Local innovation advancing life sciences technology
September 29, 2026 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Tickets: Regular $75 | Kensington Hotel
Presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.
From lab bench to market launch, this event explores the full spectrum of life sciences entrepreneurship. Connect with researchers, executives, and investors shaping health tech and bioinnovation in Washtenaw County. Panels and speakers will tackle funding gaps, regulatory challenges, and emerging opportunities facing life sciences companies today.
A must-attend for life sciences professionals and innovators, the event also complements the following day’s MichBio Michigan Medical Device Summit, creating a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and deepen connections across Michigan’s life sciences ecosystem.
The Business of Life Sciences Agenda
Doors Open
5:00 p.m.
Networking
5:00 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.
Welcome
5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Laura Berarducci, Vice President of Investor Relations, Ann Arbor SPARK
- Stephen Rapundalo, President & Chief Executive Officer, MichBio
Keynote
6:00 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.
- Lindsay Puscas, Vice President of Clinical Operations, ONL Therapeutics
Join Lindsay Puscas, Vice President of Clinical Operations at ONL Therapeutics, as she shares ONL’s journey of building a groundbreaking life sciences company in Ann Arbor.
Founded on pioneering research and a mission to preserve sight, ONL Therapeutics has advanced from an early-stage startup to a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapies for retinal disease. Along the way, the company has achieved significant milestones, including securing multiple rounds of financing, advancing its lead therapeutic candidate through clinical development, obtaining FDA authorization for Phase 2 studies, and expanding its pipeline to address multiple vision-threatening conditions.
Lindsay will share how Ann Arbor’s unique innovation ecosystem, world-class research institutions, entrepreneurial support network, and access to talent helped position ONL for success at critical moments in its growth.
From Discovery to Impact: Advancing Therapeutics in Ann Arbor’s Innovation Ecosystem: Panel
6:30 p.m. – 6:55 p.m.
- Peter Toogood, Director of Michigan Drug Discovery, U of M Life Sciences Institute
- Elke Lipka, PhD, MBA, CEO, TSRL
- Kimberly Wicklund, Head of Product Management, Sartorius
The Ann Arbor region is one of the Midwest’s leading hubs for life sciences, biotechnology, and therapeutic innovation, fueled by world-class research, entrepreneurial talent, and a robust network of commercialization resources. With groundbreaking discoveries originating in university laboratories, startup ventures, and established life science companies across the region, the pathway from scientific insight to patient impact has never been more dynamic.
Whether you are a researcher with a promising technology, an entrepreneur building a life sciences venture, or a stakeholder interested in the future of healthcare innovation, this discussion will provide valuable insights into the opportunities and support systems that are helping transform scientific breakthroughs into life-changing therapies.
Closing Remarks
6:55 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception and Company Showcases
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The Business of Life Sciences Speakers
Plus more being announced soon!
Lindsay Puscas
Vice President of Clinical Operations
ONL Therapeutics
Lindsay Puscas, MS, COA, CCRP, serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations at ONL Therapeutics. With more than 15 years of clinical research experience and a specialized background in ophthalmic clinical trials, she has led ONL’s clinical team to complete four trials and advance the company’s lead compound, xelafaslatide (formerly ONL1204), into a global Phase 2 program. Before joining ONL, Lindsay served as Clinical Research Project Manager for the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan. Over ten years there, she oversaw a portfolio of more than 200 clinical studies spanning Phase 0 through post-market approval, with a focus on pediatric gene therapy trials for inherited retinal dystrophies.
A Certified Clinical Research Professional and Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Lindsay earned her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Michigan State University and her M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from Wayne State University.
A true Michigander, Lindsay plays ice hockey and is mom to two toddlers who already love vacationing up North.
Keynote: Lindsay Puscas
ONL Therapeutics
Elke Lipka
President and Chief Executive Officer
TSRL, Inc.
Dr. Elke Lipka is the President and Chief Executive Officer of TSRL, Inc., having been with the company for more than 20 years. Under her leadership, TSRL has built a reputation becoming the preclinical CRO of choice by strategically moving complex drug candidates toward the clinic. Dr. Lipka has secured nearly $20 million in non-dilutive funding to advance TSRL’s portfolio and expand partnerships with academic, government, and industry innovators across the United States and Europe. She has shaped TSRL’s collaborative model to give early‑stage developers access to seasoned pharmaceutical scientists, state‑of‑the‑art facilities, and integrated preclinical services.
Her career spans leadership roles at Parke-Davis, Pfizer, and Esperion Therapeutics, where she developed deep expertise in pharmacokinetics, formulation, and drug safety evaluations for small molecules and biologics. Dr. Lipka is a board member of the Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP) is a state-of-the-art facility situated on the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University in South Africa, and she is recognized for her ability to build multidisciplinary teams, forge strategic partnerships, and manage the operational and financial growth of life sciences organizations.
Dr. Lipka earned her B.S. in Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, and was recognized as one of the “Top Women in Tech to Know in 2026” by Purpose Jobs. She is committed to empowering women, minority scientists, and entrepreneurs to reach their fullest potential and strengthen the life sciences ecosystem.
Elke Lipka
TSRL
Peter Toogood
Director of Michigan Drug Discovery
University of Michigan
Peter Toogood is the Director of Michigan Drug Discovery, a translationally focused research accelerator at the University of Michigan. He previously helped build the biotech startup Lycera, where he served as Senior Vice President for Chemistry and Ann Arbor site lead. At Parke-Davis and Pfizer, Dr. Toogood co-led the discovery of the breast cancer drug Ibrance, for which he was a recipient of the American Chemical Society’s “Heroes of Chemistry”, and “Team Innovation” awards. In 2019, Peter founded Sonnental Consulting, which provides medicinal chemistry support and expert witness services.
Peter Toogood
University of Michigan
Kimberly Wicklund
Head of Product Management
Sartorius
Kimberly Wicklund serves as Head of Product Management for Sartorius’ BioAnalytics portfolio, where she leads strategy and innovation for technologies that support scientific research and laboratory workflows. With a background spanning product management, life science instrumentation, digital information solutions, and applied technology, she brings a cross-disciplinary perspective on innovation, AI, and product leadership. Since joining Sartorius in 2017, she has helped shape solutions that accelerate scientific discovery and improve productivity across the life sciences industry. Prior to Sartorius, she held product management roles at Olympus and ProQuest (now Clarivate), building her career within Michigan’s vibrant technology and life sciences ecosystem. Kimberly earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and is passionate about applying technology and data-driven innovation to solve complex scientific challenges.
Kimberly Wicklund
Sartorius
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