2024, April 12th | 8:30 AM
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Gedimino av. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania
The Summit “Gene editing – from Research to Industry” aims to bring influential Research and Industry players together to share their knowledge and experience with a goal to inspire collaboration and drive advancements in the field of gene editing. Diverse speakers, covering a wide range of gene editing application fields, from fundamental research and tool development to therapeutic, diagnostic, and agri-tech industries, will share their experiences and future perspectives, providing a comprehensive view on what’s next in this exciting field.
2024, April 12th | 8:30 AM
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Gedimino av. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania
Count Every Second Until The Event
8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Welcome coffee
9:00 – 9:10 Opening speech (Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys & Prof. Jūras Banys)
9:10 – 9:40 Tomas Urbaitis PhD, Senior Scientist at Caszyme
9:40 – 10:10 Tautvydas Karvelis PhD, Senior Scientist at Vilnius University, Life Sciences Center
10:10– 10:40 Tom Evans PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs
10:40 – 11:10 Avencia Sanchez Mejias PhD, CEO & Co-Founder at Integra Therapeutics
11:10 – 11:40 Mathias Muller PhD, Senior Director for External Innovations at Corteva Agrisciences
11:40 – 12:00 Questions and conference closing
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
8:30 – 9:00
Registration & Welcome coffee
9:00 – 9:10
Opening speech
(Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys &
Prof. Jūras Banys)
9:10 – 9:40
Tomas Urbaitis PhD,
Senior Scientist at Caszyme
9:40 – 10:10
Tautvydas Karvelis PhD,
Senior Scientist at Vilnius University,
Life Sciences Center
10:10 – 10:40
Tom Evans PhD,
Chief Scientific Officer at
New England Biolabs
10:40 – 11:10
Avencia Sanchez Mejias PhD,
CEO & Co-Founder at
Integra Therapeutics
11:10 – 11:40
Mathias Muller PhD,
Senior Director for
External Innovations at
Corteva Agrisciences
11:40 – 12:00
Questions and
conference closing
12:00 – 13:00
Lunch
Tomas Urbaitis PhD.
Senior Scientist at Caszyme
Tomas Urbaitis PhD. is a Senior Scientist at Caszyme, a biotech company specializing in CRISPR-Cas technology development, applications & novel molecular tools based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Tomas received his PhD in Biochemistry from Vilnius University Insititute of Biotechnology.
At Caszyme, Tomas Urbaitis leads a team involved in the biochemical characterization of CRISPR-Cas systems and the development of these systems via protein and RNA engineering.
Tautvydas Karvelis PhD.
Senior Scientist at Vilnius university, Life Sciences Center
Senior Scientist at Vilnius university,
Life Sciences Center
Tautvydas Karvelis studied Biochemistry at Vilnius University and got his PhD in 2016. Since 2019, he has been a senior scientist at the Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center at Vilnius University. His research focuses on the discovery, characterization and engineering of nucleases and other effectors that can be adapted for genome editing. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to the field in the characterization of Cas9, Cas12, and transposon-associated TnpB effectors, and has authored 20 publications and numerous patent applications. His work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lithuanian Science Prize (with coauthors) in 2016 and the Vilnius University Rector’s Prize in 2023.
Tom Evans PhD.
Executive Director of Research at
New England Biolabs
Executive Director of Research at
New England Biolabs
Tom joined New England Biolabs in 1997 as a postdoc, after completing his Ph.D. work at the University of Minnesota. As Executive Director of Research, Tom maintains an academically modeled department whose primary focus is to generate publication-worthy findings. These findings impact and augment the development of NEB reagents and workflows for molecular biology applications. In this role, he encourages both internal and external research collaborations, and works closely with NEB production, marketing, business development and applications and product development leaders to institute plans for new and existing products. Tom’s research currently focuses on enzymes and technologies involved in DNA repair and replication, with an emphasis on using these insights to create better tools and reagents for molecular biology and nucleic acid reading and writing workflows.
Avencia Sánchez-Mejías PhD.
CEO & Co-Founder of Integra Therapeutics
CEO & Co-Founder of Integra Therapeutics
Avencia Sánchez-Mejías is CEO and co-Founder of Integra Therapeutics, a global leader in creating next generation gene writing tools to make advanced therapies safer and more effective.
Avencia has experience in business management and transferring technology of excellence from academia to industry to be turned into therapeutic solutions for patients. Since 2020, Avencia has led Integra Therapeutics with a talented team of 20 professionals and scientists, achieving fast, efficient early-stage growth and positioning the company with key sector stakeholders. Over this time, Integra Therapeutics has secured €8.5 million in public and private investment and has developed its FiCAT gene writing platform with positive ex vivo and in vivo preclinical results, moving towards the regulatory phase.
She also has a strong scientific background in clinical genetics, molecular oncology and synthetic biology at research centers tied to university hospitals in several countries, including Spain, the United States and Singapore. Before founding Integra Therapeutics in 2018, Avencia was a senior researcher in the Translational Synthetic Biology Lab at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, led by Dr. Marc Güell. Earlier in her career, she worked as a postdoc researcher at the National University of Singapore (2014-2018) and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (2010-2014), and as a PhD candidate at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (2006-2010).
Avencia is committed to helping develop female talent and encouraging coming generations to go into STEM fields. In 2021, she was chosen to take part in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program promoted by Foment del Treball and the US Consulate in Barcelona. In 2022, she received Women and Leadership Award by Deusto Business School, Cinco Días and Banco Santander.
Mathias Muller PhD.
Senior Director for External Innovations
at Corteva Agrisciences
Senior Director for External Innovations
at Corteva Agrisciences
In the capacity of External Innovation Sr. Director at Corteva Agriscience, I have the privilege to lead technology acquisitions and investments in startup companies that align with Corteva’s strategic priorities. I have a passion for collaboration tactics which allow us to deliver industry-leading traits in must-win battlegrounds.
Prior to this role, I led Corteva’s Biotechnology Strategy function; established and developed Corteva’s Open Innovation platform and the company’s CRISPR licensing strategies. I held leadership positions in science and business at DuPont, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Verdia and Maxygen. My education comprises a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Lausanne, and an MBA from the California State University at Hayward.
