Speaker Profile

Ph.D., Vice President Translational Sciences, UPMC Enterprises

Biography
Rob Lin, PhD, CFA, joined the UPMC Enterprises Translational Sciences team in 2017. Dr. Lin is also CEO of Avista Therapeutics, a UPMC incubated company focused on ophthalmology gene therapy products. He was the Founding CEO of BlueSphere Bio and is currently on the board of directors of BlueSphere Bio, Code Biotherapeutics, Avista Therapeutics, and VegaVect, Inc. Prior to working at UPMC, Dr. Lin led the finance and strategy team for the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His previous experiences also include stints at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (now Takeda Oncology) and Dean and Company as a strategy consultant. Dr. Lin earned a PhD in Genetics and an MMSc at Harvard University, as well as an MS in Chemical Engineering and a BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. He is a CFA Charterholder and previous Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).


 Session Abstract – PMWC 2023 Silicon Valley

Track 1 - January 26 9.00 A.M.-4.30 P.M.


Track Chair: Sharon Benzeno, Adaptive Biotechnologies

  • PMWC 2023 Luminary Award Ceremony
    Honoree: Bruce Levine, University of Pennsylvania
  • Advance and Optimize Cell Therapies in Oncology (PANEL)
    Chair: Sharon Benzeno, Adaptive Biotechnologies
    - Ira Mellman, Genenetch
    - Mark Selby, Walking Fish Therapeutics
    - Sneha Ramakrishna, Stanford
    - Loïc VINCENT, Affini-T Therapeutics
    - Nick Haining, Arsenal
    - Warner Biddle, Kite
  • Pioneering Cell Therapies in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders (PANEL)
    Chair: Carl June, UPenn
    - Lenny Dragone, Sonoma
    - James Chung, Kyverna
    - David Chang, Cabaletta
    - Cristina Musselli, Abata Therapeutics
  • Innovations in Cell Therapy Manufacturing (PANEL)
    Chair: Bruce Levine, University of Pennsylvania
    - Chris Holt, BMS
    - Heidi Hagen, Sonoma Bio
    - Rahul Singhvi, Resilience
    - Snehal Patel, Sana Biotechnology
  • Patentability of Immunotherapies - Latest Developments
    - Janet Xiao, Morrison & Foerster LLP
  • Investing in Gene-Modified Cell Therapies
    Chair: Karen Tkach Tuzman, BioCentury Inc.
    - Robert Lin, UPMC
    - Yvonne Yamanaka, venBio
    - Abraham Bassan, Samsara Capital
    - Brian Daniels, 5am Ventures
  • Leveraging Data Sets to Inform Future Drug Discovery and Development (PANEL)
    Chair: Jason Coloma, Maze Therapeutics
    - Peter DiLaura, Sonoma Bio
    - Nick Haining, Arsenal
    - Kwame Okrah, Parker Institute
    - Dan Kirouac, Notch Therapeutics