Berkeley Dialogue: Biotechnology & Drug Development
Feb. 11, 2026, 6:00 CST - 9:00 CST
Taipei, Taiwan
Venue: Regent Taipei, Reading Room B2, No. 3, Lane 39, Section 2, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (view map)
Berkeley Dialogue 2026, the flagship forum series hosted by the Berkeley Club of Taiwan, returns with a timely and forward-looking conversation on the future of biotechnology and drug development. Bringing together academic leadership and industry insight, this year’s dialogue convenes Bobby Sheng ’94, chairman & CEO of Bora Pharmaceuticals and former president of the Berkeley Club of Taiwan, alongside eight distinguished UC Berkeley deans, two Nobel Laureates, and Chancellor Richard K. Lyons for an in-depth discussion on global collaboration, innovation ecosystems, and AI-empowered drug development.
Through these panel sessions, we will examine how Taiwan and Berkeley — each a vital node in the global biomedical landscape — can jointly shape the next chapter of life sciences innovation.
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PROGRAM
6:00–6:30 PM: Check-in & networking
6:30–8:40 PM: Forum
。Opening remarks by Chancellor Richard K. Lyons
。Panel Session I: Global Collaboration and Ecosystem Building in Biotechnology, moderated by Doug Clark, dean emeritus, College of Chemistry; with David Ackerly, dean, Rausser College of Natural Resources; Jennifer Chatman, dean, Haas School of Business; and Richard Harland, dean, College of Letters and Science Biological Sciences Division.
This session explores the growing recognition that biotechnology innovation depends not only on scientific breakthroughs, but also on the strength of ecosystems that connect academia, industry, capital, and globally mobile talent. From Berkeley to Taiwan, panelists will discuss how cross-border collaboration, shared platforms, and institutional alignment can accelerate biomedical innovation and strengthen global biotech ecosystems.
。Panel Session II: Tech into Bio: AI-Empowered Drug Development, moderated by Bobby Sheng ’94, chairman & CEO of Bora Pharmaceuticals; with Mark Asta, interim dean, College of Engineering; Anne Baranger, interim dean, College of Chemistry; and Jennifer Chayes, dean, College of Computing, Data Science, and Society.
Drug development is inherently complex, non-linear, and often constrained by uncertainty and fragmented expertise. This session examines how AI and computational technologies are being applied across the drug development value chain—from R&D and clinical trials to talent development and cross-disciplinary collaboration—while also addressing the real-world challenges and limitations of deploying AI in regulated biomedical environments.
。Panel Session III: Big Picture Reflections: What Global Collaboration and AI Mean for the Future of Biomedicine, moderated by Michael Lu, dean, School of Public Health; with Fred Ramsdell, scientific advisor, Sonoma Biotherapeutics and 2025 Nobel Laureate and Omar Yaghi, James and Neeltje Tretter Professor of Chemistry and 2025 Nobel Laureate.
This session offers overarching commentary and reflections on Panel Sessions I and II, synthesizing insights on how global collaboration and AI are reshaping the future of biomedicine.
8:40–9:00 PM: Networking
This unique event is a fantastic opportunity to network with alumni, connect with university leadership and faculty, and gain insights into the future of global biomedicine and AI.
*Light refreshments will be provided.
