Bio2Device Group of the Silicon Valley/Bay Area

Join B2DG members and guests on May 7th for the BIONews review and a live presentation:

Empowering Rare Disease Understanding: Insights on Database Development
Austin Letcher
Engage Health

Understanding the nuances of any disease hinges on deeply comprehending its impact on patients. This presentation delves into the creation of a rare disease healthcare provider and patient database, pivotal for informed decision-making and program development. Case studies showcasing targeted outreach initiatives, from awareness campaigns to clinical trial recruitment, will be highlighted, offering valuable insights for healthcare professionals and researchers.

8:15 - 10:15 am
Zoom talk: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88549236999

Austin Letcher
Engage Health

Austin Letcher, MS; Program and Operations Director; With over 15 years of experience, Austin has demonstrated expertise in the rare disease space, focusing on patient registries, clinical trial recruitment, and as a service provider. He developed > 40 orphan patient registries and executed 20+ small-to-large clinical trial recruitment programs spanning Phase I-III trials. Austin has also led 20+ orphan Patient Reported Outcomes and market research initiatives, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field. His extensive background and proficiency in navigating pre-clinical data collection enables engaging with stakeholders. Austin is dedicated to driving progress in the field of rare disease research through strategic and impactful approaches.

Join B2DG members and guests on May 21 to review updated weekly BIONews followed by a live presentation:

Balancing Science and Strategy: Navigating Career Shifts and Portfolio Management in Life Sciences
Ananya Jain
Portfolio Strategist
BioTech

This presentation delves into two critical aspects: the personal journey of transitioning from a pharmacist to a portfolio management role, and the strategic intricacies of portfolio management within the life sciences sector. The speaker shares firsthand insights into the factors influencing their professional trajectory, providing valuable lessons for aspiring professionals. Additionally, the talk explores the role of portfolio managers in guiding life science companies through the complexities of program prioritization and tradeoffs. From conducting comprehensive portfolio reviews to implementing effective therapeutic area strategies, attendees will gain practical knowledge essential for success in this dynamic field.

May 21
8:15 am - 10:15 am
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88549236999

Ananya is a distinguished professional in the life sciences industry with a tenure at Biogen since 2020, where he currently leads the portfolio management for the Research organization. His extensive career, spanning over a decade, is marked by significant contributions in business strategy and operations across key domains including manufacturing, regulatory affairs, clinical operations, and internal governance. Before his impactful role at Biogen, Ananya honed his expertise at Merck & Co., where he applied his profound knowledge and skills to drive advancements in the field. He is academically accomplished, holding an MBA in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, in addition to a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Rajiv Gandhi University, India. Ananya's commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by his certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Six Sigma Green Belt. His scholarly contributions include co-publishing a paper in the Pharmaceutical Medicine journal on trends in Phase 3 clinical trials location, authoring a poster on standardizing subject ID Schematic presented at PHUSE EU, and co-authoring papers on the demographic distribution of Biogen's MS trials and on benchmarking protocol deviations across major disease categories, presented at ACTRIMS and published at DIA, respectively.