TRANSLATING

DISCOVERIES

TO IMPACT

A flagship annual biotechnology summit connecting academia, industry, and investment to turn cutting-edge discoveries into scalable biomedical innovation.

09 May 2026

The Life & Mind Building

University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL

Register for the Summit
Apply for the Startup Showcase
ABOUT THE SUMMIT

Advancing biotech from discovery to impact

OxBio Summit is a flagship, annual biotechnology summit hosted by the Oxford University Biotech Society. Through cross-sector dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge exchange, the summit aims to catalyze partnerships, inspire innovation, and empower the next generation of scientific entrepreneurs as they move discoveries into ventures, therapies and scalable biomedical solutions. 

Cross-sector by design

Convening leaders across science, medicine, venture, and industry from across Oxford, Cambridge, London, and beyond to strengthen pathways to innovation.

Built for translation

To elevate institutional conversations around sustainable biotech innovation.

Startup showcase

Structured to spotlight emerging biotech startups, boost venture engagement and meaningful community building.

WHY ATTEND

Built around the people shaping ThE NEXT CHAPTER OF biotech

Organized for students, researchers, clinicians, founders, investors, and industry leaders focused on translating science into real-world impact.

HIGHLIGHTS

Keynotes, PANELS, AND INNOVATION TRACKS

The 2026 theme is “Translating Discoveries to Impact,” with sessions focused on institutional pathways for translation, next-generation therapeutics, venture creation, clinical translation and biotech talent.

3 Keynotes

  • Building Institutional Pathways for Translation
  • Engineering Next-Generation Therapeutics
  • Funding the Future of Biotech

3 Expert Panels

  • Turning Discoveries into Viable Therapeutics
  • Building Scalable Biotech Ventures
  • Biotech Career Trajectory & Talent Pathways

3 Innovation Tracks

  • Redefining Therapeutic Modalities & Finding Novel Targets
  • Data, AI & Platform-Driven Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Translation & Trial Design
OPEN CALL

Startup Showcase

Early-stage biotech startups and spinouts are invited to apply for the summit showcase and connect with researchers, investors, talent, and ecosystem partners.

Submit Showcase Application
AGENDA

Saturday, 09 MAY 2026

08:30 - 09:00
Registration & Networking
09:00 - 09:15
Welcome: Why translation now
09:15 - 10:00
Opening Keynote: Building Institutional Pathways for Translation
10:00 - 11:00
Panel 1: Turning Discoveries into Viable Therapeutics
11:00 - 11:15
Coffee & Networking Break
11:15 - 12:15
Panel 2: Building Scalable Biotech Ventures
12:15 - 13:30
Networking Lunch + Start-up Showcase
13:30 - 14:15
Keynote 2: Engineering Next-Generation Therapeutics
14:15 - 15:15
Therapeutics Innovation Breakout Tracks
15:15 - 15:30
Coffee & Networking Break
15:30 - 16:30
Panel 3: Biotech Career Trajectory & Talent Pathways
16:30 - 17:00
Closing Keynote: Funding the Future of Biotech
17:00 - 18:00
Drinks Reception
FEATURED

SPEAKERS



...announcements ongoing

Professor Santa Ono

EIT Oxford & Global President, Ellison Institute of Technology

Craig Fox

Operating Partner – Life Sciences, Oxford Science Enterprises

Simon Warner

Head of Licensing & Ventures – Life Sciences, Oxford University Innovation

Laura A. Lane

VP Lilly Ventures (Head of Europe), Eli Lilly & Company

Professor Sarah Blagden

Professor of Experimental Oncology, University of Oxford

Co-founder/CSO Prenostics Ltd.

Lead for Oxford Cancer Trials Office

Sutha Satkunarajah

VP Strategy & Operations, Flagship Pioneering UK

Venture Operator

Perspective on scaling biotech ventures.

MODERATOR

Moderator

Guiding the day’s most important conversations.

Keynote

Keynote Speaker

Translational biotech leader.

Founder

Founder Speaker

Biotech founder driving venture creation.

INVESTOR

Investor Speaker

Early-stage investor in biotech innovation.

CLINICAL

Clinical Translation Lead

Voice on development and trial pathways.

AI & Platform

AI & Platform Expert

Perspective on computation and drug discovery.

THERAPEUTICS

Therapeutics Builder

Operator working on next-generation modalities.

VENTURE

Venture Operator

Perspective on scaling biotech ventures.

MODERATOR

Moderator

Guiding the day’s most important conversations.

PARTNER WITH US

Founding partners can shape the platform

Key Contact

David C. Michael
Chair & Organizer
David.michael@ludwig.ox.ac.uk

OxBio Summit 2026 is the inaugural edition of what will become an annual flagship event, creating an opportunity for:

  • Founding partners to help define its direction and reach.
  • Support the launch of a scalable annual platform for translational science and biotech innovation, anchored in Oxford and expanding across the UK and beyond.
Register or Apply
Summit attendance and showcase applications are handled separately.
Register for the Summit
Apply for the Startup Showcase

Our Team

David C. Michael
Chair & Organizer
  • Second year DPhil in Clinical Medicine 
  • VP Institutional Relations at OUBT
  • Experience in management consulting and biomedical sciences research
Zehra Azim
Academic Liaison
  • First year DPhil (PhD) Pharmacology​
  • MSc (Oxon) Integrated Immunology​
  • Founder and Lead Scientist, BioAge OS​
  • Research experience across Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL &
    translational health tech
Devon Darley
Head of Startup Showcase/Exhibition
  • Fourth year Biomedical Sciences (MSc)
  • Previously served as sponsorship officer for OUBT
  • Led multiple student consulting projects
Rayn Lakha
Startup Showcase Manager
  • First year undergraduate in Engineering Science
  • Interested in algorithmic drug design and preventative healthcare
  • Worked on technical projects in industry and startups
Iyiola Oladunjoye
Industry Liaison
  • First year DPhil Student in Clinical
    Medicine​
  • Experience in translational science across vaccinology and global health​
  • 6+ years working at the interface of research, policy, and real-world health impact
Roman Lorello
Partnerships & Sponsorships
  • First year undergraduate Biology student​
  • Leading Oxford University’s student
    bioengineering team for the iGEM competition
  • President of undergraduates at the Ukrainian Society.

Our Partners

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Oxfounders
oxvc
IC WSET
Oxbridge AIx logo
CamBio

Professor Santa Ono

Professor Ono is the EIT Oxford & Global President at the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford, where he leads the development of scientific programs and oversees the Institute’s activities worldwide.  

He has previously served as President of the University of Michigan, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Cincinnati, driving major initiatives in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and innovation ecosystems. 

Professor Ono has also held faculty and leadership roles at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Emory, and UCL, and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Inventors, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He earned his B.A. in Biological Science from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University. 

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Craig Fox, PhD

Craig is the Operating Partner for Life Sciences at Oxford Science Enterprises, with over 25 years of drug discovery and development expertise, including vast experience as a research scientist managing initial target selection through to Phase 2 clinical studies. At OSE Craig has helped to find, fund and build several start-ups including Kesmalea, ISOgenix, MatchBio, Kodiform and Re-AIM Therapeutics and is also a Board Director for Endlyz Therapeutics. Craig was also OSE’s representative on the Board of Dark Blue Therapeutics that was recently acquired by Amgen. Prior to OSE, Craig was at C4X Discovery where he was Chief Scientific Officer and an Executive Board Member for more than six years, guiding its transition from a Manchester University spinout technology-based company to a therapeutics business. Craig has also worked at several biotechnology companies supporting multiple financing deals, the creation and management of strategic collaborations and licensing deals with Pharma. Craig holds a PhD in Respiratory Medicine from Birmingham University and a first-class Biochemistry degree from the University of Surrey. 

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Simon Warner

Simon is currently head of Licensing and Ventures for Life Science at Oxford University Innovation, where he has driven growth in licensing and company creation and increasing financial returns to the University and commercialising impactful technology to benefit the world. Previous career highlights have included the successful sale of Oxitec, a spin-out from the University of Oxford, where he was CSO, leading the development of pioneering insect control in public health and agriculture. Oxitec was purchased by synthetic biology specialist, Intrexon in 2015 for $160m. Simon worked for Syngenta for over a decade and had roles based in California, North Carolina and the UK, where he innovated in crop biotechnology and was responsible for developing agricultural products sold today.  Simon has a Biochemistry degree from University College London and a PhD in plant molecular biology from the University of Leicester. 

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Laura A. Lane

Laura Lane, PhD, is currently VP and European Head of Lilly Ventures at Eli Lilly & Company, where she leads venture capital strategy across Europe, covering equity investments in biotech and life sciences companies, fund-of-fund partnerships, and broader external innovation initiatives.

Laura is a PhD-trained scientist with extensive cross-sector experience spanning science, business, transactions, and operations, including venture capital, technology transfer, the charity sector, biotech company building and leadership, life sciences consulting, and pharma/CVC. Prior to Lilly, Laura was part of the investment team at Advent Life Sciences, contributing to investments including MiroBio (Oxford, UK; acquired by Gilead Sciences), Highlight Therapeutics (Madrid, Spain), and PIC Therapeutics (Boston, USA). At Lilly, she has led investments in companies such as NanoSyrinx, Augustine Therapeutics, Trimtech Therapeutics, and Maxion Therapeutics.

Earlier in her career, she held CEO and COO positions in several UK-based life sciences/biotech companies. Laura holds a master’s and PhD from the University of Cambridge and serves on the boards of the non-profit Collaborative Community against Coronavirus (3CCorona) CIC and the UK’s BioIndustry Association (BIA).

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Professor Sarah Blagden

Sarah Blagden is Professor of Experimental Oncology at the University of Oxford and Director for the Oxford Clinical Trials Office (OCTO), where she leads a national portfolio of early-phase, precision prevention, and early detection cancer studies. Sarah is also Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Prenostics Ltd, developing frontier biomarkers for pre-cancer detection, and leads Oxford’s Go-Precise initiative focused on cancer prevention vaccines. She was previously a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant at Imperial College where she specialised in treating gynaecological cancers, launched Imperial's Early Phase Trial portfolio and established her laboratory studying the dysregulation of mRNA translation in cancer.  

Following medical training, Sarah undertook subsequent specialist training in Medical Oncology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London. She earned her PhD in Cell Biology & Genetics from the University of Cambridge. 

Her work bridges translational research, clinical trials, and early cancer interception, with the goal of transforming how cancer is detected and prevented. 

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