home | contact us

To be removed from the Early Stage East Mailing List, click here, and then click send in the e-mail window. Please note any forwards on your e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.

3 Mill Road, Suite 201A
Wilmington, DE 19806
Ph: 302.777.2460
Fax: 302.777.1620

Event Chairpersons


Douglas M. Fox,
Partner,
Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP

Douglas M. Fox is a partner resident in the Baltimore office of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, a national law firm with additional offices in Denver, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C. and Wilmington, Delaware. Doug practices corporate, securities and technology law, with an emphasis on representing businesses and institutions in the life sciences industry. Doug has more than fifteen years of experience in representing start-up and mature biotechnology and life sciences companies, and the institutions and investment banks that deliver both the intellectual and financial capital necessary to fuel their growth. Select engagements include outside general counsel from start-up through initial public offering and subsequent sale of one of the region�s earliest biotechnology companies, and underwriters� counsel to a national investment bank in connection with public offerings by a San Francisco based cancer therapeutics company and a Research Triangle Park small molecule pharmaceutical development company. Doug also regularly represents licensors and licensees in complex licensing and co-promotion transactions, as well a preeminent medical research institution in structuring, negotiating and documenting technology licensing transactions.

Doug serves on the Board of Directors of the Emerging Technology Centers, a technology business incubator in Baltimore, Maryland; is a past chair of the Maryland State Bar Association, Section on Business Law, Committee on Representing Emerging Companies; and served in an advisory capacity on technology law matters for the 2000 and 2001 Sessions of the Maryland General Assembly. He has lectured on various topics, and most recently served as an instructor on issues of business law and biotechnology at the Maryland Judicial Institute, which provides continuing education to Maryland�s judiciary.

Doug is 1985 graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review, and a 1979 graduate of the University of Maryland College of Engineering. Prior to becoming an attorney, he engaged in full-time practice as an engineer, and in 1984 became a Licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland.


Fritz Bittenbender,
President,
Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association

Fritz Bittenbender is president of Pennsylvania Bio, the catalyst to ensure Pennsylvania is a global leader in life sciences by developing a cohesive community that unites the region�s biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research, and financial strengths. Pennsylvania Bio members represent the continuum of the biosciences in the Commonwealth�academic research institutions, emerging biotechnology, medical device and diagnostics companies, mature industry, global pharmaceuticals and a robust service provider network that supports the growth of the industry.

As president of Pennsylvania Bio, Bittenbender serves as a spokesman and advocate for the state�s more than 2,000 bioscience-related companies and nearly 84,000 employees, directing the association�s federal and state government relations activities, communications strategy and overall industry relations and membership.

Honorary Chairpersons


David C. U'Prichard,
Partner,
APAX International

David C. U'Prichard is executive vice president and director of research for Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. He is also a venture partner and member of the health care team with a global private equity provider, Apax Partners Inc. Additionally, Dr. U'Prichard serves as President of Druid Consulting LLC, a specialized pharmaceutical and biotechnology consulting firm, which provides customized services to life sciences clients in the United States and Europe.

Previously, he was CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure at 3DP, Dr. U'Prichard was responsible for leading the private biotechnology company's successful initial public offering, and completing major corporate alliances with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C. In January 2003, he successfully negotiated the acquisition of 3DP by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C.


Gerald A. Schaafsma,
General Partner,
Anthem Capital

Gerry Schaafsma has over 20 years of business experience, including venture capital investing, start-up business management, engineering and Wall Street banking. He joined Anthem Capital Management as a General Partner in 1997, and opened Anthem�s Philadelphia office.

Prior to joining Anthem, Mr. Schaafsma worked on a consulting basis with Johnston Associates, a Princeton-based life sciences venture capital firm, as well as two healthcare companies. From 1993 to 1995, he was Chief Executive Officer of Image PSL, an electronic publisher of medical information. During the period of 1987-1993, Mr. Schaafsma was Vice President and then Partner at the Massey Burch Investment Group in Nashville, Tennessee, where he guided over 15 young companies through the challenges of growth, including PhyCor and Corporate Childcare Services. Mr. Schaafsma also served as an Assistant Treasurer at Morgan Guaranty Trust in New York and as an engineer with the Byron Jackson Pump Division of Borg Warner Corporation in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mr. Schaafsma serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group where he was the Chairman for the 2002-2003 program year. He also serves on the boards of Innovation Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Committee Chairs

Education

Kimberle Levin, President and CEO, Teknuko
Richard Jaffe, Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll

Golf

Mark Cannon, Associate Director, Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown
Mark McCarthy, Assistant Director of Business Development, Ernst & Young
Bill Scari, Partner, Pepper Hamilton, LLP
Jay Coogan, Partner, Wolf Block LLP

Selection

Richard Birkmeyer, Chairman, Delaware Innovation Fund
Gerry Schaafsma, General Partner Anthem Capital Management

Supporting Organizations


Jay Coogan, Partner, Wolf Block LLP

Ambassadors


Rob Spar, Saul Ewing LLP

Coaching

Jeff Trewella, Ph.D., Director, Tanglewood Capital Partners
George Nemphos, Partner, Piper Rudnick, LLP

Sponsorship

Ann Lansinger, Director, Technology, Baltimore Development Corporation
Richard Jaffe, Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll

Marketing

Kelly Gates, Principal, Gates and Company
John Hurley, Regional Director, Business Development, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Universities and Labs


Jay Coogan, Partner, Wolf Block LLP

 
refund privacy disclaimer exhibitor guidelines