The right advisors can bring expertise, credibility, and valuable connections to an early-stage company—but a recognizable name on an advisory board does not necessarily translate into meaningful value. This interactive seminar will offer a practical, and at times candid, perspective on building an effective scientific or clinical advisory board for a life science startup.
Dr. Deitcher will explore how to identify and evaluate potential advisors for genuine alignment with a company’s goals and stage of development, set clear expectations for their involvement, and structure relationships that are valuable to both parties. The discussion will also address advisor compensation, time commitments, deliverables, and common pitfalls that can arise when roles and expectations are poorly defined.
Participants will come away with strategies for building an advisory network that provides meaningful scientific and strategic guidance, strengthens company credibility, and helps open doors to potential investors, partners, and other opportunities.
About the Speaker:
Steven R. Deitcher, M.D., FSM ’86, FSM ’88 is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Bespoke Biotherapeutics, a Bay Area company developing genome-engineered B-cell therapeutics for hemophilia A and HER2+ breast cancer, and co-founder of a stealth clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on brain regeneration. He previously held executive roles at Radimmune Therapeutics, Medeor Therapeutics, and Talon Therapeutics, where he led Marqibo® from IND to FDA accelerated approval and eventual acquisition by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, as well as at Nuvelo. Earlier in his career, he was Chief of Hematology and Coagulation Medicine as well as Director of Thrombosis and Vascular Medicine Research at the Cleveland Clinic, with prior academic posts at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A graduate of Northwestern’s Honors Program in Medical Education (B.S., M.D.), he trained in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital/Washington University and completed hematology/oncology fellowships and post-doctoral protein chemistry work at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Sonia Kim
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