Catalyzing Innovation: Accelerating Life Sciences from Lab to Market

Hear from two pivotal forces in Virginia’s life sciences ecosystem, Activation Capital and Bioplatinum Technologies, to explore the journey of advancing life sciences innovations, from early-stage development to market readiness. 

The presenters will share strategies for fostering collaboration, securing funding, and navigating the complexities of commercialization. Activation Capital’s Frontier BioHealth accelerator is dedicated to transforming cutting-edge scientific research into scalable, venture-ready companies, offering specialized training, mentorship, and access to investor networks. Bioplatinum Technologies pioneers in platinum-based precision medicine, focusing on anticancer and antiviral applications. 

Dr. Jim Pannucci is the Vice President for Entrepreneurship for Activation Capital in Richmond, VA. He works to form and support new BioHealth companies in the region and provide new founders with business coaching, strategic direction, as well as access to investors and other key opinion leaders. Activation Capital is growing the BioHealth hub in Richmond and seeks to make it easy for companies to succeed. Jim’s career in science has spanned the diverse business cultures of the pharmaceutical industry, National Laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and contract services for research and program management. Like many scientists, Jim’s time at the bench evolved into leadership roles where he is responsible for strategy, business and pipeline development, profit-and-loss management, and R&D operations. The technical spectrum of this work includes basic and applied research, GMP/GLP product development, technology review and investment decisions, team formation and leadership, as well as the fundamentals of running a science business.

Nicholas P. Farrell, Ph.D., is a graduate of University College Dublin. He obtained his Ph.D. from Sussex University and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. He is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry in the College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University. He was a Jefferson Science Fellow at the US Department of State for the period 2010-2015. In November 2017, he was designated University Professor, which recognizes faculty members who “teach or conduct research that crosses discipline boundaries and have an established prominence in multiple fields of study, with national or international recognition in at least one field of study.” His major research is on platinum-based anticancer agents, on which he is acknowledged as a leading international authority. Almost 50% of all cancer patients will receive a platinum-based drug during chemotherapy. Professor Farrell has published over 300 refereed papers and reviews and he is the recipient of more than 60 patents worldwide for his inventions. He has extensive experience in all aspects of technology transfer from concept to clinical practice application. He founded Bioplatinum Technologies LLC to hasten the translation of his research findings to practice.

Erica Peterson Chief Technical Officer for Bioplatinum Technologies