Jarrod Borkat is a 15-year veteran in the biopharmaceutical industry and currently the Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer with On Demand Pharmaceuticals. He joined MedImmune in 2010, and served as Senior Director/Head, Global External Partnerships & Collaborations. In this role he was responsible for establishing and overseeing global strategic collaborations with universities, non-profit organizations and government entities, across all the therapeutic areas relevant to MedImmune. His team led the creation of several multi-million dollar collaborations, including one with Johns Hopkins University and one with University of Maryland. Prior to this role, Jarrod led the Portfolio Strategy & Management function for MedImmune, helping the organization optimize its R&D portfolio. Before joining MedImmune, Jarrod worked at Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for 11 years, rising through the ranks in the sales and commercial organization. During his time at BI, he spent two years in Germany, working at their corporate headquarters, leading the global commercial strategy for their CNS franchise. His last position prior to leaving BI was Director of U.S. Marketing, HIV. Jarrod has won multiple awards throughout his career, including being recognized as an industry “Top 25 Direct-to-Consumer Marketer of the Year” in 2007. He is also active in several industry organizations and has served on industry-related panels. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jarrod serves on the Kentlands Board of Trustees and the Kentlands Community Foundation Board. He also ran a marathon on all 7 continents with his father, making them the first father/son duo to have accomplished this challenging endeavor. Jarrod earned an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University, with concentrations in finance and marketing, and earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Eric S. Edwards is currently the co-founder and CEO of Phlow Corporation, a leading impact-driven pharmaceutical company focused on securing the supply chain for critical essential medicines and their ingredients in America. Previously, Dr. Edwards was an independent executive healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device consultant to small and large multi-national corporations. Prior to consulting, Dr. Edwards was the co-founder of Kaléo, Inc., a pharmaceutical company in Richmond, VA developing novel medicines for the treatment of a variety or chronic and acute-care diseases. He is co-inventor of several currently marketed products, including AUVI-Q, an epinephrine Auto-injector for the treatment of allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis) as well as the Naloxone Auto-injector (Rapid Opioid Countermeasure System) currently being deployed by the DoD in case of an opioid-related attack on the homeland or abroad as a part of the warfighter’s medical arsenal.

Dr. Edwards has over 240 patents and has authored numerous publications in the allergy and opioid use disorder arena as well as on America’s essential medicine supply chain. Dr. Edwards has been active on several committees and boards, including being appointed by the Governor to the Board of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park Authority/ Activation Capital and serving as a mentor and Board member for Lighthouse Labs, a nationally-recognized, Top 25 Accelerator. He is also on the founding Board of the Food Allergy Science Initiative (FASI) working with world-class researchers to find a cure and develop treatments for food allergies. Dr. Edwards graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s guaranteed admission program. While at VCU/MCV, he received a B.S. in Biology, his Ph.D. in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, and M.D. degrees.

David Lemus serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at miRecule, a pioneering biotechnology company advancing RNA-based therapeutics to address critical unmet medical needs. With over 25 years of experience in financial and operational leadership within the life sciences sector, David is instrumental in steering miRecule’s strategic growth and operational excellence.

Prior to joining miRecule, David held senior leadership roles at several prominent biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies. He has a proven track record of securing financing, driving business development initiatives, and optimizing operations to scale innovation and deliver transformative therapies. His expertise spans financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, and global market expansion.

At miRecule, David oversees financial planning, investor relations, and day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment between the company’s scientific advancements and business objectives. His leadership has been pivotal in miRecule’s progression from early-stage research to clinical development.

David is recognized for his ability to integrate financial acumen with a deep understanding of the biotech landscape, making him a trusted partner to both internal teams and external stakeholders. He holds degrees in finance and business management and actively participates in industry forums, sharing insights to advance the life sciences field.

Sarah Porter is the Vice President of Government Solutions at Kelly Services, leading sales and operations for Kelly Government Solutions (KGS). KGS is part of Kelly’s Science, Engineering, Technology, and Telecom division, specializing in outsourced solutions for the federal government in Science & Clinical, Healthcare, Technology, and Professional services. Sarah holds an MBA and is a certified Project Manager. With nearly 20 years of government industry experience, including her former role as a Program Manager at the National Institutes of Health, Sarah has a deep understanding of the complexities of the sector.

Dr. Steven Roberts joined GSK Vaccines in May 2021, where he is responsible for initiating collaborations with U.S. research institutions to advance the development of new vaccines and platform technologies. In this role, he works across industry, academia, and federal research groups to identify cutting edge opportunities. Prior to joining GSK, Dr. Roberts was as a Venture Analyst Associate at Biohealth Innovation, where he led initiatives to strengthen and grow research within the Biohealth Capital Region.