Dr. Whitesides is a world leader in surface chemistry and drug design. He has received more than 25 professional recognitions and awards, including the 1998 National Medal of Science and the 2003 Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology. Dr. Whitesides was a founder of several successful companies including GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Theravance, and Genzyme. Dr. Whitesides is also a member of several advisory panels including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Research Council. Dr. Whitesides is the author or co-author of more than 900 scientific publications. He received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 1964 and was a faculty member at MIT from 1963 to 1982. He joined the Department of Chemistry of Harvard University in 1982 and was Chairman of the Department from 1986 to 1989 and Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry from 1982 to 2004.

Dr. Deutch has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1970, and has served as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Science and Provost. Dr. Deutch has published over 140 technical publications in physical chemistry, as well as numerous publications on technology, energy, international security, and public policy issues. Dr. Deutch has served in significant government and academic posts, including Director of CIA, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Technology, and served in a number of positions for the Department of Energy. He serves as director for the following publicly held companies: Ariad Pharmaceutical, Citigroup, CMS Energy, Cummins, Raytheon and Schlumberger Ltd. Dr. Deutch earned a B.A. in history and economics from Amherst College, and both the B.S. in chemical engineering and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from M.I.T.

Dr. Welch, inventor of the highly regarded antidepressant Zoloft®, has over 30 years of experience working in the Pharmaceutical Industry at Pfizer's Central Research facility in Groton, CT. While at Pfizer, Dr. Welch's research efforts primarily focused on the discovery of novel human therapeutic agents for diseases of the central nervous system. Dr. Welch is the author or co-author of some 65 publications and 35 U.S. patents. Dr. Welch earned his Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Rice University.

Dr. Borchardt's research interests include aspects of both drug design and delivery. During his academic career, Dr. Borchardt has received numerous awards and honors for his teaching and research accomplishments including the 1997 Louise Byrd Graduate Educator Award, the 2000 Millennial Pharmaceutical Scientist Award and the 2003 Takeru Higuchi Research Prize from the American Pharmaceutical Association. Dr. Borchardt is the author or co-author of approximately 475 scientific publications and 450 abstracts. Dr. Borchardt is also the Editor of 7 books, the Series Editor of "Pharmaceutical Biotechnology" and "Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Aspects. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas-Lawrence in 1970. After a post-doctoral fellowship at the NIH, he joined the Department of Biochemistry of The University of Kansas as an Assistant Professor. From 1983-1998, Dr. Borchardt served as the Chairman of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy and is currently the Solon E. Summerfield Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.