Faculty, staff, clinicians, students, and biotechnology entrepreneurs will learn about the unique capabilities of Johnson & Johnson – Innovation, JLABS, Washington, DC, and the various ways they can engage with JLABS to advance their research commercialization. The JLABS model is built to engage in external innovation and provide a pathway to commercialization for early-stage companies engaged in biotechnology research and development.
Presented By
Michael Nestor, PhD
Scientific Engagement Lead
Johnson & Johnson Innovation-JLABS
As the Scientific Engagement Lead for Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS @ Washington, DC. Michael Nestor is responsible for external engagement with regional academic research institutions, start-ups and investment partners and portfolio management.
Michael received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, School of Medicine where he was trained as an electrophysiologist and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the National Institutes of Health and The New York Stem Cell Foundation, where he was also a Staff Scientist. Michael was also an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and a NIH IRACDA Fellow at Rutgers University where he focused on teaching in minority-serving institutions increasing the participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in science.
Michael was Director of Neural Stem Cell Research at The Hussman Institute for Autism where he led his own group studying autism by creating brain organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. His lab developed a multiplexed high-throughput CRISPR and drug-screening platform. Michael served as Co-Chair of the Neural Stem Cell Working Group at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine and as a venture advisor to the UM Momentum Fund and the Abell Foundation. He also ran his own human stem cell consulting company, Synapstem.