[Ottawa Chapter] Accelerating Innovation: How AI is Redefining BioTech

The S2BN Ottawa chapter is hosting a panel session with two expert guests, Joseph Geraci (NetraMark) and Naheed Kurji (Recursion Canada). Grab asome caffeine and come ready with questions. The panel discussion will be split into the follow 3 topics:

• AI in drug discovery: data collection, trials, and effect on future diagnostics & treatment. • AI ethical ambiguity: job placements, false positives/negatives. • Entrepreneurship in starting and managing an AI company.

Please find more about the invited panelists below:

Joseph Geraci, Ph.D. (NetraMark)

Dr. Joseph Geraci, Ph.D., is a mathematician, medical scientist, and quantum machine learning specialist. He is the founder of NetraMark. Geraci holds postdocs in machine learning, oncology, and neuropsychiatry. He has developed novel machine learning intelligence algorithms that are capable of providing extraordinary insights into complex data sets, like those found in clinical trials. Joseph is associated with the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at Queen’s University, Ontario, and the Centre for Biotechnology and Genomics Medicine Medical College of Georgia, USA.

Naheed Kurji, MBA (Recursion Canada)

Naheed is the President of Recursion Canada, the Canadian wholly-owned subsidiary of Recursion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RXRX). Prior to joining Recursion, Naheed was the Co-founder, President and CEO of Cyclica, a Toronto-based biotech company (acquired by Recursion in May 2023). At Cyclica, Naheed had the distinct privilege of working with an incredibly talented and dedicated team that was considered one of the pioneers of what is now the increasingly hot space of AI for Drug Discovery and Development. Naheed is also a co-founder and Board Member of EntheogeniX Biosciences, a psychedelic inspired biotech company for mental health, co-founder of the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AAIH) for which he served as Chair until May 2023, Board Member of the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO), and Member of the Life Sciences Advisory Group for Global Affairs Canada. Naheed is passionate about how people interact with technology to inform effective decision making, while dedicated to advancing the responsible application of AI to healthcare and the impact on patients. Naheed holds an MBA from Rotman School of Business and an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa.