Reshma Kewalramanu, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer and President, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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The Ginkgo Ferment logo in white

A free, annual conference celebrating the synthetic biology ecosystem

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

SoWa Power Station
550 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA 02118

REGISTER

Developer Talks  —  Product Demos  —  Performances  —  Cocktails  —  Panel Discussions  —  Developer Talks  —  Product Demos  —  Performances  —  Cocktails  —  Panel Discussions  —  Developer Talks  —  Product Demos  —  Performances  —  Cocktails  —  Panel Discussions  —  Developer Talks  —  Product Demos  —  Performances  —  Cocktails  —  Panel Discussions

RUN OF SHOW

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Agenda

7:00am
Doors open
Check-in, breakfast, networking



9:30am
Welcome Keynote



Morning Session
Topics include: 
• Designing Enzymes with AI
• Developer Lightning Talks
• Carbon × Climate Strategies



12:00pm
Lunch



Afternoon Session
Topics include: 
• Global Biosecurity
• Moonshots & Milestones



4:00pm
Special collaboration:



5:00pm
Party with our ecosystem!



7:00am
Check-in, Breakfast, Networking
Doors Open




9:30am
Welcome Keynote
Jason Kelly, PhD




9:50am
Platform Presentation
Enzyme Services
Emily Wrenbeck, PhD

Ginkgo's Head of Protein Engineering shares how the foundry makes it possible to generate the valuable data that drives enzyme discovery and optimization.




10:00am
Panel
AI Meets Bio: Designing Algorithms to Design Proteins to Develop Medicines
Brian Vandahl, PhD
Chris Sander, PhD
Joshua Dunn, PhD
Moderated by Claire L. Evans

Artificial intelligence models are learning to speak the language of proteins, changing the ways scientists ask questions about biology. In this panel, we’ll hear from experts who are building these AI models and leveraging them for innovation in pharma and other applications. They discuss how AI is fundamentally changing the way we approach science and how it translates into the world.




10:25am
Lightning Talks
Applications: Allonnia, Synlogic, Sumitomo
Nicole Richards
Analise Reeves, PhD
Satoshi Okamoto, PhD

There are as many applications of synthetic biology as there are cell developers dreaming up new possibilities. Hear from these developers using the Ginkgo platform to build sustainable, optimized, or entirely new classes of products.




10:45am
Break




11:15am
Platform Presentation
Microbe Services for Agriculture
Magalie Guilhabert, PhD

Ginkgo's Head of Agricultural Biologicals covers how innovators can address the challenges grower's face in today's world, leveraging Ginkgo's platform to discover new traits and optimize for performance and consistency.




11:25am
Panel
The Future of Plants: Innovation for Agriculture and Climate
Corey Huck
Ruth Wagner, PhD
Moderated by: Nadia Berenstein

What if there were a technology that could draw down carbon, manufacture durable materials, and feed the world? Traditional players in agriculture as well as innovative new startups are exploring creative approaches to plant and microbe engineering to address global challenges in climate and agriculture.




11:50am
Lightning Talks
Applications: Lygos, SaponiQx, Ayana Bio, Prokarium
Eric Steen, PhD
Chandresh Harjivan, PharmD, MPH
Frank Jaksch
Kristen Albright, PharmD

There are as many applications of synthetic biology as there are cell developers dreaming up new possibilities. Hear from these developers using the Ginkgo platform to build sustainable, optimized, or entirely new classes of products.




12:00pm
Lunch




1:30pm
Platform Presentation
Programming New Medicines: Mammalian Cell Engineering Services at Ginkgo
Shawdee Eshghi, PhD

Senior Director of Mammalian Engineering shares an overview of how Ginkgo's services can help those innovating new medicines address patient needs for greater efficacy, specificity, and access to emerging modalities.




1:50pm
Fireside Chat
Catalyzing Innovation in Health and Medicine
Renee Wegrzyn, PhD
In conversation with Michael Specter

Renee Wegrzyn, the inaugural Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), is on a mission to change how innovation happens in health and medicine. By bringing the innovation catalyst mindset from DARPA to biology, Renee shares how ARPA-H empowers innovators, embraces failures, and pushes the world of health and medicine to think bigger than ever before.




2:15pm
Lightning Talks
Applications: Persephone Biosciences, Microba, Optimvia, Arcaea
Stephanie Culler, PhD
Trent Munro, PhD
Keith Kleeman
Jasmina Aganovic

There are as many applications of synthetic biology as there are cell developers dreaming up new possibilities. Hear from these developers using the Ginkgo platform to build sustainable, optimized, or entirely new classes of products.




2:30pm
Break




3:15pm
Platform Presentation
Biosecurity
Matt McKnight

Ginkgo's General Manager for Biosecurity highlights progress towards building a global "radar system" for biological threats.




3:25pm
Panel
Leadership in the DNA Age: Biosecurity and the Bioeconomy
Megan Frisk, PhD
Michelle Rozo, PhD
Dr. Richard Hatchett
Moderated by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick

As demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, synthetic biology is an essential tool in building more resilient systems of public health that can monitor, detect, and respond to pathogen threats. What lessons have we learned from the pandemic, and what is the vision for a biosecurity infrastructure that serves the emerging bioeconomy and manages the risk and impact of infectious disease?




3:50pm
Fireside Chat
Bringing a New Modality to Scale with John Maraganore of Alnylam
John Maraganore, PhD
In conversation with Jennifer Wipf

Cell and gene therapy breakthroughs now offer promise to patients with intractable diseases. Patients need access to these novel approaches – but introducing new modalities is incredibly challenging to pharmaceutical companies due to technical, regulatory, and commercial risks. Alnylam founder John Maraganore navigated this complexity when bringing siRNA therapeutics from the lab to patients. In this fireside chat, John offers his insights to companies that are bringing new technologies to scale.




4:10pm
Special Collaboration
Grow x Pop-Up Magazine
Nadia Berenstein
Alexa Garcia
Claire L. Evans
Sudeep Agarwala, PhD
Presented by Grace Chuang and Quinn Berkman

Stories from Grow Magazine, adapted for the stage with music, animation, and performance.




5:00-7:00pm
Reception
Party with our ecosystem!




PROGRAM

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Speakers

More speakers announced each week.

Alexa Garcia
Editor, Grow Magazine
Learn more
Analise Reeves, PhD
Head of Synthetic Biology, Synlogic
Learn more
Brian Vandahl, PhD
Head of Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk
Learn more
Chandresh Harjivan, PharmD, MPH
COO, SaponiQx
Learn more
Chris Sander, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School and Director, cBio Center at Dana-Farber
Learn more
Claire L. Evans
Writer & Musician
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Corey Huck
Global Head Biologics, Syngenta
Learn more
Dr. Richard Hatchett
CEO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Learn more
Emily Wrenbeck, PhD
Head of Protein Engineering, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Eric Steen, PhD
CEO, Lygos
Learn more
Frank Jaksch
CEO, Ayana Bio
Learn more
Jasmina Aganovic
CEO, Arcaea
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Jason Kelly, PhD
CEO, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Jennifer Wipf
Head of Commercial Cell Engineering, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
John Maraganore, PhD
Former founding CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Learn more
Joshua Dunn, PhD
Head of Design, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Keith Kleeman
CEO, Optimvia
Learn more
Kristen Albright, PharmD
CEO, Prokarium
Learn more
Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick
Strategic Advisor, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Maddie Hall
CEO & Co-founder, Living Carbon
Learn more
Magalie Guilhabert, PhD
Head of Agriculture, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Matt McKnight
General Manager (Biosecurity), Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Megan Frisk, Phd
Senior Advisor and Biotechnology Policy Coordinator, Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, U.S. Department of State
Learn more
Michael Specter
Staff Writer, The New Yorker and Visiting Scholar, MIT Media Lab
Learn more
Michelle Rozo, PhD
Vice President of Technology, In-Q-Tel
Learn more
Nadia Berenstein
Food Writer & Historian
Learn more
Nicole Richards
CEO, Allonnia
Learn more
Renee Wegrzyn, PhD
Inaugural Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
Learn more
Ruth Wagner, PhD
Head of Data Science & Analytics, Bayer Crop Science
Learn more
Satoshi Okamoto, PhD
Chief Research Coordinator, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.
Learn more
Shawdee Eshghi, PhD
Senior Director, Mammalian Engineering, Ginkgo Bioworks
Learn more
Stephanie Culler, PhD
Co-founder and CEO, Persephone Biosciences
Learn more
Sudeep Agarwala, PhD
Yeast Geneticist & Writer
Learn more
Trent Munro, PhD
Senior VP of Therapeutics, Microba
Learn more

PROGRAM

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Speakers

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Tickets

Did we mention tickets are free? Because they are. A great deal if you ask us.

Ferment 2023 is now at capacity and registration is closed. Please join us on the livestream! Details in the FAQ section below.

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Covid-19 Safety Notes

We ask that all attendees be vaccinated against Covid-19 at least 14 days before entering the venue. We ask that all attendees test themselves within 48 hours of attending the event, and in the case of a positive result, do not attend the event. We also welcome attendees to wear masks to reduce the risk of exposure.

WHAT TO EXPECT

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About

Take a look at last year’s event!

A picture can’t beat the real thing, but enjoy the highlight reel and photos from Ferment 2022 while you wait for this year’s event to get here.

Questions? We've got you covered.

Don’t see what you need? Visit our contact page to reach out to the team.

CONTACT
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