Dr. Panteli Theocharous is a seasoned leader with over 35-years of experience driving groundbreaking translational research, clinical development, and commercial strategy in the healthcare sector. With an established focus on Haematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Dr. Theocharous has led the development and market introduction of multiple transformative cancer therapies, contributing significantly to advancements in Patient care. His extensive career includes roles in several private and public Biotech companies, and in prominent organisations such as Janssen Oncology and PPD (now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific), where he was instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation, building high-performing global teams, and delivering impactful therapeutic solutions.

Trained as a Clinical Immunologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London, Dr. Theocharous specialised in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and cell and gene therapies, gaining early expertise in the translational applications of cutting-edge scientific research. His work extends across asset lifecycle management, from preclinical to post-approval stages, and he is adept at engaging with key regulatory authorities and global HTA bodies. This experience is complemented by his leadership within Patient Advocacy Group initiatives, fostering collaborations that ensure alignment with the needs of diverse Patient communities.

In senior executive roles, including his current position as Chief Therapeutics Officer at Garuda Therapeutics and previous CMO appointments, Dr. Theocharous has demonstrated a strategic approach to business growth and commercialisation. His efforts have driven more than $500M in partnership transaction value. His board-level expertise and collaboration with CEOs have added depth and credibility in interactions with investors, venture capital, and banking partners. A co-founder of a London-based Biotech, Dr. Theocharous has not only built this venture from the ground up but has consistently steered strategic development and commercialisation efforts in the rapidly evolving Biotech landscape.

Dr. Michael Salgaller leads the Technology Analysis and Marketing Unit (TAMU) within the NIH’s Technology Transfer Office, where he leverages over 20 years of business, scientific, and investment experience in various life science sectors to support technology development and commercialization. The TAMU serves in a business development role to foster licensing and collaborative activity between buy-side stakeholders and the NIH. Immediately prior to returning to NIH, Dr. Salgaller was a Vice President at The Conafay Group, a healthcare-focused government affairs firm in downtown DC, where he led alliance development activities centered on civilian health. He served as President of Biologics Consulting Group, a boutique firm providing professional services focused on regulatory affairs. Dr. Salgaller spent several years on the investment team of an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to the life sciences. He began his buy-side career as Vice President of R&D for Northwest Biotherapeutics, where he led the development of cancer cell therapies that achieved clinical benefit. He began his career as a Senior Scientist at the NIH. Despite many interesting positions, his favorite job was working a summer at the Pittsburgh Zoo feeding hot dogs to polar bears. He is the author of “Biotechnology Entrepreneurship,” and teaches an entrepreneurship class at NIH. He has written over 70 scientific/business articles and book chapters. Dr. Salgaller received his PhD in Pathology from The Ohio State University.

Delphine Nicolas is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, specializing in patient advocacy.

Throughout her career, she has held various senior positions in renowned pharmaceutical companies such as SERVIER, ABBVIE, JANSSEN (Johnson & Johnson), NOVARTIS, and ROCHE. Ms Nicolas has developed and implemented advocacy strategies and built impactful partnerships with global and local patient advocacy groups. Her work has contributed to shaping the optimal environment for patients living with severe conditions (immunology, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiovascular).

As Head of Global Patient Affairs in oncology at Servier, Delphine Nicolas is dedicated to improving patient pathways in collaboration with global Patient Coalitions in the field of rare cancers, digestive cancer, and onco-hematology. She holds a Master in Biochemistry from Pierre et Marie Curie University, a Master in Communications from Neoma Business School, and is finishing an Executive Master in Public Policy and HealthCare Management from Sciences Po Paris.

Meredith Wilson currently serves as a leader at Syneos Health, where she launched the Advocacy & Patient Affairs (APA) Team in 2022, introducing an innovative model to foster collaboration between the healthcare industry and advocacy communities. Her work focuses on integrating diverse patient perspectives into business objectives through community-partnered advocacy, engagement, and insights strategies. In 2024, she co-founded the Patient Powered Medicine Center of Excellence, uniting Syneos Health Clinical, Consulting, and Communications leaders to develop solutions that prioritize representative patient voices in healthcare initiatives. Additionally, Ms Wilson co-leads the Rare Disease Consortium, driving global collaboration to amplify the rare disease community's voice in clinical trials and commercial endeavors.

With a background in advocacy, patient engagement, health equity and healthcare communications, her expertise spans therapeutic areas such as rare disease, gene therapy, mental health, respiratory, neurology, and oncology. She has held leadership roles in both advocacy and industry, making her a key partner in aligning advocacy objectives to advance care and organizational growth. Ms Wilson's career reflects her commitment to innovation and inclusivity in healthcare.

Millie Shultz is currently serving as the Head of Site and Country Operations in the Americas for the Pfizer Oncology Division. She is responsible for overseeing site relationships and clinical study deliverables within the region.  

Prior to her time at Pfizer, she began her career working through various oncology focused roles in the CRO environment. She then moved to Millennium, where she worked her way through various leadership roles as part of Millennium and Takeda. She later joined Merck as an Oncology Indication Lead, leading Keytruda clinical trials focused on hematology and genitourinary cancers. From there she joined Seagen, leading a global clinical trial operations team and supporting a robust ADC-focused pipeline across multiple tumor types.

Jyoti Angal, PhD is the Director of Clinical Research at Avera Research Institute – a team dedicated to improving child health and development through community-based research.

Dr Angal provides compliance and regulatory expertise on all of the center’s studies, including several National Institutes of Health (NIH) research projects such as the:

• Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Study – examination of environmental influences on child health and development
• Safe Sleep Study – initiative to reduce infant mortality in American Indian communities
• Safe Passage Study – investigation of the association between prenatal alcohol exposure, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and stillbirth

As the director, Dr Angal enjoys managing large research projects and incorporating research ethics in order to improve research design. She’s also passionate about using research to improve maternal and child health in communities with health disparities.

Hi all, Please find my information below and headshot attached. Ellyn Getz Director, R&D Patient Partnerships CSL Ellyn.Getz@CSLbehring.com 774-559-3714 1020 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Ellyn Getz, MPH is the Director of R&D Patient Partnerships at CSL, where she gathers input into clinical development and operations from patients, care partners, health care professionals, and researchers, and she develops strategies to support patient engagement, study access, and participant appreciation. She works with study teams across CSL's Hematology and Vaccines therapeutic focus areas. Prior to CSL, Ellyn directed CISCRP's community outreach programs to increase clinical trial awareness and education. Ellyn holds an MPH from Harvard University and a BA from Brandeis University.

Liselotte Hyveled MSc. Pharm, MBA, is an executive R & D leader at Novo Nordisk, currently working as chief patient officer. She has worked in a number of different specialist and leadership roles within drug development all the way from research to market and across a variety of therapy areas. The assignments have also been international in both EU and US.
Ms Hyveled is recognized for her superior ability to development strategies and build units that deliver unprecedented results. She is visionary and always with a patient-centric focus.She has a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and has initiated and lead programs in Novo Nordisk to include people with physical disabilities or neurodiverse people into the workspace. In her spare time, she enjoys nature, yoga, reading and cooking.

Aaron J. Horowitz is the founder and CEO of Empath Labs, a pediatric patient experience lab dedicated to improving outcomes through empathy-driven design. Inspired by his own experience with human growth hormone deficiency, Aaron has created tools like Clinical Companions for pediatric clinical research, Rufus the Bear for children with type 1 diabetes, and My Special Aflac Duck, a robotic companion for children with cancer and sickle cell disease.

Used by over 165,000 children worldwide, these innovations help alleviate anxiety, provide comfort, and improve adherence to medical treatments. Aaron’s work has earned accolades such as the DIA Outstanding Contribution to Health Award (2024), two TIME Best Invention of the Year awards, and recognition by the White House as one of 50 honored makers. Prior to Empath Labs, Aaron founded Design for America, a nationwide non-profit that empowers college students with design thinking skills to create social impact innovations. He holds a degree in Mechatronics and User Interaction Design from Northwestern University.

Andrea Ferris came to LUNGevity through the merger with Protect Your Lungs, an organization she and her family started to fund lung cancer research following her mother’s death from lung cancer in 2008.Before the merger, Ms Ferris founded and built Protect Your Lungs, an organization dedicated to funding research into the early detection of lung cancer. Ms Ferriswas instrumental in building PYL’s Scientific Advisory Board and establishing its funding process, both of which followed her to the new LUNGevity organization.

In her for-profit career, Ms Ferris has a wealth of management experience. Ms Ferris was the Vice President of Strategy and Growth of Decision Lens, Inc. a company she helped launch in January 2005. Prior to joining Decision Lens, Andrea held a variety of management positions at Johnson & Johnson, including Director of Investor Relations, Manager Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, and Plant Controller. She also spent several years at McNeil Consumer Products, a J&J subsidiary, in marketing and mergers & acquisitions. Prior to her time at J&J, Andrea worked for Lehman Brothers and Coopers & Lybrand in New York City in both Mergers and Acquisitions and as a CPA.

Ms Ferris received her BS in Economics from Wharton with concentrations in Accounting, Decision Sciences, and Finance. She received her MBA from Wharton with concentrations in Finance and Latin American Studies. She served on Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center National Committee of Performing Arts and on the Board of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) of Metro DC. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for DC Metro Boys and Girls Club and has worked with the Ronald McDonald House and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Ulrich Neumann, MBA, MSc, MA, BSc, BA, FRSA, is a leader in the Scientific Affairs group at Johnson & Johnson, where he oversees research projects and academic collaborations on health policy and methods, including value assessment, insurance design and innovation/ R&D strategies. Previously, Ulrich held leadership roles at the drug development platform Certara, and Analytica Laser, a global HEOR consultancy. He also founded Pharmvivo, a firm specializing in commercial due diligence, and served as U.S. Managing Director for a pharmaceutical market insights and networking firm now part of Thomson Reuters. As a business leader, Ulrich has developed value and evidence generation strategies across a dozen therapeutic areas. His scientific work has been presented at conferences such as AMCP and ISPOR and published in leading journals, including Nature Drug Discovery and Journal of Medical Economics. A recognized expert on drug pricing, access, and innovation policy, he has authored numerous articles, whitepapers, and reports on topics such as R&D economics, payer management, risk-based contracting, and financing for cell and gene therapies. He frequently speaks at industry conferences and participates in panel discussions on these issues. Trained in public and business administration, Ulrich holds graduate degrees from Imperial College London (MBA), the London School of Economics (MSc), and the University of Southern California Annenberg School (MA), as well as technical certificates from MIT, the Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia University.