Build. Biology, Beyond.

McGill iGEM annual conference brings together students, researchers, and industry professionals to explore the growing impact of synthetic biology. In 2025, OnTheVerge shifts focus to the real-world translation of synthetic biological systems. Our aim: to explore diverse career paths, bioethics, systemic challenges, and future applications of engineered biology.

Explore how synthetic biology is transforming our world through a scientific and entrepreneurial lens—and how the next generation of innovators and thinkers can help shape that transformation responsibly, promoting long-term sustainability and global resilience.

Speaker sneak peak

Claudia Penafuerte Diaz

CEO and Cofounder of Curatherapeutics

Claudia Penafuerte Diaz, CEO and Co-Founder of Cura Therapeutics, has over 25 years in cancer immunology. She developed cytokine-based fusion proteins for cancer and infectious diseases, led translational research at the Goodman Cancer Research Center and NRC Canada, and, during her McGill PhD, created anti-cancer chimeric proteins, publishing important first-author studies in cancer immunology journals.

Kevin Esvelt

Director of Sculpting Evolution group at the MIT Media Labs

Kevin M. Esvelt is a biologist and Associate Professor at MIT’s Media Lab, where he leads the Sculpting Evolution group. He invented phage-assisted continuous evolution (PACE) and pioneered CRISPR-based gene drives, including safer “daisy drives.” His work focuses on bioethics, open science, community-guided ecological engineering, and preventing global catastrophic biological risks.

Benoit Larose

Executive Director of BIOQuebec

Mr. Larose has over thirty-five years of experience in the life sciences sector. He has worked in R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of medical supplies and devices, diagnostic products, and pharmaceuticals and is a seasoned business development and corporate finance professional.

Agenda

Day 1

9:00-10:00 AM Registration
10:00-11:00 AM Keynote speaker #1
11:00-12:00 AM Panel 1: Engineering Resilience (sustainability)
12:00-2:00 PM Lunch & Learn
2:00-3:00 PM Panel 2: Innovation & Impact (industry)
3:00-4:20 PM E-IDEA Workshop
4:20-5:30 PM Networking

Day 2

9:00-10:00 AM Registration
10:00-11:00 AM Keynote speaker
11:00-12:00 AM Panel 3: Bioethics
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch and networking
1:00-2:00 PM Panel 4: Therapeutics panel
2:00-4:30 PM Industry Showcase & Networking
4:30-5:00 PM Closing talk

Our Sponsors

Thank you to the amazing organizations that are helping us bring this conference to life!

The Venue

ABOUT THIS VENUE:

The conference will be hosted at a state-of-the-art convention center, District 3 Innovation Hub, providing a dynamic and interactive environment for knowledge exchange and networking.