TEXGHS @ SXSW 2021 Global Health Security Demo Day - EVENT OVERVIEW March 17th, 8:30am-5pm CST
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TEXGHS @ SXSW 2021
Global Health Security Demo Day
EVENT
OVERVIEW
March 17th, 8:30am-5pm CST
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEY INFORMATION Pg. 3
ORGANIZING PARTNERS & SPONSORS Pg. 5
SCHEDULE Pg. 9
SPEAKER BIOS Pg. 12
COMPANY DESCRIPTIONS Pg. 34
PROMOTION PACKAGE Pg. 39
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE Pg. 42
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Pg. 44
3 KEY INFORMATION TEXGHS @ SXSW 2021 TEXGHS @ SXSW Demo Day is an official event of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2021 virtual conference alongside TEXGHS participation in the SXSW Creative Industries Exhibition. TEXGHS consortium partners will be available throughout the SXSW Creative Industries Exhibition in parallel with the GHS Innovation Week programming. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texghs-sxsw-2021-global-health-security-demo- day-tickets-141484488915 Purpose: The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) is organizing the inaugural TEXGHS @ SXSW Health Security Demo Day as an official event of the virtual South by Southwest (SXSW) 2021 conference. The event will highlight market ready technologies that are impacting our ability to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to pandemic infectious disease threats. Companies will also highlight innovations focused on community resiliency and recovery from COVID-19 and future health security challenges. Date and Time: March 17, 2021, 08:30-17:00 CDT (GMT-5) Event Format: A series of 60-minute demo sessions organized around specific health security challenges. Each session will include an opening panel followed by six-minute pre-recorded video presentations by companies describing their innovation or startup. A group of expert coaches will be available prior to the event to support participants in crafting their presentations. 30-minute interactive sessions between presenters and participants will follow each session. Sponsorship: Event sponsorship is available at different levels. Please visit the Sponsorship section of this document on page 41 to learn more. Platform: Swapcard virtual event Expected Attendance: 500+ speakers and attendees, including SXSW badge holders Speakers: high level government officials, global health security innovators, public health policy thought leaders, international organizations, philanthropists, venture capitalists, startup founders and CEOs, prominent scientific researchers, technology commercialization experts, academic thought leaders, and healthcare professionals Attendees: All those working at the intersection of technology and health security; entrepreneurs, technologists, startups, funders, NGOs, technology investors, scientists, government representatives, technicians, healthcare professionals, students, international organization representatives
4 What is Global Health Security? The Sydney Statement on Global Health Security states that “Global health security is a state of freedom from the scourge of infectious disease, irrespective of origin or source. It is achieved through the policies, programmes, and activities taken to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from biological threats… These threats know no borders and have global consequences requiring more effective collective action.” Background The COVID-19 pandemic has unequivocally demonstrated the extraordinary negative impact of pandemic infectious disease on humanity and vividly illustrates the need for a whole-of- society approach to fighting COVID-19 while preventing the next deadly outbreak. The technology innovation ecosystem response to COVID-19 has been unparalleled, as a combination of mature companies, startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers exploring commercialization have leveraged technology to support the public health leaders and health security experts confronting COVID-19. Public private partnerships focused on COVID-19 have led to an unprecedented pace of health security innovation in vaccine development, diagnostics, therapeutics, and the many supportive technologies that enable efforts to prevent and respond to deadly infectious disease outbreaks. The TEXGHS @ SXSW2021 Demo Day will provide a forum to highlight global innovators and innovation ecosystem partners leading the fight against pandemics.
5 Organizing Partners & Sponsors Lead Organizer Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) is a consortium between academia, public sector, and private sector partners to coordinate efforts to support companies working towards pandemic preparedness and response in Texas. Organized by the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin, TEXGHS is leading the creation and long-term growth of a health security innovation ecosystem that supports innovators and innovations fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics. Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is the deep technology incubator of The University of Texas at Austin, working with university and community entrepreneurs to commercialize their breakthrough innovations. For over 30 years, ATI has used a customized approach to support entrepreneurs addressing the world’s most pressing problems by connecting startups with the expertise, relationships, and funding sources they need to succeed in the marketplace. ATI is home to a number of specialized incubators which include Circular Economy, Energy, Food & Agtech, Healthcare, Mobility, and Water
6 Partner Organizations Australian Trade and Investment Commission The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s international trade promotion and investment attraction agency. Austrade generates market information and insights, promotes Australian capability, and facilitates connections through an extensive global network. Consulate General of Denmark in Houston The Danish Foreign Service comprises the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in Copenhagen and a global network abroad of Embassies, Consulate Generals and Trade Commissions, including the Consulate General of Denmark in Houston Texas. Denmark is home to one of the most innovative and competitive health and life science hubs in the world. As the industry from Denmark looks to establish international partnerships, our mission at the Consulate is to assist these companies in their growth and execution strategy in the US and Canada creating opportunities for global knowledge sharing and jobs.
7 Consulate General of Norway in Houston The Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Houston promotes political, economic, commercial, scientific and cultural ties between Norway and the consular district of ten southern and midwestern states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. A priority is promoting business opportunities and partnerships in areas of climate and energy, the maritime sector, smart cities, mobility, health tech, research and innovation. The Consulate General hosts regular networking events at Norway House. Temple University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) ENRICH is the European Network of Research and Innovation Centers and Hubs. ENRICH’s mission in the USA is to provide collaboration and commercialization support services to European researchers and innovators in the USA, while facilitating their access to university centric soft-landing ecosystems, including US investors, to maximize their chances of success in the United States.
8 Sponsors GOLD Consulate General of Norway in Houston The Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Houston promotes political, economic, commercial, scientific and cultural ties between Norway and the consular district of ten southern and midwestern states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. A priority is promoting business opportunities and partnerships in areas of climate and energy, the maritime sector, smart cities, mobility, health tech, research and innovation. The Consulate General hosts regular networking events at Norway House. PandemicTech (Austin, Texas, USA) PandemicTech is an Austin-based technology incubator that supports health security innovators fighting pandemic infectious disease. Launched in 2016, PandemicTech supports entrepreneurial solutions to health security challenges through its unique international innovation ecosystem dedicated to fighting pandemic infectious disease with a global network of prominent partners in the financial, academic, business, and innovation sectors.
9
Schedule
All Times US Central Daylight Time (GMT-5)
Confirmed Keynote Speakers:
• The Honorable Dan Tehan, MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment for
Australia
• The Honorable Bent Høie, Minister of Health and Care Services for Norway
Confirmed Opening Remarks:
• Jakob Skaarup Nielsen, CEO, Healthcare DENMARK
• Mary Kavanagh, Ph.D., Minister-Counselor, Research & Innovation, Delegation of the
European Union to the USA
• Rebecca Katz, Ph.D., MPH, Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health
Science and Security, Georgetown University Medical Center
• Texas State Senator José Menéndez, District 26
(8:30-9:30) The Aftermath of COVID-19: The Hospital of the Future & Technologies for
Frontline Workers
Moderator: Ruben Rathnasingham, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Health Product Innovation,
Associate Professor in Medical Education, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at
Austin
Panelists:
1) Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, RN, Ph.D., President, The Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNO)
2) Brian Holch Kristensen, Chief Innovation Officer, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital
Companies:
• Australia: M3DICINE
• Norway: Decon-X
• Denmark: Cerebriu
• TEXGHS: Elemeno Health
• TEXGHS: HealthClicks
(9:30 - 10:00) TEXGHS @ SXSW Demo Day Introduction
(10:00 - 10:30) Pre-recorded Keynote Greetings from Country & State Officials
Keynote Greetings:
The Honorable Dan Tehan, MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment for Australia
The Honorable Bent Høie, Minister of Health and Care Services for Norway
10
Nordic Proof Video
Opening remarks from:
Jakob Skaarup Nielsen, CEO, Healthcare DENMARK
Mary Kavanagh, PhD, Minister-Counselor, Research & Innovation, Delegation of the European
Union to the USA
Rebecca Katz, PhD, MPH, Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health Science and
Security, Georgetown University Medical Center
Texas State Senator José Menéndez, District 26
(10:30-11:30) Beyond the Hospital: Telehealth and Remote Patient Care Monitoring
Moderator: Lisa McDonald, MD, MSTC, Director of Healthcare, Austin Technology Incubator,
The University of Texas at Austin
Panelists:
1) Martin Vesterby, MD, Ph.D., Health Tech Adoption Partner, Health Tech Hub Copenhagen
2.) Lena Nymo Helli, CEO, Norway Health Tech
Companies:
• Denmark: Miiskin
• Denmark: Visikon
• Norway: Dignio
• Norway: EpiGuard
• TEXGHS: HighNote
(11:30- 12:00) Networking on Swapcard Platform
(12:00-13:00) The Race to a Vaccine: From Bench to Biceps and Beyond
Moderator: Janet C. Walkow, Ph.D., Executive Director & Chief Technology Officer, Drug
Dynamics Institute, Clinical Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, The
University of Texas at Austin
Panelists:
1.) Trent Munro, Ph.D., Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
2.) Ketil Widerberg, CEO, Oslo Cancer Cluster
Companies:
• Australia: Vaxxas
• Denmark: Cure GPS11
• Norway: Genetic Analysis
• TEXGHS: Epistemix
• TEXGHS: Zeteo Biomedical
(13:00-14:00) Mental Health & Community Resiliency
Moderator: Lisa Svabek Sullivan, President, INFUSE Corporation, Executive Director, Texas
Suicide Prevention Collaborative
Panelists:
1.) Ann Hartry, Ph.D., Vice President & Deputy Head Global Value Evidence, Lundbeck
Pharmaceuticals
2.) Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., MD, MPH, Executive Director, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
Companies:
• Australia: TALi
• Denmark: Howdy
• Norway: Norse Feedback
• Norway: SuperEgo
• Norway: Tackl
(14:00-14:30) Pre-recorded Keynote Greetings from Country & State Officials (replay)
(14:30-15:30) Diagnostics & Therapeutics
Moderator: Eric Olson, Founder, Chairman and COO, Babson Diagnostics
Panelists:
1.) Sean Parsons, Founder, MBBS, CEO and Managing Director, Ellume
2.) Hanne Mette Dyrlie Kristensen, CEO, The Life Science Cluster
Companies:
• Australia: 4D Medical
• Australia: Microbio
• Australia: SpeedDx
• Norway: Respinor
• TEXGHS: Macromoltek
(15:30-15:45) TEXGHS @ SXSW Demo Day Closing Remarks
(15:45-17:00) Continued roundtable discussions and networking and event exhibitions12
Keynotes
The Honorable Dan Tehan, MP
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment for Australia
The Honorable Dan Tehan, MP is the Member for Wannon in Victoria. He is Minister for Trade,
Tourism and Investment and was sworn in on 22 December 2020.
Mr. Tehan served as Minister for Education from 28 August 2018. Prior to this, he was the
Minister for Social Services, and preceding this, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for
Defence Personnel, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security and Minister
Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac.
Mr. Tehan was elected to Federal Parliament in 2010 and has held positions including as the
Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Co-Chair of the
Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health, and Chair of the Coalition Friends of Tourism.
Prior to entering Parliament, Mr. Tehan worked in agriculture in Australia and overseas. He
worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where he held various roles, including
as a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in Mexico. Mr. Tehan also worked at senior levels of
the Howard Government, and as the Director of Trade Policy and International Affairs at the
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Tehan has Masters Degrees in International Relations and Foreign Affairs and Trade.13
The Honorable Bent Høie, Minister of Health
and Care Services Norway
The Minister of Health, the Honorable Bent Høie, is responsible for government policy related
to the delivery of health care services to the population - hospitals, municipal health care
services, psychiatric health and drug addiction, and pharmaceutical policies. Mr. Høie
represents the Conservative Party and has been Minister of Health since 2013. Prior to this he
served eight years as a Member of the Storting (Parliament), the last four of which he chaired
the Parliamentary Health Committee. In March 2016, Mr. Høie was appointed by United
Nations Secretary-General to the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and
Economic Growth. He was also a representative in Bloomberg Task Force on Fiscal Policy for
Health in 2018.14
Opening Remarks
Jakob Skaarup Nielsen, CEO, Healthcare
DENMARK
Jakob Skaarup Nielsen is the CEO for Healthcare DENMARK, a public-private partnership
which promotes innovative Danish healthcare and life science solutions internationally.
Healthcare DENMARK represents the Danish healthcare and life science sector at conferences
abroad and hosts a large number of physical and virtual delegation visits to Denmark for
international decision-makers, healthcare professionals and the media.
Mr. Nielsen has a broad international experience from leadership positions with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Denmark and has served at missions in US, China, Japan, Singapore and the
Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU.
Born in 1970, Mr. Nielsen holds a Master degree in Economics, Business Administration and
Commercial Law from Aarhus University, School of Business and Social Sciences.15
Rebecca Katz, Ph.D., MPH, Professor and
Director of the Center for Global Health Science
and Security, Georgetown University Medical
Center
Dr. Rebecca Katz is a Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health Science and
Security at Georgetown University Medical Center. She teaches courses on global health
diplomacy, global health security, and emerging infectious diseases in the School of Foreign
Service. Prior to coming to Georgetown in 2016, she spent ten years at The George
Washington University as faculty in the Milken Institute School of Public Health. Since 2007,
much of her work has been on the domestic and global implementation of the International
Health Regulations as well as global governance of public health emergencies. She has
authored over 80 peer reviewed manuscripts, and three books in addition to numerous op eds,
blogs, white papers and book chapters.
From 2004 to 2019, Dr. Katz was a consultant to the Department of State, working on issues
related to the Biological Weapons Convention, pandemic influenza and disease surveillance.
She rejoined the Department of State in January 2020 as a senior advisor on the global COVID-
19 response and global health security.
Dr. Katz received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, an M.P.H. from Yale
University, and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.16
Mary Kavanagh, Ph.D., Minister-Counselor, Research
& Innovation, Delegation of the European Union to
the USA
Dr. Mary Kavanagh is the Minister-Counselor for Research and Innovation at the European
Union's Delegation to the United States of America in Washington DC. Her role involves raising
awareness of opportunities for EU-US cooperation and exchange in research and innovation
and facilitating that cooperation at both government agency and stakeholder levels. She also
endeavors to keep her Headquarters abreast of research and innovation policy developments
in the USA.
Prior to her current posting in the U.S., she worked in the International Cooperation
Directorate of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Union
headquarters in Brussels. She was the Deputy Head and Senior Expert in the Unit which deals
with cooperation with North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Kavanagh has a Ph.D. in Plant Science from University College Cork, Ireland and carried out
post-doctoral research in France and Switzerland before swapping the laboratory for science
policy.17
Texas State Senator José Menéndez,
District 26
Senator José Menéndez represents District 26 in the Texas Senate. Since elected as a state
legislator, Senator Menéndez has passed into law over 400 bills benefiting children, seniors,
veterans, and Texas families. He is also a strong advocate for job growth, community, and
business development.
Senator José Menéndez continues to work with every organization and entity necessary to
ensure the safety, health, and protection of the people of Texas. Through his advocacy for
those he represents in District 26, Menéndez focuses on smart solutions while emphasizing the
needs of every person in our state. Moreover, he remains committed to taking a deliberate yet
common sense approach when addressing the ideas and legislative efforts benefitting all
Texans.
Senator Menéndez began his public service career in 1997 when elected to the San Antonio
City Council District 6 office, representing the city’s West Side. He was then elected as State
Representative for House District 124 in 2000 and has served as State Senator since 2015.
Menéndez currently serves as Chairman of the Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus.
Senator Menéndez is married to his best friend Cehlia Newman-Menéndez. They have three
children, Dominic, Victoria, and Austin. As a father, husband and lifelong Texan, Senator
Menéndez is extremely grateful to be able to serve the people of District 26 and the state of
Texas.18
Panelists
Ann Hartry, Ph.D., Vice President & Deputy Head Global
Value Evidence, Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Ann Hartry has almost 20 years of experience in Medical Affairs and Health Economics and
Outcomes Research (HEOR) with a focus in neurology and psychiatry. She joined Lundbeck
in 2014 and is currently the Vice President & Deputy Head Global Value Evidence, leading the
development and execution of a strategic approach to evidence generation for the full
portfolio of products.
Dr. Hartry has extensive experience as a member of both Medical Affairs and HEOR field
teams. Her experience convinced her of the deep need to develop impactful and rigorous
evidence (real world and randomized) to support engagement with external experts of all types
to ensure that patients receive the best treatment possible.
Dr. Hartry holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience. Prior to joining industry, her research
focused on studies of depression and attentional mechanisms utilizing dense sensor array EEG.
She is married, with two kids in college, and is happiest when exploring the less-traveled
backroads of the world.19
Lena Nymo Helli, CEO, Norway Health Tech
Lena Nymo Helli is a pharmacist with more than 25 years experience from international
pharmaceutical industry. She has worked in many phases of the product life cycle from R&D to
sales and marketing and market access. She has had roles as medical director, commercial
director and recently General Manager for AbbVie in Norway. She has been working in
Scandinavia and Germany where she was the commercial head for much of the portfolio. She
has worked in many European and International teams, and she has broad leadership
experience both from different functions and countries. In her role as General Manager, Ms.
Helli worked with many external stakeholders, both public and private, on how to facilitate
building Health Industry.
After a period as Venture partner at Hadean Venture, Ms. Helli joined Aleap as Business advisor
for Health start-ups and Head of the Corporate Partner Program, aiming to improve the
cooperation between industry, public sector, start-ups and academia.
She is currently chair of the board at our most northern hospital trust Finnmarkssykehuset HF
and at Farmastat AS. And she has been a board member of the American Chamber of
Commerce and the Pharma Industry Association in Norway, LMI.
Ms. Helli holds a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Oslo, Norway and
Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, as well as Business Economy from the
Norwegian Business School (BI).20
Brian Holch Kristensen, Chief Innovation
Officer, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg
Hospital
Brian Holch Kristensen was previously Chief Physicist and leading innovation within
personalized radiotherapy with the introduction of the MR-linac and AI driven radiotherapy
with e.g. the Ethos system from Varian Medical Systems.
Now, in a more general position as CIO for an entire hospital, Mr. Kristensen is working with
many themes within innovations, ranging from devices, living labs for new technology, AI
governance and platforms for analysis of encrypted and anonymized data, personal protective
equipment (PPE) to mapping and exploring the effects of vitamin K.
Also in very beautiful and historic settings, a new ECU center (900.000 square feet and 535
beds in single patient rooms) is being built on campus leading to new and innovative ways of
smart working around the patient with help of e.g. wireless devices, digitization and patient
involvement trough handheld devices.21
Hanne Mette Dyrlie Kristensen, CEO, The
Life Science Cluster
Hanne Mette D. Kristensen is CEO of The Life Science Cluster. She has a solid background both
as entrepreneur and biotech-CEO; she also has broad experience from clusters, both as an
active member, and as member of the Board of Directors of Oslo Cancer Cluster and Norway
Health Tech. She has also worked on the incubator / investor side of the industry and has a
broad international network.
Ms. Kristensen came to The Life Science Cluster from Innovation Norway where she was
special advisor for life science / health in the greater Oslo region and Invest in Norway. Through
the years in Innovation Norway, she has worked with financing, companies and clusters, in
addition to national and international branding of the industry for collaboration partners and
investors. She has e.g., been responsible for a joint Nordic pavilion and collaboration at the BIO
International Convention, international Global Growth- and business networks within health,
and for the coordination of strategic positioning of Norwegian health industry that was
launched in 2019.
She has a master in biochemistry from the University of Oslo, and a Master of Technology
Management (MTM) from MIT/NHH/NTNU.22
Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, RN, Ph.D., President,
The Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNO)
Dr. Lill Sverresdatter Larsen is the President of The Norwegian Nurses Organisation, the
country's fourth largest union with over 120,000 members. She became President Elect of The
Norwegian Nurses Organisation in November 2019 and has distinguished herself with raising
the profile of nursing and the important role they play in healthcare through #fagetifront.
Dr. Sverresdatter is a trained nurse from Tromsø University College, and a PhD in Health
Sciences from UiT, Norway's Arctic University. She is an associate professor at UiT, and
although currently on leave she teaches at the Department of Health and Care Sciences in
subjects such as elderly care, mental health, substance abuse, and scientific theory and
corresponding methods.
Her research belongs at the intersection between critical gerontology and health service
research.
Dr. Sverresdatter has previously been deputy chair of the Norwegian Nurses Organization in
Troms, the prime union representative at the University Hospital of Northern Norway and
project coordinator for the Norwegian Nurses' Organization’s 100th anniversary.23
Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., MD, MPH
Executive Director, Hogg Foundation for
Mental Health
Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr. is the fifth executive director to lead the Hogg Foundation for
Mental Health since its creation in 1940. The foundation’s grants and programs support mental
health services, research, policy analysis, and public education projects in Texas. The Hogg
Foundation is part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University
of Texas at Austin. Dr. Martinez holds an appointment of Senior Associate Vice-President
within the division and heads up the Community Integrated Health Initiatives program for the
Division. He is also a clinical professor with an appointment in the university’s Steve Hicks
School of Social Work; professor of Psychiatry at Dell Medical School, Faculty Affiliate with the
Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice in the School of Law and holds an adjunct
professor appointment at UT Health San Antonio/Long School of Medicine’s Department of
Psychiatry.
Dr. Martinez currently serves on the Biden Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for Preparedness and Response Board of
Scientific Counselors, and on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s
Health and Medicine Division’s Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity. He is chair of
the Yale School of Management Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity
Leadership National Advisory Committee, a commissioner on the Texas Judicial Commission
on Mental Health, executive committee member of the Texas Child Mental Health Care
Consortium, and a member of the Austin State Hospital Redesign Steering Committee. Dr.
Martinez has a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University’s School of Public
Health, a doctor’s degree in medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, and master’s and
bachelor’s degrees in business administration with a concentration in finance from The
University of Texas at Austin. He was Chief Resident during his psychiatric training at the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and is an alumnus of The
Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard
Medical School.24
Trent Munro, Ph.D., Australian Institute
for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Professor Trent Munro is a Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical professional with extensive
experience in the CMC development of a wide array of biological and synthetic therapeutic
modalities.
He is currently a Senior Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and
Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland where he is Director of
the NCRIS Funded National Biologics Facility and Program Director for the CEPI
funded Vaccine Rapid Response pipeline. In this role has been part of the UQ team developing
a clinical stage vaccine candidate for COVID-19
Professor Munro research is focused on the development, engineering and production of
complex therapeutics using biological system. This includes engineering mammalian cells in
order to improve their efficiency and utility in the production of complex proteins, with a focus
on biopharmaceuticals.
Prior to this, he was Executive Director of Process Development at Amgen Inc., based in
California. In this role, Professor Munro was involved in the translation of molecules from
research, through clinical trials and multiple commercial product launches.
Professor Munro has a PhD in Protein Biochemistry from UQ and completed postdoctoral
studies in cell biology and developmental genetics at the Department of Cell Biology, Harvard
Medical School and the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University
of Cambridge. From 2006-2013 he was an Associate Group Leader and Queensland Smart
Futures fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at the
University of Queensland.25
Sean Parsons, MBBS, Founder, CEO and
Managing Director, Ellume
Dr. Sean Parsons is the Founder, CEO and Managing Director of Ellume, a digital diagnostics
company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-performance, connected
products for health professionals and consumers. He is also co-inventor of Ellume’s pioneering
quantum dot detection system and is listed on eight international patents.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Parsons worked as an Emergency and Intensive Care clinician in major
metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Dr. Parsons founded Ellume in 2010 after
seeing the urgent need for smarter diagnostics while working on the front lines of Australia’s
2008 H1N1 pandemic. Today, he has more than a decade of experience developing faster,
simpler, more accurate diagnostics for influenza and other infectious diseases.
Dr. Parsons holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Dual Major – Physiology and Biomedical Science
with First Class Honors from the University of Queensland, and a Bachelor of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) also from the University of Queensland. Dr. Parsons is a graduate
of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.26
Martin Vesterby, MD, Ph.D., Health
Tech Adoption Partner, Health Tech
Hub Copenhagen
Dr. Martin Vesterby, Health Tech Adoption Partner at Health Tech Hub Copenhagen
Dr. Vesterby is an MD and holds a Ph.D. out of the University of Aarhus where he serves as an
External Lecturer at the Institute of Clinical Medicine and former head of the Biomedical
Design unit INNO X.
As a medical student, he sold his first concept to the healthcare sector. Since then, he has been
inspired by the potential of how harnessing an interdisciplinary approach and merging
technology, can improve health-related quality-of-life while, concurrently reducing cost.
At Health Tech Hub Copenhagen, he works with business creation by helping companies in the
hub focus on the global perspective of need, evidence, implementation, and scalability. The
overall goal is high health tech adoption and the global impact of solutions.
Dr. Vesterby is no stranger to start-ups and has been either a co-founder or partner in five
different ventures, ranging from a whisky distillery to digital health tech.27
Ketil Widerberg, CEO, Oslo Cancer Cluster
Ketil F. Widerberg, MBA, is General Manager of Oslo Cancer Cluster. He builds on a long
experience in realizing new projects within oncology in the biopharmaceutical company
Photocure ASA in collaboration with academic institutions and international commercial
partners.
Mr. Widerberg has a broad operational experience ranging from explorative project
management to being responsible for business development.
Mr. Widerberg’s educational background spans from preclinical medical school to
management studies. He also holds a MBA from the University of Cambridge.28
Panel Moderators and Emcee
Sarah Gerwig (Emcee)
Sarah Gerwig, MPH, PMP is a journalist, global health expert and patent holder with over 12
years of experience in academic health science and global innovation in the world’s largest
medical center. She has built public private partnerships between academic institutions,
startups and small business owners and for-profit fortune 500 companies for global health and
is part of the founding team of TEXGHS. She is CEO of UpGlobal an advisory network for local
and international startups and students pursuing life science entrepreneurship. She previously
served as Associate Director of Global Medical Innovation at Rice University and as Director
of the Global Innovation Center at Baylor College of Medicine.29
Lisa McDonald, MD, MSTC
Director of Healthcare, Austin Technology
Incubator, The University of Texas at Austin
(Panel Moderator)
Dr. Lisa McDonald is the Director of Healthcare for the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) at
The University of Texas at Austin. In March of 2020, Dr. McDonald led the formation of the
Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS). TEXGHS is a public-private
partnership organized by ATI that is built to serve as a convening and coordinating
organization to strengthen and address limitations in our community’s ability to respond to
global health security emergencies.
Dr. McDonald co-founded Endura Ventures in 2010, a global health strategic consultancy
focused on delivering high impact programs internationally and through public-private
partnerships. She launched the PandemicTech virtual incubator in 2016 as a program within
Endura Ventures, which was then spun out as a standalone company in 2019. PandemicTech is
a virtual technology incubator that connects the global health security and technology
communities to support innovative local solutions to pandemic infectious disease challenges.
Since 2016, PandemicTech has supported dozens of innovators through equity investment,
grant funding and in-kind support from the PandemicTech network. PandemicTech provided
seed funding for TEXGHS, is a sponsor of the Global Health Security Network, and is a member
of WHO's Strategic Partnerships Portal for International Health Regulations.
Dr. McDonald holds a MS Technology Commercialization from the McCombs School of
Business at The University of Texas at Austin, a MD from the Yale University School of
Medicine, and a BS in Chemistry from The University of Texas at Austin.30
Eric Olson, Founder, Chairman, and COO
Babson Diagnostics, Inc. (Panel Moderator)
Eric Olson is founder, chairman, and COO of Babson Diagnostics, an Austin-based company
developing technology to make diagnostic blood testing more convenient, accessible, and
human. Mr. Olson a 20-year veteran of the diagnostics industry. Mr. Olson served as Siemens
Healthineers' VP, Portfolio & Product Management, responsible for its $3 billion global product
portfolio of central laboratory technologies, and he led the company’s Automation & IT
businesses. Mr. Olson earned his BS in Biology from MIT and his MS in Technology
Management from the University of Pennsylvania.31
Ruben Rathnasingham, Ph.D., Asst. Dean for
Health Product Innovation, Assoc. Prof. in Medical
Education, Dell Medical School, The University of
Texas at Austin
Dr. Ruben Rathnasingham has more than 15 years of biomedical leadership experience in
several companies founded on technologies invented and developed in academic institutions.
In his current role as the assistant dean for health product innovation at Dell Medical School,
he is responsible for creating and growing initiatives to support health-related translational
research and product development.32
Lisa Svabek Sullivan, President, INFUSE
Corporation, Executive Director, Texas
Suicide Prevention Collaborative (Panel
Moderator)
Lisa Svabek Sullivan leads Infuse Corporation, a boutique strategic foresight firm founded in
1993. In this capacity, Lisa has explored foresight and strategy across a wide range of industries
and social impact organizations, leading initiatives for organizations such as GE, IBM, Tyco,
Athens Group, the Texas Workforce Investment Council, Austin Technology Council, Texas
Association of School Boards, the Governor’s Commission for Women, among others.
Her current portfolio centers on mental health. She has assisted mental health associations
and statewide collaborations with strategic planning and implementation for federal and state
initiatives. She leads the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative as Executive Director. Ms.
Sullivan administers the Texas Suicide Prevention Council, a network of over 100+ public and
private partners who collaborate across high priorities in suicide prevention. Ms. Sullivan
serves on the Governors Challenge Team to Prevent Veteran Suicide, the Austin Mayor’s
Challenge Team and co-chairs the Employment Work Team.
Ms. Sullivan has authored or co-authored dozens of futures-based studies across aerospace,
information technology, telecommunications, energy, consumer values and education. Prior
to co-founding Infuse, she was a senior associate with Technology Futures, Inc., a technology
forecasting consulting firm. Ms. Sullivan has been affiliated with the Software Engineering
Professional Education Center and the Research Institute for Computing and Information
Sciences at the University of Houston Clear Lake and in a planning support capacity at NASA-
Johnson Space Center. Ms. Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration from Elmhurst College and a Master of Science degree in Foresight from the
University of Houston-Clear Lake.33
Janet C. Walkow, Ph.D., Executive Director &
Chief Technology Officer Drug Dynamics
Institute, Clinical Professor of Molecular
Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, The University
of Texas at Austin (Panel Moderator)
Dr. Janet Walkow joined The University of Texas in 2008, building on a successful
pharmaceutical industry career, heading efforts ranging from R&D and Human Resources to
Global Corporate Strategy. Leading the Drug Dynamic Institute, Dr. Walkow brings novel
approaches and solutions that promote development of health technologies, facilitate
bioscience startups, and cultivate interdisciplinary technology readiness and has been named a
University of Texas gamechanger.
Dr. Walkow is known in academic circles for developing cutting-edge ways and engaging
educational tools. Her successful edX MOOC, Take Your Medicine, has enrolled tens of
thousands of students, who explore how new drug therapies are developed. Her successful
Innovating for Health program empowers students to be dynamic thinkers who are impacting
the health innovation landscape.
A leader in efforts to empower entrepreneurs and women, Dr. Walkow’s involvement spans
numerous local and global innovation efforts including the Texas Global Health Security
Innovation Consortium, Same Sky, Texas Venture Mentoring Services, and numerous
academic, nonprofit, and corporate initiatives. As a Public Voices Fellow and Ambassador for
the OpEd Project, Janet gives voice to issues regarding health, education, and women. Her
recent Board service include the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders Foundation
(current Chair), the Health Promotion Council, and Harvard Kennedy School Women’s
Leadership Board.34 Company Descriptions 4D Medical (Australia): 4DMedical is a medical technology company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. 4DMedical aims to change the outcome for patients with lung disease by revolutionizing respiratory imaging and ventilation analysis. With offices in Melbourne and Los Angeles 4DMedical has successfully proven and patented its XV Technology through years of studies and trials. 4DMedical’s cutting-edge, FDA approved XV Lung Ventilation Analysis Software (XV LVAS) Ventilation Report is an innovative, first of its kind imaging modality that quantitatively measures the regional lung function. It gives clinicians a clearer picture of lung health for pulmonary disorders including asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis and cancer. Cerebriu (Denmark): Cerebriu APOLLO – Radiology software company, provides faster personalized diagnostic imaging for the brain. Cerebriu improves workflow efficiency, quality and patient outcomes in diagnostic imaging. The software solution achieves this by automating image acquisition protocols and triage during MRI brain acquisition providing decision support at key stages of the diagnostic process. Cure GPS (Denmark and TEXGHS) is a joint venture between Ocean Process and Novo Nordisk's IT company (NNIT). Cure GPS is a workflow platform with an advanced multi party workflow and rule engine suitable for supporting clinical processes. It has a COVID 19 Vaccine Management and Contact Tracing solution, and a solution for Breast Cancer treatment planning, Medication Analysis and patient empowerment. It is available on CureGPS.org and explained on CureGPS.com. Decon-X (Norway): Decon-X is a Norwegian research-based supplier and developer of automated solutions within disinfection and infection control. The test and development of the solutions were initiated in 2006, and at the end of 2014 the first version of our automated disinfection robot, DX1, was launched. Our robot produces a dry mist consisting of Hydrogen Peroxide which is distributed in the room, disinfecting all area where air flows. Dignio (Norway): Dignio connects patients and healthcare professionals through a digital platform that disrupts the traditional way of delivering health services and opens up new possibilities for a more sustainable solution. The platform for connected care is patient-centric, and with daily monitoring and continuous communication through Dignio solutions, they enable patients to become more engaged in their own health. Elemeno Health (TEXGHS): We elevate quality by empowering frontline staff with custom point-of-care microlearning and engaging caregivers as collaborative interprofessional teams. We democratize access to best practices, radically reducing medical errors and enabling every healthcare professional to provide the best care possible to every life they touch. EpiGuard (Norway): EpiGuard is proud to present the EpiShuttle – a single-patient isolation and transport system. During 2020, the EpiShuttle has become a gold standard within the transportation of patients with highly infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 and Ebola, on both
35 sides of the Atlantic and is being used worldwide. The unit is designed to provide maximum patient safety and comfort while allowing critical care and treatment to be performed by healthcare professionals. It can protect the environment from an infected patient or protect a vulnerable patient from a contaminated environment. Epistemix (TEXGHS): Predictive modeling and simulation software Epistemix draws on expertise in epidemiology, clinical practice, and computer science to understand and represent how epidemics spread in populations using the FRED agent-based modeling platform. We use FRED (Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics) to create and analyze epidemiological models and simulate how populations change over time. Our models include every individual of a population, their unique demographics, households, places of work, schools, neighborhoods, travel, and the behaviors, environment, and resources that make up a population's social dynamics to build more realistic models of how something like COVID spreads. We are also able to model the non-disease epidemics such as precautionary behavior, reopening policies via industry/age/geography/time, impact of a vaccine or other therapy, contact tracing, sentiment, and longer term economic and social consequences of the epidemic. Genetic Analysis (Norway): Genetic Analysis (GA) is a fast-growing Norwegian molecular diagnostic company dedicated to deliver new and innovative diagnostic solutions to the rapidly growing microbiome market. GA is the first player that has developed a standardized routine diagnostic solution for mapping human gut microbiome and improve gut health. GA uses its unique patented and documented GA-map® technology. In 2020, we also launched the first CE-marked GA-map® COVID-19 Fecal Test, a Qualitative Real Time PCR test. This test is an important supplement to the current molecular and serological tests already out in the market. HealthClicks (TEXGHS): HealthClicks is a multi-platform, data-driven compliance, facility maintenance, and data analytics system tailored to pass The Joint Commission audit, run your facility efficiently, and grow your business. HighNote (TEXGHS): Highnote’s purpose is to drive best patient outcomes through shared intelligence. Our ultimate goal is to improve the lives of individuals by unlocking segregated pockets of knowledge across the health ecosystem to optimize comprehensive patient care practices. A digital health platform, built by and for health science professionals, will enable frontline workers to discern trends through instantaneous sharing of questions and information, data integration, assessing risk and providing illness surveillance in a real-time feedback mechanism. Howdy (Denmark): Through a unique method, Howdy provides companies with insight into both employee and organizational wellbeing and takes proactive action when needed. The solution includes app technology for employees, organizational insight into the organization’s collective wellbeing for HR and Managers and a proactive response team that calls up employees with a low wellbeing score. Howdy has been sold to a vast number of companies and organizations (several hospitals included) and was tested in a scientific pilot
36 study in 2018 (publish in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry) showing impressive results getting people back into "normal wellbeing" 6 times faster than normal. M3DICINE (Australia): Stethee Pro, FDA cleared AI-Enabled Electronic Stethoscope System for Cardiac and Respiratory Vital Signs Detection. Stethee Pro amplifies, records and transmits high-definition heart and lung sounds and rich clinical data to mobile application where it can be assessed and played back. The new technology works seamlessly with hospital, tele-health and remote monitoring platforms, and also for first responders, aeromedical teams and others who work in challenging environments. Seeking clinical partners and investment. Macromoltek (TEXGHS): Computational design of novel antibody drug for COVID-19 Macromoltek is a world leader in in silico antibody designs. We have launched specific programs focused on solving the COVID-19 pandemic. We have built this bleeding-edge technology over the last eight years and our computational methods are both accurate and validated in vitro. Macromoltek has designed a pool of virtual candidate antibodies to prevent COVID-19 from infiltrating cells and started testing for in vitro activity. These antibodies may be used as a prophylactic to prevent front-line workers from being infected or to improve outcomes for those already affected. Microbio (Australia) Microbio: Revolutionizing pathogen detection with a unique, specific, sensitive and fast pathogen identification test. Our novel diagnostic method combines the latest advances in bioinformatics, genomics and molecular microbiology. Miiskin (Denmark) (Digital/Telehealth/RPM) Miiskin is the most trusted skin monitoring platform in the world that connects people with skin conditions to their doctors for improved health outcomes and stronger patient relationships. Downloaded by more than 600,000 patients and recommended by over 160 hospitals and dermatology clinics in the world including the NHS in the UK. Miiskin PRO has now successfully launched in the US with several healthcare providers as customers. Norse Feedback (Norway): Norse Feedback is a data analytics tool designed to measure and monitor clinical outcomes, promote good clinical conversations with clients, and to help therapists and healthcare institutions to improve treatment quality. The measure itself is dynamic and continuously tailors itself to focus on each patient’s needs. Norse Feedback begins with a broad baseline assessment and then adapts for subsequent routine use. We collect the relevant information from the individual, analyze patterns in the person’s profile and present this information to the provider instantly. Great health innovation grows out of research. Grants and awards alone amount to more than $4,5M so far. SuperEgo (Norway): Overvinne “Overcome” is the solution to a problem that affects every fourth person. The current offer for those who struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, marital problems and otherwise a difficulty everyday life is deficient. Many fall outside and do not identify themselves as users of the current system. Most people can sort out their
37 difficulties and problems on their own, but do not always know how. Overinde is a SaaS solution designed to help people and companies with challenges and difficulties in everyday life through digital psychology. Overinde app is based on the same manuals used in current and regular psychologist treatment. If insurance Ltd. Is the company’s largest customer and currently offers the service to its 230,000 health insurance customers and 500.000 insurance customers. With modest marketing since April 2020, the company has around 300 private consumers and is increasing by 50-100 users a month. Respinor (Norway): Respinor is developing a novel, non-invasive, ultrasound-based medical device, DXT (Diaphragm Excursion Technology), that provides real-time, continuous monitoring of respiratory rate and diaphragm excursion. DXT is the first-ever ultrasound sensor that can stick to the skin and provide continuous monitoring of our main breathing muscle, the diaphragm. SpeeDx (Australia, TEXGHS): SpeeDx is a dynamic, rapidly growing company with a strong portfolio of technology at the cutting edge of molecular diagnostics. With offices and laboratories in Sydney, London, and Austin, SpeeDx develops clinically relevant tools to positively impact healthcare networks around the world. SpeeDx applies a proprietary form of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection called PlexZyme, which provides multiple advantages over other PCR techniques. SpeeDx has developed almost 50 products, including diagnostic tests for bacterial STIs and respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, B and rhinovirus. Tackl (Norway): Tackl is solving serious problems through fun mobile games. The app Habiit help kids who struggle with anxiety and school absence strengthen their mental health. The game is based on behavioral therapy methods and use positive reinforcement techniques to help children develop healthy habits. The game collects behavioral data, which is useful to help monitoring the mental wellbeing of the individual. On an aggregated level, the data can help decision-makers in municipalities and schools create healthy learning environments. TALi Digital based in Melbourne Australia is a developer of evidence-based digital therapeutics for cognitive function. Based on a foundation of over 25 years research, TALi’s first suite of clinically validated solutions leverage a gamified platform on mobile and tablet devices to assess and improve cognitive performance associated with attention deficits during the critical developmental period of early childhood. The company’s vision is to be a global leader in continuing to develop these types of scalable digital therapeutic technologies to address these debilitating congenital and acquired cognitive impairments. Vaxxas (Australia): Merck and Vaxxas announced earlier this year that Merck was using Vaxxas’ High Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP) platform as a delivery platform for a vaccine candidate. Based on technology originally developed at the University of Queensland, Vaxxas’ HD-MAP includes an array of thousands of very short projections. Invisible to the naked eye and coated with vaccine, the projections can quickly deliver vaccine to immune cells. Vaxxas officials claim the technology can deliver vaccine more efficiently than a needle and syringe.
38 https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/could-vaxxas-tiny-patches-enable-a-better-covid-19- vaccine/ Visikon (Denmark) (Digital/Telehealth): Visikon’s digital health solution, My Treatment™ (Mit Forløb®), has won IT Awards, Danish Design Award 2018 and a German Design Award 2019. My Treatment™ is a research-based digital patient guide that uses narrative animations to help hospitals reduce patient anxiety and free up resources by replacing text information with a visual language everyone understands. My Treatment™ is used on a number of hospitals in Denmark, serving thousands of patients per week and the solution is now being offered to an international market. Zeteo Biomedical (TEXGHS): Zeteo’s ZEOx1™ and ZEOx2™ drug and biologic delivery platforms provide solutions to package and administer vaccines, anti-virals and biomedical countermeasures for infectious diseases and bio-terror threats. Zeteo nasal and sublingual delivery devices are readily adaptable to public health needs, including rapid manufacturing and deployment to large populations under crisis conditions and provide options for both self and caregiver vaccine administration. Zeteo’s packaging eliminates the need for glass vials and can be commercially scaled to support global scale fill fit finish production of billions of units annually while accelerating distribution and reducing adverse impacts on national healthcare infrastructure.
39 Promotion Package Email I am part of the founding team to create the Texas Global Health Securities Innovation Consortium to help get us through the current COVID-19 pandemic and be better prepared for the next one. We are an ecosystem that helps equitable, inclusive and innovative solutions launch locally and grow globally. We are organizing the inaugural TEXGHS @ SXSW Health Security Demo Day as an official event of the virtual South by Southwest (SXSW) 2021 conference- March 17, 2021, 08:30- 17:00 CDT (GMT-5) The event will highlight market ready technologies that are impacting our ability to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to pandemic infectious disease threats. Companies will also highlight innovations focused on community resiliency and recovery from COVID-19 and future health security challenges. Registration is free, use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texghs-sxsw-2021- global-health-security-demo-day-tickets-141484488915 I hope you can join and please feel free to share this with colleagues and friends who may be interested. You can also help us promote the event on your favorite social media platform(s), some samples are listed below. ******For Confirmed Partners ONLY******* In addition to the TEXGHS @ SXSW Health Security Demo Day, TEXGHS is participating in the SXSW Creative Industries Exhibition and TEXGHS partner organizations are invited to host 1- hour sessions at the TEXGHS virtual booth. More details about this will be available soon. If you or your organization are interested in participating or you have questions, please email events@texghs.org. Thank you! Twitter Join us for the virtual @TexasGHS at #SXSW2021 Global Health Security Demo Day on March 17, 2021, from 8:30am-5pm CDT and connect with innovators from around the world changing the way we fight COVID-19 - and the next pandemic! #TEXGHS Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texghs-sxsw-2021-global-health-security-demo-day- tickets-141484488915
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