Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Biotech for Upward Mobility

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Biotech Connection Los Angeles (BCLA) and LA BioSpace co-hosted Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Biotech for Upward Mobility as part of LA Tech Week 2025. The event brought together students, educators, entrepreneurs, and scientists from across Los Angeles for a vibrant evening of insight, storytelling, and connection, exploring how biotechnology can drive opportunity, equity, and upward mobility within our city’s diverse communities.

The evening opened with a deeply engaging keynote by Dr. Christopher S. H. Sunk, Associate Professor at City of Hope, who brought both wisdom and humor to the stage as he reflected on his educational and personal journey. With warmth and candor, Dr. Sunk traced his path through multiple institutions—joking that if you count all his training, he’d be a “33rd grader”—before delving into a powerful message about how we define biotechnology and who gets to belong in it. He challenged the audience to rethink biotechnology not as a narrow or “second-class” technical field, but as the backbone of innovation—the invisible force behind clean water, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, therapeutics, even clothing dyes and smart materials. “Biotechnology isn’t just about pipetting,” he said, “it’s about purpose, creativity, and impact.” He urged educators and leaders to change the language: stop calling them “jobs” and start referring to them as “career opportunities.” Dr. Sunk also spoke passionately about the importance of early exposure, mentorship, and representation, noting that young students rarely dream of being biotechnologists because they’re never told what the field truly encompasses. From creating sustainable materials to advancing global health, he reminded the audience that biotechnology offers countless avenues for creativity and social change—if only we invite more people in. His keynote drew laughter, reflection, and a standing ovation, setting a powerful tone for the evening’s discussions.

Following the keynote, Dr. Alannah Mack, physician, entrepreneur, and Head of Growth at The Breathing Room, led an inspiring and candid conversation with five leaders shaping Los Angeles’ biotech ecosystem through education, workforce development, and mentorship. Dr. Porsha Cropper, Senior Program Officer at The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, shared how growing up in South LA shaped her mission to connect historically marginalized communities with family-sustaining biotech careers, reflecting on her transition from academia to philanthropy and her work creating hands-on learning opportunities that make science more accessible. Dr. Andria Denmon, Associate Professor at Santa Monica College, spoke about her unconventional path from the arts to science and how rediscovering her confidence through education inspired her to help others do the same. Today, she builds equity-centered biotech programs supported by the NSF and W.M. Keck Foundation, reminding the audience that “we often talk about the STEM pipeline, but we start it too late—we have to start when students are still learning to dream.” Dr. Ogonna Nwajiobi, Process Development Expert at Amgen and founder of The Bridge Scholarship, spoke about his nonprofit’s impact in funding education for nearly 100 students in Nigeria, emphasizing that true upward mobility begins when one person is given the chance to lift others: “This is what it looks like—giving someone a chance and watching them build bridges of their own.” Dr. Krishna Foster, Professor and Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Cal State LA, reflected on her years mentoring underrepresented students in STEM and the importance of recognizing unconventional talent, recalling her own experiences with rejection and reminding attendees to “know the truth about who you are and why you belong.” The discussion came full circle with the personal story of Finally, Adrian Loera, a Manufacturing Technician at Armata Pharmaceuticals, who found his path through the Cal State LA Post-Baccalaureate Biotechnology Program. What began as uncertainty after college turned into a career in biomanufacturing, showing how opportunity and mentorship can transform lives. As the conversation drew to a close, Dr. Denmon left the audience with a memorable reflection: “Sometimes we don’t see the lightbulb moments right away. Sometimes it’s a candle—the flame might flicker, but it’s still burning. Our role is to keep that flame alive.”

After the panel, the conversations continued into a lively, happy hour, where guests mingled over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, sharing their own journeys and forging new connections. The energy in the room was bright and hopeful—a celebration not just of science, but of community. Laughter mixed with business cards and mentorship offers; professors chatted with students, industry leaders exchanged stories with early-career scientists, and new collaborations began to take shape.

By the end of the night, Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Biotech for Upward Mobility had lived up to its name—breaking down academic, industrial, and social walls to remind everyone that biotechnology’s greatest breakthroughs come from the people who dare to build them together.

BCLA extends its heartfelt thanks to LA BioSpace for co-hosting this meaningful evening and to our event sponsor Corning Incorporated, whose continued partnership and commitment to innovation, education, and community growth make events like this possible.