Inaugural symposium connects UC Davis scientists with biotech leaders

More than 100 students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty members and biotechnology leaders gathered April 3 for the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology’s inaugural symposium, Breaking Boundaries — From Discovery to Intervention, marking a successful first step in building deeper connections between academic research and industry innovation at UC Davis.
 
Held at the Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility on the UC Davis campus, the daylong event brought together thought leaders from academia and the biotechnology sector to explore how bench discoveries can more effectively translate into real-world interventions. Attendees described the symposium as energetic, engaging and rich with opportunities for meaningful conversation and collaboration.

The symposium was organized and sponsored by the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, with support from the MIND Institute, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Women in Medicine and Health Sciences, California National Primate Research Center, and the UC Davis School of Medicine Graduate Groups.
 
“This event delivered exactly what we hoped for — open dialogue, practical insight and new connections between trainees, faculty and industry leaders,” Dr. Sanchita Bhatnagar, an Associate Professor in the MMI department, said. “It created space to think beyond traditional boundaries and to imagine new pathways for translating science into impact.”
 
The program opened with a keynote address by Kathrin Meyer, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer of Neela Therapeutics Inc. Meyer shared her perspective on the journey from basic scientific discovery to gene therapies for rare diseases affecting children, drawing on her experience founding and leading a therapeutics company. Her talk highlighted the companies' collaboration with Dr. Bhatnagar's laboratory and set the stage for the afternoon’s broader discussion about career pathways, partnerships and translational science.

Following the keynote, participants gathered for lunch and informal networking before returning to the auditorium for a panel discussion titled Biotech Boundaries — Accelerating Careers Beyond the Lab: A Forum for UC Davis Innovators. The discussion was designed to support graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early-career scientists as they consider a wide range of professional opportunities both within and outside academia.
 
Panelists represented diverse roles across biotechnology, research leadership, and scientific operations. Speakers included Paul Carter, Ph.D., a Genentech Fellow in the Department of Antibody Engineering at Genentech Inc.; Satya Dandekar, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology; Joe Lewcock, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and head of discovery at Denali Therapeutics; Francesca Barone, Ph.D., site director at Altasciences; Sandra Reynoso, Ph.D., MBA, chief operating officer at Paramag Inc. and scientific director at PBD Laboratories; Brandon Zipp, Ph.D., CEO, Placer Biosciences; and Meyer.
 
Panelists shared candid insights about career decision-making, skill development, leadership and collaboration, while encouraging attendees to remain open to unconventional paths. The conversation emphasized mentorship, adaptability, and the value of building relationships across sectors.
 
The symposium concluded with a reception in the GBSF lobby, giving attendees additional time to connect one-on-one and continue conversations sparked earlier in the day. Dr. Bhatnagar said the strong turnout and enthusiastic participation underscore interest across campus in creating more opportunities for engagement between academia and industry.

Plans are already underway to build on the momentum of the inaugural event. Organizers hope the symposium will become a recurring forum that supports innovation, career development and interdisciplinary collaboration for the broader UC Davis community.