“DELAWARE’S DNA” GATHERS GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCE LEADERS IN WILMINGTON

-4TH Annual Delaware Bio Event Takes Place April 30, 2026 at Chase Center on Wilmington Waterfront
-Expected to be largest and most important industry conference in state history

NEWARK, DE (April 8, 2026) – Exciting developments and major investments in biomanufacturing, AI, and synthetic biology and what they mean for Delaware’s future as a hub of life science innovation will be the focus of a major conference in Wilmington on April 30.

Hosted by the Delaware BioScience Association (Delaware Bio), the fourth annual Delaware’s DNA: 2026 Life Science Conference will bring together top bioscience industry leaders, investors, researchers, strategists, policymakers and businesspeople to examine important global trends and market dynamics impacting economic opportunity and public health in Delaware and beyond.

The event takes place at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Thursday April 30, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm; the program will include rich panel discussions, breakout sessions and extensive business networking. The Delaware’s DNA Exhibitor Alley will feature 40 organizations and service providers involved in the life science sector.

“This year’s conference is already shaping up to be our biggest and best ever,” said Michael Fleming, president and CEO of Delaware Bio. “We can’t wait to showcase the best of Delaware’s biomedical innovation and unique ecosystem assets – from our competitive advantage in advanced manufacturing to cutting edge research to the state’s underlying strength as the world’s corporate capital. Never before has an event brought together such an array of important, influential industry players here in the First State.”

Top Industry Expert Assesses Issues and Opportunities
Following expected remarks from Gov. Matt Meyer, EY Global Life Science Deals Leader Subin Baral will outline the key strategies, global market forces and emerging technologies that are shaping life science industry investment and growth – and assess how those dynamics can be leveraged for Delaware.

Plenary Sessions Focus on Biomanufacturing, AI and Biomaterials
Main stage panel discussions with explore the state’s “biomanufacturing boom” that is seeing billions invested into new and expanded sites and workforce initiatives; how AI is transforming the development of new treatments and healthcare interventions – reducing costs and helping patients faster; and an assessment of Delaware’s deep strength in synthetic biology, and how those capabilities are translating into sustainable products and materials across agriculture, energy and other vital sectors.

An Appraisal of Delaware’s Corporate Franchise
Three of the top experts on Delaware’s Corporate Franchise will close out the conference with a candid discussion of the state’s longstanding perch as the favored venue for incorporation and litigating business disputes.

Legal Imperatives for Growth Companies and a Research Roundup
Breakout sessions will offer deeper dives into important legal considerations for growing life science companies and a review of some of Delaware’s top research institutions and partnerships.

Agenda and Participants
Keynote Address: The Life Science Landscape
• Subin Baral, Global Deals Leader – Lifesciences, EY

The Biomanufacturing Boom: Imperatives and Opportunities for the First State and Beyond
• Kelvin H. Lee, Director, The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)
• Kent Payne Ph. D, Operating Partner, Curewell Capital and Executive Chairman, Wilmington PharmaTech
• James Wheeler, Associate Vice President, Manufacturing Network Strategy, Merck & Co., Inc.
• Moderator: Caitlin Frazer, Executive Director, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology

Inside the Algorithms: How Delaware Innovators are Leveraging AI to Transform Health
• Sunita Chandrasekaran, Director, First State AI Institute, University of Delaware
• Aziz Nazha, Executive Director, Jefferson Enterprise AI Workforce Transformation and Education
• Peter Shen, Global Head of Commercial Operations and Senior Advisor for Digitalization and AI, Siemens Healthineers
• Moderator: Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

From Molecules to Market: The Delaware Difference in Sustainable Materials and Synthetic Biology
• Mark Blenner, Gutshall Associate Professor, University of Delaware
• Garrett Dunlap, Associate Director, Policy, Engineering Biology Research Consortium
• Michael Kienzle, Global Product Specialist - Enterprise Incubator, W.L. GORE & Associates, Inc.
• Moderator: Nicole Merli, Director of University & Industry Relations, University of Delaware/Delaware Bio

The First State’s Corporate Franchise: Delaware’s Difference Maker
• Andre G. Bouchard, Former Delaware Chancellor and Partner, Paul, Weiss Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
• Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez, Secretary, Delaware Department of State
• Rod Ward, President & CEO, CSC
• Moderator: Jacob Owens, Editor In Chief, Spotlight Delaware

Scaling Smart: Legal Strategies for Growth Companies
• Philip Amoa, Partner and Philadelphia Office Managing Partner, McCarter & English, LLP
• Michelle Ankenbrand, Vice Chief Judge, US Patent and Trademark Office-Patent Trial and Appeal Board
• Jan Case, Chief Operating Officer, CorriXR Therapeutics
• Bryant Lim, CFO, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Prelude Therapeutics
• Moderator: Jeffrey M. Mann, Partner, McCarter & English, LLP

From Discovery to Impact: Leveraging Regional Life Science Assets for Growth
• Amir Khan, PhD, Professor, Delaware State University
• April M. Kloxin, PhD, Professor and Director, University of Delaware and Delaware Biotechnology Institute
• Dr. Jan Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN)
• Thomas Schwaab, MD, PhD, Bank of America Endowed Medical Director, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at ChristianaCare
• Mike Thielke, Executive Director, F3 Tech Biomanufacturing
• Moderator: Noah Olson, Vice President: Innovation, Enterprise, & Expansion, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Sponsors and Exhibitors

There is still time to join sponsors and exhibitors that include: AstraZeneca, MRA Group, Avantor, Incyte, Merck, QPS Holdings, University of Delaware, Delaware Business Times, Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), Delaware INBRE, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Prelude Therapeutics, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), Applied Control Engineering, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Delaware Biotechnology Institute, First Ascent Design, Adesis, BioConnect DE, The Bonadio Group, Fulgent Pharma, Delaware Technology Park, W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., Maven Strategies, Wilmington University, WSFS Bank, ASI Waste, American Laboratory Trading, Bancroft Construction, Beckman Coulter, Broom Street Associates, Delaware EPSCoR, DeNovix, Frontage Labs, FujiFilm Biosciences, Hanna’s Pharmaceutical Supply, Keen Compressed Gas, Klasko Immigration Law Partners, L&W Insurance, McCarter & English, MedChemExpress LLC, Nemours, Richards Layton & Finger, Sepax Biosciences, Supercritical Fluid Technologies, VaLogic Bio, Waters Corporation, Whiting-Turner, Wohlsen Construction.

For conference agenda details, information on sponsorship and to purchase tickets, go to: https://www.delawarebio.org/page/2026-delawares-dna-life-science-conference

Details
Date: Thursday April 30
Time: 8:00 am–3:30 pm
Location: Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

About Delaware BioScience Association
The Delaware BioScience Association (Delaware Bio) is a catalyst for bioscience innovation in Delaware. We serve pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, medical device manufacturers, agricultural biotech and chemical companies, research and testing companies, hospitals and medical institutions, academic partners and other organizations and companies that support them, with the goal of expanding our state’s vibrant science economy. Our more than 220 member companies and organizations are of every size, from global leaders to small start-ups, directly responsible for more than 12,000 innovation-based jobs vital to Delaware’s economic future.

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