Few & Far Between: How Biotech Gets Built

Today on the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast: Join new host Melissa Alesse and former host Chris O'Brien - CEO at Rancho BioSciences and Biorasi Board member - as they explore the origins and evolution of our podcast and what we've learned along the way.We dive deep into the importance of long-form media and thought leadership, AI's continuous evolution, and CROs from the CEO's POV.Watch this episode today!

Today on the Biorasi podcast, we look back on three years of AI innovation in healthcare and clinical trials - breaking new boundaries and a creating a new reality across all industries. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes back Zak Kohane, AI Oracle and Professor and Chair of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School. We'll journey back to Zak's first appearance on the podcast and take stock of what three years means to AI development including widespread adoption by patients and physicians, how cancer still outsmarts today's LLMs, and the importance of sharing prompts with fellow AI travellers. Find answers to the top AI questions in this new episode!

How do today’s CEOs and founders find the balance between planning and entrepreneurship? Check out the latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast - How Biotech Gets Built. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Sinan Gölhan, CEO at GelTech Labs. We'll be exploring life in a biotech startup, hydrogels in lab robotics, and bringing AI into your organization. Watch this episode today!

Let's kick off 2026 with the first Biorasi podcast episode of the year! How do you get "Biotech Vision" to see the complete picture of your place in the industry? Find out in the latest episode of the Few & Far Between podcast - How Biotech Gets Built. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes guest Aoife Brennan, President and CEO of Climb Bio. We'll be discussing how to leverage science and strategy, the differences between CEOs and CMOs, and how hiring an "operational penknife" is critical to new organizations. Watch it today!

Are clinical trial protocols a true art form? Find out in a new episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes guest Mark Ableson, founder of Ora Clinical and CRO pioneer. We'll be discussing exploratory endpoints, what to learn from failed trails, and essential factors in choosing a clinical site location. Listen today!

With biotech, is it the destination, the journey, or both? Find out in a new episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes guest Amit Etkin, Founder and CEO of Alto Neuroscience and Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. We’ll be discussing placebos in psychiatry, using biomarkers for patient outcomes, and what you can and can’t do in academia and biotech. Watch it today!

Will GLP-1's one day replace our morning coffee? Find out in a special video episode of the Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes friend of the show, Professor Justin Stebbing. In this new segment, we'll spotlight biotech trends that you need to know about - from T cells to GLP-1 - and identify which innovations are worth the hype. Let's start the podcast!

What if the future of biotech is actually late-stage execution? Welcome to our first video episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast with your host, Chris O’Brien. Today, we welcome guest Bruce Leuchter, MD, President and CEO of Neurvati Neurosciences. We’ll be covering a myriad of biotech topics, from “business athletes” to the role of the operating company in the drug development industry. We’ll also be premiering our lightning round - quick questions and inspired answers from our podcast guests. Okay, let’s start the podcast!

When is the right time for a biotech to bring in a Chief Marketing Officer/CMO? Find out in our latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Ken Suzuki, Chief Marketing Officer at Nautilus Biotechnology. Listen in as we access the marketer inside each of us, discuss how knowing people might be more important than business and finance, and follow the steps to maintain the fine balance between marketing and reality. Let's start the podcast!

Why is a feather-light touch important in fighting infections? Find out in our latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Woody Bryan, President and CEO of Revolo Biotherapeutics. Tune in as we press the reset button on the human immune system, explore upstream and downstream levers for treating autoimmune diseases, and how to stay competitive in the biotech industry. Let's start the podcast!

Can AI see and talk to human cells? Find out in today's episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Yochi Slonim, Co-Founder and CEO at Anima Biotech, to the podcast. Get ready for part two of this special two-part episode as we touch on smarter LLMs, evolved AI agents, and connecting data to real-world biology. Okay, let's start the podcast!

What do software bugs and human cells have in common? Find out in today's episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Yochi Slonim, Co-Founder and CEO at Anima Biotech, to the podcast. Tune in to part one of this special two-part episode as we double-click on #AIagents, building neural networks, and syncing visual biology with real-world biology. Okay, let's start the podcast!

How does a biopharma background prepare you for the biotech playground? Find out in our latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Jerry McLaughlin, CEO and Board Member at Life Biosciences, for an insightful discussion on cellular rejuvenation, working hand in hand with a board of directors, and knowing when to walk away from a clinical trial. Tune in today!

Is the epigenome the "software" of the cell nucleus? Find out in our latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Jim Brown, President and CEO of DURECT Corporation, for a conversation on the importance of a pharmacoeconomic strategy, developing new treatments for alcohol associated hepatitis, and moving beyond what a single individual can do in clinical research. Tune in today!

How do experienced troubleshooters solve a difficult problem? By asking the right questions first! Welcome back to part two of our conversation with Michael Tolentino, MD, Co-Founder and Head Scientific Consultant at Aviceda Therapeutics. Join host Chris O'Brien as he and Dr. Tolentino, explore the traits of top problem solvers, the power of communication, and how silos and "bad apples" can undermine today's biotechs. Okay, let's start the podcast!

How much do you know about clinical trials in Latin America? Take a deep dive with us as we explore the benefits and risks of running studies in this region. In our latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast, host Chris O'Brien welcomes Julio G. Martinez-Clark, CEO and Co-Founder at bioaccess®. Tune in as we spotlight the advantages of running studies in #LATAM - from data quality to speed to approval.

The challenge? Decoding the human immune system. Get ready to meet the top challenger on today's episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Michael Tolentino, MD, Co-Founder and Head Scientific Consultant at Aviceda Therapeutics, to the podcast. Tune in to part one of this special two-part episode as we explore Michael's start in ophthalmology, groundbreaking treatments in intra-retinal therapy, and the importance of being a great communicator. Okay, let's start the podcast!  

How do mission, vision, and data analysis fit into today's biotech goals? Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Frank David, Founder and Managing Director of Pharmagellan to the podcast. Tune in as we explore R&D strategy, de-risking tactics, and how to think about valuation. Listen in to the latest episode of the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast today!    

How does a biotech balance great science with IP security to tell their story? Find out on today's episode of the Few & Far Between podcast! Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Joshua Kresh, Emily Michiko Morris, and Mark Schultz from IPPI: The Intellectual Property Policy Institute. Tune in for a fascinating discussion on the dos and don'ts of IP protection. Listen to the latest episode today!

How do you turn back the epigenetic clock for humans and their animal companions?  Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Dan Oliver, CEO and Founder of Rejuvenate Bio, to the podcast. Tune in as we take a deep dive into parallel clinical trials designed to address chronic, age-related diseases in people and their pets. Plus, we'll zoom in on the right corporate structure for biotech products and the benefits of brainstorming. Listen in to the latest episode of the Few & Far Between podcast today!  

Now on the Few & Far Between podcast: Did you know that one in ten people with Type 1 Diabetes (TD1) die from hypoglycemia? Today's guest, who has TD1, explains how he turned his passion for helping others into innovative treatments for diabetes and other chronic diseases. Host Chris O'Brien welcomes Jonathan Rigby, Chairman and CEO at Sernova, to the podcast. Listen in as we spotlight Jonathan's 30-year industry journey, the development of implantable bio-hybrid organs, and how to plan for your first 30 days in a new biotech role. Tune in today!

Today on the Biorasi Few & Far Between podcast: What if you could read a story before its official release? Competitive intelligence gives you early access to information on emerging trends in clinical trials.   On today's episode, host Chris O'Brien welcomes Eileen Faucher. Eileen is the Principal and Founder of Brass Tacks Health, a company that provides insights that biotechs need to drive clinically-meaningful therapies. Listen in to get the ROI on competitive intelligence, concise communications, and helping patients find relevant clinical trials. Thanks for listening!

"You have to have the right people, the right team, and good science." - John Celebi, President and CEO, Sensei Bio Welcome back to Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. On today's episode, host Chris O'Brien welcomes John Celebi to the pocast. Be sure to tune in for insights into assembling a core management team and how to build openness and inclusivity into biotech company culture. Thank's for listening!

"There's that old saying, 'culture is how people behave when nobody's looking.' So, if you want to be effective, your [mission and value statements] have to be specific enough to actually guide behavior." - Ben Olds, Executive Coach and Managing Partner, Haven Human Asset Ventures Welcome back to Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. On today's episode, host Chris O'Brien welcomes Ben Olds and Amy Fenollosa from Haven Human Asset Ventures.  Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the challenges CEOs and other biotech leaders face in building a successful company culture - from guiding behavior to creating safe spaces for innovative ideas. Looking for more information? Be sure to check out the following titles recommended by Ben and Amy in this episode: "Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well," by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen  "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well," by Amy Edmondson

"If you bring powerful technology to a problem that is well understood, then you can really make a difference." - Marc Lajoie, CEO at Outpace Bio Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Marc Lajoie, as they discuss how de novo proteins can be used to reprogram immune cells. Tune in today!

"It's really a very important challenge we had from the very beginning, to see how to stabilize nanoparticles with the messenger RNA so they are not destroyed during nebulization." - Dr. Carsten Rudolph, CEO and Managing Director at Ethris Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Dr. Carsten Rudolph, as they discuss the current state and bright future of nasal vaccine technology. Tune in today!

"We don't endeavor to make elite athletes better. We endeavor to make society healthier." - Jonathan Scheiman, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO at FitBiomics Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Jonathan Scheiman, as they discuss microbiome solutions for next generation health and longevity. Tune in today!

"I hope we're moving into the age of the generalist, where knowing how to learn and learning how to learn are more important than specialized knowledge." - Isaac Stoner, Co-founder and CEO at Octagon Therapeutics Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Isaac Stoner, as they discuss immunology, how to build a company, and financing in the biotech world. Tune in today! 

“Our studies are open for those that have exhausted standard of care, and we're showing improved responses, and the data is promising. So, I really hope that as we scale up and generate more data, we can actually move to newly diagnosed patients.” - Diana Azzam, PhD, Assistant Professor at Florida International University, Co-Founder at First Ascent Biomedical Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Diana Azzam, as they discuss technological innovations in guiding individualized patient treatments. Tune in today! 

"It's amazing how many companies there are and how many opportunities for a kind of a match between a human that needs some help and a company that can help." - Craig Serra, Head of Clinical Research Scientific and Technical Engagement, Flatiron Health Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Craig Serra, as they discuss improving and extending the life of every person with cancer and learning from those experiences. Tune in today!

"I learned very early on that the stupidest cancer cell was cleverer than the cleverest oncologist." - Justin Stebbing, Editor-in-Chief of Oncogene, previously the UK's first NIHR Research Translational Professor of Oncology, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest, Professor Justin Stebbing, as they discuss insights into oncology, knowledge sharing, and the virtuous circle of translational research. Tune in today!

"Technologies have changed enormously in terms of how we can basically procure, preserve, and then interrogate a tumor specimen...like effectively in real time, like a living cancer specimen." - Dr. Keith Flaherty, Director of Clinical Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Physician of Hematology and Oncology at Mass. General Hospital. Welcome to the latest episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and Dr. Keith Flaherty, Director of Clinical Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, as they discuss insights into new therapeutic interventions for oncology patients. Tune in today!

"Artificial Intelligence is a tool that really levels up and creates almost like an equity for everybody to participate and, when used effectively, to really accelerate medicine's development." - Dr. Ole Isacson, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School. Welcome to the February episode of Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast. Join host Chris O'Brien and Dr. Ole Isacson, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and Biorasi Scientific Advisory Board member, as they review the integration of AI into the world of neuroscience. Tune in today!

"The history of rare disease drug development indicates that once you start looking harder for cases, you often tend to find them." - Will Greene, Prader-Willi syndrome patient advocate and Healthcare Engagement Lead at Roche Welcome to Biorasi's first Few & Far Between episode of 2024! Join host Chris O'Brien and guest Will Greene, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patient advocate and Healthcare Engagement Lead at Roche, as they explore rare disease diagnoses and the importance of newborn screening as a public health tool. Tune in today!

"Patients have already been exposed to these large language models (LLMs). Yes, they are aware of the risks, but they are also very aware of the benefits. And we need to engage the public in defining what those [AI] policies are." Isaac [Zak] Kohane, Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School Buckle up for the latest Few & Far Between podcast! We're taking a tour of the current state of AI in healthcare and clinical research. Join host Chris O'Brien and guest Zak Kohane, Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, as they spotlight the evolution of LLMs in the lives of physicians and patients.

"And what I was really surprised about was that everybody was doing data collection in a different way. And I kept thinking that, gosh, there's a lot of recreation of the wheel when advocacy groups have not necessarily ever run a research study. And so I kept thinking about what opportunities do we have across rare disease to really elevate and accelerate all of this work around data collection." - Charlene Son Rigby, CEO at Global Genes Welcome to Biorasi's Few & Far Between podcast! Join host Chris O'Brien and guest Charlene Son Rigby, CEO at Global Genes, as they discuss how to build an infrastructure for a world where clinical data is ready to be shared with all those who need it.