Keynotes

Vanessa E. Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, managing over 11,000 employees and overseeing human spaceflight activities, including the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars. She previously served as deputy director and held other key leadership positions at NASA. Wyche earned her B.S. and M.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University and is a passionate STEM advocate, serving on multiple advisory boards. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Dr. Jennifer L. West is the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science at UVA and a member of the National Academies of Engineering, Medicine, and Inventors. Her research includes nanoparticle-based therapeutics and diagnostics. She founded Nanospectra Biosciences Inc., which is developing AuroLase cancer therapy. Dr. West has authored over 200 research articles and holds 20 patents. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to bioengineering.

Dr. Meike Herget is the CTO and Co-founder of Avails Medical Inc., a startup focused on infectious disease diagnostics. She leads the development of electronic biosensor technology. Dr. Herget holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Goethe University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. She has 36 patents and ten peer-reviewed publications and has secured significant funding for Avails Medical.

Dr. Christine Edwards is an electrical and biomedical engineer with over 28 years of experience at the Department of Defense. She has held various roles in research, technical advisory, and leadership. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence and neuroscience to develop innovative solutions in multiple domains.