Keynotes -- NanoBusiness 2005

Anna D. Barker, PH.D.
Deputy Director, Advanced Technologies and Strategic Partnerships, National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Dr. Barker serves as the Deputy Director for Advanced Technologies and Strategic Partnerships of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  In this role she plans and coordinates the implementation of integrative, multi-disciplinary and multi-sector programs to accelerate the development and translation of new knowledge and advanced technologies into effective interventions to prevent, detect and treat cancer.  Under her leadership, the NCI has recently launched programs in bioinformatics and nanotechnology and is currently developing initiatives in proteomics and biospecimens to enable cancer research.   Dr. Barker completed her Ph.D. at the Ohio State University, where she trained in immunology and microbiology.  Her research interests include experimental therapeutics, tumor immunology, and free-radical biochemistry in cancer etiology, prevention and treatment.

Dr. Barker has a long history in research and the leadership and management of research and development, technology transfer and product commercialization in the non-profit and private sectors.  Prior to entering the biotechnology sector, she was a senior executive at Battelle Memorial Institute for 18 years where she developed and led a large group of scientists and technical staff working in areas such as drug discovery and development, pharmacology and biotechnology, including several NCI sponsored research programs. In the private sector she co-founded and served as the CEO of a public biotechnology company, focused in therapeutics discovery and development; and subsequently founded and served as the CEO of private company dedicated to the transfer and deployment of technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

She is a member of the Steering Committee of C-Change and Chairperson of the C-Change Cancer Research Team.  She is a member of the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program Integration Panel, and a past chairperson of the BCRP Integration Panel.  Dr. Barker has served in several capacities for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), including the Board of Directors and chairperson of the Public Science Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee; and the NCI, including membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the Division of Cancer Etiology and chairperson of the Cancer Center Support Review Study Section.  Dr. Barker has received a number of awards for her contributions to research, cancer patients, professional and advocacy organizations and the ongoing national effort to prevent and cure cancer, including a named fellowship from the AACR. 

Josh Wolfe
Managing Partner, Lux Capital

Josh Wolfe is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital focusing on investments in Nanotechnology. Before forming Lux Capital, he worked in Salomon Smith Barney's Investment Banking group, where his experience included a $4 billion hotel merger, and a defense against an unsolicited LBO. Josh has also worked in capital markets while at Merrill Lynch on its Financial Futures & Options/Government Strategy desk and at Prudential Securities in its Municipal Finance department.

Prior to venturing into the financial world, Josh conducted and published cutting edge AIDS/immunopathology research in Cell Vision and The Journal of Leukocyte Biology, leading medical/immunology journals.

Josh graduated with distinction from Cornell University with a B.S. in Economics and Finance. He has been an invited guest speaker, lecturer and panelist on nanotechnology to Harvard, Yale, Wharton, Columbia, Cornell, Merrill Lynch, Capitol Hill, government labs, and officials in France, Canada, UK, Spain and Germany. Josh is a a co-founder of The NanoBusiness Alliance, a Senior Associate of the Foresight Institute for Nanotechnology, the Coordinator for the Institute of Molecular Manufacturing's Prize in Computational Nanotechnology, and a member of the Cognitive Science Society.

Josh is author of the acclaimed "Nanotech Report" and Editor of Forbes' new publication, the "Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report."

Annabelle R. Hett, Ph.D.

After obtaining a degree in veterinary medicine with a thesis in radiology and nuclear medicine, Dr. Annabelle R. Hett worked as a veterinarian in an equine clinic. She then joined the division for epidemiology at the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, where she focused on BSE and conducted research projects in collaboration with the NeuroCenter (Swiss Reference Laboratory for Spongiform Encephalopathies in animals). She attended further training in risk communication and joined Swiss Re’s Risk Engineering Services in 2002. She is currently in charge of Swiss Re’s risk perception system “SONAR” and is involved in various projects relating to the identification, assessment and communication of risk.