2026 PLENARY SESSIONS
The Plenary Sessions at Drug Discovery Chemistry Europe bring together attendees from across the event’s conference tracks to hear from and engage with leading scientists and biotech/pharma innovators driving advances in drug discovery. The program features a Plenary Keynote and a Plenary Panel, each including live audience Q&A. These sessions are also listed within the agendas of the conference tracks taking place at the corresponding times.
8:40 am PLENARY KEYNOTE: Harnessing EpiProteome Modulation for Drug Discovery
Yifat H. Merbl, PhD, Associate Professor, Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science
As targeted protein degradation reshapes drug discovery, a fundamental question emerges: can we control not only protein abundance but also protein function? Our work explores the epiProteome - the dynamic landscape of post translational modifications, ubiquitination, proteolysis, and protein activity states. By developing technologies to map and modulate these processes at scale, we uncover new therapeutic opportunities linking degradation biology, immune regulation, and cancer. These findings suggest that the proteasome functions as a broader immune-regulatory hub, opening opportunities to therapeutically reprogram cell states, proteolytic outputs, antigen presentation, and anti-tumor immunity.
Biography:
Dr. Yifat Merbl is a professor at the Systems Immunology Department in Weizmann Institute of Science. She earned her PhD in Systems Biology from Harvard Medical School. Her research lies at the intersection of biochemistry, proteomics, and immunology, where she explores how protein regulation and degradation shape immune function and human disease. A major focus of her work is the proteasome - the “cellular garbage can” - and its unexpected roles in immunity. In 2025, her lab discovered that the proteasome generates natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), revealing a new mechanism of immune defense and novel translational possibilities for combating antibiotic-resistant infections. Dr. Merbl is the recipient of numerous awards including the Rappaport Prize (2024), CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR (scientists taking risks) Award (2024) and AACR Trailblazer Award (2026). She was named one of Nature’s 10: Ten People Who Shaped Science in 2025. Dr. Merbl is a biotech entrepreneur and co-founder of several companies.
12:40 pm INSIGHTS FROM VENTURE CAPITALISTS: Capitalising on Drug Discovery Trends and Breakthroughs
PANEL MODERATOR:
Ivan Cornella Taracido, PhD, Founder, New Stealth Co.
Ivan Cornella is a scientist and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in pharmaceutical research and drug discovery. Most recently, he co-founded Covant Therapeutics, serving as Chief Scientific Officer. Throughout his career in both entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial roles within pharma and biotech, Ivan has led teams at Roivant Sciences, Cedilla Therapeutics, Merck, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. He and his teams have been pivotal in integrating chemical and molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and data sciences to advance drug discovery initiatives across diverse therapeutic areas. Ivan is recognized as a subject matter expert and frequently consults for biotech firms. His professional network spans leading pharma and venture companies, startups, and academic thought leaders. He actively engages in mentoring junior scientists and in several professional science organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Universidade da Coruña, with postdoctoral fellowships completed at Harvard Medical School and Boston College. Additionally, Ivan has received executive training at MIT Sloan School of Management.
VC PANELISTS:
Gemma Guinart Mola, Principal, Invivo Partners
Gemma is Principal at Invivo Partners, a Spanish venture capital firm based in Barcelona, focused on early-stage investments and technology transfer in innovative areas of drug development. Invivo Partners manages three VC funds, including its first fund, Healthequity, launched in 2012, a second fund raised in 2019 with €60M under management and a third fund launched in 2024 with 80M€. Backed by a majority of private investors and supported by institutions such as the European Investment Fund, Fond-ICO Global, the Catalan Finance Institute, the Valencia Institute of Finance, and the Barcelona City Council, Invivo Partners seeks opportunities across Europe and leverages a strong co-investment network. Previously, Gemma was a Project Manager at UPF Ventures. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Barcelona, an MSc in Business Management Applied to Biotechnology from the Biotechnology Business Institute, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Financial Management from UPF Barcelona School of Management. Within Invivo, she currently serves as a Board Observer at Telomere Therapeutics, Integra Therapeutics, Telum Therapeutics, Peptomyc, and Signadori Bio.
Antonio Limatola, PhD, Senior Associate, Asabys Partners
Antonio Limatola is an early-stage life sciences investor passionate about turning scientific innovation into real patient impact. His work spans venture creation, investment execution, and hands-on portfolio support, collaborating closely with founders on strategy and fundraising. Prior to venture capital, Antonio spent over 9 years in biochemistry, biology, and drug development, bringing both scientific depth and an entrepreneurial mindset to the healthcare innovation ecosystem.
Malgorzata Rogalska, PhD, Investment Analyst, Ysios Capital Partners
Malgorzata Rogalska, PhD, is an Investment Analyst at Ysios Capital, where she sources and evaluates life sciences investments. She holds a PhD in Human Genetics and brings 15+ years of research experience in RNA therapeutics and gene regulation, spanning genetic diseases, oncology, and metabolic disorders. She pairs this scientific depth with financial analysis to inform strategic investments in innovative health technologies. Before joining Ysios, Malgorzata was a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, where she led work resulting in first- and corresponding-author publications in journals including Nature and Science.