Date: March 29, 2023
Speaker: Tere Williams
Description: In the presentation,
Williams explores the complicated ethics of therapeutic
innovation: animal model testing, recent animal model updates from the FDA and
entering Phase I clinical trials.
Speaker's Bio: Tere Williams,
a Virginia Tech alumni and former Hokie women’s basketball player, has a long
history of entrepreneurship. Following a significant professional
basketball career, Williams worked as a professional singer--also serving as
the band’s manager and PR agent, as well as the director of marketing for album
design, all prior to returning to science full time. Now, with a PhD in
Immunology pending defense, Williams is working along-side Dr. Bernstein in her
academic laboratory and successfully consults for life science and healthcare
companies through her start-up, SIMON|PETRk Consulting (SPk
Consulting/SPk). SPk supports clients with projects from equity research
to product/development and market entry strategies. This enterprise
grossed her 6 figures in sales within its first year. Overall, Dr.
Williams has >15 years of experience initiating and leading programs and
small business ventures addressing needs within the community and a strong
track record of leadership at each stage of her professional career, which now
includes biomedical research. Williams has worked on projects
ranging from risk assessment, equity research, indication prioritization and
competitive intelligence for companies with Immuno-Oncology, Allergy/
Autoimmune, and Rare-disease next generation therapeutics. She has also
participated in training programs such as SUNY S4, Regional I-Corps, SMDP
program, BIO International, and has been invited to speak for Central
New York BioAccelerator (CNY BAC) and other organizations on subjects
ranging from opportunities in innovation to the importance of mentorship for
diversifying STEM research.