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Coming Soon in 2027!

 

 

 

2026 Texas Brain Economy Summit

Brain Summit Leaders
Our second event in the VentureX Summit Series, Texas Brain Economy Summit: Catalyzing a New Wave of Innovation & Economic Growth brought together more than 500 leaders from academia, industry, healthcare, investment, and government to explore how brain capital and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can drive innovation, economic growth, and improved health outcomes. Hosted through a collaboration between UTMB, Center for Houston’s Future, and Project Metis, the summit featured global thought leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, including participation from organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, attendees examined strategies to strengthen the brain economy, accelerate commercialization, foster cross-sector partnerships, and position Texas as a leading hub for innovation and economic development.

 

Join Center for Houston’s Future, Project Metis, and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) this June for the Texas Brain Economy Summit: Catalyzing a New Wave of Innovation & Economic Growth—an exclusive, high-impact gathering of global leaders across academia, industry, investment, healthcare, and government.

 Summit Highlights

The Summit will convene 500+ senior executives and thought leaders from around the world, including leading medical and academic institutions, large corporations, innovative startups, venture investors, and global organizations shaping the future of the brain economy with participation from strategic partners such as World Economic Forum and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Hosted By:

Vineet Gupta, PhD

Vineet Gupta, PhD

David Gow

David Gow

Harris Eyre, PhD

Harris Eyre, PhD

 

Why Attend

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, brain capital—our collective cognitive, emotional, and social capacity—is emerging as a critical driver of innovation, productivity, and long-term growth.

This two-day summit will convene 500+ senior executives and thought leaders from around the world, including participation from organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, alongside leading institutions, corporations, and investors.

2025 Inaugural VentureX Summit

Inaugural Summit X
Our inaugural VentureX Summit in 2025 convened leading researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, clinicians, and industry executives to explore the future of biomedical innovation, with particular emphasis on breakthroughs in kidney disease therapeutics and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The event highlighted emerging scientific discoveries, commercialization pathways, and investment opportunities aimed at accelerating the translation of academic research into patient-impacting therapies. Through plenary sessions, fireside chats, technology showcases, and networking opportunities, participants examined successful models for advancing kidney disease treatments, fostering precision medicine, and driving innovation in neuroscience and brain health. The summit also showcased UTMB’s growing leadership in entrepreneurship and translational research, strengthening collaborations across academia, industry, and the investment community to advance next-generation healthcare solutions.
UTMBVentureXSummitBanner

CAPITAL & BIOTECH INNOVATION IN TEXAS July 17, 2025

Meet Our Invited Speakers and Panelists

We are thrilled to introduce the distinguished individuals who will be sharing their insights and expertise at our upcoming VentureX Summit. From keynote presentations to engaging fireside chats and dynamic plenary sessions, our lineup features some of the most influential voices in the industry.

 Agenda

07:30 - 08:30 a.m.

Check In - Breakfast Served

08:30 - 08:45 a.m.

Opening Remarks

08:45 - 10:00 a.m.

Plenary Session - Revolutionizing Kidney Disease Therapeutics: Three Success Stories

Dr. Jochen Reiser - 08:45-09:05

"Harnessing immune-control as first-in-class approach to kidney disease."

Dr. Vishal Patel - 09:05-09:25

"Precision therapeutics for ADPKD."

Dr. Amit Sharma - 09:25-09:45

"Lessons learned from a renal accelerator - VERA Therapeutics."

Q&A 09:45-10:00

10:00 - 10:15 a.m.  

Break

10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Fireside Chat #1: Beyond the Shoreline: Big Picture Investment Trends in Texas

11:15 - 11:45 p.m.

UTMB Technology Showcase

11:45 - 12:45 p.m.

Lunch/Networking/Poster Session

12:45 - 01:30 p.m.

Fireside Chat #2: Biotech Breakthroughs: Navigating New Ventures

01:30 - 02:15 p.m.

Fireside Chat #3: Exploring UTMB’s Cutting Edge Innovations

02:15 - 02:30 p.m.

Break

02:30 - 02:40 p.m.

"Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Students"

02:40 - 03:00 p.m.

Nicole Endlich: "Beyond the Horizon: Revolutionizing Kidney Analysis and Cellular Transfection for the Medicine of Tomorrow."

03:00 - 03:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks

03:15 - 04:00 p.m.

Poster Session / Networking & Coffee / Cookies