BioCentury Grand Rounds is BioCentury's flagship R&D conference focused on translational science at the academia/industry interface. It brings together academic innovators, biopharma R&D and BD&L leaders, venture capitalists and biotech founders to discuss critical bottlenecks in translation and discover groundbreaking research with commercial potential.

Grand Rounds features presentations from emerging biotechs, translational poster sessions from academic researchers, strategic panels on R&D challenges and one-to-one partnering meetings.

The inaugural Grand Rounds – Europe took place in Cambridge, U.K. in September 2025, followed by Grand Rounds – Europe in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in September 2026. In the U.S., Grand Rounds has been held in Nashville, Tennessee (September 2024), Chicago, Illinois (June 2025) and Seattle, Washington (June 2026), with the 6th edition heading to Houston, Texas in April 2027.

You can view highlights from the 2025 Cambridge event at conferences.biocentury.com/grand-rounds-europe-2025 and the 2026 Amsterdam event at conferences.biocentury.com/grand-rounds-europe-2026.

In addition to Grand Rounds – Europe in Lisbon, BioCentury also hosts Grand Rounds – U.S., taking place April 12–14, 2027, in Houston. The U.S. edition brings the same interdisciplinary format to a North American audience, with a special focus on showcasing translational opportunities in the Houston and Texas innovation ecosystem.

We encourage biopharma R&D and BD&L leaders, investors and biotech CEOs to attend both events to explore opportunities across two of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems. A discounted rate is available for delegates attending both Grand Rounds U.S. and Europe. Email the BioCentury team to learn more.

The 7th Grand Rounds – Europe is coming to Lisbon to spotlight the translational innovation emerging from Portugal and the broader Iberian region. Lisbon is a rising hub for life sciences, home to internationally recognized research institutes, a growing biotech startup community and increasing attention from European and global investors. The city's strong air connections to North America and across Europe make it an ideal destination for bringing together a transatlantic audience.

Grand Rounds is designed for professionals at the intersection of translational science and commercialization, including:

• Venture capitalists and early-stage investors scouting the next wave of investible science
• Biopharma R&D and BD&L executives (SVP/VP level and above) seeking innovative pipeline assets
• Biotech founders and CEOs (pre-seed through Series A) looking for partners, investors and visibility
• Academic translational researchers and physician scientists seeking to translate discoveries into the biopharma industry
• Financial dealmakers and investment bankers active in life sciences

At the inaugural Grand Rounds Europe in Cambridge, the audience included approximately 19% academic innovators, 28% biopharma executives, 21% investors, 16% biotech founders and CEOs, and 13% service providers. Attending organizations at previous Grand Rounds Europe meetings have included AstraZeneca, Babraham Institute, Bayer, BioMarin, Blackstone, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Evotec, F-Prime Capital, Forbion, Francis Crick Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, GV (Google Ventures), HSBC, Immunocore, Isomorphic Labs, Kyowa Kirin, Medicxi, Novartis, Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk, Oxford Science Enterprises, Roche/Genentech, Royalty Pharma, Sofinnova Partners, SoftBank Investment Advisers, SV Health Investors, Syncona Investment, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Versant Ventures, VIB, Wellcome Sanger Institute and many more.

View the full delegate profile →

Grand Rounds tackles the most pressing challenges in translating breakthrough science into successful drug development programs. Expect strategic panels and discussions on topics including:

• Key bottlenecks in translation of early-stage science to clinical programs
• Emerging disease biology, therapeutic modalities and enabling technologies
• How to make early-stage R&D investible
• The role of AI and computational tools in drug discovery
• Strategies for navigating the academia-industry interface
• Translational opportunities emerging from Portugal and the Iberian region

Grand Rounds Europe offers several registration categories, with early bird and advanced rates available for a limited time:

Industry Pass

Academic Pass (includes poster if approved)

Service Provider Pass

Entrepreneur Rate (startup C-Suite only, must be approved)

Investor Rate (must request a code)

Presenting Company (includes two tickets plus poster, if approved)

Pricing and early bird deadlines for 2027 will be announced soon. Sign up for email updates to be notified, or emailconferences@biocentury.com with any questions.

Yes. A special Entrepreneur rate is available for qualifying early-stage biotechs that have generally not yet raised a seed round. This rate is limited to two tickets per company and must be approved by BioCentury. Larger biotechs, consultancies and service providers do not qualify for this rate.

Email: conferences@biocentury.com to request the discount code and confirm eligibility.

The partnering system typically opens approximately two weeks before the conference. The exact 2027 opening date will be announced closer to the event. That is when you can begin browsing delegate profiles and scheduling one-to-one meetings.

Before the system opens, BioCentury encourages all registered delegates to prepare for partnering by filling out your profile in the partnering system. A complete profile — including your bio, company description and areas of interest — will help you attract the right meeting requests and maximize your time at the event.

All registered delegates may upload PDFs to the partnering platform, including non-confidential corporate decks. This is a great way to help investors and biopharma R&D and BD&L leaders evaluate your organization ahead of the event and determine if they want to schedule a meeting with you.

Video uploads are an exclusive benefit available only to sponsors and Presenting Companies. If you are interested in uploading videos to enhance your partnering profile, consider applying to present or inquiring about sponsorship.

Submit a nomination via the Presenting Company Self-Nomination Form. You can also be nominated by a sponsor, Steering Committee member or other stakeholder through the Grand Rounds Nomination Hub.

Please note: Submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection. All nominations are reviewed independently by BioCentury's editorial team. Invited companies will be subject to a presenting company fee.

Selected Presenting Companies receive a presentation slot on stage before an audience of investors, pharma R&D and BD&L leaders and academic innovators, as well as an invitation for the CEO to join an exclusive Presenting Company CEO and Investor networking reception, enhanced visibility in the partnering system, and the ability to post materials (videos, PDFs) to the partnering platform.

Posters are open to two categories of presenters:

• Selected Presenting Companies: Companies already selected for the Presenting Company program may also present a poster.
• Academic innovators: Academic researchers and physician scientists working on translational science with commercial potential. This is an excellent opportunity for academics looking to translate their discoveries into the biopharma industry.

Submit your nomination via the Grand Rounds Nomination Hub (coming soon). You may also be nominated by a sponsor, Steering Committee member or other stakeholder.

Please note: This is a nomination form only and does not guarantee selection. Poster nominations are reviewed independently by BioCentury. Selected poster presenters will be subject to a poster session fee.

Grand Rounds Europe is structured across three days (September 27–29) and typically includes keynote addresses, strategic panels and debates, Presenting Company showcases, poster sessions, one-to-one partnering meetings, networking receptions and dinners, and optional pre-event and add-on networking activities.

Visit the Event Schedule page for the detailed agenda as it becomes available.

Each Grand Rounds event features a Regional Host Committee comprising leaders from the local life sciences ecosystem who help connect the conference to the region's innovation community. Members of the 2027 Lisbon Regional Host Committee will be announced soon.

The Regional Host Committee is distinct from the global Steering Committee. While the Steering Committee brings together international leaders in biopharma, venture capital and academia to shape the conference program, the Regional Host Committee highlights local expertise and helps showcase the host city's translational innovation landscape.

Grand Rounds is guided by a distinguished Steering Committee of leaders from across the biopharma ecosystem, including representatives from Flagship Pioneering, Sanofi, SV Health Investors, ARCH Venture Partners, Lightspeed Ventures, Recursion, Third Rock Ventures, Takeda, BioMarin, FogPharma, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Sofinnova Partners, VIB, Genmab and many others.

View the full Steering Committee →

For all questions related to Grand Rounds Europe — registration, sponsorship, presenting, posters, hotel, travel or general inquiries — please contact the BioCentury Corporate Alliances and Business Development team:

Email: conferences@biocentury.com