Dr Santos is a healthcare innovation leader with +20y expertise in diagnostics, therapeutics & med-tech. She holds PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Chicago and was a PI on the American Heart Association’s project, developing cancer metastatic blockers and cardiomyopathies diagnostics. In recent years Dr Santos led R&D Team at Abbott Labs, focusing on infectious diseases. She consults for startups & VC firms and serves on boards of organizations in EU, UK and USA. She advocates for appreciation of research diasporas as a key factor for economic growth.As a non-profit executive, Ala focuses on the importance of scientific excellence translating to commercialization in industry. She advocates for appreciation of research diasporas as a key factor for economic growth.