News
12 September 2025
RNA symposium speakers spotlight - startups
Spotlight on Startups participating at our RNA Symposium!
We’re especially proud to highlight four incredible women who will take the stage in session 3 Value creation: from the lab bench to the market. In a field still largely dominated by men, these female founders and CEOs are leading the way - building companies, driving innovation, and shaping the future of RNA science:
Dalya Gartzman
Co-founder & CEO of Renasis Bio
Mathematician and AI expert turned biotech entrepreneur.
Her background spans AI-driven product development, from bioinformatics to deep learning and classical algorithms. She has built and led AI initiatives in early-stage startups, translating complex ideas into impactful products.
Alongside her technical work, she has been deeply involved in mentoring and community leadership in tech, promoting both knowledge sharing and career growth.
In recent years, she has become passionate about the tech-bio revolution, and she has come to believe that the most exciting thing she can do with her tech background is to advance biology! Hence came to life Renasis Bio, an AI-driven drug discovery platform for small molecules targeting RNA.
Ilaria Zeni
Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions & Amyloids, CIBIO - University of Trento
Ilaria Zeni is a postdoctoral researcher who holds a PhD in Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Trento. She has a multidisciplinary approach to pharmaceutical research and is an expert in areas ranging from cell biology to pharmacology and from drug screening to clinical trial management.
Following her honours degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Padua, she embarked on her scientific research career by completing her thesis internship at the “Città della Speranza” institute, where she gained experience in preclinical research in pediatric oncology. This experience was a turning point, consolidating her motivation to pursue a career in preclinical research.
She now works in the CIBIO department, where she is involved in developing new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly prion diseases.
She has also worked as a pharmacist, gaining experience and knowledge of drugs from a post-marketing perspective.In the clinical field, she has promoted an observational study in collaboration with Santa Chiara Hospital in Trento, and participates as a data manager in the Euroheart European clinical study, promoted by a Florence-based foundation.
Concurrently, she has explored technology transfer and innovation by participating in acceleration programs for biotech start-ups. She is the co-author of several scientific publications and a co-inventor of a patent. She also has a strong interest in integrating preclinical research, clinical application and entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical sector.
Letizia Goretti
CEO of Alia Therapeutics
Letizia Goretti is the CEO of Alia Therapeutics, a Trento-based biotech startup committed to curing genetic diseases. Founded by Professor Anna Cereseto and her team at the University of Trento, Alia is advancing genome editing technologies that expand the range of treatable genetic targets and deliver unprecedented precision and safety essential for next-generation therapeutic applications.
With over 25 years of international experience in the life sciences sector, Letizia Goretti brings a comprehensive background spanning strategy, operations, R&D, and commercial leadership. Prior to joining Alia Therapeutics, she served as Senior Director of Transactions and Alliances at the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre in London, where she led strategic collaborations with academia, startups, industry, government bodies, and non-profits. Her work focused on genomics-driven initiatives such as the UK Biobank Whole Genome Sequencing Consortium and Our Future Health, as well as the development of digital health capabilities. Earlier, at Johnson & Johnson in Belgium, Letizia played a pivotal role in launching the Hepatitis C and HIV portfolios and managed a mature brands portfolio valued at $1.2 billion. In 2025, she was appointed to the board of Italian Tech Alliance, further contributing to the growth of Italy’s innovation ecosystem.
Shweta Srivastava
CEO and Founder of Biomartech Strategist
With a PhD in Biological Sciences, Shweta transitioned from a scientific research background into the life science marketing domain to bridge the gap between bench research and industry innovation. As CEO and Founder of Biomartech Strategist, she works with biotech, pharma, and diagnostic companies to help position their technologies in competitive markets through strategic marketing, digital campaigns, and thought leadership. Her research interests have always revolved around molecular biology and biotechnology, and today her focus lies in translating scientific advancements into sustainable business growth for life science companies.
