Join Us at BIO on the BAYOU: October 28 - October 29, 2025

BIO on the BAYOU anchors a full week of innovation and opportunity in New Orleans, showcasing emerging biotech and health science breakthroughs that haven't been picked over. Connect with investors, researchers, and industry leaders across life sciences, medtech, healthcare, and techbio. The 2025 program expands with more expert-led panels, curated partnering tables, and exhibitor opportunities than ever before. Plus, don’t miss complementary events like The Bullpen and BioChallenge—rounding out a dynamic week designed to accelerate ideas, investments, and impact.

Presentations

Explore and watch past presentations to stay informed and inspired—access the full archive on our YouTube Channel.

BioChallenge

Fuel the future of neuroscience innovation — stay for the BioChallenge where groundbreaking startups changing the world of healthcare compete.

Bullpen Masquerade Ball

Join BLPN members and friends for an unforgettable Masquerade Ball as we close the conference in style.

Agenda

The 2025 Bio on the Bayou conference promises an exciting lineup of cutting-edge discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities for innovators and leaders in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

  • October 28
    TIME SPEAKER TOPIC
    8:45 AM REGISTRATION & PARTNERING OPEN
    9:30 – 9:35AM  WELCOME & BotB INTRO BotB Team
    9:35 – 10:35AM PANEL 1 A Conversation with Investors
    10:35 AM Pitch 1 Auburn University | Mark Liles, PhD, Yellowhammer Co-op:
    “Yellowhammer Co-op: Biologics for Animal and Plant Health”
    10:45 AM Pitch 2 University of Mississippi | Cecil “Bo” Lewis, SimplyBreathe L.L.C.:
    “RhinEase(TM) – A Steroid-eluting Implant for the Treatment of Rhinitis” (STARTUP)
    10:55 AM Pitch 3 Auburn University | Gary A. Piazza, Ph.D., ADT Pharmaceuticals LLC:  
    “Novel anticancer drug for resistant cancers: Killing two birds with one stone” (STARTUP)
    11:05 AM Pitch 4 University of Louisville | Melissa Smith,
    “Clareo Biosciences: Decoding immune diversity to predict drug responsiveness and improve time to market”
    11:15 – 11:45 AM NETWORKING BREAK NETWORKING BREAK
    11:45 AM Pitch 5 Pennington Biomedical Research Center | Ann Coulter, PhD,
    “A Potent Supplement that Targets Fat to Stimulate Thermogenesis and Weight Loss”
    11:55 AM Pitch 6 Tulane University | Vinoin Devpaul Vincely, LumaWave:
    “A handheld device for rapid deep point-of-care oxygenation assessments” (STARTUP)
    12:05 PM Pitch 7 University of Tennesee | Sudeshna Roy,
    “Before It Becomes ‘The Last of Us’: Smarter Antifungals to Cure Deadly Infections”
    12:15 – 1:25 PM LUNCH LUNCH
    1:25 – 2:15 PM PANEL 2 How to win friends and influence innovation: partners in innovation advancement
    2:15 PM Pitch 8 Johns Hopkins University | Leo Kim, Higher Medicine:
    “Cure children’s diseases and solve the longevity puzzle via epigenetic restoration” (STARTUP)
    2:25 PM Pitch 9 UNO – The Beach | Mark L. Trudell, PhD,
    “Green Catalysts: Recyclable & Highly Catalytic Palladium/Halloysite Nanocomposites for Pharmaceutical Synthesis”
    2:35 PM Pitch 10 Tulane University | Lawrence Reiter, PhD,
    “Dental Pulp Stem Cells as a Source for Precision Medicine”
    2:45 – 3:25 PM NETWORKING BREAK NETWORKING BREAK
    3:25 PM Pitch 11 David Harrell, Helixomer:
    “RNA Origami Platform: Rewriting the Future of Drug Design and Development” (STARTUP)
    3:35 PM Pitch 12 Louisiana State University and Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine | Michelle M. Martinez, Dynamiko Pharmaceutics:
    “Developing selective therapies for cancer ” (STARTUP)
    3:45 PM Pitch 13 University Of Southern Mississippi | Faqing Huang,
    “Developing a Novel Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccine Platform”
    3:55 PM Pitch 14 LSU Health New Orleans | Michael Dunham,
    “Personalized AI-Enabled Computer Vision for Monitoring Technology-Dependent Children”
    4:05 – 4:45 PM FIRESIDE CHAT Fireside Chat with Walter Isaacson
    4:45 – 5:00 PM Day 1 Closing Comments BotB Team
    5:00 – 7:00 PM BotB RECEPTION BotB RECEPTION 

     

  • October 29
    TIME SPEAKER TOPIC
    9:00AM REGISTRATION &  REGISTRATION & 
    PARTNERING OPEN PARTNERING OPEN
    9:55-10:00AM  Day 2 WELCOME & BotB INTRO BotB Team
    10:00 – 10:50 AM PANEL 3 From Pilot to Partnership: How Industry and Investors Engage Early
    10:50 AM Pitch 15 Tulane University | Kalen Hall, Informuta: 
    “Informuta: AI-powered resistance evolution forecasting for precision antibiotic treatment” (STARTUP)
    11:00 AM Pitch 16 Tulane University | Rani Brooks, BioPhoundry: 
    “BioPhoundry: Scaling Precision Antibiotics” (STARTUP)
    11:10 AM Pitch 17 LSU AgCenter | Wade Baumgartner,
    “Nanoparticle Matrix for Delivery of Natural Bioactive Components”
    11:20 Pitch 18 LSU Health – Shreveport | Dominic Lincoln,
    “RFID-integrated endotracheal tube holder”
    11:30 AM Pitch 19 Alabama State University | Dr. Pooja M. Tiwari, ARNAV Biotech:
    “A peptide based prophylactic against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with potential broad spectrum activity against Influenza” (STARTUP)
    11:40 AM Pitch 20 Auburn University | Joshua Sahib, Hazel Labs: 
    “Hazel Labs: Transforming Loneliness into Connection Through Voice AI” (STARTUP)
    11:50 AM Pitch 21 Mississippi State University | Nick Fitzkee, PhD,
    “A Method for Targeting Nanoparticles to Bacterial Biofilm Infections using Bacterial Surface Proteins”
    12:00 Pitch 22 Walter Acosta | Sylamore Bio:
     Unlocking the Brain: A Receptor-Free Platform for Revolutionary Drug Delivery
    12:10 Pitch 23 Tulane University | Chandler Monk, Cleaved Diagnostics:
    “A novel CRISPR based rapid point-of-care test for universal newborn screening” (STARTUP)
    12:20-1:30 PM Lunch/Panel Hot Topics for Patent, Licensing, and Federal Funding in University Technology Commercialization
    1:30 PM Day 2 Closing Comments BotB Team
    6:00 PM Bullpen Reception Separate Ticket required
  • Attendees

    Organizations

    Tulane University
    Mississippi State University
    Auburn University
    LSU Health Shreveport
    LSU Health Sciences Center
    Arkansas State University
    University of Southern Mississippi
    University of Mississippi
    University of Louisville
    Pennington Biomedical Research Center
    BioBridges
    Maruho Co., Ltd.
    Latham BioPharm Group
    Orbis Clinical
    Zetobit
    Cognito Therapeutics
    Tosoh Corporation
    3Brain AG
    Innoventyx
    TIGDC
    Lumawave Imaging
    Pharos Biolabs
    Helixomer
    Metabolon
    Sylamore Bio
    Arnav Biotech
    Clareo Bio
    Higher Medicine
    Signify Bio
    Foley Hoag LLP
    Quarles & Brady LLP
    Colour Basis
    Emerging Innovations Consulting
    Health Innovation Ventures
    KDT Ventures
    Ceva Santé Animale
    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    LSU AgCenter
    Helix Event Co.
    FirstIgnite

    Industries

    Academic
    Academic / Medical
    Biotechnology
    Biotech / Analytical Testing
    Biotech / Clinical Research
    Biotech / Diagnostics
    Biotech / Gene Therapy
    Biotech / Metabolomics
    Biotech / Neurology
    Biotech / Technology
    Biotech Consulting
    Biotech / Neurotech
    Business Consulting
    Clinical Research Organization
    Communications / Branding
    Event Management
    Government
    Law
    Law / Life Sciences Legal
    Medical Imaging Technology
    Pharmaceutical
    Research / Agriculture
    Research Collaboration Platform
    Research Institution
    Research Organization
    Venture Capital
    Veterinary / Pharmaceutical

  • This year’s BIO on the BAYOU brings together two days of innovation, collaboration, and connection at the heart of the Gulf South’s bioscience community. Attendees can look forward to:

    Engaging Panels featuring investors, corporate partners, and leaders in innovation and technology transfer—plus a special Fireside Chat with Walter Isaacson.
    Groundbreaking Startup Pitches from top universities across the Southeast, showcasing advancements in biologics, AI, precision medicine, and therapeutics.
    Ample Networking Opportunities throughout the conference, including breaks, a lively Bullpen BayouFest, and evening receptions.
    Dynamic Conversations on how partnerships and collaboration drive discoveries from the lab to the marketplace.

    From early-stage ventures to global thought leaders, BotB 2025 offers an unmatched opportunity to connect, collaborate, and catalyze the next wave of biotech innovation.

    Download the Agenda here

Our Speakers

Bio on the Bayou has featured leading voices in biotech, life sciences, and academic research—innovators, entrepreneurs, and scientists sharing breakthroughs from lab to market across the Gulf South and beyond.

Walter Issacson – Keynote Speaker

Professor of American History & Values at Tulane

Walter Isaacson is the Leonard Lauder Professor of American History and Values at Tulane University. He is the past CEO of the Aspen Institute, where he is now a Distinguished Fellow, and has been the chairman of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine.

Melissa Smith

Associate Professor at the UofL School of Medicine

Melissa Smith is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. While at UofL, Melissa has also spearheaded the Sequencing Technology Center, the only PacBio Certified Service Provider in Kentucky.

Jorge Castro

Founder and President of iHnnova LLC (Induction Heating Innovations)

Founder and President of iHnnova LLC (Induction Heating Innovations) is dedicated to developing a cancer treatment solution using magnetic fluid hyperthermia. Our novel, hand-held devices deliver localized thermal therapy to the target. iHnnova aims to bring this treatment to clinics and improve patient outcomes.

Sudeshna Roy, PhD

Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee

Dr. Roy’s research spans organic chemistry, drug discovery, and peptide biophysics, with recent publications in ACS Infectious Diseases, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, and Heliyon. Her work exemplifies innovation at the intersection of chemistry and medicine, advancing the development of novel therapeutics for infectious diseases and beyond.

Testimonial

  • “I loved the energy of this conference and the ease of running into people. I participated in great conversations during the reception and the Bullpen Masquerade. Engaging motivated third parties to bring energy to a conference is an excellent strategy.”

    Industry Attendee

  • I attend and speak in events all over the state and across the US; this is the best run and most intentional event I have ever been involved in. I’m looking forward to attending/participating again next year for the third consecutive year.

    Investor Attendee

  • “Loved the expert panels and partnering meetings. The app was very helpful in scheduling meetings.”

    Start-Up Attendee

LOCATION: BotB 2025 will be held at the historic Jung Hotel and New Orleans BioInnovation Center in New Orleans, Louisiana!