Why Attend
The 6th Animal Health Innovation USA is the must attend networking event in North America for innovators with new solutions to support the detection, prevention or treatment of diseases in animals.
Our mission is to showcase the most exciting investment opportunities in the sector and connect those businesses with financial investors and strategic corporate partners.
Alongside our investment pitches, we include keynote presentations and host CEO-level panel discussions that address the most pressing trends and market dynamics of the animal health, nutrition, and technology industries, across all species.
Innovation Showcase
The Innovation Showcase Returns for 2023!
The showcase is a unique opportunity for emerging companies with amazing technology to present in front of the industry’s most influential figures and investors. 20 start-ups, hand-picked by the Selection Committee, introduce themselves, their innovations and achievements on the main stage. This year, our finalists will be presenting products across health, nutrition and technology areas, taking part in either the companion showcase or production showcase.
Applications close on Friday 7th April.
ACADEMIC POSTER SESSION
New for 2023!
Apply to showcase your innovative research in animal health to a community of potential partners and accelerators.
Sumbission deadline is 21 April - Apply now!
2023 Speakers
Stephen Lesser
Ron Phillips
Scott Lyle
Mark Cushing
Cherylyn Harley LeBon
Rob Hunter
Bo Kowalczyk
Richard Kestenbaum
Richard is a co-founder and Partner of Triangle Capital and has been an investment banker for over 35 years. Richard has a great deal of experience advising clients in merchandising businesses, particularly in the Retail & Consumer sector. Richard is an often-quoted expert on the retail and merchandising industries. He is a Contributor to Forbes.com where he writes a regular blog about trends in retail and consumer product businesses. He also appears regularly in print and other media as well as industry panels and speaking programs.
Before co-founding Triangle, Richard was a Managing Director at a boutique investment banking firm called Financo, Inc. While at Financo, Richard was responsible for a majority of the firm’s apparel industry transactions. Prior to joining Financo, Richard was a Partner and First Vice President at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. At Drexel, Richard was responsible for a group of 14 professionals doing middle-market mergers and acquisitions around the world.
Richard is the co-author of three books on finance and computer programming. He is formerly an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Business at the graduate program of the Stern School of Business at York University.
Richard received a BS in Accounting from New York University and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Harvard University. Richard is married and lives in New York.
Click here to read Richard’s blog and follow him on Forbes.com.
Bruce Truman
Neal Fishman
Aaron Schacht
Prior to this role, Mr. Aaron Schacht was the Vice President of Global Research and Development / Regulatory Affairs at Elanco Animal Healthheld. Before that, he held the role of Global Brand Development Leader – Pain in Lilly Biomedicines. He was the global leader for product development and commercialization activities for LY2951742 – Lilly’s novel CGRP neutralizing antibody – a new potential treatment for prevention of Migraine and Cluster Headache. In 2012, Schacht joined Lilly Biomedicines as Senior Advisor – Strategy & Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines. His responsibilities included oversight of Therapeutic Strategy development, R&D Portfolio Management, and Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines – Lilly’s largest business unit. Past roles included serving as Executive Director, Global External R&D, at Eli Lilly and Company, where he was responsible for implementation of strategies which aim to leverage novel approaches to external partnerships to augment Lilly’s access to pharmaceutical innovation as well as Executive Director of LRL (Lilly Research Labs) Strategy, Portfolio Management and Project Management where he was responsible for strategic planning, R&D portfolio and project management. Prior to these roles, he was Director, Innovation Center in the eLilly organization where he focused on the exploration, incubation and implementation of new business models and capabilities relevant to the strategic evolution of the pharmaceutical industry. In 2002, during a short leave from Lilly, Mr. Schacht was co-founder, President and CEO of Artesian Therapeutics, a Gaithersburg, MD cardiovascular drug discovery start-up. Mr. Schacht began his career at Lilly in 1990 as a medicinal chemist, and spent 5 years in the laboratory working to discover pharmaceuticals to treat cardiovascular disorders. Schacht studied Organic chemistry at the University of Illinois, receiving his Bachelors of Science degree in 1990.
Theo Weening
Rahul Ray
Candise Goodwin
Paula Bamford
Theresa Fossum
Emily Aston, DVM, PhD
Brett Wong
Nicholas Hense
Lashonda Geffrard
Eric Buda
Christopher Oliviero
Linda Rhodes
Dr. Rhodes has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine.
Dr. Rhodes was educated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (VMD) and Cornell University (PhD). She has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine. She has an extensive background in physiology, veterinary medicine, and molecular biology. As a senior research fellow at Merck Research Laboratories for 10 years, she led pre-clinical biology evaluation of several marketed human drugs. Dr. Rhodes practiced clinical veterinary medicine for five years, with experience in both companion and farm animal practice. She worked for Merial Ltd. as director of development projects, leading project teams developing novel compounds for a variety of indications and headed new technology assessment, leading the evaluation of licensing opportunities. In April 2001, she formed AlcheraBio, a consulting, marketing, communications and contract research firm specializing in developing new drugs for animals, working with biotechnology and animal health companies, with clients in the US, European Union, Canada and Australia. AlcheraBio was acquired in 2008 by Argenta, and in 2011, Dr. Rhodes accepted a position as CEO of Aratana Therapeutics, a company developing innovative new medicines for dogs and cats, and subsequently, when the company became public (PETX) served as its Chief Scientific Officer. During her tenure, development was completed on three new pet therapeutics: two new molecules with novel mechanisms of actions were approved by the FDA, and a third drug had FDA registration completed and was approved in August, 2016. She is currently retired and an independent consultant. She is a member of the Board of Directors of ImmuCell (NASDAQ: ICCC) and the Alliance for Contraception in Dogs and Cats, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Found Animals Foundation. She is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate Animal Science program at Rutgers University.
Mike Charles
Victoria Mo
Michael Helmstetter
Dr. Michael Helmstetter is Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of TechAccel LLC (Technology Acceleration Partners).
TechAccel is a technology and venture development company in the agriculture and animal health sectors. The company invests in or acquires new technology and funds science advancement programs with research university partners to assist in commercialization.
Michael also serves as Managing Partner of Covenant Animal Health Partners, a TechAccel subsidiary that focuses on development of “revenue-ready” animal health products for both companion and farm animals.
Before founding TechAccel, Michael served as the fifth President and Chief Executive Officer of MRIGlobal – one of the nation's most prominent research institutions. In his 14 years with MRIGlobal (formerly Midwest Research Institute), he led its growth from 2 to 17 national and international locations.
Michael has more than 30 years of experience working with the private sector and government agencies, including laboratory management positions at Applied Marine Research Laboratory in Norfolk, Va., and program management for the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Fla. He was President and Chairman of startup Brevard Teaching and Research Laboratories, a post he held until the company was acquired by MRIGlobal.
Michael received a Ph.D. in Chemical Toxicology/Oceanography from Old Dominion University and a B.S. in Biology from Allegheny College. He has been a panelist, keynote speaker, lecturer, reviewer to several journals, and is the author of numerous publications, articles, book chapters, and technical reports.
He has served on several boards, including Labconco Corp. Board of Directors and University of Missouri-Kansas City Board of Trustees, as well as numerous civic organizations. He is a contributing opinion writer for Forbes.com.
Michael lives in suburban Kansas City.
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhelmstetter/
Julia Loew
Sanjeev Anand
Mike Rohlfsen
Mareese Keane
Grant Barnekow
Mick Hewitt
Cindy Cole
Dr. Cindy Cole is a Technical Partner at Digitalis Ventures and an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Digitalis she was in the animal health industry for many years holding senior leadership and R&D roles at Mars Petcare, Novartis Animal Health, IDEXX, and Piedmont Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Cole completed her DVM and PhD at the University of Florida and was on the faculty of the University of California, Davis and UF.
Judy Schnurr
Judy's career has spanned nutritional innovation, beginning with a PhD in plant molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics
-she has worked for various companies across plant, microbial, and animal nutrition research
-joined Hill's Pet Nutrition 2 y ago and leads a team focused on innovation in the pet and pet microbiome space
Christopher Oliviero
Julia Loew
Tom Overbay
Shea Cox
Natalie Marks
Luis Lopez
Greg Blair
2023 Partners
Platinum Associate Partners
Zoetis
Website: https://www.zoetis.com/
Website: www.zoetis.com
Zoetis is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 65 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products, which are complemented by biodevices, genetic tests and precision livestock farming. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2019, the company generated annual revenue of $6.3 billion with approximately 10,600 employees.
For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
Associate Partner
TechAccel
Website: http://techaccel.net/
TechAccel, LLC, is a technology and venture development company focused in the agriculture and animal health industry.
Since its founding in 2014, TechAccel sources, invests in and acquires early-stage innovations. Through collaborations with universities and research institutions, TechAccel conducts advancement and de-risking research and development to ready technologies for commercialization.
TechAccel is based in Overland Park, Kansas, with offices in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information, visit www.TechAccel.net. Follow us on Twitter at @Tech_Accel.
Senior Event Partners
Clinglobal
Website: https://www.clinglobal.com/
CLINGLOBAL is an Animal Health Services company established during 2016 in Mauritius acting as a contract holding and centralised service provider for the ever expanding “Clin” group of companies.
Our unique business model allows the animal health industry and community to benefit from our simplified contracting solutions by having a customizable all-inclusive approach and the delivery of animal health research projects and services.
Event Partners
Dômes Pharma
Website: https://www.domespharma.com/?lang=en
LINKED BY NATURE
WE ARE ALL LINKED BY NATURE.
HUMANS, ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT
FORM A SINGLE ENTITY.
WITHIN DÔMES PHARMA GROUP
ALL OUR BRANDS ARE LINKED BY THE SAME VISION,
THE SAME MISSION.
ONE PLANET, ONE HEALTH.
OUR BUSINESS.
BiomEdit
Website: https://www.biomedit.com/
BiomEdit is a microbiome innovation company that discovers, designs and develops novel probiotics, microbiome derived bioactives and engineered microbial medicines to address unmet needs in animal health. We partner with Ginkgo Bioworks to amplify and accelerate product discovery and development with a goal of introducing breakthrough innovation for livestock producers and veterinarians.
Lawless Strategic Communications
Website: www.lawlesscomms.com
At Lawless Strategic Communications, we're your Corporate Communications experts. With decades of success leading Corporate Communications at top-tier public and private companies, Julie Lawless launched Lawless Strategic Communications in 2022, bringing the Purpose + Passion approach to serve companies in animal health and nutrition, veterinary and food production sectors. From the most complex reputational and brand issues to routine transaction communications, thought leadership, internal engagement and ESG programs, our knowledge and expertise can produce significant results. We understand the industry and quickly work alongside you to enhance and protect your vision - always grounded in your strategy and Purpose. Visit us today to learn more about our approach and how we can help you at www.lawlesscomms.com.
Zomedica
Website: https://zomedica.com/
Zomedica is an animal health company focused on meeting the needs of clinical veterinarians in ways that promote both patient and practice health. Our mission is to advance the effectiveness and financial well-being of veterinary practitioners by delivering professionally beneficial diagnostic products and services.
Diversigen
Website: https://diversigen.com/
Diversigen – Your Expert Source of Reliable Microbiome/Metagenomics Services and Insights
Leverage Diversigen’s CLIA/CAP-accredited microbiome profiling/bioinformatics services across the entire clinical research project lifecycle:
- Quality Leadership - Proven expertise, CLIA/CAP accredited
- Experienced - Pre-clinical studies, large clinical trials to single individual analysis
- Consultative/customized study support
- Breadth of services -16S/metagenomics (WGS)/qPCR development
- Flexible, agnostic bio-informatic pipelines/combined bio-statistical analysis
For more information, visit www.diversigen.com
Kansas State University Olathe
Website: https://olathe.k-state.edu/
Kansas State University Olathe is the newest of the K-State campuses. It is dedicated to expanding individual’s potential and meeting the workforce needs of Greater Kansas City by delivering academic programs that are developed in conjunction with industry, often featuring experts as speakers and mentors.
Professional development is offered through workshops and seminars as an option for those who want to upskill or change careers. In addition, K-State Olathe works closely with K-12 schools, community colleges and industry to establish an educational pipeline to help meet the job demands of the future.
K-State Olathe’s research facilities are a flourishing hub for the advancement of food systems, animal health, data analytics, sensory and consumer science and more. The mission is to leverage applied research to help solve challenges and improve lives.
Founded in 2011, it is the first higher education facility along with two other partners supported by an ongoing local tax, which makes it one of the country's largest endowments ever to a higher education public institution initiative.
Skills Alliance
Website: https://www.skillsalliance.com/
Skills Alliance believe in creating long-term partnerships with their clients as it enables them to provide tailored offerings to match your time and budget requirements.
With a network of offices in London, Zurich, New York, Seattle and Newport Beach and their partnership with Unique Group to cover Latin and South America, they’re able to provide a dynamic combination of local expertise and a global search capability.
They continually evaluate, invest in and implement all suitable new technology (including AI) to ensure you always receive the most cost-effective and efficient fulfilment of your brief. Cutting-edge businesses require a recruitment capability that leads the field.
whiskerDocs
Website: www.whiskerdocs.com
whiskerDocs, the leader in virtual triage service for pets, has been trailblazing telehealth with innovative technology-driven, on-demand solutions since 2013. Serving pet parents in the U.S. and Canada, whiskerDocs provides multi-channel access for nearly 6 million pets via client partnerships and direct-to-consumer relationships. The whiskerDocs team of veterinary telehealth specialists is composed of licensed veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians who are enabled to deliver a protocol-driven seamless experience through whiskerDocs’ patented processes and proprietary multi-modal cutting-edge technology. For more information on whiskerDocs, visit www.whiskerdocs.com
Transpharmation
Website: https://www.transpharmation.com/
Transpharmation is an in vivo contract research organization focused on therapeutic discovery and lead selection in both the central nervous system and the animal health spaces. Recognised by scientists worldwide for research that delivers life-changing medicines, foods, nutraceuticals, and devices to improve health of humans and companion animals. Improving health through science will always remain our passion. Our clients benefit from decades of experience in cross-species and cross-therapeutic translational biology across our preclinical services. From early PK and safety through proof of concept in indications related to neurology, neuropsychiatry, behaviour, metabolic disease, dermatology and health span, Transpharmation is the go-to collaborator for preclinical success.
Zoo Pharma Dynamics
Website: https://www.zoopharmadynamics.com/
Zoo Pharma Dynamics is a company dedicated to keeping animals healthy and happy through innovative research and development of animal healthcare products. We come from a variety of backgrounds which gives us the ability to view things from different perspectives and to think outside of the box. Limited thinking leads to limited results. We explore all ethical options in our research and development. We work with some of the best veterinarians, scientist and researchers to find solutions to optimize animal healthcare. We are ranchers, farmers, and business owners that want to protect our heritage and natural resources.
Our research and development involves the use of animals and we hold the highest ethical standards in the treatment of animals. Zoo Pharma Dynamics will never cause harm to an animal through research and development of its products.
Prelude
Website: https://preludeedc.com/
Prelude is a life science software company looking to raise the bar on the research experience. Prelude’s electronic data capture (EDC) system is a web-based software application designed for clinical trial data collection while maintaining regulatory compliance. Prelude has powered companion and farm animal research for almost every major animal health company in the United States and Europe for over 20 years. We have worked with over 250 sites worldwide, ranging from veterinary clinics to production farms, and have supported studies and registries across a variety of species and all phases of the research process.
PetMedix
Website: https://www.petmedix.com/
Building on more than 30 years of world-leading innovation and human therapeutic drug development, PetMedix is applying the cutting edge of science to bring breakthroughs for much-loved pets worldwide.
The bond we have with our dogs and cats is a special one, they share our homes and are such an important part of our lives. Unfortunately, they also share many of our health problems, and can suffer from similar diseases and conditions to us. Whilst it is possible to give some types of human medicines to pets, it is not possible to do so with therapeutic antibodies – the pet’s immune system would reject them. What this means is that there are many of these conditions, including cancer, arthritis and allergies that we can successfully treat in people but where pets are continuing to suffer.
PetMedix is creating the treatment solutions to help our pets. By taking the experience of our scientific team, and decades of human clinical research, we are building platforms that can develop fully species-specific, naturally-generated therapeutic antibodies. We will use these platforms to develop our own veterinary medicines to target some of the most important underserved clinical areas, which not only would have critically beneficial healthcare impact, they also represent excellent market opportunities.
Media Partners
American Pet Professionals
Website: https://www.americanpetprofessionals.com/
American Pet Professionals, (APP), is a multiple award winning National Business Networking, Educational and Multimedia Organization for the Pet Industry. Educating, Uniting, Referring, Connecting and Helping all Pet Professionals since 2009! The organization offers in-person and online networking events since it’s inception, hosting over 150 in-person events throughout the country. APP’s is mission to have pet professionals work together, help businesses grow, support each other to continue unite the pet industry, to ultimately help pets and their parents. In addition to in-person networking events, American Pet Professionals also hosts educational courses, masterminds for it’s members; sends out a weekly Pet Events Newsletter to 20,000 pet lovers that showcases both B2B and B2C pet events and also promotes many rescue groups. Founder and President of American Pet Professionals, Nancy E. Hassel, was named 2018 Women of Influence in the Pet Industry, referred to as an ‘industry visionary,’ she also travels across the country attending and speaking at pet business conferences and works with many of the organizers of such conferences to bring more expertise, knowledge, ideas and inspiration to its members. The membership-based organization started in February 2009, for more information go to www.AmericanPetProfessionals.com. Featured regularly in Pet Age Magazine, Pet Product News International Magazine, Pet Business Magazine, Pets+ Magazine, Dogster Magazine, Modern Dog Magazine and numerous other magazines, newspapers, blogs and TV stations throughout the country and world. Connect socially: @AmericanPetPros on Twitter and Instagram
Veterinary Practice News
Website: www.veterinarypracticenews.com
Veterinary Practice News Profile:
Veterinary Practice News (VPN) is the most widely read and respected magazine in the industry. For over 30 years, VPN has been read by veterinarian professionals across the United States who need the information we provide to run their practices more efficiently and profitably, provide better care for their animal patients and stay up-to-date on the latest treatments and technologies.
VPN publishes monthly print issues (also available digitally), a continuously updated informative website, and weekly enewsletters to keep you up to date on what’s happening in the industry.
Our editorial content consists of behind-the-scenes stories on successful veterinary practices and practitioners, industry best practices, new profit centers, breaking industry news, industry trends, new treatments and procedures, new medical technologies, coverage of industry events and some light-hearted Brain Teaser quizzes to test your knowledge. VPN also provides a forum for veterinary professionals to discuss peer-related issues.
Get your FREE Subscription to Veterinary Practice News today!
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Conference Packages
Sending Your Team? Group Discounts Available!
Applicable for Primary Market, Service Provider and Industry Rates Only. Not available for Academic or ‘Start-Up’ rates
Book a Team of 3+ - Save an Additional 10% Off
Book a Team of 5+ - Save an Additional 15% Off
If you would like to register a team of 3 or more, please email [email protected] for your discount coupon code before registering. PLEASE NOTE: Discounts cannot be combined with Early Bird Pricing or any other discount or offer. If you have any questions about your registration, please call us on +44 (0)20 3696 2920
Ticket price will increase in
- Please note that a $70 processing fee will apply to any invoices requested.
- Any questions about your registration, please call +44 (0)20 3696 2920 or email us at [email protected].
- All Prices are in USD
- All Early Bird discount prices, including Group Discounts, must be paid in full by deadlines provided above.
- No discounts or offers can be combined.
- Please view our Cancellation Policy.
- Emerging Companies are defined as early to mid-stage animal health pharmaceutical or biotech companies that are actively seeking financial investment or product licensing/acquisition. They must be engaged with this company on a full time basis. Those offering consultancy or market intelligence services do not qualify for this rate.
- Please Note: No additional discounts are available on ‘Emerging Company’ pricing.
Venue
Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA, 02199
Terms & Conditions
In the event that Kisaco Research postpones an event for any reason or changes the event format to ‘virtual event’, any in-person registrations for this event will be automatically transferred to the virtual registration package. The delegate will receive a credit note for the difference in ticket value from the fee paid. You may use this credit for another Kisaco Research event to be mutually agreed with Kisaco Research, which must occur within 12 months from the date of the event which the delegate had originally registered for.
Global Advisory Board
Ellen de Brabander
Robert Kelly
Author:
Jean-Luc Michel
After graduating from the University of Pharmacy of Lyon with a Doctorate and from EM Lyon Business School with an MBA, Jean-Luc Michel started his career by creating his own consultancy company. He joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1991 spending 10 years developing a solid expertise in consumer healthcare and nutrition. During this period, he held a variety of senior marketing and sales management positions in France at Monsanto (Searle) and at Johnson&Johnson / Merck & Co where he was an Executive Committee member of the French subsidiary.
In 2001, Jean-Luc joined Merial, a leader in the animal health industry, where he held some key senior roles, such as EMEA Marketing Director of the Companion Animal Global Enterprise; Head of Marketing EMEA; Executive Marketing Director (Pet Business) in the US; VP, Head of Pet Vet Business Unit; and in 2016 joined the Executive Committee of Merial as Head of Global Commercial Development.
After the acquisition of Merial by Boehringer Ingelheim, Jean-Luc was appointed Head of Global Companion Animal Strategic Business Unit and became a member of the Executive Committee of the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit.
Jean-Luc Michel
After graduating from the University of Pharmacy of Lyon with a Doctorate and from EM Lyon Business School with an MBA, Jean-Luc Michel started his career by creating his own consultancy company. He joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1991 spending 10 years developing a solid expertise in consumer healthcare and nutrition. During this period, he held a variety of senior marketing and sales management positions in France at Monsanto (Searle) and at Johnson&Johnson / Merck & Co where he was an Executive Committee member of the French subsidiary.
In 2001, Jean-Luc joined Merial, a leader in the animal health industry, where he held some key senior roles, such as EMEA Marketing Director of the Companion Animal Global Enterprise; Head of Marketing EMEA; Executive Marketing Director (Pet Business) in the US; VP, Head of Pet Vet Business Unit; and in 2016 joined the Executive Committee of Merial as Head of Global Commercial Development.
After the acquisition of Merial by Boehringer Ingelheim, Jean-Luc was appointed Head of Global Companion Animal Strategic Business Unit and became a member of the Executive Committee of the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit.
Kathy Turner
Alan Mackay
Dr. Rhodes has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine.
Dr. Rhodes was educated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (VMD) and Cornell University (PhD). She has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine. She has an extensive background in physiology, veterinary medicine, and molecular biology. As a senior research fellow at Merck Research Laboratories for 10 years, she led pre-clinical biology evaluation of several marketed human drugs. Dr. Rhodes practiced clinical veterinary medicine for five years, with experience in both companion and farm animal practice. She worked for Merial Ltd. as director of development projects, leading project teams developing novel compounds for a variety of indications and headed new technology assessment, leading the evaluation of licensing opportunities. In April 2001, she formed AlcheraBio, a consulting, marketing, communications and contract research firm specializing in developing new drugs for animals, working with biotechnology and animal health companies, with clients in the US, European Union, Canada and Australia. AlcheraBio was acquired in 2008 by Argenta, and in 2011, Dr. Rhodes accepted a position as CEO of Aratana Therapeutics, a company developing innovative new medicines for dogs and cats, and subsequently, when the company became public (PETX) served as its Chief Scientific Officer. During her tenure, development was completed on three new pet therapeutics: two new molecules with novel mechanisms of actions were approved by the FDA, and a third drug had FDA registration completed and was approved in August, 2016. She is currently retired and an independent consultant. She is a member of the Board of Directors of ImmuCell (NASDAQ: ICCC) and the Alliance for Contraception in Dogs and Cats, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Found Animals Foundation. She is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate Animal Science program at Rutgers University.
Linda Rhodes
Dr. Rhodes has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine.
Dr. Rhodes was educated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (VMD) and Cornell University (PhD). She has 28 years of accomplishments in human and animal drug discovery, development, biomedical research, and clinical veterinary medicine. She has an extensive background in physiology, veterinary medicine, and molecular biology. As a senior research fellow at Merck Research Laboratories for 10 years, she led pre-clinical biology evaluation of several marketed human drugs. Dr. Rhodes practiced clinical veterinary medicine for five years, with experience in both companion and farm animal practice. She worked for Merial Ltd. as director of development projects, leading project teams developing novel compounds for a variety of indications and headed new technology assessment, leading the evaluation of licensing opportunities. In April 2001, she formed AlcheraBio, a consulting, marketing, communications and contract research firm specializing in developing new drugs for animals, working with biotechnology and animal health companies, with clients in the US, European Union, Canada and Australia. AlcheraBio was acquired in 2008 by Argenta, and in 2011, Dr. Rhodes accepted a position as CEO of Aratana Therapeutics, a company developing innovative new medicines for dogs and cats, and subsequently, when the company became public (PETX) served as its Chief Scientific Officer. During her tenure, development was completed on three new pet therapeutics: two new molecules with novel mechanisms of actions were approved by the FDA, and a third drug had FDA registration completed and was approved in August, 2016. She is currently retired and an independent consultant. She is a member of the Board of Directors of ImmuCell (NASDAQ: ICCC) and the Alliance for Contraception in Dogs and Cats, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Found Animals Foundation. She is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate Animal Science program at Rutgers University.
Prior to this role, Mr. Aaron Schacht was the Vice President of Global Research and Development / Regulatory Affairs at Elanco Animal Healthheld. Before that, he held the role of Global Brand Development Leader – Pain in Lilly Biomedicines. He was the global leader for product development and commercialization activities for LY2951742 – Lilly’s novel CGRP neutralizing antibody – a new potential treatment for prevention of Migraine and Cluster Headache. In 2012, Schacht joined Lilly Biomedicines as Senior Advisor – Strategy & Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines. His responsibilities included oversight of Therapeutic Strategy development, R&D Portfolio Management, and Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines – Lilly’s largest business unit. Past roles included serving as Executive Director, Global External R&D, at Eli Lilly and Company, where he was responsible for implementation of strategies which aim to leverage novel approaches to external partnerships to augment Lilly’s access to pharmaceutical innovation as well as Executive Director of LRL (Lilly Research Labs) Strategy, Portfolio Management and Project Management where he was responsible for strategic planning, R&D portfolio and project management. Prior to these roles, he was Director, Innovation Center in the eLilly organization where he focused on the exploration, incubation and implementation of new business models and capabilities relevant to the strategic evolution of the pharmaceutical industry. In 2002, during a short leave from Lilly, Mr. Schacht was co-founder, President and CEO of Artesian Therapeutics, a Gaithersburg, MD cardiovascular drug discovery start-up. Mr. Schacht began his career at Lilly in 1990 as a medicinal chemist, and spent 5 years in the laboratory working to discover pharmaceuticals to treat cardiovascular disorders. Schacht studied Organic chemistry at the University of Illinois, receiving his Bachelors of Science degree in 1990.
Aaron Schacht
Prior to this role, Mr. Aaron Schacht was the Vice President of Global Research and Development / Regulatory Affairs at Elanco Animal Healthheld. Before that, he held the role of Global Brand Development Leader – Pain in Lilly Biomedicines. He was the global leader for product development and commercialization activities for LY2951742 – Lilly’s novel CGRP neutralizing antibody – a new potential treatment for prevention of Migraine and Cluster Headache. In 2012, Schacht joined Lilly Biomedicines as Senior Advisor – Strategy & Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines. His responsibilities included oversight of Therapeutic Strategy development, R&D Portfolio Management, and Business Development for Lilly BioMedicines – Lilly’s largest business unit. Past roles included serving as Executive Director, Global External R&D, at Eli Lilly and Company, where he was responsible for implementation of strategies which aim to leverage novel approaches to external partnerships to augment Lilly’s access to pharmaceutical innovation as well as Executive Director of LRL (Lilly Research Labs) Strategy, Portfolio Management and Project Management where he was responsible for strategic planning, R&D portfolio and project management. Prior to these roles, he was Director, Innovation Center in the eLilly organization where he focused on the exploration, incubation and implementation of new business models and capabilities relevant to the strategic evolution of the pharmaceutical industry. In 2002, during a short leave from Lilly, Mr. Schacht was co-founder, President and CEO of Artesian Therapeutics, a Gaithersburg, MD cardiovascular drug discovery start-up. Mr. Schacht began his career at Lilly in 1990 as a medicinal chemist, and spent 5 years in the laboratory working to discover pharmaceuticals to treat cardiovascular disorders. Schacht studied Organic chemistry at the University of Illinois, receiving his Bachelors of Science degree in 1990.
Thomas Zerzan
Sébastien Huron
Selection Committee
Bruce Truman
Pat Morand
Brett Wong
Stephen Lesser
Nicholas Hense
Sanjeev Anand
Lashonda Geffrard
Julia Stephanus is a 30 year veteran of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Currently Julia is President of Avviare, a consulting firm specializing in supporting veterinary focused start-ups.
Julia has been involved in the development and launch of 28 veterinary products. She has been a senior executive in two start-up pharmaceutical companies (Aratana Therapeutics and Summit VetPharm), and held key positions at multi-nationals including Pfizer (now Zoetis) and its legacy companies.
As Chief Commercial Officer of Aratana Julia provided the commercial leadership resulting in a successful IPO (NASDAQ:PETX), high-impact corporate branding, innovative go-to-market strategies for five therapeutics and the staffing of the inaugural commercial organization.
As founder and CEO of Summit VetPharm, Julia developed and launched a new line of companion animal parasiticides, grew the company to a cash flow positive position with 85 employees in five years and divested the company to Ceva Animal Health in 2010. A graduate of Indiana University, she has continued her executive training at Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago and the Wharton School of Business.
Julia Stephanus
Julia Stephanus is a 30 year veteran of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Currently Julia is President of Avviare, a consulting firm specializing in supporting veterinary focused start-ups.
Julia has been involved in the development and launch of 28 veterinary products. She has been a senior executive in two start-up pharmaceutical companies (Aratana Therapeutics and Summit VetPharm), and held key positions at multi-nationals including Pfizer (now Zoetis) and its legacy companies.
As Chief Commercial Officer of Aratana Julia provided the commercial leadership resulting in a successful IPO (NASDAQ:PETX), high-impact corporate branding, innovative go-to-market strategies for five therapeutics and the staffing of the inaugural commercial organization.
As founder and CEO of Summit VetPharm, Julia developed and launched a new line of companion animal parasiticides, grew the company to a cash flow positive position with 85 employees in five years and divested the company to Ceva Animal Health in 2010. A graduate of Indiana University, she has continued her executive training at Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago and the Wharton School of Business.
Become a partner
Kisaco Research provides the much-needed platform on which industry executives can network, connect and learn from each other as well as meet potential industry partners.
Far from the typical ‘meet-and-greet’ exhibition experience, you – as a sponsor or exhibitor – will be positioned as a partner of the event with a focus on the benefits of your product and brand, rather than just a name on an exhibition list.
With our extensive marketing experience and strategy, your partnership with Kisaco Research will grant you a sponsorship package that is an extension and enhancement of your current marketing and branding efforts. We value your ROI and will work with you directly on your specific goals and targets – that’s why we take special care in finding the most relevant end-users to attend, so that your financial and resource investment is smartly allocated.
Find out more by calling us at +44 (0)20 3696 2920, email Stephen Swarray at [email protected], Harrison Sharp at [email protected] or downloading our agenda and clicking the "Interested in Sponsorship" box.
About Kisaco Research
Kisaco Research produces, designs and hosts B2B industry conferences, exhibitions and communities – focused on a specialized selection of topic areas.
Meet industry peers that will help build a career-changing network for life.
Learn from the mistakes of your peers as much as their successes—ambitious industry stalwarts who are happy to share not just what has made them successful so far but also their plans for future proofing their companies.
Note down the inspired insight that will form the foundation for future strategies and roadmaps, both at our events and through our online communities.
Invest both in your company growth and your own personal development by signing up to one of our events and get started.
