David Kyle
Talk to me about… your research
I am the Chairman and CSO of Evolve Biosystems Inc and a 30-year veteran of biotech having co-founded a range of successful biotech companies in the fields of nutrition and health. These include Martek Biosciences that focuses on DHA and ARA nutrition for infants, which was acquired by DSM in 2011 for $1.1 Billion and Evolve BioSystems the leader in the field of the infant microbiome. I am trained as a biochemist and have spent most of my career working with mothers and babies, focusing specifically on infant nutrition.
Talk to me about…something people may not know about you
I am the named inventor on over 250 patents and was inducted into the US Technology Hall of Fame in 200 for my contributions to Science and Industry. I am passionately engaged in bringing new technologies into commerce to improve the life-long health trajectory of all infants worldwide
Professor Julian Marchesi
Julian Marchesi graduated from Cardiff University with a PhD in biochemistry (1992) and became interested in the role bacteria play in ecosystem function. During his post-doctoral years he developed an interest in the contribution of uncultured microbes to the maintenance and function of ecosystems i.e. molecular microbial ecology. He subsequently secured a Wellcome Trust Fellowship which extended his molecular microbial ecology interest and investigated, with culture independent methods, the diversity and distribution of genes involved in biodegradation of priority pollutants in pristine environments. After a short time investigating the deep biosphere he obtained a Lectureship (2001) in the Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland where he transferred these “omic” skills into the human gut and started to investigate the human gut ecosystem in health and disease. After 7 years in UCC, he moved back to Cardiff University in 2008 to a senior lectureship, where he investigates the role of the gut microbiome in maintaining host health and initiating diseases not only of the gut, but throughout the host system. In 2013 he was promoted to Reader and also took a half time Readership in Digestive Health at Imperial College London.
Johan van Hylckama Vlieg
Johan E.T. van Hylckama Vlieg is currently Senior Director Microbiome at Chr. Hansen AS, one of the largest microbe producing companies in the world. He is responsible for the microbiome innovation program and heading the microbiome research and pilot facility. He has 20 years of experience and leadership in gut microbiology, probiotics and food biotechnology in industry and academia. He is (co)author of more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and inventor of 13 patents or patent applications.
Dr James Kinross
Dr. James Kinross is a consultant colorectal surgeon, at St. Mary’s Hospital London. His clinical interests are in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer. He also has an interest in surgical nutrition and modulation of the gut microbiota by pro and prebiotics for improved operative outcomes. He was trained in Northwest London, and he was an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Surgery and an Ethicon Laparoscopic Fellow in Colorectal Surgery. He was awarded a Royal College of Surgeons of England training fellowship during his PhD and he was funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences as an early stage lecturer. He is a visiting Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He is currently funded by Bowel and Cancer research and the Imperial BRC.
Dr David Cook
David Cook is the Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer of Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (“Seres”). He has over 20 years of experience as a scientist and entrepreneur and has held senior operating and management positions in the biotechnology industry throughout his career. Prior to joining Seres, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a global R&D organization. Prior to IAVI, Dr. Cook was the founding CEO at Anza Therapeutics, a biotechnology startup that focused on developing a microbial vaccine platform to induce cellular immune responses. Before launching Anza, Dr. Cook held positions of increasing responsibility at the biotechnology corporations Cerus and Eligix, overseeing R&D, program management, manufacturing, and clinical and regulatory affairs. He has led teams in the development and commercialization of several biotech products and has been directly responsible for obtaining marketing authorization from the European Union for four medical products. Dr. Cook is also a co-inventor on more than 25 patents. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Andrew Morgan
Dr Andrew Morgan is Chair of the UK’s KTN Microbiome Special Interest Group and has close to 40 years’ experience in health & nutrition research & innovation related to microbe-host interactions including human, animal and plant. He held the role of Chief Scientist to DuPont’s Nutrition & Health and legacy Danisco business (2008-2019) and was a DuPont Fellow. Having joined the company as a member of the pioneering FFI animal nutrition enzyme team, he then went on to play a key role in helping build DuPont’s microbiome platform. Andrew retired from DuPont at the end of 2019.
Juan Ramón Alaix
Juan Ramón Alaix is Chief Executive Officer of Zoetis. In this role, he leads the world’s leading animal health company with a singular focus on animal health medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services. In addition, he is a member of the Zoetis Board of Directors. Under his leadership, the company generated annual revenue of $4.9 billion in 2016 with approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.
Mr. Alaix has 35 years’ experience of increasing responsibility in finance, sales and management, including 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to Zoetis, he served as President of Pfizer Animal Health since 2006, where he was responsible for the overall strategic direction and financial performance of the company. Mr. Alaix joined Pfizer from Pharmacia in 2003 as regional president. In the 1990s, he served in general management with Rhône-Poulenc Rorer in Spain and Belgium before becoming country president of Spain for Pharmacia in 1998.
Dr. Tony Zi Long Tan
Dr. Tan has over 30 years experience in the field of animal health across a range of animal species. He has had management roles in R&D, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and business development. Dr. Tan has extensive international business experience and has worked in the USA, Europe and Asia (particularly in China). Dr. Tan is the founder and Managing Partner of Z-Link Biotech Co. Ltd., a service and support company that helps animal health organizations to achieve their growth and stakeholder value in the emerging market.
Dr. Tan received his veterinary degree from Foshan Veterinary College in China, his Master’s Degree in Animal Science from Alcorn State University, and his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Kansas State University. During his earlier research career, Dr. Tan helped develop several vaccines for cattle, dogs, and poultry. He has published over 50 scientific publications and research reports.
Dr. Tan served Intervet-Schering Plough (now Merck/MSD Animal Health) for over 15 years in different positions, including R&D Group Leader, Project Manager Vaccine Manufacturing, Technical Marketing Manager Aquatic Animals, and Business Unit Director Companion Animals China.
From 2009 to March 2016, Dr. Tan was Group Director of Business Development and Global Alliances for the Asia-Pacific Region of Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health). He successfully completed several large M&A transactions (total transaction value in excess of US$100 million) and a number of technology licensing deals. These include the first antitrust divesture project in China, the company’s first joint venture project for vaccine manufacturing, and divesture of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Taiwan.
Dr. Tan is an Advisor to the China Global Investment & Trading Alliance (CGITA), an organization that promotes international business between China and other countries.
谭博士在动物保健领域从业超过30年，涉及各种动物品种和岗位部门，包括研发、产品注册、生产、市场、销售以及业务拓展。谭博士拥有丰富的国际工作经验，曾在美国、欧洲和亚洲（特别是中国）国家工作。谭博士是易联生物科技有限公司的创始人。易联生物科技是一家咨询公司帮助动保公司在新兴市场服的发展。
谭博士毕业于佛山兽医专科学校、从阿尔肯州立大学取得了动物科学的硕士学位、从堪萨斯州立大学取得了微生物学的博士学位。在他的研究生涯中，为牛、狗以及家禽类开发了数种疫苗，并且发表了超过50篇科学论文和研究报告。
谭博士在英特威/默沙东动物保健公司工作了超过15年，期间担任了不同职位，包括研发部主管、疫苗制造项目经理、水生动物的技术市场经理以及中国伴侣动物的事业部总监。
从2009年到2016年，谭博士在硕腾（原名辉瑞）担任业务拓展部门和国际联盟亚太地区高级总监。他成功地完成了数项重大企业并购交易（总交易额超过一亿美元）和若干技术转让项目。其中包括中国第一个反垄断剥离项目，辉瑞在中国的第一个合资企业和出售台湾的一家医药制造工厂。
此外，谭博士还是中国际投资和贸易联盟(CGITA)的顾问。CGITA是一个致力于促进中国和其他国家之间国际商务的组织。
Ruiai Chen
Dr. Ruiai Chen received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the China Agricultural University. Currently she is a professor and Ph.D. advisor at the College of Veterinary Medicines, South China Agricultural University.
Dr. Chen is President of Guangdong Wens Dahuanong Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (DHN), and Vice-Chairman of the China Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA). She is one of the most influential leaders in the Chinese animal health arena and, as a result, she is entitled to special allowances provided by the Chinese State Council, an honor for outstanding scientists in China. Dr. Chen is a well-known expert in the prevention and control of animal diseases, and vaccine research.
She possesses 41 patents and 22 new veterinary drug certificates. Dr. Chen has received 14 technical awards at the provincial and national levels, such as first prize for the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award and the China Outstanding Patent. Her achievements include the development and industrialization of avian influenza vaccines, PRRS vaccines and coccidiosis vaccines. These vaccines are now making great contributions to disease control in China, Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia), and Middle East countries. Dr. Chen is also director of the Enterprise Key Laboratory of MOA for Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Biotechnology and Biological Product R&D. She has contributed greatly to commercialization of technology for animal vaccine and pharmaceutical products.