Fourth Annual Bioscience Summit Returns to Fargo October 21 with National Speakers, a Startup Pitch Competition and a Student Career Fair
Contact:
Lisa Gulland Nelson
Chief Communications Officer | Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC
(701) 306-6657(cell)
FARGO, N.D. — The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) along with BioTech Association of North Dakota (BioTechND), ND Department of Commerce, and North Dakota State University, will co-host the fourth annual Bioscience Summit on October 21, 2026, at the Avalon Events Center in Fargo. The summit brings together regional and international leaders in bioscience, medical devices, biotechnology, and healthcare innovation for a full day of sessions and networking.
The 2026 Summit theme centers on the intersection of healthcare innovation, chronic disease, and the growing bioscience ecosystem in the Greater Fargo-Moorhead region and beyond.
Event Details
What: 4th Annual Bioscience Summit
When: October 21, 2026; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Avalon Events Center, Fargo, North Dakota
Tickets: $125 per person
Info & Registration: www.biosciencesummit.com
Keynote and Featured Sessions
The Summit opens with a keynote address from Robin Richardson, Senior Vice President at MODA Health, who will present on the U.S. health system’s approach to managing chronic diseases. Richardson will be followed by a high-profile opening panel including Dr. Robert Heine, MD, PhD, FRCP, Senior Vice President of Medical at Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, Eli Lilly & Company, Richardson from MODA Health, the Diabetes Leadership Council, the University of North Dakota, and Sanford Health.
Additional sessions throughout the day include:
- Effects of GLP-1: NDSU and Sanford Health Research Update — featuring Dr. Stephen Wonderlich, Interim President of Sanford Research; Dr. Kristine Steffen, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at NDSU; and Dr. Scott Engel, Vice President of Biobehavioral Research at Sanford Research
- Bioscience Without Borders: Building Biotech Ecosystems — featuring leaders from NDSU’s Biotech Innovation Core, Genovac, Aldevron, Detectology, VerumGen Labs, and Hill Capital
- Midwest MedTech: Scaling Lifesaving Device Innovation — moderated by Amy Whitney, Director of the Center for Innovation at UND, featuring leaders from OMEDUS, PillSafe, and Inanovate
- Food as Medicine: Growing Healthier Communities Through Innovation — breakout session featuring Alex Tyink and Steve Tyink of Fork Farms.
- Commercializing Global Biotech Innovation Through Local Ecosystem Partnerships — featuring Scott Hoselton of NDSU’s Biotech Innovation Core, Shavit Clein of Thrixen, Max Cossett, 701x and Dr. Cornelius “Mac” Dyke, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgeon at Sanford Health & Chair of the Department of Surgery at the UND School of Medicine & Health Science
- Advancing Blood-Based Diagnostics for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease — featuring Seo Yun Jo, CEO of JHK Medical Science
A lunch feature will highlight the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program, presented by Dr. Jacob Warren, Director of the Center for Rural Health at UND as well as Beyond the Scale: A Personal Journey of Transformation and Hope, presented by North Dakota Senator Jamie Selzler
Opening Remarks
The Summit will feature opening remarks from U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, U.S. Senator John Hoeven (via video), Marshall Stewart, President of North Dakota State University, Andrew Armacost, President of the University of North Dakota, and Richard Garman, Director of Economic Development and Finance at the North Dakota Department of Commerce.
HEALING 2026 Pitch Competition
Running concurrently with morning sessions, the HEALING 2026 Pitch Competition (11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) will feature five finalists pitching live to a panel of healthcare leaders and investors for a growing prize pool of cash and in-kind awards. HEALING — Healthcare Entrepreneurs Advancing and Leading Innovation alongside Neurogether — supports early-stage healthcare, bioscience, and med-tech founders across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The pitch awards ceremony will take place at 4:50 p.m. to close out the day’s programming.
Career Exploration Event
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Summit will host a Career Exploration Event in the exhibit hall, connecting more than 150 area high school and college students with bioscience companies and higher education programs. The event is designed to build awareness of career pathways in the region’s growing bioscience sector.
About GFMEDC
The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation serves as the region’s concierge for business, supporting primary-sector growth, job creation, and capital investment in the Greater Fargo-Moorhead region. For more information, visit www.gfmedc.com.
About BioTechND
The BioTech Association of North Dakota (BioTechND) supports and advances the bioscience industry in North Dakota through advocacy, education, and ecosystem development.
