From Foundations to Frontiers:
AI, Innovation, and the Future of Biomedicine
The 2026 SoCal TBA Annual Symposium Program brings together leaders across AI-driven biotechnology, translational medicine, venture capital, regulatory strategy, and global pharmaceutical innovation. Held at UCLA CNSI in Los Angeles, this full-day conference features keynote talks, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed for professionals across academia, industry, startups, and investment communities.
As one of Southern California’s leading biotech networking events, the symposium highlights the intersection of artificial intelligence, life sciences innovation, and global biotech ecosystems, connecting researchers, founders, investors, and early-career professionals across the region.
Program Schedule
Morning
| 8:30 9:00 |
📋 Registration & Networking Check-in |
| 9:00 9:20 |
Opening Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 9:25 10:00 |
Keynote Built to Scale: Winning in Global Life Sciences Dr. Marianne van der Steen |
| 10:00 10:10 |
☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:15 10:35 |
Panel 1 Decoding the Brain: AI Applications in Brain-Computer Interfaces Dr. Yao-Chuan Chang |
| 10:35 11:00 |
Panel 1 Beyond the Chatbot: Lessons from Healthcare for Creating Real AI Value Dr. Sheng-Hsiou (Shawn) Hsu |
| 11:00 11:10 |
☕ Coffee Break |
| 11:10 11:35 |
Panel 1 From Pixels to Phenotypes: A Short Review of Cellular Imaging Foundation Models Dr. Chien-Cheng (Mike) Shih |
| 11:35 12:00 |
Panel 1 Leverage AI and Multi-Omics to Fuel New Target Discovery Dr. Yi-Hsiang Hsu |
| 12:00 13:50 |
Lunch & Roundtable Lunch & Roundtable with Speakers and Distinguished Guests from Taiwan and the U.S. Dr. Hsiao-Ling Hung (生技二姐) Dr. Tai-Horng Young Dr. Shao-Jen Weng C. Joseph Chang Dr. Daniel Chen Dr. Wen-Hsuan (Wen) Chang Dr. Tung-Yi (Allen) Lin Bassem Ben Cheikh Gregory A. Zikos |
Afternoon
| 13:50 14:50 |
Panel 2 Founders Talk: Building Careers, Companies, and Cross-Border Opportunity Across Taiwan and the U.S. Dr. Diane Tang-Liu Dr. Francesco Cutrale |
| 14:50 15:00 |
☕ Coffee Break |
| 15:00 16:00 |
Panel 3 Capital Under Pressure: Funding Biopharma Through Current Policies Dr. Aerie Lin Kat Hille Dr. Erik Hille |
| 16:00 16:55 |
Panel 4 Translational Research and Clinical Innovation: From Lab to Startup Christopher K. Lee Dr. Debbie W. Lin Christopher Korban Dr. Kaushal Solanki |
| 16:55 17:50 |
Panel 5 Culture and Communication Skills for Career Success Lauren Supraner |
| 17:50 18:00 |
Closing Closing Remarks |
Evening
| 18:30 | 🍽 Dinner Separate ticket required |
Tip: Click a speaker’s name to view their full bio.
Sponsorship
Our sponsors enable this symposium and help drive innovation across the biotech community.
A Small Thank-You for Our Community
As we celebrate 10 years of SoCalTBA, we’re excited to share a limited-edition Gifts with our supporters. Thank you for helping us build and grow the biotech community over the past decade.
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Southern California Taiwanese Biotechnology Association
南加州臺灣人生技協會
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SOCAL TBA 南加州臺灣人生技協會 