Agentic AI in Life Science R&D: From Potential to Practice

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving from tools that support individual tasks to systems that can plan, reason and act across complex workflows. This emerging paradigm often referred to as Agentic AI, is attracting growing interest in the life science sector. But what does it actually mean in practice, and what is realistic to implement today in regulated research and development environments?

This Medicon Valley Alliance R&D network seminar will explore how agent-based and advanced AI systems may shape the future of life science research and development, while focusing on the practical questions many organisations are currently asking:

• What is Agentic AI, and how does it differ from traditional AI and automation?
• Where can these approaches create real value in life science R&D today?
• How should organisations think about building capabilities, partnering, or adopting external solutions?
• What are the technical, organisational and regulatory considerations when introducing AI-driven systems into research and development processes?

Through keynote insights and real-world industry cases, participants will gain a clearer understanding of both the opportunities and the limitations of Agentic AI in a life science context. Beyond the presentations, the event will provide opportunities for discussion and networking across the Medicon Valley ecosystem, helping participants explore potential collaborations and share experiences across organisations.

Date: Thursday 7th May 2026
Time: 14:00 – 18:30
Venue: Medicon Valley Alliance, HUB2, Arne Jacobsens Allé 15, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark – Auditorium

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Program:

Speakers​​​​

	Sonja Aits leads the “Cell Death, Lysosomes and Artificial Intelligence” research group which works at the intersection of AI, medicine and sustainability at Lund University. She also coordinate many of the activities of the local artificial intelligence community and consult on her area of research, general research methods and research strategy, scientific writing, lab management and academic career development.
	Aleksandra Zaniewska is a Principal and Head of AI Lab at BII, where she leads AI-driven initiatives and works closely with early-stage startups on developing and scaling AI solutions. With a background in machine learning, her work sits at the intersection of AI, venture development and innovation, focusing on turning emerging technologies into viable products and investment opportunities.
	Raja Shankar, Vice President, Machine Learning, AI and Technology Solutions at IQVIA. He is focused on transforming life sciences and healthcare with AI. He motivates his team to create new narratives that fully leverage AI’s potential to reshape the industry from R&D through to commercialization. Raja brings together a diverse set of technical and strategic capabilities, including Machine Learning, Agentic AI, Foundation Models, Product Development, Life Sciences Expertise and Business Consulting Skills. His team combines data science, engineering, domain expertise and consulting skills to drive impactful change by applying AI to life sciences and healthcare decisions. His current focus is on building foundation models to increase likelihood of Clinical Development success and Agentic AI workflows to accelerate Clinical Trials.
	Niels Buch Leander is Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at PharmaRelations. He is an experienced digital leader and life sciences specialist with more than 15 years of consulting and executive experience across the biotech and pharmaceutical ecosystem. He is dedicated to accelerating digital transformation in biotech by bridging scientific discovery with data, technology, and operational scalability in R&D. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with emerging biotechs and global innovators to build digital capabilities that enable smarter trial design, robust regulatory pathways, and patient centric development approaches. Niels is passionate about translating cutting edge technology into tangible value that helps biotech organizations advance their science and bring transformative therapies to patients faster.
	Søren Thorup brings 15+ years of experience at the intersection of AI, digital health, and medical devices. He has led the development of scalable, compliant technology platforms and delivered digital health products for leading pharma and medtech companies worldwide. Passionate about applying AI in regulated healthcare settings, he focuses on turning emerging technologies into solutions that create measurable value beyond the pilot stage. At Adalyon, he is working to transform how patient-reported data is collected in clinical trials.
	Alejandro Gonzalez is a Senior Manager in Digital Innovation and Execution at Genmab with extensive experience in statistical programming, clinical trial data standards, exploratory analysis, and digital innovation. His work focuses on building controlled, reproducible AI-enabled workflows that augment clinical experts, reduce operational burden, and support scalable validation in regulated clinical environments. He is actively involved in advancing practical AI operating models that balance efficiency with transparency and human accountability.

Deadline for registration is 5th May 2026

The MVA R&D Network
Joining the MVA R&D Network is free of charge but is limited to Medicon Valley Alliance members. Non-member organizations and companies are welcome to attend one network event to evaluate the relevance in joining the network.

For more information please contact Katrine Brems Olsen kbo@mva.org

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