Inc.; Pam Groen, business leader and advisor at Global Biomedical; and Brad Lang, executive-in-residence at BioEnterprise and former scientist at Athersys.

Before and after the panels, attendees can further interact with the industry professionals during the networking receptions, where light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

“Ohio University has an obligation to prepare students for successful careers and these types of events provide a glimpse into the real world beyond classrooms,” King said. “While coordinating these events can be difficult, the excitement and enthusiasm of the speaker, many of who are alums, made the one-year long planning process enjoyable.”

GEW is a celebration of innovators and job creators who drive economic growth and expand human welfare with their startups. Since the launch of the initiative in 2008, GEW has expanded to hold events in over 165 countries garnering millions of participants every year. 

Inspired by the success of the business of games and music summit in previous years, this free event is hosted by Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, a partnership between the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. The event is organized and sponsored by the College of Business, Department of Biology, TechGROWTH Ohio and the University’s Corporate Engagement Office.

Although not required, registration is recommended and is available here.