Rakhshita currently serves on the Business Development team within Roche Partnering focused on early stage activities in platform technologies and assets located in Boston launching the Boston Innovation hub. Prior to Roche, Rakhshita spent 6 years at MassBio where she created and oversaw all Innovation Services department and its signature programs MassCONNECT and Pharma partnering days. Under her leadership these programs have become industry leading efforts in both entrepreneurship and partnering and these models are now being emulated by other trade associations around the world. Prior to MassBio, Rakhshita worked at a boutique business development life science consulting firm, Adjuvant Global Advisors in DC. She holds a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from University of Mumbai. She is very active in the life-science entrepreneurial community and often volunteers as a judge at various local pitch events.

Sarah Hogan represents companies in the life sciences and digital health industries on structuring and negotiating intellectual property licenses, strategic collaborations and other complex commercial transactions – helping her clients leverage intellectual property assets and collaborate to develop and deliver innovative solutions that improve health and health care. Sarah uses her science background and comprehensive life sciences industry knowledge as an asset to understand critical business concerns and effectively manage complex issues. As a result of the diverse range of clients and transactions she manages, Sarah has in-depth understanding of the implications of each deal on various aspects of the business, including downstream transactions. Sarah is known for her practical approach – focusing on achieving business objectives while balancing legal risks and preserving her clients’ relationship with their partners. Credentials include: Northeastern University School of Law, JD, University of New Hampshire, MS, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, BS.

Dr. Campbell Murray is a Managing Director at NVF in Cambridge, MA, USA. Prior to joining NVF, he worked at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research as the Director of Special Projects. Campbell is a New Zealand-trained physician and worked as a Medical House Officer at Auckland Hospital. He is a Kauffman Fellow and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPP (public policy) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was a Knox Fellow and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Campbell currently serves on the boards of Akouos (observer), Annexon, Expansion Therapeutics, Lemonaid Health, Renovacor and Tscan. Exits include: Aerpio (NASDAQ: ARPO), Akebia (NASDAQ: AKBA), Alios Biopharma (acquired by J&J), Galera (NASDAQ: GRTX), Neurovance (acquired by Otsuka), Tokai Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TKAI)

Troy focuses on innovation strategy, transactions and new product commercialization to drive growth and value for life sciences companies and their investors. As leader of Locust Walk’s Strategy and Analytics practice, Troy advises clients on portfolio and partnering strategy. As Managing Director of Valamont Advisors, Troy acts as an independent business officer and strategy advisor. Having held senior positions in the life sciences practices of leading strategy consulting firms such as McKinsey, L.E.K. and EY-Parthenon, Troy has advised each of the top pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and more than 125 other therapeutic, diagnostic, medical device and digital health innovators. Troy was previously Vice President of Corporate Development for Biogen Idec, and earlier led Biogen's R&D investment prioritization process. Troy also led Business Development for three new ventures. He began his career with Astra USA where he led Clinical Operations, Finance and Planning. Troy received a BA in biochemistry from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Troy serves as an Innovation Fellow with Harvard Innovation Labs, as a member of MassBio’s Academic Initiatives Steering Committee, and a mentor to entrepreneur founders via HiLabs and MassConnect.

Deborah Palestrant, Ph.D., M.B.A joined 5AM Ventures in 2018 as Partner, Head of 4:59. Previously, Dr. Palestrant was Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategy at Relay Therapeutics, where she executed business strategy including alliances, partnerships, and other collaborations and led communications. She has over 15 years of life sciences industry experience including drug discovery, company creation, operations, business development, and strategy. Following her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Palestrant was a lab head at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, where she advanced multiple structure-based drug discovery programs. In 2010, Dr. Palestrant joined Third Rock Ventures as a senior associate and helped to build and launch Blueprint Medicines (NASDAQ: BPMC). Upon its launch, Dr. Palestrant served an interim role in operations at Blueprint Medicines. Subsequent to her return to Third Rock Ventures, Dr. Palestrant helped to conceive and launch Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT), and as part of the original founding team, she led the business development group until joining Relay Therapeutics. Dr. Palestrant holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from Columbia University, an M.B.A from Northeastern University, and was Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at The Scripps Research Institute. She is based in the Boston, MA office.

Ravneesh Sachdev is Vice President/Head, Business Development at Sage Therapeutics based in Cambridge. Sage is a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and delivering novel medicines to transform the lives of patients with life-altering disorders of the central nervous system, including Zulresso™, the first FDA-approved drug specifically for post-partum depression. Ravneesh evaluates and transacts on partnerships in order to inorganically grow Sage’s business. Over the past 15+ years of his business development career, Ravneesh has contributed to, as well as, led the execution of more than 20 partnerships during his tenure at several other companies, namely Pfizer, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (now part of Amgen), UCB Pharma, Acorda Therapeutics and Bioverativ (now part of Sanofi). Ravneesh earned his Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Neuroscience from Claremont McKenna College, his Professional Science Masters degree from the Keck Graduate Institute and his MBA from Yale University School of Management.