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Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences

Monday, June 6, 2022 | National Press Club, Washington, D.C. HERstory of Medicine: Research and Clinical Advancements in Women's Health

Overview

Now in its 14th year, the Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences gathers science reporters for an annual, daylong event focused on a single research topic. Journalists enjoy firsthand access to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers and physicians, getting the opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in health, medicine and science. Past events focused on topics ranging from sensory biology to epigenetics to pain and tissue regeneration and the brain to metabolism research and the immune system and immunology. Nearly 100 journalists and science writers from all regions in the U.S. and Canada have attended this exclusive event.

Who Can Attend

The Science Writers' Boot Camp is open to science communicators of all types including writers, journalists, bloggers and public information officers. The 2022 Science Writers' Boot Camp was held June 6, 2022, and the focus was on research and clinical advances in women's health. To join our email list for information about our events, please contact us at [email protected].

Speakers

James Berger, Ph.D.

Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences

Welcome and Introduction

James Berger, Ph.D.

Jamie Spangler, Ph.D.

William R. Brody Faculty Scholar, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The Great Pitch: Merging Research and Business

As a biomedical engineer, Jamie Spangler’s research focuses on developing antibodies to fight cancer. With the help of key partnerships, she has grown her research into collaborative business ventures. An entrepreneurial leader, Spangler helps inspire other scientists to do the same. In this talk, she will discuss her journey to entrepreneurship and the steps other women can make to successfully launch new ventures.
Jamie Spangler, Ph.D.

Sujatha Kannan, M.B.B.S.

Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The Ultimate Goal: Bringing Research to Practice Through Entrepreneurship

Scientists embarking on a research career can journey down a number of paths — for example, focusing on foundational discoveries, clinical applications or technological inventions. For Sujatha Kannan, her goal was to develop therapies not only for her specialty, pediatric brain disorders, but also for many other conditions. This inspired her to cofound Ashvattha Therapeutics. The science startup industry rarely includes women, but Kannan has emerged as an entrepreneurial innovator.
Sujatha Kannan, M.B.B.S.

Christy Wyskiel

Senior Adviser to the President of The Johns Hopkins University for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Executive Director, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures

Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins: Building a Robust, Inclusive Ecosystem

The Johns Hopkins University’s chief entrepreneur, Christy Wyskiel runs Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, the university’s entrepreneurship and commercialization hub through which faculty engages in research partnerships, commercializes technologies and forms startup companies. Leveraging Johns Hopkins’ excellence in the life sciences, engineering, digital health and more — as well as her background as a life sciences investor and entrepreneur — Wyskiel has grown the university’s commercialization portfolio to encompass 40 corporate sponsored research collaborations, 1,800 technologies available for licensing and more than 160 commercial startups backed by over $4.5 billion in venture funding. In a field dominated by men, this woman stands out.
Christy Wyskiel

Panel Discussion

Women in Biotech Entrepreneurship

Women found almost 40% of companies in the United States annually, but receive only 2% of venture funding. In this panel moderated by Christy Wyskiel, Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, two Hopkins women startup founders, Sujatha Kannan of Ashvattha Therapeutics and Jamie Spangler of AbMeta Therapeutics, will talk about their paths to commercialization and the challenges and benefits of entrepreneurship.

Jeremy Nathans, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Neuroscience, and Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The X Factor: The Female Advantage in Our DNA

Geneticist and neuroscientist Jeremy Nathans has transformed our understanding of how humans see the world. When it comes to color vision and other biological processes, Nathans will describe how the X chromosome gives females a genetic advantage.
Jeremy Nathans, M.D., Ph.D.

Explore Past Boot Camps