Ecosystem_e.017

Lab Rats to Unicorns

Following the voices of Michelle Hoffman, Azurii Collier, John Conrad and John Flavin, e.017 means to reach a community-based perspective, focusing on the factors that contribute to and resist change/growth in emerging life science ecosystems, especially Chicago.

Azurii Collier is the Director of Enterprise Innovation at AbbVie and the National President-Elect of Women in Bio - an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for all women in the life sciences. Her background in Cognitive Neuroscience has been a driving force in leading transformations towards knowledge-based ecosystems.

Michelle Hoffman is the Executive Director of The Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC)- and organization built to stimulate collaboration among scientists at Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago and others to accelerate discovery that will transform biomedical research and improve the health of humankind. She has particular expertise in healthcare analysis, biotech industry and market analysis. Her work with both large and small, private and public companies as contributed to the impact of her industry knowledge.

John Conrad is the President & CEO at Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO)-an organization dedicated to promoting, connecting and engaging the life sciences community to drive discovery, transform lives through groundbreaking research and grow the Illinois economy. John works alongside policymakers to tackle issues that affect the industry; his focus has been around establishing the Midwest as a viable place to grow a life science company.