CancerX @ JPM 2025

Sunil Verma

SVP, Global Head, Oncology Franchise, AstraZeneca

Rasu Shrestha, MD, MBA

EVP & Chief Innovation & Commercialization Officer, Advocate Health

Xavier Avat, MBA

EVP & chief business officer, Moffitt Cancer Center

Kamal Jethwani, MD, MPH

VP, Digital Ventures, Moffitt Cancer Center

Grace Cordovano, PhD, BCPA

Fellow, CancerX

Nainesh Parikh, MD

VP, Chief Clinical Expansion and Partnerships Officer, Moffitt Cancer Center, CancerX Accelerator Steering Committee Chair

Anil Saldanha

Chief Innovation Officer, Rush University Medical Center

Ben Freeberg

Founder and Managing Partner, Oncology Ventures

Philippe Spiess, MD

Professor of Genitourinary Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center

Sebastien Rhodes

VP, Strategy and Operations, Triomics

David Callaway, MD

Chief, Crisis Operations and Sustainability, Atrium Health

Ryan McGinnis, PhD

Founding Director, Center for Remote Health Monitoring, Wake Forest University Center for Remote Health Monitoring

Seema Wadhwa

Founder, Health in Climate

Bharat Sutariya

Senior Vice President & Chief Health officer, Oracle Health

Steve Xu

CEO, Sibel Health

Lu Zhang

Founder & Managing Partner, Fusion Fund

Aimee Corso

Senior Vice President, Growth, Mirvie

Santosh Mohan

Vice President, Innovation and New Ventures, Advocate Health

02:00 PM, 11th Floor

Opening Remarks

A forward look at what’s next for CancerX as we continue to build the nation’s leading public–private partnership advancing oncology innovation. This opening session will highlight upcoming consortium priorities, accelerator updates, thematic focus areas for 2026, and introductions to the newest startup cohort. We will also share how the CancerX community is shaping scalable solutions, strengthening collaboration, and accelerating progress across the entire oncology ecosystem.

02:00 PM, 11th Floor

02:20 PM, 11th Floor

Keynote - From Molecule to Market Accelerating the Next Era of Oncology Innovation

A keynote conversation with a leading pharma executive exploring the scientific and technological advances transforming cancer therapy. From precision medicines and new treatment modalities to platform-based innovation and rapid development pathways, this session examines how the next era of oncology therapeutics is improving speed, specificity, and impact for patients worldwide.

Sunil Verma, SVP Global Head, Oncology Franchise, AstraZeneca

02:20 PM, 11th Floor

2:40PM, 11th Floor

Panel - Smarter, Faster Trials - Building the Next-Gen Oncology Research Model

Oncology trials are evolving rapidly as AI, real-world data, and intelligent workflow automation reshape how therapies move from discovery to patients. This multi-stakeholder panel—featuring leaders from health systems, pioneering startups, and forward-looking investors—will explore how next-generation trial infrastructure accelerates time-to-market by improving protocol design, identifying the right patients earlier, and reducing operational friction across sites. Panelists will discuss what it takes to build a system where the right patient gets the right drug at the right moment—and how these advances ultimately expand access, increase trial diversity, and bring lifesaving therapies to patients faster.

Anil Saldanha, Chief Innovation Officer, Rush University Medical Center
Sebastien Rhodes, VP Strategy and Operations, Triomics
Ben Freeberg, Founder and Managing Partner, Oncology Ventures

2:40PM, 11th Floor

3:10PM, 11th Floor

Panel - Unlocking Access - How AI and Digital Platforms Transform Commercial Adoption in Oncology

Even the most advanced oncology therapies struggle to reach the patients who need them due to fragmented workflows, access barriers, logistical delays, and limited visibility into real-world eligibility. This panel brings together leaders from health systems and payers to examine how AI and digital innovation can bridge the commercial adoption gap—ensuring that breakthrough therapies don’t stall after approval.

Rasu Shrestha MD, MBA, EVP & Chief Innovation & Commercialization Officer, Advocate Health
Philippe Spiess, MD, Professor of Genitourinary Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center
Aimee Corso, Head of Commercial Growth, Mirvie

3:10PM, 11th Floor

3:40PM, 11th Floor

Panel : Beyond Algorithms - How wearable tech and emerging tools are redefining Oncology care

Innovation in oncology is expanding well beyond artificial intelligence. This panel explores how wearable technologies, advanced sensors, remote monitoring tools, and other emerging solutions are reshaping cancer detection, treatment, and ongoing care. Speakers will discuss how these technologies generate real-time insights, extend care beyond the clinic, and enable more personalized and proactive cancer management. Learn how health systems and innovators are integrating wearables and next-generation tools into pathways that support earlier intervention, improved patient experience, and better outcomes across the oncology journey.

Bharat Sutariya, Senior Vice President & Chief Health Officer at Oracle Health
Steve Xu, CEO, Sibel Health
Ryan McGinnis, PhD, Founding Director, Center for Remote Health Monitoring, Wake Forest University Center for Remote Health Monitoring

3:40PM, 11th Floor

4:10PM, 11th Floor

Panel - Code, Capital, and Cleaner Futures - Rethinking Cancer Prevention

Environmental toxins, unsafe food additives, and pervasive pollutants contribute to rising cancer incidence—representing a largely untapped frontier for innovation. This session explores how technology (“code”) and investment (“capital”) can drive systemic prevention by improving air, water, and food systems. With federal momentum toward eliminating carcinogenic exposures and growing consumer demand for transparency, panelists will discuss how prevention can become a scalable, market-driven opportunity that reduces long-term cancer burden.

Lu Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner, Fusion Fund
Dr. David Callaway, Chief Sustainability Officer, Advocate Health
Seema Wadhwa, Founder, Health in Climate

4:10PM, 11th Floor

4:40PM, 11th Floor

CancerX Accelerator - Program Impact & Cohort Winner Announcement

This session highlights the momentum and growing impact of the CancerX Accelerator, showcasing how the program is accelerating real-world oncology innovation through collaboration between health systems, industry, and startups. Attendees will hear a brief overview of the CancerX mission and ecosystem, key outcomes and insights from recent cohorts, and how the program has evolved based on lessons learned. The session will conclude with the official announcement of the newest CancerX Accelerator cohort—recognizing the selected startups advancing meaningful, scalable solutions across the cancer care continuum.

Nainesh Parikh ,VP, Chief Clinical Expansion and Partnerships Officer, Moffitt Cancer Center, CancerX Accelerator Steering Committee Chair
Santosh Mohan, Vice President, Innovation and New Ventures at Advocate Health

4:40PM, 11th Floor

5:00PM, 11th Floor

Networking Reception

Join us for an open-to-all networking reception where attendees can meet peers, engage with our partners, and explore the broader ecosystem driving innovation in oncology. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and drinks as you connect with leaders across health systems, industry, startups, and investment.