Science2Startup (S2S)? Symposium on May 14th, 2025 will Bring Leading Academic Scientists to Boston Biotech Ecosystem

Collaboratively hosted by venture capital firms Atlas Venture, F-Prime, Osage University Partners, RA Capital Management, and 5AM Ventures?

Eight presenters selected from global academic institutions to present individual startup ideas to biotech investors and executives???

Science2Startup (S2S)? is an invitation-only symposium for leading academic scientific innovators to present their biotech startups to the thriving Boston-based venture capital ecosystem. The event will be held May 14th, 2025 at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is orchestrated by Atlas Venture, F-Prime, Osage University Partners, RA Capital Management, and 5AM Ventures to strengthen connections between scientific entrepreneurs at the world’s top research institutions and biotech investors.??

This year’s S2S is led and organized by:??

• Kevin Bitterman, Ph.D., Partner at Atlas Venture?

• Jessica Alston, Ph.D., Partner at F-Prime??

• Matt Cohen, Ph.D., Managing Partner at Osage University Partners?

• Joshua Resnick, M.D., Managing Director at RA Capital Management?

• Deborah Palestrant, Ph.D., Partner at 5AM Ventures??

Presenting the keynote address this year will be Sekar Kathiresan, MD. Dr. Kathiresan is CEO of Verve Therapeutics which he co-founded based on his discoveries in human genetic mutations that confer resistance to cardiovascular disease. Verve is developing therapies that safely edit the adult human genome to treat heart attack. Previously, he was director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Genomic Medicine, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute, and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.??

“Sek has walked the path from academia to entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Alston. “We are thrilled to have him share his insights with the S2S audience and in particular with the presenters, who are at the beginning of their own entrepreneurial endeavors.”?

The eight selected presenters will showcase their discoveries as well as their projected development path toward demonstrating clinical proof-of-concept. Mentorship for the selected presenters reflects deep expertise across multiple scientific disciplines and is facilitated by MassBio.?

“The scientists selected for S2S 2025 represent a variety of academic institutions and are focused on technologies addressing a diverse set of high unmet medical needs,” said Dr. Bitterman. “The S2S Advisors and Steering Committee are inspired by the exciting work each of this year’s presenters is advancing, and we look forward to working with them through our mentorship program and the Symposium.”?

“We are incredibly grateful to have the support of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Goodwin, HDMZ, Colliers, and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) as sponsors of S2S. It’s a privilege to have sponsorship from organizations that bring such deep knowledge in providing insights on potential ways to build successful biotech companies. Our participants will have the unique opportunity to connect with senior leaders from each of these amazing organizations, who will be on hand to share their knowledge and insights,” said Dr. Palestrant.?

Attendees at the event will include senior biopharma executives, life science-focused investors and biotech entrepreneurs. In addition to the presentations, S2S will provide substantial opportunities for networking among the presenters and attendees.?

“It is important to highlight the potentially transformative work coming out of academic research efforts,” said Dr. Cohen. “S2S plays a critical role in offering support to top academic founders as they seek to bring their innovations further down the path of therapeutic development.”?

This year’s eight scientific presenters were selected by an advisory group comprised of experienced biotech investors. S2S received 126 submissions from over 60 institutions across 9 countries. The selected presenters will be matched with a hand-picked team of mentors including advisory group members, sponsors, and other industry participants who will provide a sounding board on topics such as scientific translation and business-building.?

"S2S goes beyond the typical pitch event to enable meaningful connections for researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors who may not otherwise cross paths,” said Dr. Resnick. "We believe that the stage and the interactions the S2S presenters will have set them up for continued success toward their goal of advancing their innovative ideas toward the patients who need them."??

?S2S’s class of 2025 includes:?

• Luigi Adamo, MD, PhD, Director of Cardiac Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; CEO, i-Cordis. Pegydone-6: An improved small molecule to treat HFpEF.?

• Scott Carmer, Co-Founder, CEO, EMC2 βio. Translating immune-evasive mechanisms from the cancer cell to the β cell.?

• Elizabeth Luczak, PhD, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A novel drug discovery platform to treat atrial fibrillation.?

• Kevin Lynch, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacology, University of Virginia Charlottesville; CSO, S1P Therapeutics. S1P transport inhibitors as a therapy for kidney disease.?

• Thaher Pelaseyed, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg; Co-founder and CEO, MucoLife Therapeutics. Transforming cystic fibrosis care: an effective solution for pulmonary mucus obstruction.?

• Erika Smith, CEO, EpiTET Therapeutics. First-in-class, oral approach to addressing chronic inflammation through selective elimination of pathogenic macrophages.??????

• James Tran, PhD, CEO, Centron Bio. Next-generation genetic medicines for neurodegenerative disease.?

• Tingting Yang, PhD., Associate Professor, Columbia University. Best drugs for Best disease: Small molecule drugs for the treatment of best vitelliform macular dystrophy.?

For a list of S2S’s 2025 advisors, please visit www.science2startup.com.?