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. 

Larry Bock
President and CEO
Nanosys Inc

Mr.Bock is the President and CEO of Nanosys, Inc. He is a General Partner of CW Group, where he focuses on seed stage de novo startups in the life and physical sciences. Mr. Bock was the Founder and Initial CEO of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA - intra cellular signal transduction), Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: NBIX - neuroimmunology), Pharmacopeia (NASDAQ: PCOP - combinatorial chemistry), GenPharm International (acquired by MedaRx- transgenic animals), Argonaut Technologies (NASDAQ: AGNT - combinatorial chemistry), Caliper Technologies (NASDAQ: CALP - lab-on-a-chip), Illumina Technologies (NASDAQ: ILMN - array based optical sensors), IDUN Pharmaceuticals (Private - apoptosis) and FASTTRACK Systems (Private - accelerated clinical development). Mr. Bock was a cofounder of Athena Neurosciences (NASDAQ: ATHN, acquired by Elan Pharmaceuticals for $700M - molecular neurobiology), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX - rational drug design), and Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ONXX - molecular oncology). Mr. Bock started his career as a Researcher at Genentech, Inc. in the field of infectious diseases. He was selected by Venture Capital Journal as one of the Ten Most Influential Venture Capitalists and by Red Herring Magazine as one of the Top Ten Innovators. He is a Member of the Advisory Board and the Technology Advisory Board of the NanoBusiness Alliance. He received his B.A. in Biochemistry from Bowdoin College and his M.B.A. from the Anderson School at UCLA.

Annabelle R. Hett, Ph.D.
Deputy of Risk Engineering Services, Swiss Re Insurance

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.

Steve Jurvetson
Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson

Nakissa Sadrieh, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Research Policy and Implementation, FDA

Dr. Sadrieh obtained her doctorate in Toxicology in 1993 from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Laboratory of Chemical Carcinogenesis at the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Sadrieh joined the Food and Drug Administration in 1996 as a pharmacology and toxicology reviewer. In 1998, Dr. Sadrieh became the supervisory pharmacologist in the Division of Medical Imaging and Radiopharmaceutical Drug Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Dr. Sadrieh has been directly involved in the review and approval of many drug products and subsequently she has expertise in the preclinical studies needed to support the safety of new drug applications.

In 2002, Dr. Sadrieh joined CDER's Office of Pharmaceutical Science, as the Associate Director for Research Policy and Implementation. Dr. Sadrieh's work currently focuses on scientific research that will directly impact regulatory decisions. As a scientific advisor to the Office of Pharmaceutical Science, Dr. Sadrieh is also directly involved in assessing the impact of new technologies on drug development. Nanotechnology, having been identified as an opportunity under the FDA's Critical Path Initiative, is one area which is expected to impact regulatory submissions in the future. As such, Dr. Sadrieh is the chair of the CDER Nanotechnology Working Group, as well as the CDER representative on several other nanotechnology interest groups within the Agency and the National Institutes of Health.

Steve Westly
California State Controller

Steve Westly is the State Controller of California and serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the 5th largest economy in the world. As Controller, Westly has the power of the audit over every state agency and is an independent fiscal watchdog for the people of California. He is also a member of more than 50 boards and commissions including CalPERS, CalSTRS, the Franchise Tax Board, the Board of Equalization, the State Lands Commission and the major housing commissions of the state.

Westly has more than twenty years of experience in business, government and education. Throughout his career, Westly has developed expertise in fiscal management. In the private sector, Westly guided the online auction company eBay through a period of rapid growth, including serving as a senior vice-president of marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions and international operations. Before becoming active in the Internet sector, Westly served for five years on the faculty at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, teaching public management. Westly has also worked on Capitol Hill and for the U.S. Department of Energy.

As Controller, Westly tracks funds, audits programs and monitors the State’s cash flow. He believes that efficiency and accountability are essential for success in government and business and is committed to the importance of customer service in achieving these goals.

Westly earned both a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. In 1997, he married Anita Yu and they have two children. The family has created the Steve and Anita Westly Foundation, a charitable organization focused on education, health care and the environment.

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."

SENATOR RON WYDEN
United States Senator
D- Oregon State

United States Senator Ron Wyden is the co-author of The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, co-written with Sen. George Allen, R-Va. The bill was signed into law during the last congressional session. The Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report lists Senator Wyden as the #2 “Power Elite” for 2004.  Senator Wyden also serves on the following Committees: Finance, Select Intelligence, Budget, the Special Committee on Aging and Energy and Natural Resources. In addition, Senator Wyden serves on the Forest and Public Land Management and Science, Technology and Space subcommittees.