The full program for the 12th BiG IMPACT Annual Conference is now available. Taking place in Shanghai on October 23–24, 2026, the meeting brings scientific discovery, clinical development, investment, policy, and global partnerships into one conversation.
Xiaodong Wang and Gregory Verdine will explore the science and decisions behind lasting innovation, while Peter Kolchinsky will lead a closing discussion on the global biotech social contract and U.S.–China collaboration. The full schedule below also includes keynotes from Yongkui Sun and Bai Lu, four parallel forums, and invitation-only workshops.
Attending from outside mainland China?
Purchase directly through Direct2Lab using a credit card or PayPal. WeChat Pay and Alipay are not required for this checkout.
View ticket options & register →Invitation-only workshops and the closed dinner require separate confirmation from the organizer.
Conference at a glance
- Dates: Friday–Saturday, October 23–24, 2026
- Main venue: Hilton Shanghai Zhangjiang Science City, Shanghai
- Theme: Global Vision · Innovation Transcends Borders
- Organizer: BiG (Biomedical Innovation Group)
- Planned attendance: 800
- Program lead: Ying Yang, Founder and Chair, Lab Direct; Founder, BiG
- Time zone: All times below are Shanghai local time—China Standard Time (UTC+8)
Attendance: The October 23 plenary and October 24 parallel forums are open to registered conference attendees. Preconference workshops and the closed dinner are restricted events; confirm access directly with the organizer. The program and speaker lineup remain subject to on-site updates.
Friday, October 23: Plenary Forum
Innovation · Translation · Globalization · Ecosystem
Part I: China's flourishing biopharmaceutical ecosystem
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 13:00–13:05 |
Opening welcome
Joan Shen (Huaqiong Shen), Founder and CEO, NeuShen Therapeutics; Secretary-General, BiG.
|
| 13:05–13:35 |
Keynote: Exploring Longevity: Biology-Based Pharmacological Strategies for Targeting Aging
Xiaodong Wang, Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences; Founding Director, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS); Co-Founder, BeOne Medicines (formerly BeiGene); BiG Council Member.
|
| 13:35–14:05 |
Keynote: Enabling Innovation: Lingang Laboratory and the Future of Innovative Therapies
Yongkui Sun, Director, Shanghai Center for Innovative Drug R&D.
|
| 14:05–14:45 |
Three-way dialogue: bed2bench2bed—How Clinical Insights Drive Drug Innovation
Moderator: Yongjiang Hei, Founder and CEO, WyserBio Therapeutics. Guests: Jin Li, President, Gaobo Cancer Hospital; Huji Xu, Director of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University; Professor, Tsinghua University School of Medicine.
|
| 14:45–15:15 |
Keynote: Designing Institutions for Original Innovation: Lessons from the SANS Scholars Model
Bai Lu, Founding President, Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS).
|
| 15:15–15:45 |
Keynote: China's Biopharmaceutical Ecosystem: Observations, Tensions, and Future Directions
Fangning Zhang, Partner, McKinsey & Company.
|
| 15:45–16:00 | Tea break |
Part II: From Kendall Square to Shanghai—The people supporting global centers of innovation
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 16:00–16:40 |
Keynote: Tackling Undruggable Targets: Two Decades of Persistence, Discovery, and Lessons Learned
Gregory Verdine, Harvard University Emeritus Professor; CEO, LifeMine Therapeutics.
|
| 16:40–17:10 |
Distinguished fireside chat: Persistence, Choices, and the Future of Innovation Ecosystems
Xiaodong Wang, Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences; Founding Director, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS); Co-Founder, BeOne Medicines (formerly BeiGene); BiG Council Member; and Gregory Verdine, Harvard University Emeritus Professor and CEO, LifeMine Therapeutics.
|
| 17:10–18:10 |
Closing panel: Advancing a Global Biotech Social Contract: A Win-Win Path for U.S.–China Collaboration. Includes a 15-minute opening presentation followed by the panel.
Speaker and moderator: Peter Kolchinsky, Founder, RA Capital Management. Panelists: Bai Lu, Founding President, Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS); Dajun Yang, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Ascentage Pharma; David Lau, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Investment Banking, J.P. Morgan; Yi Chen, Professor and Researcher, Institute for Hospital Management, Tsinghua University, and healthcare systems and policy expert; Qinqin Huang, General Manager, Government Business Department, Ping An Health Insurance headquarters.
|
| 18:10–20:00 |
Closed dinner
Closed-door event; confirm access with the organizer.
|
Saturday, October 24: Parallel Forums
Morning sessions take place in Forum 1 and Forum 2 simultaneously. Afternoon sessions take place in Forum 3 and Forum 4 simultaneously.
Forum 1: Frontiers in Innovative Drug Molecules
Theme 1: The race to develop large-molecule therapeutics
Chair: Chengbin Wu, Founder and CEO, EpimAb Biotherapeutics; BiG Executive Committee Member.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:20 |
Perspective on multispecific format engineering
Zhao Sun, Head of R&D, Innovent Biologics.
|
| 09:20–09:40 |
Early Research and Development of Antibody and Protein Therapeutics
Hua Ying, Senior Deputy General Manager, Qilu Innovative Drug Research Institute; Head of Large-Molecule Innovative Drug R&D and Early CMC.
|
| 09:40–10:00 |
Development of Rocibakibart and beyond
Xiangyang Zhu, General Manager, Huaota Biopharmaceutical.
|
| 10:00–10:10 |
A Closed-Loop Automated Laboratory Workflow for ADC R&D
Jiawen Lun, Product Manager, Integrated Automation, Revvity.
|
| 10:10–10:20 | Tea break |
Theme 2: Emerging small molecules and new modalities
Chair: Xiangyang Lu, Chairman and CEO, Laekna Therapeutics.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 10:20–11:10 |
Dialogue: Undruggable Targets and Difficult-to-Develop Medicines
Moderator: Jianing Di, VP, International R&D and Corporate Development, Parabilis Medicines. Guests: Gregory Verdine, Harvard University Emeritus Professor and CEO, LifeMine Therapeutics; Xiangyang Lu, Chairman and CEO, Laekna Therapeutics; Genghui Chen, Chairman, THEDERMA.
|
| 11:10–11:30 |
Fireside chat: Betting on Oligonucleotide Therapeutics—Argo's Strategic Choices from Platform Building to Global Expansion
Moderator: Zhui Chen, CEO, OTR Therapeutics. Guest: Dongxu Shu, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Argo Biopharma.
|
| 11:30–11:50 |
When AI Meets Challenging Targets: A Closed-Loop Computational and Experimental Approach from Molecular Design to Drug Discovery Breakthroughs
Lipeng Lai, Co-Founder and CIO, XtalPi.
|
| 11:50–12:30 |
Panel: Unlimited Resources, Limited Choices—Which Molecules Would You Develop, and Which Would You Still Avoid?
Moderator: Cindy Xiong, Partner, Venrock. Panelists: Baiyong Li, Co-Founder and CSO, Akeso; Chengbin Wu, Founder and CEO, EpimAb Biotherapeutics; BiG Executive Committee Member.
|
Forum 2: Young BiG Leaders Summit
Exclusive title sponsor: RA Capital Management
Theme 1: Winning projects from the inaugural Science2Startup China (S2S China) translational project finals
Co-chairs: Josh Resnick, Partner, RA Capital Management; Abbey Schmitz, Senior Associate, Corporate Development, RA Capital Management.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:10 |
Opening remarks
Josh Resnick, RA Capital
|
| 09:10–09:15 |
Introduction to S2S China
Josh Resnick / Abbey Schmitz, RA Capital
|
| 09:15–09:25 |
Westlake Omics
Tiannan Guo, Westlake
|
| 09:25–09:35 |
NH Bio
Jian Ma
|
| 09:35–09:45 |
Kepler Biosciences
Justin Tan, SZBL
|
| 09:45–09:55 |
NeuroASO
Ke Zhang, SZBL
|
| 09:55–10:05 |
HeaLux Global
Zhenyu Zhang
|
| 10:05–10:15 |
Treg Biosciences
Fan Pan
|
| 10:15–10:25 |
iBiome
Alex Li
|
| 10:25–10:35 |
Cardiac Regeneration
Wang Zheng
|
| 10:35–10:45 | Tea break |
Theme 2: Selected Young BiG innovation projects
Chair: Zhiyun Yu, Partner, 3E Bioventures; BiG Young Leaders Committee Member.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 10:50–11:00 |
Convergen Pharmaceuticals
Jinquan Sun
|
| 11:00–11:10 |
Triastek
Senping Cheng
|
| 11:10–11:20 |
Polykleitos
Shiyi Zhang
|
| 11:20–11:30 |
Rona Therapeutics
Stella (Yibin) Shi
|
| 11:30–11:40 |
AlphaMol
Shuguang Yuan
|
| 11:40–11:50 |
LyncBio Therapeutics
Cexiong Fu
|
| 11:50–12:30 |
Panel: Innovation from China, Patients Worldwide: Translating Discovery into Medicines through Collaboration
Moderator: Josh Resnick, Partner, RA Capital Management. Panelists: Kan Chen, Partner, Qiming Venture Partners; Stella (Yibin) Shi, Founder and CEO, Rona Therapeutics; Tiannan Guo, Founder, Westlake Omics; Justin Tan, Founder, Kepler Biosciences.
|
Forum 3: Breakthrough Therapies and Disease Frontiers
14:00–16:00 | Theme 1: The next breakthrough in CNS therapeutics
Chair: Joan Shen, Founder and CEO, NeuShen Therapeutics; Secretary-General, BiG.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 14:00–14:20 |
The experiences and challenges of CNS global clinical trials
Evangelos (Evan) Tzanis, Founder, T2 Pharma Consulting.
|
| 14:20–14:40 |
Lessons from Clinical Development of Antiepileptic Medicines
Peimin Yu, Associate Professor, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University.
|
| 14:40–15:00 |
The Current State and Future Direction of Neuroactive Drug Development: From Clinical Use to Regulatory Pathways
Joan Shen, Founder and CEO, NeuShen Therapeutics; Secretary-General, BiG.
|
| 15:00–15:20 |
Latest Trends and Case Studies in Business Development Deals in 2026
Liming Yuan, Partner, Han Kun Law Offices.
|
| 15:20–16:00 |
Panel: Opportunities and Strategies for CNS Clinical Development in China's Changing Landscape
Moderator: Joan Shen, Founder and CEO, NeuShen Therapeutics; Secretary-General, BiG. Panelists: Evangelos (Evan) Tzanis, Founder, T2 Pharma Consulting; Peimin Yu, Associate Professor, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University; Zhihong Lu, CMO, Zhimeng Biopharma.
|
| 16:00–16:15 | Tea break |
16:15–18:15 | Theme 2: Emerging breakthroughs in autoimmune therapies
Chair: Ling Zhou, Head, Sanofi China Innovation Center.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 16:15–16:35 |
Early Development Strategies and Multinational Licensing for Autoimmune T-Cell Engagers
Zhixing Zhao, CTO, Kali Therapeutics.
|
| 16:35–16:55 |
Global Licensing of Small Molecules: From Differentiated R&D to Realizing Global Value
Min Liu, BD Director, Haisco Pharmaceutical.
|
| 16:55–17:15 |
Pursuing Breakthroughs in Autoimmune Therapies: Research and Clinical Development of Novel Candidates
Yan Feng, Chairman, Leadingtac.
|
| 17:15–17:35 |
From Eliminating Tumors to Resetting Immunity: Translating Innovative Oncology Therapies into Autoimmune Disease R&D
Jiamei Li, Senior Clinical Research Physician, Caidya.
|
| 17:35–18:15 |
Panel: What Makes a Good Medicine for Autoimmune Disease?
Moderator: Ling Zhou, Head, Sanofi China Innovation Center. Panelists: Huijuan Xie, CSO, Harbour BioMed; Mingfu Zhu, CEO, 20n Bio; Yuanfeng Xia, VP, R&D, GenSci.
|
Forum 4: Frontiers in Policy, Capital, and the Innovation Ecosystem
Theme 1: An in-depth policy dialogue
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 14:00–14:40 |
How Policy Is Reshaping Biotech
Moderator: Ying Yang, Founder and Chair, Lab Direct; Founder, BiG. Panelists: Wensen Pan, Chair, Asia Life Sciences Practice, Goodwin; Dan Zhang, Foreign Member, Russian Academy of Engineering; CSO, Xiehe Innovation Port (协和创新港); Professor and Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Clinical Science, Fudan University; Zhiping Chen, CEO, Shengsheng International.
|
Theme 2: Investment priorities and models in a changing landscape
Chair: Jieyu Zou, Partner, Lilly Asia Ventures.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 14:40–15:00 |
Insights into China's Innovative Drug R&D Trends in a Changing Landscape
Jing Cheng, Co-Founder and CEO, PharmaCube.
|
| 15:00–16:00 |
Her Lens: Women's Perspectives on the New Investment Landscape
Moderator: Jieyu Zou, Partner, Lilly Asia Ventures. Panelists: Beverly Lu, Partner, Yosemite; Tess Cameron, Managing Director, Venture Team, RA Capital Management; Cindy Xiong, Partner, Venrock; Dianna Qian, Partner, Cathay Capital.
|
| 16:00–16:15 | Tea break |
Theme 3: The current state and future of business development partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 16:15–16:45 |
Dialogue: Rethinking Biotech BD Strategy amid the Global Expansion Wave
Tong Zhang, Co-Founder, CBO and CFO, VelaVigo; BiG Executive Committee Member; and Jun Bao, Managing Partner, Apuri BioVenture.
|
| 16:45–17:45 |
Panel: Current Trends and Future Directions in MNC Business Development Partnerships
Moderator: Tong Zhang, Co-Founder, CBO and CFO, VelaVigo; BiG Executive Committee Member. Panelists: Yinghui Yu, Senior Director, Global Business Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine; Yu Qi, Director, Asia-Pacific Business Development and Licensing, MSD; Gang Wang, Senior Director, Business Development and Licensing, Boehringer Ingelheim; Ying Yang (杨樱), Head of Strategy and Business Development, Greater China, Sanofi.
|
Invitation-only preconference program
These closed-door sessions are by invitation only. A general conference pass does not confirm access. Please contact the organizer to confirm eligibility and venue before attending.
Thursday, October 22: Real Challenges, Practical Pathways—Global Collaboration Using China's Clinical Development Resources
- Hosts: BiG and Caidya.
- Venue: NeuShen Therapeutics, 10th floor, Tower A, Science Gate, Zhangjiang, Shanghai (上海张江·科学之门A塔10F–纽欧申医药).
- Format: Invitation-only; 30 participants.
- Language: English.
- Please confirm timing with the organizer: The published overview lists 09:00–12:00, while the detailed program below runs through 12:10, followed by lunch until 13:30.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:10 |
Opening remarks and speaker introductions
Joan Shen, Founder and CEO, NeuShen Therapeutics; Secretary-General, BiG.
|
| 09:10–09:40 |
Talk 1—The founder's perspective: How a CEO with a CMO Background Advances an Asset's Clinical Development: Strategy, Choices, and Major Pitfalls
Joan Shen.
|
| 09:40–10:10 |
Talk 2—The clinician's perspective: Real Clinical Needs and China's Clinical Resources: From Study Design to Execution
Yifeng Shen, Director, Clinical Trial Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center.
|
| 10:10–10:40 |
Talk 3—Case study: Caidya's Best Practices in Global Collaboration
Jie Li, General Manager, China, Caidya.
|
| 10:40–12:10 |
90-minute roundtable: Real Challenges, Real Concerns, and Practical Approaches; three perspectives together with audience participation
Moderator: Joan Shen. Participants: Yifeng Shen, Shanghai Mental Health Center; Evangelos (Evan) Tzanis, Founder, T2 Pharma Consulting; Yongjiang Hei, Founder and CEO, WyserBio Therapeutics; Jie Li, General Manager, China, Caidya.
|
| 12:10–13:30 | Light lunch and networking |
Thursday, October 22: Let's Talk about AI Drug Discovery
- Hosts: BiG and XtalPi.
- Venue: XtalPi Shanghai Zhangjiang Integrated Innovation Park, 207 Huanqiao Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.
- Format: Invitation-only; 60 participants.
- Program: 14:00–18:30; registration begins at 13:30.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 13:30–14:00 | Registration and welcome refreshments |
| 14:00–14:30 |
Fireside chat: Working with AI-Native Companies
Lihua Yu, President of R&D, DoveTree Medicines.
|
| 14:30–15:00 |
From the Digital Workbench to the Robotic Lab Bench: XtalPi Science's End-to-End Closed Loop
McNeil Tan (谈樑), Head, Chemistry Digitization and Autonomous Systems Team, XtalPi.
|
| 15:00–15:20 | Refreshments, networking, and demonstrations of advanced AI and automated R&D technologies |
| 15:20–16:10 |
Panel 1: AI Innovation Leaders in Conversation with Leading Investors
Moderator: Jinglin Huang, Investment Vice President, Cathay Capital. Panelists: Yingcheng Wu, Founder and CEO, PhAI Lab; Odin Zhang, Founder and CEO, Valhalla Technology; Yuguang Wang, Founder and CEO, Toursynbio, and Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Xin Xie, Founder and CEO, Xellar Biosystems; Wells Tu, Director of Corporate Development, Pansynora.
|
| 16:10–17:00 |
Panel 2: Biotech Founders and AI Technology Founders in Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue
Moderator: Zhangming Niu, CEO, MindRank. Additional panelists to be announced.
|
| 17:00–18:30 | Networking reception |
Friday, October 23: BD or NewCo? Maximizing Long-Term Value for Global Biotech Innovators
- Hosts: BiG and RA Capital Management.
- Lunch title sponsor: InnoStar.
- Venue: Hilton Shanghai Zhangjiang Science City.
- Time: 09:00–12:30.
- Format: Invitation-only; 100 participants.
- Language: English.
| Time | Session & speakers |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:15 |
Session 1: Strategic Global Expansion—Choosing between NewCo and BD Partnership Models
Moderator: Fiona Yu, Partner, RA Capital. Guests: Josh Resnick, Partner, RA Capital; Dan Zheng, Regional Head, Innovation and Partnerships, External Portfolio Innovation, Takeda; and two to three Chinese innovators with experience pursuing different pathways, to be announced.
|
| 10:15–11:30 |
Session 2: Accelerating Global Innovation—Achieving Clinical Proof of Concept at “China Speed”
Moderator: Gunnar Esiason, RA Capital; Vice President, Patient Strategy & Innovation, Blackbird. Guests: Camille Snyder, RA Capital; Associate Director, Patient Recruitment & Engagement, Blackbird; Yongjiang Hei, Founder and CEO, WyserBio Therapeutics; Yifan Zhai, CMO, Ascentage Pharma; Xin Wang, Partner, Qiming Venture Partners; Jie Li, General Manager, China, Caidya.
|
| 11:30–12:30 |
Lunch and networking
Lunch title sponsor: InnoStar.
|
Reserve your BiG IMPACT 2026 conference pass
Purchase directly through Direct2Lab using a credit card or PayPal. WeChat Pay and Alipay are not required for this checkout.
View ticket options & register →Invitation-only workshops and the closed dinner require separate confirmation from the organizer.
Questions about participation or membership? Contact Kathy at +86 176 2190 9690. For business partnerships, contact Faye at +86 138 1655 4940. Both numbers are also available on WeChat.
Source: English adaptation of the detailed agenda released on October 15, 2026. Read the original Chinese announcement. The final program and speaker lineup are subject to organizer updates.
