Dr. Cynthia Hong is Director of AI & Discovery Sciences, Search & Evaluation Business Development at Novartis, where she identifies and evaluates strategic opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and discovery science platforms to advance the company’s research and development capabilities. Before joining Novartis, Dr. Hong held positions at Pfizer in external research and partnership development within cardiovascular and metabolic disease programs, and previously worked as a Consultant at Kibel Green Advisors focusing on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Earlier in her career, she conducted research at UCLA, where she investigated lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, and at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) as a postdoctoral fellow studying nuclear receptor signaling in metabolic diseases. Dr. Hong holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and both BSE and MSE degrees in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. She has authored over 45 peer-reviewed scientific publications and brings a unique combination of scientific depth and business development expertise to the integration of AI in drug discovery. An experienced public speaker, she has appeared at industry events including SynBioBeta and Novartis-led partner roundtables on digital and AI topics.