Inside Biotech

In this episode, Karishma interviews Tim, a patent litigator at Mintz, discussing his journey from a potential medical career to law, the skills gained in law school, and the intersection of biotechnology and law. Tim shares insights on his current role, the importance of scientific knowledge in patent law, and the challenges of explaining complex scientific concepts in legal contexts. He also offers advice for aspiring lawyers and reflects on the future of biotech and patent law in the LA ecosystem. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

What actually makes a good mentor, and how do you find one who’s right for you? In this episode of Inside Biotech, new host Riley explores how mentorship shapes scientific careers, sharing five key principles for building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Drawing from personal experience, the conversation highlights aligning values, looking beyond expertise, and embracing productive tension to support growth in science. Perfect for graduate students and early-career researchers navigating advisor relationships, lab culture, and long-term career development in academia or industry. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode, Gabriella Rubert joins the Biotech Connection Los Angeles team for a thoughtful conversation reflecting on her journey as a host of the Inside Biotech podcast. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of science communication, the responsibility of making complex scientific topics accessible, and the impact storytelling has in connecting the biotech community with the public. The discussion highlights the importance of networking, mentorship, and embracing non-linear career paths in science, while also touching on personal growth, confidence, and the value of asking for help along the way. As the episode marks a meaningful transition, Gabriella reflects on her experiences behind the mic and passes the torch to the next generation of Inside Biotech hosts. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

What if we’ve been focusing on the wrong cells in cancer? In this episode, Dr. Reginald Hill explains how fibroblasts, inflammation, and tissue stiffness shape tumor behavior and chemoresistance—and how mouse models, organoids, and microfluidic devices can turn those insights into better diagnostics. We dig into his path from a Cell cover story to a patent on an exosome-based cancer detection platform, his work lobbying Congress for pancreatic cancer research, and his aviation-inspired approach to lab management and science career coaching. Perfect for anyone interested in cancer biology, translational tech, or building a scientific career beyond the “traditional” path. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

CEO of Vistagen, Shawn Singh, returns to Inside Biotech to discuss groundbreaking developments in intranasal therapeutics. Shawn shares exciting results from Vistagen’s fast-track phase 3 trials, explains how intranasal drug delivery bypasses limitations of traditional therapeutics relying on systemic absorption, and reflects on telehealth’s role in accessibility. This conversation spotlights a transformative moment in neuroscience, drug development and mental health innovation.Learn more about Vistagen: https://www.vistagen.com/Listen to our previous episode with Shawn to learn more about social anxiety disorder and the earlier days of Vistagen: https://inside-biotech.simplecast.com/episodes/shawn-singh-ceo-of-vistagen-mental-health-biopharmaceuticals Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Serial entrepreneur Michael Heltzen, CEO of Exozymes, reveals how his NASDAQ-listed company is "liberating enzymes from cells" to create a new generation of chemical manufacturing. Instead of using living cells as factories, Exozymes isolates enzymatic pathways to work as pure chemistry—achieving engineering-level control previously deemed impossible in conventional synthetic biology. Michael discusses Exozymes’ AI-powered enzyme evolution, six-week development timelines, bold IPO strategy during biotech's funding winter, and applications in pharmaceuticals like NCT for liver disease. This is synthetic biology's next chapter: sustainable, scalable enzyme-based manufacturing that could replace both petrochemicals and natural harvesting. Make sure to check out eXoZymes' website: https://exozymes.com/ Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode of Inside Biotech, we sit down with John Marlowe and Pete Kane to explore how patient-driven innovation is transforming research on rare diseases and oncology. John shares his own 15-year medical odyssey filled with misdiagnoses and being told his symptoms were “in his head” and how his relentless determination led him to long-read sequencing which finally revealed his rare disease diagnosis. Pete, founder of Research to the People, explains how his nonprofit brings together scientists, engineers, and patients in open hackathons to tackle unsolved medical mysteries.Together, John and Pete reveal what happens when “scientific cowboys and cowgirls” unite—merging cutting-edge genomics, AI, and the power of community and collaboration to push the boundaries of diagnosis and treatment. Their story is a powerful reminder that the future of biotech is not just about technology but about people coming together to rewrite what’s possible. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

From TV production to trailblazing in generative AI, Jennifer Bittinger’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Inside Biotech, Jennifer shares how her non-linear career path–from helping launch Hulu to leading Narrativa–prepared her to bring AI innovation into the life sciences. She reveals how Narrativa became the first company to have FDA-approved, AI-generated clinical trial documentation, cutting years of “white space” in the drug-development process. Along the way, she tackles fears about AI replacing jobs, explaining how it can instead give scientists and medical writers their time back for high-value work. Today’s episode is a masterclass in how relationships, curiosity, and a little bit of courage can transform entire industries. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Biotech is bursting with innovation—from gene editing to AI-powered diagnostics—but behind every successful breakthrough is something far less talked about: leadership. In this episode of Inside Biotech, we’re joined by Colin Smith, CEO and co-founder of ExecNow, a next-gen talent partner helping some of the world’s most innovative biotech, greentech, and AI companies find the leaders they need to scale science into sustainable businesses.Colin has spent years working behind the scenes, partnering with founders to solve one of the industry’s toughest challenges: bridging the divide between scientific genius and business execution. He shares insights on why many brilliant biotech companies struggle—not because of flawed science, but because they lack the right leadership to guide them through growth, regulation, commercialization, and culture-building.We dive into why the industry struggles to attract diverse and strategic leaders, how values-based hiring makes a difference, and why a clear mission can be a company’s strongest competitive advantage. Whether you’re a founder, a scientist, or just curious about the human side of biotech, this conversation reveals what it really takes to build companies that not only survive, but lead.(0:00) Intro to Colin Smith CEO of ExecNow(2:25) What is Colin Smith’s general background in biotech?(3:36) What caused Colin to go into talent acquisition?(6:41) The importance of a diverse workforce talent(7:40) How to demonstrate that you have the skills to work in biotech?(9:40) Tell people the story of your career.(12:25) Is professional work life just a group project?(14:04) What does ExecNow’s statement “Build by operators for operators mean?”(16:50) Give some examples of how leadership position priority changes across different funding stages?(19:39) Top talent wants to work with top talent(23:10) Common pitfalls in companies and do they differ across Biotech vs. MedTech?(25:50) How does capital play into company development?(27:52) Few and Far Between Biotech Podcast Ad(28:27) Any topics that surprised Colin with their innovation?(31:23) What are workers main drivers in their career?(33:28) Need to leverage AI on a daily basis.(35:50) Useful idea to use LLM to figure out what biotech companies just received funding and how to contact their hiring managers to see if a job is available.(36:50) How do I find a job to create a trajectory for a fulfilling career?(38:45) How to stick out and not “boil the ocean” and find a job in biotech.(42:10) Noone’s career is up and to the right (in graph speaking)(46:50) How does Gabriella look towards her career when she graduates from her PhD?(51:26) Wrap up thanking Colin Smith CEO from ExecNow Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

What does it really take to bring cutting-edge science out of the lab and into the world? In this episode of Inside Biotech, we sit down with Elizabeth Chabe, founder and CEO of High Touch Group, a strategic marketing firm specializing in biotech, medtech, and deep tech.Elizabeth shares her unique journey—from working in a structural engineering lab and helping scale pilot manufacturing projects, to becoming a trusted advisor to venture-backed startups across the life sciences. Along the way, she’s led national campaigns at institutions like The Jackson Laboratory, helped scientists secure critical funding, and built a business that helps translate complex science into commercial success.Whether you’re a researcher, founder, or science communicator, Elizabeth offers actionable advice on how to make sure your innovation doesn’t stay hidden in the lab.(0:00) Intro to Elizabeth Chabe(1:52) City of Hope Ad(2:34) Welcome to Elizabeth Chabe CEO of High Tough Group(3:57) Elizabeth background starting first business at age 9 as a psychic hotline! Elizabeth had a wide entrepreneurship business at a young age.(7:42) How to translate entrepreneurism to science?(11:28) Challenges working at Jackson Lab during beginning of CRISPR.(18:00) Most important moments in marketing are founding teams and adventures.(21:40) Few and Far Between Podcast Ad(22:30) How was High Touch Group started?(29:12) What did client recruitment look like pre JAX and post JAX?(36:32) Focus of High Tough Group clients.(40:28) How does Elizabeth determine how best to help High Touch Group Clients Initially?(45:58) Motivation for writing The Giant’s Ladder?(49:20) Advice to early career scientists to get out and communicate?(55:40) Outro Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode of Inside Biotech, we sit down with Dr. Julia Perederiy, neuroscientist and Founder of OmBiome, a regenerative health company revolutionizing personal care through microalgae. Julia shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the science behind her mission, and how wellness trends are evolving in today’s market. Tune in for insights on building a biotech-driven wellness brand and how algae could shape the future of holistic health.(0:00) Intro to this months episode with Dr. Julia Perederiy from OmBiome!(1:35) City of Hope Ad(2:13) Greeting Dr. Julia Perederiy from OmBiome(2:57) OmBiome is a regenerative health company using algae for oral health(4:08) What inspired Julia to start a company in the wellness space(5:50) What is the line between a therapeutic and a wellness supplement?(7:13) Strict language to as wellness products cannot “treat” disease, but can support them.(8:40) How to define OmBiome’s success?(10:30) Julia hopes that this “wellness” focus will shift to a Biotech company(11:59) What is the marketing strategy for OmBiome?(15:02) What is Julia’s background in science?(17:50) How did Julia get from neuroscience to OmBiome’s focus on nutrition and the microenvironment(23:10) How effective vs. mechanism for how OmBiome improves the mouth.(24:00) Nobody cares about science of how things work, but they care about how to meet unmet need.(28:25) Importance of having whole foods rather than additive Vitamins.(30:05) Basis for gum disease(31:28) What is the first step towards starting OmBiome?(35:38) Statistics in dental health are really powerful indicators that most adults have gum disease and many children have cavities.(37:22) Spirulina in the supplement industry.(38:50) Julia came to the United States from Russia at the age of 12.(42:10) Esoteric terms in a different fields like science, business, wellness, etc.(43:40) Where is the wellness industry going in the next 10 years?(49:02) We do not need every minute detail of science answered to help humanity.(50:35) Wrap up of episode with Dr. Julia Perederiy Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this discussion, Dr. Adam Watson, Co-founder and CEO of MeCo Diagnostics, shares the personal and professional experiences that led him to focus on cancer research and, ultimately, to launch his own company. From the profound influence of his family’s battle with cancer to the long and complex journey of developing the MeCo Score™, he walks us through the challenges of translating academic research into a commercial product. Dr. Watson offers insights into the realities of working with a tech transfer office, the hurdles of bringing a biomarker test to market, and the tough decision of leaving academia to pursue entrepreneurship. He also reflects on the knowledge gaps he faced as a first-time founder and the strategies that helped MeCo gain credibility in an industry dominated by large pharmaceutical companies. Finally, we discuss the broader biotech landscape—how LA’s biotech ecosystem can better support startups like MeCo, and what it will take for non–big pharma breakthroughs to gain traction in the market. Whether you're a scientist considering a leap into entrepreneurship or someone interested in the future of precision medicine, this conversation offers valuable lessons in perseverance, innovation, and the intersection of science and business.https://mecodiagnostics.com/ RSVP for BCLA 10th Annual Healthcare Summit: https://lu.ma/pecqtqut Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode of Inside Biotech, we sit down with Lital Gilad-Shaoulian, CEO of PurposeBio, to explore her inspiring journey from a non-science background into the world of biotech. Lital shares how she transformed PurposeBio into an industry leader focused on tackling cardiometabolic diseases. It was named by UCLA as one of its “Best and Most Investment Worthy Startups." They have been awarded the Department of Defense Award for Innovation and Impact and received a personal invitation to the annual premier pharma and healthcare conference, JPM Healthcare Conference, in San Francisco in January 2025.From her early days as an Entrepreneur In Residence at Stanford Research Institute to her success as a mentor and ambassador, Lital offers powerful insights into patient-centered innovation, resilience, and team-driven leadership. She also discusses the triumphs and challenges of turning an idea into a tangible, marketable product, emphasizing the importance of persistence, collaboration, and staying focused on the end goal. Join us for an energizing conversation on purpose, innovation, and the future of biotech.(0:00) Intro(0:56) Intro to Lital Gilad Shaulian of PurposeBio for Cardiometabolic diseases(2:27) Macherey-Nagel Ad(3:23) Lital’s career background(4:36) After Lital turned forty, she wanted a change from tech(6:46) Shift from tech to biotech by reading a science article(9:50) Dr. Elaine Hsiao’s research led to a collaboration towards drugs for obesity and fatty liver disease by gut microbiome(13:12) Why meeting the need not focusing on the idea is important(15:01) Survey of what patients with cholesterol and fatty liver disease need(18:25) What are the steps of FDA approval?(21:40) How Lital build her team of experts? Meeting Professor Eran Elinav and having him buy in(29:03) How to get a startup off the ground and get funding?(33:30) Where do the funds go currently for Purpose Bio? Science and IP(35:11) What does communication look like on a day-to-day basis for Purpose Bio?(36:46) The importance of thinking ahead to plan what the company needs(42:22) How Lital developed her background in science by asking questions(44:59) Milestones that Lital has hit with Purpose Bio and how that felt at each time(49:01) The lack of control in science and not knowing what will happen when variables are manipulated(50:18) What is the focus of taking the next step towards clinical trials?(54:24) Purpose Bio will meet unmet needs of patients that cannot use GLP-1 or statins(55:42) Side effects of statins are difficult to manage(59:31) What advice would Lital give herself for the beginning of her journey?(65:58) Outro Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode, we follow the inspiring journey of Sarah Ives, Vice President of BioPharma at TripleBar, as she shares her transition from a hands-on scientist to an influential leader in biotech. Sarah shares her journey, starting with her early work in bioassay development and biosensing, and candidly discusses the challenges she faced as she moved beyond the lab bench. Her growing expertise played a pivotal role in driving some of her company’s most important breakthroughs. She reveals the unexpected twists, personal growth, and strategic decisions that helped shape her career. Sarah’s candid reflection on navigating the biotech startup world, embracing uncertainty, and finding her passion for biology provides invaluable insights for anyone aspiring to make their mark in the field. Whether you're new to biotech or aiming for leadership, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make their mark in the field.(0:00) Intro(0:55) Sarah Ives feature and background(2:15) Macherey-Nagel Ad(3:11) Welcome Sarah Ives VP of Triple bar, how her professional journey led to this point(4:45) How was Sarah’s first transition from a masters to industry and why University of San Francisco(8:34) What is the difference between an internship and a full-time position?(11:10) Sarah started early in her career with client management and staying organized with science(12:11) Was there always a draw to a people facing role?(15:00) How to transition from pharma to startups? Connections.(18:20) Anecdote from how different the startup world is?(21:00) The first biotech company Sarah worked for was bootstrapped(22:45) Startups need to keep funding to grow! Sarah wore many hats working for first company.(27:00) Importance to learn and advocate for yourself in science(31:22) Transition as Distributed Bio startup was sold to Charles River(34:40) Sarah was tired after her time working at a startup and transition to Charles River(37:20) Sarah Ives had consulting projects trickle in from how she was highly visible as an expert in antibody engineering(41:05) Time off caused Sarah to learn a lot about herself and resiliency and persistence(43:12) How was the work on the universal flu vaccine that led to Sarah being featured on a Netflix documentary?(46:22) Sarah and others in the Netflix documentary were predicting concern for a respiratory virus right before the pandemic(49:22) Sarah was so happy with all the nice feedback she got from the pandemic(51:22) Advice for those looking to get into the startup world?(54:40) Outro Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In this episode of Inside Biotech, we explore the transition from academia to product management with Dr. Sara Tafoya, Global Product Manager at Sony Biotechnology. Sara’s passion lies in helping STEM graduate students and early career professionals recognize the value of their technical expertise beyond the bench. She shares her journey from PhD to product management, discussing how she bridges technical know-how with customer advocacy and sales to drive innovation in biotech. If you've ever wondered how to apply your niche academic skills to roles outside of research, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Listen in as Sara offers advice on professional development and how to pursue fulfilling, impactful careers that push scientific innovation forward.(0:00) Intro(1:01) Episode summary overview with Dr. Sara Tafoya - Product management.(2:07) Salve Therapeutics Ad.(2:47) Sara Tafoya wants to share knowledge and help future scientist with career transitions(4:35) Sara discusses her rationale to be on the podcast.(5:57) Questions of the episode: What does a day in the life as a product manager look like? How to know that this career might be a good fit for you and then how to get involved in this career?(6:39) What products does Sara Tafoya manage for Sony Biotechnology?(7:40) Sony Biotechnology makes technology for flow cytometry(9:30) What is flow cytometry?(11:55) Huge development in flow cytometry to use many different fluorophores in one sample(14:21) New developments in microfluidic chips(15:57) What characteristics make a good product manager in science apart from great communication?(16:54) Great people skills are a must for product managers(18:00) Two different jobs in product management, helping the customer and then helping the company with ideas and improvements(19:40) When being a product manager focus on customer segments (Academia vs. Industry) focus on affordability vs. capability(21:20) Product managers need to go out and find needs of company. What consumers care about in improvements(22:46) Do you travel and how is work life balance as a product manager?(24:32) Traveling depends on what you are doing but no substitute for being exposed in person.(25:05) Salve Therapeutics Ad(25:45) What drove Dr. Tafoya to this career path? 27:10 -27:50(27:50) How did the skills Sara picked up in her PhD help with product management and what did she need to learn afterwards?(30:00) You will always need to understand commercial space and biotech ecosystem once you start your career in industry?(30:40) What surprised Sara about being a product manager?(33:05) Sara took a course in product management from Warton to help with business side(35:40) What skills are translatable from scientific expertise to product management?(38:30) Importance of using scientific reasoning and thinking on the job(39:48) How to break into the world of product management?(41:27) You typically need to pay your dues to get a role in product management(45:30) Try to figure out what career you want so less sacrifices are made later on or you can get lucky.(47:00) Ad for Macherey-Nagle(47:52) What is next for Sara in her career?(50:04) Sara wants to create a great team with effective communication and change the way things are done at work(51:51) What are Sara’s hobbies?(55:20) Episode wrap up Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Considering an MBA at UCLA Anderson? Hear from current MBA students. Our episode today features coverage of a past collaborative event held by BCLA and UCLA Anderson “Pursuing Life Sciences Careers: Insights from Anderson MBA Students.” This event included a panel of current Anderson MBA students working in Life Sciences. Panelists included Arthela Osorio (Technical Training Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific), Chris Italiaie ( Engineering Program Manager at Medtronic), Lauren Chan (Sr. Global Program Manager at Amgen), Angel Torres (Assistant CAPEX Program Manager at Genetech), and Purvi Mehram, MD (CEO of Dagnee).To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit https://www.bc-la.org/To learn more about UCLA Anderson School of Management visit https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/ Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Dr. Ivan Godinez is the Director of Product Management for the Proteintech genomics division. Ivan describes how his work translates the latest developments in proteomics and genomics to accessible biotechnology for consumers. Dr. Godinez relates the importance of his training as a PhD scientist and valuable soft skills developed to be a successful director of product management. (2:00) What does Ivan do for Proteintech?(4:10) Importance of single-cell level resolution and getting diverse data to answer scientific questions with different approaches(6:10) How did Ivan get to where he wanted? (8:12) Ivan's entrance into biotech, and subsequently, product management.(13:30) What makes a great product manager?(22:07) The science behind Proteintech(34:57)  Proteomics compared to transcriptomics (RNA-seq) and the unique challenges of proteomics. (38:35) Advice to students regarding taking the leap from benchtop science to business in biotechnology companies. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Join a conversation about different types of roles in biotech, through the experience of Joyee Yao, a next-generation sequencing specialist, at Complete Genomics. After joining a research lab as an undergrad volunteer, Joy decided to join the next-generation sequencing (NGS) space as a technical specialist before pivoting into the sales space.To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit https://www.bc-la.org/Complete Genomics: https://www.completegenomics.com/company/about-us/Joyee Yao’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyee-yao-74901212/ Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

This month's episode is all about biotech product development outside of healthcare in the consumer market of skincare and beauty with the overall goal of expanding diversity and inclusivity. Gabriella had a chance to sit down with AJ Addae, Founder and Formulation Chemist at SULA LABS, which is a research and development company known for providing product development expertise, clinical testing, and laboratory resources to independent companies in the skincare and beauty market. Their partnerships consist of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), nonbinary, and women-owned independent businesses, and their clientele have affiliations with Sephora, Unilever, Target, Credo, and Ulta. Listen in to hear all about AJ's inspiring work transforming the approach to product development to foster inclusivity in a consumer market centered around our largest organ - skin! To learn more about SULA LABS visit https://www.sula-labs.com/ Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

NeuraSignal:https://www.neurasignal.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/neurasignal/Robert Hamilton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamiltonrobert/To learn more about BCLA and our events, check out: https://www.bc-la.org Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Angie de la Luz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelita-de-la-luz-phd-a2a937168/Beeflow: https://www.beeflow.com/To learn more about BCLA and our events, check out: https://www.bc-la.org Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Shawn Singh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnsingh/Vistagen: https://www.vistagen.com/To learn more about BCLA and our events, check out: https://www.bc-la.org Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

More about our guest: Dr. Gamble-George is an award-winning neuroscientist, inventor, entrepreneur, and artist. She graduated from Xavier University in Louisiana with her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biology/Pre-Med and then went on to earn her Master of Health Administration from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Ultimately, she completed her PhD in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University where she studied the role of the endocannabinoid system in stress-induced maladaptations in the brain. In addition to her role as a neuroscience researcher, Dr. Gamble-George has founded SciX, LLC, a biotech startup creating a wearable device and mobile application for monitoring risk factors leading to health conditions or behaviors with the goal of predicting, preventing, and managing life-altering events.Dr. Gamble-George: https://www.joyonnagamble.com/SciX, LLC : https://scix.io/To learn more about BCLA and our events, check out: https://www.bc-la.org Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

A bit more about our guests: As an accomplished management expert with 25 years experience, Damien is a recognized life science executive coach and excels at transforming unassuming scientists into inspiring and influential leaders. He specializes in guiding scientists to not only create high impact lab environments, but also foster captivating and engaging lab cultures that promote creativity and stimulate communication for progress. Focusing on early-stage life sciences, Damien has guided new and experienced scientific leaders through raising over $250M in seed awards and funding, by eliminating uncertainty and channeling dedication into a clear and compelling vision.Nick is an adept problem solver and team lead with experience in developing the foundational aspects of life science ventures. With over a decade and a half of management experience, he brings together communication expertise and a skill for creating effective systems that convert innovative ideas into executable actions. Having developed over 200 cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams, Nick has consulted to create strategies and best practices for both internal collaborations and external partnerships. Focusing on early-stage life sciences, Nick has assisted both new and experienced leaders to raise more than $250M in funding by establishing the foundational blueprint of their scientific visions.To learn more, check out: https://experimental-designs.comTo learn more about BCLA and our events, check out: https://www.bc-la.org Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

More about Selin Tamer: Selin an industrial engineer with 10+ years experience in data-driven personalization products and has an MBA from INSEAD. She started Cubtale, a hardware and app company that helps newborn parents manage and track routine care 2 years ago after having experienced first-hand the toll of sleep deprivation and the lack of easy to use care tracking solutions for newborns. She is set out to solve this problem in a new way by dramatically simplifying the process to log data and seamlessly connecting it back to health experts.To check out Cubtale, visit this website: https://www.cubtale.comTo learn more about what is happening at BCLA, check out our website: https://www.bc-la.org. We are always having exciting events and would love to have you join us!  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

To find out more about Spira Inc, check out the website: https://www.spirainc.comTo learn more about what is happening at BCLA, check out our website: https://www.bc-la.org. We are always having exciting events and would love to have you join us!  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD, is Cofounder and CEO of Brazen Bio Inc. and Cofounder and Managing Partner of Brazen Capital. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia Medical Scientist Training Program and completed postdocs at Oxford University and UCSF. After a major discovery in brain cancer, Dr. Carbonell quit neurosurgery residency to cofound his first biotech startup, OncoSynergy, Inc. He raised over $20M in dilutive and non-dilutive funding and led the development of the first-in-class therapeutic he invented, OS2966. Today—at Brazen Bio—his mission is to establish the “Y Combinator of biotech,” to help founders overcome the tremendous obstacles that are unique to this industry — obstacles that he personally faced when starting his first company. He sees great value in encouraging more scientists to become CEOs to launch novel technologies beyond the laboratory to advance human health. To learn more, visit his website, https://www.brainsurgerydropout.com. Check out bc-la.org for upcoming events, more information on the organization, and lots of exciting updates.  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Caroline O’Driscoll is a professional artist with advanced education in both the life sciences and visual communication. She collaborates with scientists, physicians, and other specialists to transform complex information into visual images that communicate to broad audiences. Her work has been utilized to support medical research, education, clinical care, public relations, and marketing objectives. Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Dr. Claudia Schnugg is a researcher and curator with an interdisciplinary background in social sciences, business administration, cultural sciences, and the arts. She is a curator in the fields of art & science collaboration, organizational aesthetics, embodied knowledge, and artistic interventions. Partners and clients include  interdisciplinary collectives like COS – Challenging Organizations and Society, international research institutions and universities, galleries, art organizations and NGOs operating in the field of art-science-technology, and partners from the field of industry and business like the Human Insights Lab at Accenture. Previously, she held the position of the Creative Director at the Science Gallery Venice. She worked with institutions like the Science Gallery International, providing support in developing research proposals and artscience research opportunities. She was head of the Arts Electronica Residency Network at the Ars Electronica Futurelab, where she developed the residency program and curated, mentored, and produced artistic residency projects at numerous scientific institutions. Those included EU projects (Sparks, Connecting Cities Network, European Digital Art and Science Network) and programs in cooperation with world-class institutions like CERN, ESO (European Southern Observatories), Queensland University of Technology, voestalpine, and CTIA (Chungnam Technology Industry Agency).To learn more about our guest, you can check out this website: https://www.claudiaschnugg.com Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Rita Blaik is a multidisciplinary scientist and artist based in Los Angeles, California. Her life's goal is to find new and innovative ways of communicating science to people through interactive discussions, art, and other media. Since 2009 she has been an instructor for the Sci|Art Nanolab and from 2011-2012, was the Art|Sci Center Networking Outreach Coordinator. She had her first solo exhibition at the Art|Sci Center, Altered States, in Fall 2012. Rita received her PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at UCLA. She is a proud fellow of the NSF IGERT Clean Energy for Green Industry fellowship and works with Professor Bruce Dunn on biological fuel cell systems and architectures. You can learn more about her incredible work here: https://ritablaik.com Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

A little bit more about our guest: Alicia Pandimos Maurer, AIA, LEED AP, is a laboratory designer whose 20+ years’ experience has spanned an array of specialty sciences such as genetics, gene and cell therapy, personalized medicine, microbiology, cell culture, and PCR and sequencing. From planning through construction administration and post-occupancy, Alicia has led both consultants and internal teams through all project phases. She considers herself a conduit for information to flow back and forth between the design and construction team and the owner and end-users. Passionate about sustainable lab design, Alicia is a thought-leader in this field, helping found the Colorado chapter of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and currently sits on the San Diego board for I2SL. You can learn more at: https://www.cannondesign.com  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

More About Professor Goldberg: Bob Goldberg is a plant molecular biologist who specializes in the area of plant genomics. The goal of his research has been to understand how plant cells differentiate and how genes are activated selectively in specialized cell types during plant development. Professor Goldberg's research has provided a conceptual foundation for the processes that regulate gene expression in higher plants. In collaboration with others, he utilized genes identified in his laboratory to develop a novel system to genetically engineer for male fertility control in crop plants. This system was used to develop new hybrid varieties of canola plants that have significantly increased yields of oil. His current research is using state-of-the-art genomics technologies to identify all of the genes required to “make a seed.” Professor Goldberg received a B.S. in Botany at Ohio University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Genetics from The University of Arizona. Professor Goldberg was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology and joined the UCLA faculty in 1976. Professor Goldberg served twice as Director of the Plant Genetics Program at the USDA, has been on the Editorial Boards of many internationally recognized journals such as Science, and was the Founding Editor and Editor-In-Chief of The Plant Cell, the leading journal in the area of plant molecular biology. He has been the organizer of many major international plant molecular biology meetings, is the Director of The Seed Institute –- an intercampus “institute without walls” within the University of California dedicated to unraveling the processes that control seed development. Professor Goldberg has given hundreds of lectures on his research world-wide, and has received several awards recognizing his contributions to the field of plant molecular biology. These include election to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Order for Scientific Merit from the President of Brazil, being named as a UCLA Faculty Research Lecturer, and being listed as making one of the "top 15" Discoveries in UCLA's 75-year history. Professor Goldberg is highly committed to undergraduate and graduate education and is an "expert" in making science "come alive." Professor Goldberg has received Distinguished Teaching Awards from the Department of Biology and the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, and was awarded the Luckmann Distinguished Teaching Award from the Academic Senate. He has also been awarded the Gold Shield Prize for Excellence in Research and Undergraduate Education by the Academic Senate and was named as one of the "top 20" Professors in UCLA's 75-year history. Recently, Professor Goldberg was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute University Professorship with the goal of expanding undergraduate opportunities in discovery-oriented research. To learn more, you can visit: https://research.mcdb.ucla.edu/Goldberg/index.htm  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

With flavors spanning from Lemon and Herb to Cajun, Daring’s meatless chicken is almost synonymous in flavor, taste, and texture with its real counterpart. Not only are they focused on perfecting the product itself, they are also working on being sustainable and supporting like-minded organizations, a goal that has even been supported by Drake! On our third episode of ‘The Dish on Biotech in Food’, we virtually sat down with Ross Mackay, the CEO and Founder, to learn more about his vision. A little bit more about Mackay: Ross Mackay is the founder and CEO of Daring, the leader in clean plant-based chicken. In 2018, Mackay set out to create a plant-based chicken that mimics the real thing – both in texture and taste. He knew if he could crack the code on a better-for-you plant-based chicken, he would positively impact both the planet and consumer wellness. He launched with Original Daring Pieces in the U.S in 2019, propelling the plant-based category by locking in nationwide retail partners, investors, DTC platform, giveback program, and future innovations – all in his first calendar year. In December 2020, he earned the Forbes 30-Under-30 designation within the Food & Drink category. Mackay, currently under-30 and a vegan athlete, grew up playing international tennis under mentorship from Judy Murray. His competitive background and devotion to a healthy active lifestyle propelled Mackay to start his entrepreneurial career at the age of 22. He uses his passion and experience in early-stage business formation and sales marketing to position Daring for significant growth.You can learn more here: https://daring.com Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

By 2050, we will need to increase food production by about 60% to accommodate an ever growing population. The way we make and consume food now, however, is not conducive or a sustainable way to meet these needs. Enter PowerPlant Partners, a firm that is investing in companies and products that will enable us to meet this goal and more! As the Vice President of the Investment Team of PowerPlant Partners, Julianne Hummelberg gives us the inside scoop on the company and these products. A little bit about Julianne: Julianne leads deal sourcing and execution, and helps PowerPlant portfolio companies create and capture value as a board member of portfolio company Veggie Grill and board observer to Zero Egg, Rae Wellness, REBBL, The Coconut Collaborative, OWYN and Jot Coffee. She earned her MBA from Columbia Business School where she was a Venture and Private Equity Fellow and President of the Healthy Living Club. She also holds a BA in Economics from Wake Forest University, where she graduated cum laude, and an associate degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In her free time, she enjoys being with her rescue dogs August Remington, traveling internationally, HIIT workouts, learning Spanish and contributing as a board member of Synergist Network, a non-profit organization that works towards gender parity in the private equity and venture capital industries. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the website: https://powerplantpartners.co Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

 Despite the popular trope that our furry friends only want to eat meat and chew on bones, dogs are actually omnivores meaning that their diet does not have to consist of only or mainly meat products. While doting owners want to feed their dogs the best food to keep their loving companions in tip-top shape, there are many times that a plant based dog food might be best for them. Plant based dog food? Where does one buy that? One California Startup, Wild Earth, is delivering it right to your door! Pitched on SharkTank, Wild Earth has developed a high protein, plant based dog food using Koji that will have any dog happily munching away. Not only is the food great for dogs, it is also a meat free alternative that relieves pressure on the environment too as dog food is a huge source of meat need and usage. You can learn more at: https://wildearth.com Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

In Biotech, people are often on the hunt for more sustainable ways for humans to be energized in two major ways: through food and through power. This hunt takes scientists and creators all across the globe to examine where this next source lies. One search took scientists at Lyxia, a SoCal Biotech Company, to Shenzhen China where they discovered a common yet super special substance: microalgae. Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms, living in saline or freshwater environments, that convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to algal biomass. This ability makes them a key energy source in all ecosystems and an even better source of nutrients. At Lyxia, they are attempting to use microalgae to reach their goal: producing natural specialty ingredients with sun, seawater, CO2 and microalgae. Their first focus has been producing “...the essential nutrient, eicosapentaenoic acid, more commonly known as the Omega-3 EPA… We [Lyxia] have now launched a series of products based on pure, natural, vegetarian EPA that is sustainably produced from microalgae..." How absolutely tasty is that! We virtually sat down with Lyxia’s Former R&D Senior Process Designer Peter Mponzi to find out more about it on the last episode of our first series, Alternative Careers in Biotech. You can also learn more about Lyxia here: http://www.lyxia.com Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

Cats are humans’ other best friend! In Los Angeles alone, there are an estimated 771,076 households that have one or more cats as pets and unconditional sources of companionship and friendship. Despite the high number of cat owners in LA and all over the country, however, there is extremely little research about feline genetics when the numbers are compared to canine genetics and research. Meet Basepaws, a Los Angeles based startup, that is focusing to change this imbalance in research and bring feline research to the forefront. According to their website, “At the Conference on Canine and Feline Genetics and Genomics (2019), for example, canine‑focused presentations outnumbered feline‑focused presentations roughly 5 to 1. In addition, when it comes to the number of sequenced genomes from each species, the goals (and available research funding) for the two fields look completely different." Thus, to bridge this gap, their goal is to build the world’s largest feline genomics database. Learning genomic information about cats is extremely important because it enables us to better learn about caring about cats. Through DNA and a genomic library, we can learn more about diseases, health issues, and traits to create the best products for cats possible. We virtually sat down with Anna Skaya, the founder of Basepaws, to ask her all about it. You can also learn more by checking  out their website: https://basepaws.com.  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

We use science everyday, scientists are discovering something new everyday, and a piece of scientific news might just change the world everyday! Especially in the 21st century, keeping up with the world of science is imperative. Getting the most accurate, most digestible, and most relevant scientific news, however, can be quite challenging as misinformation rampant, and scientific news can be full of a lot of information that is inaccessible to the public. So, how do we enable and create more accessible, exciting, and engaging science media online that people can learn from and share with their friends and families? How do people know they can trust the news, fact check, and work to better understand new scientific discoveries?  These questions are where, Massive Science, a scientific content and media company, comes in. Powered by a “Massive Science Consortium” which is a group of scientific experts from over 50 countries, in over 150 fields, and at over 700 institutions, Massive Science aims to create a space where experts can share cutting edge scientific news and research via their accessible online platform by training scientists on how to be powerful scientific storytellers. Massive Science teaches the members of the Consortium how to create a more engaging narrative regarding their discoveries  by empowering  them to work with a professional team of editors and other researchers. Are you interested in learning more about how Massive Science does it? Join Dr. Yewande Pearse, PhD in BCLA’s 2nd episode of Alternative Careers in Biotech as she chats with the two founders of Massive Science, Nadja Ortelt and Allan Lasser!To learn more about Massive Science, check out: https://massivesci.com   Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn 

 A booming industry around the United States, the Cannabis industry’s worth in this country could be greater than the GDP of 9 US States. In Southern California, Cannabis is even more important and commonly used than the rest of the country with the percent increase of usage in Los Angeles (LA) skyrocketing to 62% from March 2018 to March 2019. From edibles to lotions, Cannabis can be found in many forms making the industry even more interdisciplinary and varied than ever before. With the great usage of this drug and substance that was once considered dangerous, however, comes the need for government regulations, stringent product testing, and other mechanisms to keep consumers safe. The need to make sure products meet a certain standard brings us to Cannalysis, a company based in Los Angeles that focuses on efficiently testing new cannabis products so that they meet state guidelines. As quoted from their website, Cannalysis is “... inventing the best way to test them [Cannabis Products]” by employing robotics for “less error with groundbreaking express sample prep automation” throughout the testing process. Creating a streamlined testing process is key, and Cannalysis is at the forefront. Are you interested in learning more about how this Los Angeles staple goes from the plant to your pocket safely? Join Dr. Yewande Pearse PhD, Social Media Associate at Biotech Connection Los Angeles, as she speaks with Kayleen (Leong) Sabino, Vice President of Operations at Cannalysis. Sabino virtually sat down to discuss the science being Cannalysis’ amazing work and what the future of the cannabis industry in LA might look like moving forward. For more info on Cannalysis see the following links:https://www.thesocialclub.tv/shows/xyz-news/season/2/episode/1https://www.thesocialclub.tv/shows/xyz-news/season/2/episode/4  Follow our Instagram @insidebiotech for updates about episodes and upcoming guests!To learn more about BCLA’s events and consulting visit our website.Follow BCLA on LinkedIn