
2025 iC³ Summit Sessions
10 Years & Beyond
September 16, 2025: 7:30am - 7:00pm
September 17, 2025: 8:00am - 3:30pm

Beyond the Bench and the Boardroom:
Unlocking Federal & Alternative Funding in the New Policy Era
As federal priorities shift, access to non-dilutive funding and preclinical support is more critical—and complex—than ever. This session brings together experts from D.C., academia, and state agencies to demystify the evolving landscape.
Learn how to navigate federal grants, tap into emerging resources, and align your work for long-term, mission-driven growth.
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Travis Taylor, PhD
Vice President of Life Sciences
Strategic Marketing Innovations
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Kristen Doyle, JD, MS
CEO
CPRIT
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Chelsea Luxen, MBA
Co-Founder & CEO
ParaNano Wound Care
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Senator Tan Parker
Co-Chair
Texas AI Advisory Council
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Lito Rodriguez
Research Grants Specialist
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Putting Patients First: Access & Business Strategies for Better Care
Patient advocacy ensures individuals receive the care and support they need, but true impact happens when businesses integrate patient needs into their strategies.
This session will explore how advocacy and patient-centered business models drive better healthcare outcomes.
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Casey McPherson
Founder & CEO
AlphaRose Therapeutics
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Diana Castro, MD
Founder & Director
Neurology and Neuromuscular Care Center

Talent, Tech & Trajectory — Building the Life Science Workforce of Tomorrow
As biotech and life sciences accelerate driven by AI, personalized medicine, and advanced therapeutics—the demand for skilled, future-ready talent is surging.
This session explores how North Texas is connecting education with opportunity to build a strong regional talent pipeline and position itself as a full-spectrum innovation hub.
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Gabby Everett, PhD
Director of Business Operations & Strategy, Site Head
BioLabs Pegasus Park
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Andrew Dickhaut
Director of Life Sciences
Catapult Solutions Group
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Micaela Herndon, EdD, MBA, MEd
Senior Director, EDA Good Jobs Challenge, Biotech
Dallas College
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Andrew Zinn, MD, PhD
Henry Ross Perot Distinguished Professorship in Biomedical Science; Rolf Haberecht and Ute Schwarz Haberecht Deanship
UT Southwestern Medical Center
