Get Inspired

Michelle Durborow

Senior Vice President, Head of Research Operations
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Michelle Durborow is the Senior Vice President, Head of Research Operations at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, where she leads the operational strategy and infrastructure behind the Foundation's scientific programs. With more than 20 years of experience in research and organizational leadership, she oversees the teams and processes that drive efficient program execution, cross-sector collaboration, and the translation of research priorities into meaningful progress for people with Parkinson's disease. Michelle also directs the Foundation's open science strategy, advancing models that promote rapid dissemination of research tools, data, and materials while ensuring responsible stewardship of Foundation-funded assets.

Michelle's career spans scientific operations roles in rare cancer research and patient advocacy organizations, product management in the pharmaceutical industry, and work as a histology and pathology technologist in a major reference laboratory. She also brings experience as a practicing pharmacist and in business operations within the telecommunications sector—perspectives that have shaped her systems-oriented, interdisciplinary approach to research leadership.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Business Administration. Across her career, Michelle has been guided by a commitment to operational excellence and to building the structures that allow scientific teams and patient communities to move toward breakthroughs with clarity, precision, and purpose.

Tuesday, February 10

Coke Morgan Stewart

Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Coke Morgan Stewart is the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Most recently, Stewart served as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO, where she led one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world—almost a $5 billion operation with over 14,000 employees located across the 50 states and Puerto Rico.  

The State of University Innovation Panel

Panelists:

• Kate Hudson, Association of American Universities (AAU)
• Megan McKeown, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
• Kevin Wozniak, Council on Governmental Relations (COGR)

• Steve Susalka, AUTM CEO

In an era of rapid change and shifting federal priorities, the path from "lab to market" has never been more complex or more vital. This panel explores the current landscape of campus-based research and development, bringing together key leaders from the nation’s most influential higher education associations. Together, they will examine how institutions are adapting to a new age of global competition and policy fluctuation, while maintaining the core values of academic inquiry.

A central theme of this discussion is the critical role of multi-association coalitions in shaping the future of American science. In the complex political environment of Washington, D.C., individual institutions rarely move the needle alone. Instead, organizations like AAU, APLU, and COGR form a "United Front" to advocate for the research enterprise.

The conversation will include an analysis of the current policy and regulatory environment. Panelists will discuss the delicate balance of navigating federal funding mandates, heightened research oversight, and the evolving world of intellectual property rights.

Additionally, the panel will address the massive economic impact generated by research institutions. Both public and private universities serve as the primary engines for regional economies, fostering job creation and ensuring national competitiveness. By refining technology transfer strategies, these institutions are finding more efficient ways to accelerate the transition of academic breakthroughs into real-world applications that benefit society at large.
 

Wednesday, February 11

Brian Muirhead 

Chief Architect, Mars Sample Return Campaign
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Brian Muirhead is a leader in the field of deep space exploration. Currently, he is Chief Architect for the Mars Sample Return campaign, JPL’s effort to study and develop the key technologies needed to return samples from the surface of Mars, a goal never before attempted. These samples, once analyzed back on Earth, are intended to try and answer one of the highest priority questions of space science, whether there was or is life on Mars. 

Brian Muirhead is a hands-on leader whose experiences and insights as a team builder, technologist, risk manager, and culture change innovator make him an exciting and compelling motivational and content rich speaker. Brian talks about leadership, teamwork, innovation, and precision execution as the essence of “rocket science” and with specific examples of how these are applied in the exploration of deep space as well as to business right here on Earth. 

Deep space exploration is an inherently risky business. Have you ever been told to “take risk, but do not fail!” That’s what the Administer of NASA said to Brian when he was leading the Mars Pathfinder mission to land the first rover on Mars. The solution to that riddle is being innovative in both what you do and how you do it; which Brian applies in his approach to “architecting for success” through the right application of people, process and technology. As Brian notes: “In my business everything has to be Class A (i.e. perfect) on the launch pad” no matter how you get there. 

Brian has led widely distributed, diverse teams whose work in a collaborative, networked environment has significantly advanced technology and achieved extraordinary successes, in the face of seemingly impossible challenges, including daunting budget and schedule constraints. One key to Brian’s success is creating an entrepreneurial environment that attracts talent and takes advantage of and maximizes “the skill, integrity and personal ownership of literally every member of the team.” The success of the Curiosity rover landing on Mars and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch are very visible example of this kind of environment. 

A recipient of two of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medals, Brian has worked in both robotic and human exploration. He was Chief Engineer of the Mars Science Laboratory during the invention of Sky Crane, which was used to achieve the Mars rover Curiosity’s spectacular landing on Mars in 2012. As the former Chief Architect of NASA’s Constellation project, aimed at establishing a permanent base on the moon in preparation for human exploration of Mars, he led the development of a viable architecture for human exploration beyond Earth orbit. He is also the former Chief Engineer of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

Brian is the author of the highly-praised book High Velocity Leadership. His second book, Going to Mars, (with Gar and Judy Reeves-Stevens), offers an insightful and personal look behind the scenes at the leaders that make today’s exploration of Mars possible. 

Brian is a compelling storyteller with exciting stories based on in-depth knowledge and wisdom that only comes from real hands-on experience on the front lines of one of the most challenging and unforgiving of human endeavors. With passion and intelligence, he will share with you the excitement and challenges of exploring the unknown while providing insights and practices that you can apply in your own organization. He will show you “how to simplify the impossible to make a massive goal achievable.”