About this Event
Join us for the 2026 BU Health & Life Science Conference Featuring the Big Tree ACORN Summit! Bringing together students, alumni, clinical researchers, startup founders, and healthcare venture investors, this premier full-day forum explores the forefront of healthcare innovation, AI, policy, and life sciences commercialization through dynamic keynotes, panel discussions, and high-impact networking.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrival/Networking
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Welcome
Host: Questrom Student Healthcare Life Science Leadership Team
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
The Future of Healthcare Innovation
Host: Dr. Melissa Gilliam - President, Boston University
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
From Innovation to Impact: Policy & Healthcare Access
Host: Jake Auchincloss - U.S. Congressman Massachusetts
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Investing for the Rest of US
Host: Allison Byers - Founder & CEO
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch / Networking
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
ACORN Spotlight - Investor Perspective
Info: Moderator: Jeff Berman – Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Big Tree Innovation Fund
Panelists:
Claire Jin – Vice President, J.P. Morgan
Vinit Nijhawan – Managing Director, MassVentures
Victor Lanio – Partner, Flare Capital Partners
John Pennett – Partner, EisnerAmper & Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:30 PM
ACORN Spotlight - AI, Policy & the Future of Healthcare
Info: Moderator: Prithvi Tanwar – Partner, Polsinelli
Panelists:
Yannis Paschalidis – Distinguished Professor & Director, Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing, Boston University
Maria Wendt – Global Head of Preclinical Computational Innovation, Sanofi
Dr. Mark Clapp – Physician Investigator & Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Giovanni Abbadessa – Chief Medical Officer, ModeX Therapeutics
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
ACORN Spotlight - Reproductive & Womens' Health
Info: Liz Powell – Founder, G2G Consulting; Founder Women’s Health Advocates
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Break & Networking
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:45 PM
ACORN Innovation Showcase & Panel
Info: Introduction: Dave Whelan – Executive Fellow in Residence, Big Tree Innovation Fund
Presenters:
Qiuyan Xu (AI) – CEO & Founder, FinePoint
Jessica Read (Cardiology) – CEO & Founder, Diapin Therapeutics
Joseph Hoffman (Oncology) – CEO & Founder, Liseva Bio
Dr. Lucia Cagnes (Reproductive Health) - FemNova Health
Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi (Neurology) – CEO & 4x Founder, MedFlow
🕑: 04:45 PM - 05:15 PM
Wrap Up / Networking
Event venue & nearby stays
Rafik B. Hariri Building (Questrom School of Business), 9th Floor Ballroom & Kenmore Room, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.