SynBioBeta Speaker

Ewa Lis

Koliber Bio

Founder & CEO

Dr. Ewa Lis is the Founder and CEO of Koliber Biosciences, a computational biology company that leverages an advanced AI platform for the discovery and optimization of peptides and proteins. With a rich background in both computer science and biological sciences, Dr. Lis's expertise encompasses large language models, deep learning, data augmentation, graph networks, and various domains of biology and chemistry. Before establishing Koliber Biosciences in 2014, she held key positions at Reveal Biosciences , Life Technologies and Genomatica, where she contributed to the development of diverse technologies ranging from algorithms for pathology tissue classification to tools for genome engineering research and microbial strains for chemical production. Dr. Lis earned her BA in Chemistry from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from The Scripps Research Institute.

Sessions Featuring

Ewa

This Year

Breakout Session

โ€ข

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

AIxBIO

Rewriting Enzyme Performance: Next-Gen Platforms for AI-Driven Protein Screening

AI is rapidly transforming how therapeutic enzymes and protein drug candidates are discovered, engineered, and validated. Generative models can now propose millions of novel variants optimized for specificity, stability, and target engagement. But the true bottleneck is no longer design, it is screening at scale. As model-generated libraries expand exponentially, the need for faster, more predictive experimental systems has become critical to translate computational insights into clinically relevant performance. This session explores the emerging generation of integrated platforms that combine AI-guided design, high-throughput functional screening, automation, and advanced analytics to accelerate therapeutic protein discovery. From self-driving labs and multiplexed cellular assays to adaptive screening strategies that prioritize pharmacologically meaningful readouts over simple activity metrics, speakers will examine how next-gen infrastructure is reshaping enzyme optimization for drug development.

Featuring

Weston Kightlinger

Ridge Bio

CEO

Cell-free synthesis pioneer building precision enzyme therapeutics.

Will Cao

Pando

CEO

Founder making enzyme development 80% cheaper

Stefan Lutz

Codexis Inc.

CSO

Directed-evolution expert shaping next-generation enzyme engineering.

David Virant

Acies Bio

Department Head

Ewa Lis

Koliber Bio

Founder & CEO

AI-driven peptide/protein drug-discovery builder (also microbiome engineering).

Fay Lin

GEN

Sr Editor, Technology

Breakout Session

โ€ข

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

AIxBIO

Rewriting Enzyme Performance: Next-Gen Platforms for AI-Driven Protein Screening

AI is rapidly transforming how therapeutic enzymes and protein drug candidates are discovered, engineered, and validated. Generative models can now propose millions of novel variants optimized for specificity, stability, and target engagement. But the true bottleneck is no longer design, it is screening at scale. As model-generated libraries expand exponentially, the need for faster, more predictive experimental systems has become critical to translate computational insights into clinically relevant performance. This session explores the emerging generation of integrated platforms that combine AI-guided design, high-throughput functional screening, automation, and advanced analytics to accelerate therapeutic protein discovery. From self-driving labs and multiplexed cellular assays to adaptive screening strategies that prioritize pharmacologically meaningful readouts over simple activity metrics, speakers will examine how next-gen infrastructure is reshaping enzyme optimization for drug development.

Featuring

Weston Kightlinger

Ridge Bio

CEO

Cell-free synthesis pioneer building precision enzyme therapeutics.

Will Cao

Pando

CEO

Founder making enzyme development 80% cheaper

Stefan Lutz

Codexis Inc.

CSO

Directed-evolution expert shaping next-generation enzyme engineering.

David Virant

Acies Bio

Department Head

Ewa Lis

Koliber Bio

Founder & CEO

AI-driven peptide/protein drug-discovery builder (also microbiome engineering).

Fay Lin

GEN

Sr Editor, Technology

Previous Speakers Include