Great Innovation in Connecticut:

AGENDA

• 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Reception and networking
• 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Panel discussion
• 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Networking

David Gerber, Yale School of Management

David Gerber is the son of Joseph Gerber, the subject of this biography. While writing THE INVENTOR’S DILEMMA, he was a visiting fellow at the Yale School of Management. This is his first book. He graduated from Columbia College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Virginia Law School. He was an attorney and an officer, in both business and technology roles, and a member of the board of directors of Gerber Scientific, Inc. He received patents for inventions related to computer automation technologies for printing, prepress, die making, tile-making, and dental restoration. In researching this book, he collected thousands of company documents, now at the Smithsonian; traveled with his father to his birthplace, Vienna, Austria; and conducted scores of interviews with family and associates and industry sources. He has also published on competition law, receiving the American Society of Legal Writers Prize. David lives with his wife, Cindy, and their son in Connecticut. 

Sean Mackay, IsoPlexis

Sean is an experienced entrepreneur at the convergence of life sciences and healthcare delivery. He co-founded and leads IsoPlexis, a venture-backed life science startup developing a detection system to measure patient cellular responses in cancer immunology, infectious disease, and auto-immune disease. Sean co-founded the company, based in Branford, CT with Yale professor Dr. Fan and later Cal Tech professor Dr. Jim Heath. Sean led IsoPlexis through foundational licensing and capital raising while building the team and developing applications and product. Previously, Sean advanced business development at Kleiner Perkins-backed and incubated Lifesquare, which connected patients, payers, and providers through sharing essential healthcare information. Through work at advisory firm Lazard and several early-stage ventures, he developed deep experience in structuring and financing life sciences companies. At Lazard, Sean advised multiple biotechnology and medical technology companies on how to manage times of strategic change. He founded life science-focused debt advisory business line at Lazard, helping grow revenues ten-fold for the group and establishing infrastructure and hiring required to sustain the business. Sean graduated with a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. 

Christopher McLeod, Life Science Angel Investor

Throughout his career, Christopher McLeod has demonstrated expertise in growing companies through strategic collaborations, innovative marketing, and new product development. Currently, Mr. McLeod is a managing partner at Elm Street Ventures, where he nurtures new ventures as an investor and advisor. He is a corporate director of three early stage life science companies. In 2012, Mr. McLeod co-founded AxioMx, Inc., serving as President and CEO. AxioMx created technology to quickly develop custom antibodies for use in research and diagnostics. AxioMx was acquired by Abcam, plc in 2015.

Mr. McLeod served as President and Chief Executive Officer of 454 Life Sciences from February 2005 through September 2011, where he led the development, manufacturing, and marketing of the company’s innovative DNA sequencing products, which are used in research laboratories worldwide. 454 Life Sciences was acquired by Roche Diagnostics in 2007. Previously, Mr. McLeod was Executive Vice President of CuraGen Corporation from November 1999, responsible for bioinformatics, strategic business development, and collaborative research, including the establishment of strategic partnerships with Abgenix, Bayer, Seattle Genetics and TopoTarget A/S.

Mr. McLeod earned his B.S. Magna Cum Laud with a dual major in economics and engineering and applied science from Yale University and his M.S. in management from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. McLeod serves as a trustee of Sacred Heart University, on the CT Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America Executive Board and the MIT Sloan School of Management Executive Board and has acted as a mentor with the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute. 

Marina Cunningham, McCormick, Paulding & Huber

Marina has experience in domestic and foreign patent prosecution, trademark and copyright matters, e-commerce related issues, negotiation of licenses and other types of agreements relating to intellectual property, and litigation. Marina has worked as a design supervisor for AT&T Bell Laboratories and, subsequent to obtaining her law degree, as an in-house intellectual property attorney for United Technologies Corporation.