Session Abstract – PMWC 2018 Silicon Valley
Session Synopsis: AI has the potential to expedite the clinical drug discovery and development process by applying sophisticated algorithms to the analysis and mining of different data sources to predict molecule behavior and suitability as drug targets or therapeutic entities. This session will cover different approaches and AI platforms, and how they will impact the pharmaceutical industry and specifically, the drug discovery and development processes.
Session Chair Profile
Ph.D., CEO, Insilico Medicine, Inc
Biography
Alexander is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Biogerontology Research Foundation, a UK-based registered charity supporting ageing research worldwide. He is also the director of the International Aging Research Portfolio knowledge management project, chief scientist of Youth Laboratories and the adjunct professor of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He holds two Bachelor Degrees from Queen’ s University, a Masters in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in Biophysics from the Moscow State University. Alex Zhavoronkov is the author of over 90 research publications in the peer-reviewed journals and books including “The Ageless Generation: How advances in biomedicine will transform the global economy” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) and “Dating AI: A Guide to Falling in Love with Artificial Intelligence” (RE/Search, 2012).
Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Senior Vice President & Chief Analytics Officer, BERG LLC
Biography
Dr. Akmaev is the industry leader in AI and machine learning applications in life sciences and healthcare. He heads the Berg Analytics business division and is the chief architect of Bayesian Artificial Intelligence software, bAIcis®. Dr. Akmaev is an avid advocate for data driven research and promotes wider utility of advanced mathematical modeling techniques in pharmaceutical and clinical research. Prior to his role at BERG, Dr. Akmaev spent a decade at Genzyme R&D and the CLIA diagnostic laboratory, Genzyme Genetics. He led the development and commercialization of novel multi-omic panel diagnostics in oncology and prenatal medicine. Dr. Akmaev has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts in genomics, systems biology, biochemistry and human genetics. He is a frequent speaker at AI, analytics and precision medicine conferences. Dr. Akmaev holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Speaker Profile
MSc, President and CEO, Numerate Inc
Biography
Guido Lanza is the CEO of Numerate, which he co-founded in 2007 along with a team of computer scientists and drug hunters. Their vision was to change the discovery paradigm through AI – to unlock inaccessible emerging biology and to build a platform capable of learning from all previous data (and mistakes) in the industry. He has led Numerate’s efforts to secure multiple rounds of funding as the company grew and evolved its business model from being primarily a medicinal chemistry service provider for Pharma to an AI-driven company with both major Pharma alliances and a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutic programs. Prior to Numerate, Guido co-founded and was the CTO of another algorithm-focused biotech startup (Pharmix), where he led the development and application of the drug discovery platform. Guido’s background is in Molecular Biology (UC Berkeley) and Bioinformatics (U. of Manchester).
Talk
Transforming Drug Discovery Using AI
AI’s transformational impact on drug discovery is profound: from unlocking inaccessible biology to leveraging every failure to inform all subsequent chemical design decisions. From an algorithmic, business and cultural perspective, I will explore the successes along with current challenges and potential solutions of applying AI to drug design.
Presentation Title and Company Description
AI and Data Science Showcase: Numerate -Transforming Chemical Design with AI
Numerate applies AI to chemical design throughout drug discovery: from designing hits to leads and candidates. We have more than a decade of experience generating valuable in-house drug programs and forming successful partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies.
Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Senior Vice President, DPU Head, ln Silico Discovery, GSK Pharmaceuticals
Biography
John Baldoni heads a newly formed drug discovery unit dedicated to explore and apply in silico methodology to drug discovery and development at GSK. This new appointment follows his role as Senior Vice President, Platform Technology and Science (PTS), GSK Pharma R&D. Baldoni joined GSK in 1989 and has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 37 years. His experience spans new chemical entity design, development and commercialization, and biopharmaceutical development. In progressing to his current role, Baldoni has held various positions at GSK including Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development; Vice President, Product Development; Director, Product Development; and Assistant Director, Biopharmaceutical Formulation Development, among others. He has led several key cross-functional problem solving and strategic initiatives. Baldoni has a BS in biochemistry (1974), and MS and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry (1980) from Penn State University.
Speaker Profile
FRS, FMEDSCI, Director of The Welcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University
Biography
Peter Donnelly is Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Professor of Statistical Science at the University of Oxford, and a founder and director of Genomics plc, a fast-growing company in the genome analytics space. He has played a leading role in many of the major projects and developments at the interface between genetics, healthcare, and clinical medicine, including the HapMap project, the Wellcome Trust Case Control consortia, and WGS500, one of the studies pioneering whole genome sequencing in clinical medicine.
