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.

Now in its third U.S. edition, Grand Rounds features presentations from emerging biotechs, translational poster sessions from academic researchers, strategic panels on R&D challenges, one-to-one partnering meetings and an exclusive conference report from Insights Partner McKinsey & Company.

The 3rd BioCentury Grand Rounds – U.S. takes place June 3–5, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, 808 Howell St., Seattle, WA 98101.

The inaugural Grand Rounds – U.S. took place in Nashville, Tennessee in September 2024. The 2nd Grand Rounds – U.S. was held in Chicago, Illinois in June 2025. Grand Rounds – Europe debuted in Cambridge, U.K. in September 2025. You can view highlights from the 2025 Chicago event at conferences.biocentury.com/grand-rounds-us-2025.

In addition to Grand Rounds – U.S. in Seattle, BioCentury also hosts Grand Rounds – Europe, taking place September 23–25, 2026, in Amsterdam. The European edition brings the same interdisciplinary format to a transatlantic audience, with a special focus on showcasing translational opportunities in the Benelux region, including the Netherlands and Belgium.

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. Bundled sponsorship packages across both events are also available.

Learn more about Grand Rounds Europe →

Grand Rounds is organized by BioCentury, leveraging its 30+ year track record of analyzing biotech product development from discovery to approval. The conference program is curated by BioCentury's editorial and biopharma intelligence teams and guided by a distinguished Steering Committee of industry leaders. McKinsey & Company serves as Insights Partner, continuing a 12-year collaboration with BioCentury events.

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 prior Grand Rounds events, the audience has included approximately 31% academic translational researchers, 25% biopharma executives (SVP/VP), 17% early-stage investors, 16% biopharma founders and CEOs, and 11% other stakeholders. Attending organizations have included Andreessen Horowitz, ARCH Venture Partners, Flagship Pioneering, Third Rock Ventures, Lightspeed Ventures, Regeneron, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Takeda, Bristol Myers Squibb, Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, NIH, McKinsey & Company 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

You will also receive an exclusive conference report from McKinsey & Company analyzing key challenges in the translation of scientific advances into drug development and medical practice.

Register online at the Grand Rounds registration page. You will be asked to select your registration category (Academic, Industry or Service Provider) during the process.

Grand Rounds offers different registration categories with corresponding pricing. Categories include Academic Pass, Industry Pass and Service Provider Pass. Early bird rates are available for a limited time. Please visit the registration page to view current pricing for each category.

Yes. A special VC/investor rate of $995 is available when you register by March 27, 2026, with additional savings for bundles of four or more passes. Email to receive the discount code and confirm eligibility.

Your conference pass includes access to all plenary sessions and panels, the presenting company showcase, poster sessions, networking receptions, the partnering meeting system for scheduling one-to-one meetings, and the exclusive McKinsey & Company conference report. Certain add-on networking events (e.g., pre-event excursions, VIP dinners) may be available separately.

Grand Rounds is designed as an in-person experience focused on face-to-face partnering and networking. Please check the conference website for any updates regarding virtual or digital access options.

Grand Rounds 2026 will be held at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, located at 808 Howell St., Seattle, WA 98101. The Hyatt Regency is centrally located in downtown Seattle.

A special room block has been secured at the Hyatt Regency Seattle at a discounted rate of $349/night. We strongly encourage delegates to book accommodations no later than May 5, 2026, to take advantage of this group rate before the block fills up.

Visit the Hotel & Travel page for the direct booking link and additional details.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the nearest major airport, located approximately 14 miles south of downtown Seattle. The trip to the Hyatt Regency Seattle typically takes 25–40 minutes by car or rideshare, and the Link Light Rail provides direct service from the airport to downtown.

Yes. Grand Rounds features a dedicated partnering platform where registered delegates can browse attendee profiles and schedule one-to-one meetings throughout the conference. This is one of the most valuable features of the event, allowing investors to meet with emerging companies, academic researchers to connect with industry partners, and biopharma leaders to explore pipeline opportunities.

The partnering system opens on May 11, 2026. That is when you can begin browsing delegate profiles and scheduling one-to-one meetings for the conference.

Before May 11, 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.

Presenting Companies are early-stage biotechs (typically pre-seed through Series A) selected by BioCentury to present their science and commercial potential on stage to a curated audience of VCs, biopharma R&D leaders, BD&L executives and academic innovators. It is a high-profile opportunity to increase your company's visibility, attract investor interest and drive partnering requests from both R&D and business development decision-makers.

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.

Yes. Selected Presenting Companies pay a fee of $2,095 (early bird pricing in effect until March 27, 2026). This fee includes a presentation slot on stage, inclusion in the partnering platform, and additional visibility benefits. Visit the nomination form for the latest pricing.

Grand Rounds features approximately 30 Presenting Company slots, and space is limited. We encourage you to submit your nomination as early as possible.

Grand Rounds is focused on early-stage innovation. Presenting Companies are typically pre-seed to Series A biotechs with cutting-edge science and commercial potential. BioCentury's editorial team selects companies working at the forefront of disease biology, new modalities and enabling technologies.

Selected Presenting Companies receive a presentation slot on stage before an audience of investors, pharma R&D 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.

The Poster Sessions at Grand Rounds provide academics and biotechs with the opportunity to deliver deep dives into the scientific basis of the latest translational breakthroughs and to showcase early-stage science and technology with commercial potential. Posters are presented in a dedicated session where attendees can engage directly with presenters.

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 Scientific Poster Self-Nomination Form. You may also be nominated through the Grand Rounds Nomination Hub.

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 features approximately 50 poster spaces. Given the limited availability, early nomination is encouraged.

Yes. Selected poster presenters are subject to a poster session fee. Please email for current pricing and details.

Yes. Grand Rounds offers a range of sponsorship packages designed to provide global visibility and position your organization as a key player in R&D strategy. Sponsors benefit from thought leadership opportunities, branding, delegate passes, access to networking events, and the ability to nominate presenting companies.

Packages include tiered sponsorship levels (Gold, Silver, Rising Star, Bronze) as well as a la carte opportunities such as Networking Reception Sponsor, Poster Session Sponsor, Bootcamp Sponsor, After-Party Sponsor, Partnering Sponsor, Lanyard Sponsor, Wi-Fi Sponsor and more.

The Rising Star Sponsor program lets you contribute to the future of biopharma innovation by empowering the next generation of academic stars. As a Rising Star Sponsor, you receive five tickets for academic innovators to attend Grand Rounds as your guests, two all-access passes for your senior executives, the opportunity for your five Rising Academic Stars to join the Poster Session with your firm's branding, and a speaker/moderator opportunity. This program is limited to four sponsors.

Yes. Bundled sponsorship packages are available for organizations looking for premium brand placement at both Grand Rounds – U.S. (Seattle, June 2026) and Grand Rounds – Europe (Amsterdam, September 2026), with package pricing and benefits available upon request.

To receive a sponsorship prospectus and discuss opportunities, please fill out the sponsorship inquiry form or contact the BioCentury Corporate Alliances and Business Development team directly at conferences@biocentury.com. Exclusive packages fill up quickly, so we encourage early inquiries.

Grand Rounds is structured across three days (June 3–5) and typically includes keynote addresses, strategic panels and debates, Presenting Company showcases, poster sessions, one-to-one partnering meetings, networking receptions and dinners, an exclusive McKinsey & Company conference report, and optional pre-event and add-on networking activities.

This year's opening keynote will be delivered by David Baker, Ph.D., Nobel laureate, HHMI investigator and Director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington. Dr. Baker's lab is a world leader in computational protein design, creating novel molecules that address challenges in medicine, technology and sustainability — a fitting opening for Grand Rounds in Seattle, home to one of the world's most vibrant life sciences ecosystems. Previous Grand Rounds opening keynotes have featured Marty Burke (University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign) in Chicago and Steve Jackson (University of Cambridge) in Cambridge, U.K.

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. This year's Regional Host Committee in Seattle is chaired by the Allen Institute and includes representatives from leading Seattle-area institutions.

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. Previous Regional Host Committees have included leaders from the Chicago and Cambridge, U.K. ecosystems.

Meet the 2026 Seattle Regional Host Committee →

McKinsey & Company has served as Insights Partner for BioCentury events for 12 years. At Grand Rounds, McKinsey presents an exclusive conference report analyzing key challenges in the translation of scientific advances into drug development and medical practice. This report is a highlight of the event and is shared with all conference delegates.

BioCentury welcomes nominations for keynote, fireside and panel speakers, as well as suggestions for discussion topics. Visit the Grand Rounds Nomination Hub to submit your recommendations. Note that BioCentury asks you to hold off on making introductions until nominees are approved by the editorial team.

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 and many others.

View the full Steering Committee →

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

Email: conferences@biocentury.com

Visit BioCenturyGrandRoundsUS.com for the latest news, schedule updates, speaker announcements and registration information. You can also sign up for email updates to be the first to know about early bird rates and new announcements.