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DIA is Proud to Announce the DIA 2025 Opening Plenary Panelists and Keynote Speakers

We are thrilled to unveil the DIA2025 esteemed keynote speakers at our Opening Plenary: From Personal Journeys to Global Solutions – Collaborating for Innovation and Patient Impact:

Monday, June 16 | 8:00-10:00AM ET!

Kick off your DIA 2025 experience with an inspiring and impactful Opening Plenary featuring a unique blend of personal storytelling, scientific discovery, and global regulatory insight.

You’ll hear a powerful personal story from Jimi Olaghere, a patient advocate and gene therapy recipient, whose journey from a sickle cell diagnosis to summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro brings the patient voice to life. Renowned scientist Doug Melton, Vertex Distinguished Research Fellow and Harvard professor, will then share the latest breakthroughs in Type 1 Diabetes research and development and what it takes to bring science from bench to bedside.

The session continues with a high-level panel discussion. Thought leaders from across the healthcare ecosystem—including top global regulators, patient advocates, and scientific innovators— will explore how multi-stakeholder partnerships are driving smarter, faster, and more equitable development of life-changing treatments.

Panelists include:

Marty Makary, Commissioner of Food and Drugs - Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Emer Cooke, Executive Director, European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive Officer, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Doug Melton, Distinguished Research Fellow, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Jimi Olaghere, Patient Advocate

Moderator

Maria Vassileva, Chief Science and Regulatory Officer, DIA

This session sets the tone for the week ahead: bold ideas, global collaboration, and unwavering focus on patient impact.

Keynote Speakers

Jimi Olaghere | CasGevy Recipient

Jimi Olaghere is a CasGevy recipient who has developed a keen interest in the advancements of Cell and Gene therapies, since his transformative participation in the groundbreaking clinical trial. He is passionate about the positive impact these therapies can have on patients in need and has become a staunch advocate for increased accessibility of gene therapies for SCD patients worldwide.

Doug Melton | Distinguished Research Fellow, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Melton is a distinguished research fellow at Vertex Pharmaceuticals where initial studies of people with type 1 diabetes who have received stem cell-derived islet cells (SC-islets) transplanted together with immunosuppressive drugs have shown promising results. Previously he served as the Director of the JDRF Center of Excellence in New England, a research collaboration with investigators (past and present) from Harvard and UMass Chan Medical Schools, The Jackson Laboratory, Joslin Diabetes Center, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital. The Center is currently led by David Harlan, MD, co-director of the UMass Chan DCOE.

Registration Rates

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