Beyond the AI Hype:
The Beginning Of Smarter Science

Andreas Steinbacher

Senior Digital Director Therapeutics Discovery at Novo Nordisk

Andreas Steinbacher has a background in mechatronic engineering and holds a PhD in Physics. Before pursuing his academic career, he worked on enhancing measurement and regulation systems for large-scale chemical production sites. During his undergraduate studies, he explored the field of biophysics and specialized in spectroscopic method development and automated data analysis within analytical and physical chemistry during his PhD and postdoctoral roles. His academic endeavors paved the way for his transition to the pharmaceutical industry, joining Roche Pharma Research and Development (pRED) where he spearheaded digitalization in research laboratories and successfully implemented a digital lab automation platform before venturing into solving preclinical data management challenges. He joined Novo Nordisk to build up an area that is responsible for creating new digital solutions for Entity Registration Systems, Research Sample Inventories, ELNs & LIMSs, etc. He also works with Data Scientists and Researchers to develop innovative strategies and methods for (generative) AI that advance data-driven drug discovery. Recently, he transitioned into the Therapeutics Discovery area at Novo Nordisk to drive the digital transformation and creating strategies to build a viable data & digital ecosystem.

Matthew Mikell

Senior Director, Marketing at LabConnect

Matthew Mikell is Head of Marketing at LabConnect where he leads strategic initiatives in technology innovation and clinical trial services. With a 20-year career spanning healthcare technology business intelligence and AI-driven solutions Matthew Mikell brings a dynamic blend of global expertise to LabConnect.  He currently serves as Head of Marketing driving global campaigns public relations and advertising that elevates LabConnect’s position as a leader in central laboratory services for clinical trials. His previous work with IBM Watson focuses on integrating generative AI cloud platforms and data analytics to enhance operational efficiency using the Internet of Things. Prior to LabConnect, Mikell held leadership roles at bioMérieux where he championed IT and cloud solutions for infectious disease diagnostics. His thought leadership includes published insights on the future of AI in healthcare chatbot therapy and talent transformation in the age of automation. Mikell’s background includes international marketing product management, and corporate communications with a strong emphasis on B2B technology and partnerships. He is known for his ability to bridge technical complexity with compelling storytelling making him a sought-after voice in healthcare marketing. He spent five years in Heidelberg Germany leading all channels and alliances as part of the leadership team in SAS International GmbH. Now residing in the Raleigh-Durham area, he spends his free time managing horses chickens and cats.  

Dr. Beck Upton

President at Pistoia Alliance.

Becky has served as President of the Pistoia Alliance since 2022 and is a long-time champion of pre-competitive collaboration to drive innovation and new breakthroughs in life sciences R&D. Under her leadership the Pistoia Alliance has grown to include around 200 members from across the global biopharma ecosystem and a diverse and award-winning portfolio of over 20 projects and communities focused around four strategic priorities: Delivering Data-Driven Value, Harnessing AI to Expedite R&D, Sustainability-Driven R&D and Accelerate Late-Stage R&D. Becky is passionate about creating value for members, strengthening relationships with regulators, and driving the life sciences industry forwards by supporting the adoption of emerging technologies and standards and through the delivery of education, training and change management initiatives. She regularly speaks at a number of high profile industry events.
Prior to the Pistoia Alliance, Becky held senior positions at VWR (now part Avantor) where she worked for over a decade in sales, business development, and scientific services, before becoming Managing Director at scientific instrumentation and analytical services company Pion. Becky was previously a Project Manager and Chief Portfolio Officer at the Pistoia Alliance, before re-joining the Alliance as President after holding a Director role at Impellam Group where she led the company’s STEM services strategy.
Becky has a PhD in Biochemistry from Imperial College and an MBA from Cranfield University.

Kevin Cramer

Founder & CEO, Sapio Sciences

Kevin Cramer serves as the founder and CEO of Sapio Sciences, leveraging a wealth of tech expertise to lead product design and development within the company. His dynamic career includes strategic roles at tech and life sciences companies such as Siebel Systems, Sybase, Biomind, and Veloxity, with a unique skill set that blends technical acumen and sales prowess.

Kevin is driven by his dedication to accelerating the drug R&D process. His vision encompasses a unified platform designed to streamline the creation of large and small molecules, assess their efficacy, manage data capture at scale, and harness the power of data visualization. The platform also incorporates advanced analytical and AI strategies to augment the discovery process.

Mike Hampton

CCO, Sapio Sciences

Mike Hampton is the CCO at Sapio Sciences, where he leads global commercial strategy and operations, including marketing, solution consulting, customer success and sales. He brings over two decades of international experience in life sciences, spanning commercial leadership, digital business transformation, and customer success. Mike’s focus is on accelerating growth by developing strong partnerships with pharma and biotech and strengthening Sapio’s position as the industry leader in AI-native lab informatics.

With deep expertise in R&D digital transformation, customer relationship development, and value-based engagements, Mike is passionate about helping customers accelerate the entire drug development lifecycle.

Gordon McCall

COO, Sapio Sciences

Gordon McCall is a proven business leader with deep operational and financial expertise now serving as Chief Operating Officer at Sapio Sciences. After more than two years as Sapio’s CFO—where he played a pivotal role in scaling operations and supporting the company’s rapid growth—Gordon has transitioned into the COO role to lead Sapio’s global delivery and customer experience strategy.With a background that includes leadership positions at high-growth private equity-backed companies and a successful tenure as CFO at Dotmatics Gordon brings a uniquely strategic and hands-on approach to operations. In his new role Gordon is responsible for ensuring that Sapio customers not only achieve fast time to value but also experience seamless high-quality delivery across every touchpoint—from initial onboarding to daily platform use. His focus spans delivery excellence customer satisfaction and operational scalability as Sapio continues its international expansion.

Veronica DeFilice

Director of Biology Products, Sapio Sciences

Veronica’s career began in international discovery optimization and identification for biologics before evolving into comprehensive product development spanning discovery through commercialization. She has lent her expertise across diverse sectors, including intellectual property, patents, and biotechnology investments, with a specialized focus on biologics, such as antibody discovery and cell and gene therapy, cultivating a rich, multifaceted perspective across industries. Her work centers on product development that bridges biologics and AI, where she artfully integrates technical innovation with strategic product vision.

Rob Brown

VP Product & Presales, Sapio Sciences

Rob Brown is VP of Product & Sales at Sapio Sciences. He was previously at Dotmatics where he was Head of Global Presales, Product Marketing & Product Management. Earlier in his career he ran product marketing teams at Accelrys, SciTegic and MSI. Rob started his career as a postdoc and later research scientist at Abbott Laboratories (now Abbvie). He received his PhD in Cheminformatics from the University of Sheffield, UK

Jackie Huitink

Solution Consultant, Sapio Sciences

Jackie is an experienced Scientist with a demonstrated and diverse background of working in the biotechnology industry. After spending the first 20 years of her career in the laboratory doing research in strain engineering, alternative fuels, and analytics to name a few, Jackie has transitioned to Pre-Sales in the LIMS space where she uses her extensive research background and passion for science and the scientific community to provide new and efficient solutions in data and laboratory management.