When the Research Lab Meets Change Capital: Impact and Outlook of PE in Health Innovation

March 26, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM ET

While the desirability of change in the health care system is well accepted, how it is to be achieved is not. One flashpoint has been the involvement of private capital firms in healthcare. In theory, private equity brings capital and discipline to firms in a manner that should be helpful to the healthcare industry. But popular accounts and academic studies have raised troubling questions.

As technology-driven advancements and clinical innovation accelerate the evolution of the life sciences, can PE play a constructive role to enable life sciences firms to better position themselves for success in a competitive and rapidly evolving environment? Or are the temptations to profit at the expense of the customer too great in these settings?

This session will explore the evidence about these important and controversial issues. In particular, this program will focus on two issues:

How advances in information and communication technologies, which have transformed everything from urban transport to payments to navigation, can address the effectiveness of medical delivery, and the role of venture capital in facilitating this transformation.
The role of private capital in financing the “white spaces” in the delivery of medical services: e.g., the areas where consumers are underserved, whether geographic, demographic, or class of care (e.g., primary care).

Series Moderator

Josh Lerner

The Jacob H. Schiff Professor, Harvard Business School; Director, Private Capital Research Institute

Panelists

Abrar Mir

Co-founder and Managing Partner,
Quadria Capital

Charles Ruprecht

Principal,
GHO Capital

Kevin Tracey

Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research,
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

Paula Volent

VP & Chief Investment Officer,
The Rockefeller University

Pricing

All: Free

About the Series

The “Private Capital and Discovery: Strategic Investing in Scientific Innovation” series is brought to you by The New York Academy of Sciences and The Private Capital Research Institute. Through expert panels and thought-provoking discussions, the series examines how private equity is uniquely positioned to drive transformative advancements—while also exploring the ethical and strategic dilemmas that can arise when financial incentives influence the trajectory of science. Learn more about the series.

BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Example//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY: DESCRIPTION: LOCATION: DTSTART:20260326120000 DTEND:20260326131500 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR