Tea Talk: Nature's Ph*rm*cy: Why Biodiversity is Our Best Insurance Policy

Join us for a Portal Innovations healing May Tea Talk featuring Chase M. Clark, Ph.D., Founder and Principal Investigator of EvoQuant LLC. Chase is currently leading an NIH-funded small business grant to bridge the gap between ancient biological wisdom and cutting-edge artificial intelligence.With over a decade of experience spanning wet labs and cloud computing, Chase’s work sits at the fascinating intersection of microbiology, chemistry, and large-scale computation. From his early days in R&D to his doctoral research at UIC and postdoctoral work at UW–Madison, he has pioneered new ways to mine the Earth’s genetic code for the next generation of life-saving medicines.

Key Takeaways:

• A New Perspective: Learn to see nature from a different perspective - from the food on your plate to the microscopic bacteria colonizing our bodies and the planet
• Chemical Complexity: Discover how plants and microbes produce intricate chemistry that can be isolated and repurposed into vital pharmaceutical therapies.
• The Biodiversity Safety Net: Understand why protecting our planet’s variety isn't just about conservation, it’s about preserving the cures we haven't even found yet.

This talk will transform the way you walk through the world. You’ll leave not only with a deeper appreciation for the microbes beneath your feet but also with a sense of urgency regarding the biodiversity that serves as our ultimate insurance policy against disease.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

400 N Aberdeen St, 400 North Aberdeen Street, Chicago, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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