Stories in Life Sciences

David Esposito spent 16 years in commercial leadership at Merck before stepping into the early-stage life sciences world. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with David Esposito, CEO of ONL Therapeutics, to explore what it takes to lead a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company from one month of runway to a $65 million Series D and an active Phase 2 trial.ONL Therapeutics is developing Xelafaslatide, a first-in-class Fas inhibitor designed to protect retinal cells from vision loss in patients with geographic atrophy associated with dry age-related macular degeneration. The company is currently running the GALAXY Phase 2 trial across 324 patients in the US, Canada, and the EU, with a dosing schedule of every three to six months rather than the monthly injections standard in retinal disease treatment.We cover:Leaving big pharma for early-stage life sciences: the decision process and what made it possibleWhat commercial discipline from large pharma actually transfers to startup environmentsHow to build a lean, high-functioning team when resources are limitedThe story of joining ONL Therapeutics with one month of runway and closing the first financing roundsONL's GALAXY Phase 2 trial for dry AMD, geographic atrophy, and the science behind XelafaslatideWhy dosing every three to six months versus monthly injections matters for retinal disease patientsAI's role in patient identification, data aggregation, and clinical trial efficiencyHow investors read commitment in scientific founders and why getting the right operators early mattersWho this is for: life sciences founders, early-stage biotech executives, commercial leaders in pharma considering a transition to startups, and clinical development professionals working in retinal disease.Guest: David Esposito CEO, ONL Therapeutics https://onltherapeutics.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidesposito2 https://www.linkedin.com/company/onl-therapeutics Host:Christopher WilsonFounder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisaihttps://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

Can the gut microbiome in the first year of life determine whether a child develops allergies, asthma, or atopic dermatitis? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Nikole Kimes, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Siolta Therapeutics, to explore the clinical evidence behind early-life microbiome intervention and what it means for the future of allergic disease prevention.Nikole spent years studying microbial ecosystems in coral reefs before applying ecological systems thinking to the human gut. Siolta Therapeutics recently completed a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study using a defined bacterial consortia given orally in the first year of life. Results showed a 64% reduction in atopic dermatitis and a 77% reduction in food allergy, with durability past the treatment period.We cover:How the developing infant gut microbiome is linked to allergic disease riskSiolta Therapeutics' Phase 2 clinical results for atopic dermatitis and food allergy preventionHow a defined bacterial consortia is formulated from clinical data and functional optimizationWhy the first year of life is the critical immune training window for allergic diseaseThe reimbursement and funding challenges unique to prevention drug developmentHow GLP-1s and HIV PrEP demonstrate that prevention medicine can be economically viableWhat a Phase 3 pivotal study and BLA pathway looks like for a new prevention modalityNikole's advice for founders navigating a system not designed for preventionWho this is for: life sciences founders, biotech investors, clinical researchers, and healthcare professionals interested in the microbiome, early-life disease prevention, and the future of immune modulation therapies.Guest: Nikole Kimes, Ph.D.Co-Founder and CEO, Siolta Therapeuticshttps://www.sioltatherapeutics.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nikole-kimes-4b357786 https://www.linkedin.com/company/siolta-therapeutics

What separates a promising drug from a commercial product runs deeper than the science. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Michael Howell, Founder and President of Mountaineer Biosciences, to explore what it actually takes to move from scientific discovery to a commercially viable drug development strategy.Michael has spent 20+ years moving between academic research, big pharma, and early-stage biotech, co-inventing drugs like Skyrizi, helping build Incyte Dermatology, and serving as CSO for two publicly traded companies. Today at Mountaineer Biosciences, he works with venture firms, investment banks, and early-stage companies to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization strategy.We cover:How the transition from academic research to industry actually worksWhat scientists miss when they first encounter commercial drug developmentThe Lombard Street framework: finding the straight path in drug developmentHow pharma deals are actually made and what the due diligence process revealsWhat AI can and cannot do in drug discovery todayResetting the immune system: combinatorial approaches to autoimmune diseaseHow Mountaineer Biosciences helps early-stage companies find their commercial focusAdvice for scientists navigating the transition from research to commercializationWho this is for: life sciences founders, scientists considering the transition to industry, and early-stage biotech operators looking to sharpen their commercialization strategy.Guest: Michael HowellFounder and President, Mountaineer Biosciences https://mountaineerbiosciences.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-howell-357b1416https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountaineer-biosciences-incHost:Christopher WilsonFounder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Open surgery accounts for a third of all surgical procedures. Paul Davison puts the market at 35 million cases in the U.S. annually, growing at 9% a year, and the core tool used in most of them dates to the 1920s. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Paul Davison, CEO and Co-founder of Lamina Surgical, to explore what it looks like to reimagine open surgery with advanced electrosurgery and integrated imaging.Paul has spent 30 years building medical devices at Baxter, Medtronic, ArthroCare, and Peak Surgical, which was acquired by Medtronic. He brings a founder's perspective that spans factory technician to CEO, and a deep understanding of how platform technologies evolve across clinical applications. At Lamina Surgical, he is building tools that combine electrosurgery with integrated imaging to give surgeons visibility they have not had before.We cover:Why the open surgery market represents 35 million U.S. procedures annually with minimal recent innovationElectrosurgery history: from William Bovie at Harvard in 1928 to today's safety gapsHow Lamina Surgical combines electrosurgery and integrated imaging for open surgeryPlatform technology pivots: how ArthroCare moved from coronary arteries to arthroscopyPlasma blade origin: how Peak Surgical was born from a Stanford eye surgery conceptSeed-stage MedTech funding: navigating a difficult early-stage capital environmentHow AI tools are helping lean founding teams replace early hiresPaul's journey from factory technician at Baxter to CEO at Lamina SurgicalWho this is for: founders and engineers in MedTech, open surgery, electrosurgery, surgical devices, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand how legacy clinical tools get reimagined.Guest: Paul DavisonCEO and Co-founder, Lamina Surgicalwww.laminasurgical.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-davison-medtechhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/lamina-surgicalHost:Christopher WilsonFounder, Medaxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Premature baby nutrition in most NICUs is standardized: the same fortification dose for every infant, regardless of gestational age, weight, or clinical profile.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Isabel Hoffmann, CEO of TellSpec and Preemie Health, to explore how a 30-second human milk sensor and personalized AI prescriptions are changing neonatal care.Isabel built a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor that analyzes human milk for fat, protein, and fatty acids in 30 seconds and generates a personalized fortification prescription matched to each premature baby's clinical data. Her path to neonatal AI ran through children's educational software and Apple bundling deals, giving her a founder's perspective that spans consumer tech and deep medical device development.We cover:Why standardized fortification over- or under-doses preterm infants and what personalized nutrition changesHow near-infrared spectroscopy analyzes human milk composition in 30 secondsFederated learning in healthcare: training NICU AI models without sharing patient data across hospitalsHow the FDA freeze-and-resubmit process works for AI model certification in medical devicesHow TellSpec trained early models using synthetic data from peer-reviewed literatureThe gap between developed and developing country NICU standards in neonatal intensive careWhy we know less about human milk than about erectile dysfunction and what that reveals about research prioritiesIsabel's journey from children's educational software and Apple bundling deals to neonatal AIWho this is for: founders and researchers in MedTech, neonatal care, digital health, AI in healthcare, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand how personalized nutrition and AI are changing outcomes in the NICU.Guest:Isabel Hoffmann, CEO, TellSpec and Preemie Healthhttps://tellspec.com https://www.preemiesensor.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelhoffmannhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/tellspecHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

What if the supplement you have been taking for years has never actually been tested in human cells? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, Co-founder and CEO of Canomiks, to explore what standard chemical analysis misses and why biological testing at the cellular level changes what we know about supplement safety and efficacy.Leena holds a PhD in pharmacology and an MBA from MIT Sloan, and spent years as a faculty investigator at Harvard Medical School focused on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and wound healing. At Canomiks, she applies genomics and bioinformatics to the nutraceutical and dietary supplement industry, bringing biological rigor to ingredients that have been validated culturally for centuries but rarely tested at the cellular level. Canomiks is backed by an NSF grant exceeding $1 million and is building the biological batch-to-batch standards the supplement industry currently lacks.We cover:Why chemical analysis confirms the right compound is present but misses how it affects human gene expressionHow the same turmeric at the same concentration can produce completely different biological effectsHow Canomiks is building biological batch-to-batch standards for natural ingredientsWhat WhatToTrust.com is doing to help consumers evaluate supplements based on the science behind themLeena's path from Harvard faculty to MIT Sloan MBA to biotech co-founderHow scientists can approach commercializing research in the nutraceutical and supplement spaceWhy the current validation bar for dietary supplements is not high enoughWho this is for: life sciences founders, biotech operators, researchers in genomics and nutraceuticals, and anyone who wants to understand what actually goes into validating a supplement at the biological level.Guest:Leena Pradhan-NabzdykCo-founder and CEO, Canomiks https://www.canomiks.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leenapradhannabzdykhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/canomiksHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Almost 2 million EKGs are performed every day worldwide. Every single one still requires ten wires, ten stickers, and hoping someone puts them in the right place.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Michael Cetta and Mark Zachary, Co-founders of Crimson Scientific, to explore how they are cutting EKG capture time in half and eliminating the complexity that leads to errors.Dr. Cetta spent years running emergency departments, watching this same slow, error-prone process repeat itself thousands of times. Mark Zachary, a biomedical engineer who built AI tools at Boston Scientific and Mayo Clinic, saw the same inefficiency from the technology side. Together at Crimson Scientific, they are building a more accurate, faster EKG process designed for how clinical environments actually work.We cover:Why the EKG process has remained largely unchanged for 50 years despite daily use at scaleHow Crimson Scientific is cutting EKG capture time in half and reducing placement errorsWhy customer validation came before building the solutionThe decision to build in-house rather than rely on contractorsThe hidden challenge in MedTech: bridging clinical improvement to economic valueHow M-Hub accelerated Crimson Scientific's path to commercializationWhat it takes to modernize a standard used 2 million times daily worldwideWho this is for: MedTech founders, clinicians, investors, and researchers in cardiology, medical devices, and healthcare AI who want to understand how established clinical standards get modernized.Guests: Dr. Michael Cetta, MD FACEP FACHECEO and Co-founderMark ZacharyCo-founderCrimson Scientific https://www.crimsonscientific.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcettaHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

80% of serious accidents at home happen in the bathroom. Most of the equipment designed to prevent those accidents hasn't changed since the 1970s. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Vince Ehrenberg, Founder and Inventor of PeriChair, to explore what happens when a caregiver decides to solve the problem himself.Vince became a full-time caregiver overnight when his father developed vascular dementia. What he found was a gap: bathroom safety equipment designed with everyone except the user in mind. Flat benches that don't feel safe. Transfer chairs you can't see around. Equipment that forces people to stand in soapy water just to stay clean. So he started building, moving from jerry-rigged prototypes with a saw and foam to a patented product now navigating Medicare reimbursement and medical device manufacturing.One detail that stood out: his 90-year-old mother uses the chair now, and he hasn't had to give her one shower. That's what happens when you design from lived experience instead of a lab.We cover:Why the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the home for aging adultsHow bathroom safety equipment has gone largely unchanged since the 1970sVince's journey from caregiver to inventor and medical device founderHow PeriChair was designed around the lived experience of patients and caregiversThe process of moving from prototype to patented product with no industry backgroundNavigating Medicare reimbursement as a first-time medical device founderWhat the aging adult care market needs that current equipment isn't deliveringWho this is for: medical device founders, caregivers, clinicians, and investors in aging care, home health, and MedTech who want to understand how lived experience drives product innovation.Guest: Vince Ehrenberg, Founder and Inventor, PeriChair www.perichair.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-ehrenberg-10037819aHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

What if doctors could predict how a patient will respond to treatment before giving it? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Manuel Opitz, CEO and Co-founder of Deep Eye Medical, to explore how predictive AI is shifting ophthalmology from reactive treatment to personalized, data-driven care.In ophthalmology today, the standard approach is trial and error. Treat, wait six to eight weeks, image again, then adjust. One in three patients drops out of treatment every year. When they stop coming, they go blind. Manuel's team built the first predictive AI approved in ophthalmology, a technology that predicts treatment response before the next injection and helps doctors keep patients engaged in their care.We cover:Why one in three ophthalmology patients drop out of treatment and what happens when they doHow Deep Eye Medical's predictive AI shifts care from "treat and extend" to "predict and treat"Why 15 years of drug development has not improved treatment efficacy in ophthalmologyThe regulatory path to becoming the first approved predictive AI in ophthalmologyWhat Manuel calls "the dark side" of commercialization and what founders should expectThe journey from engineer to CEO in a highly regulated healthcare AI environmentWhat personalized, predictive medicine looks like in clinical practice todayWho this is for: founders, clinicians, investors, and researchers in healthcare AI, ophthalmology, medical devices, and digital health who want to understand what predictive medicine looks like in practice.Guest: Manuel Opitz, CEO and Co-founder, Deep Eye Medical https://deepeye-medical.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelopitz https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepeyeHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

More foreign inventors are filing U.S. patents than Americans. The system built to protect innovation has become increasingly difficult for the founders and researchers it was designed to serve.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Shem Lachhman, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Menlo Park Patents, to break down what founders actually need to know about protecting their IP.Shem started as an electrical engineer building medical devices. After navigating expensive patent fees across multiple startups, he built Menlo Park Patents to make IP protection accessible at a fraction of traditional costs. His background spans tech transfer offices, medical device startups, and patent strategy, giving him a grounded perspective on where the system works and where it fails founders.We cover:Why the U.S. first-to-file system gives foreign competitors a structural advantageWhat a provisional patent is and why it is every founder's first moveHow academics and corporate employees can navigate IP ownership and invention rightsThe risk of using AI tools like ChatGPT for patents and what the USPTO says about AI inventorsHow Menlo Park Patents helps founders protect IP at a fraction of traditional costsLessons from building medical device startups and working with tech transfer officesWhat first-time founders, researchers, and employee inventors need to know about IP strategyWho this is for: biotech and medtech founders, academic researchers, and early-stage inventors who want to understand how to protect their IP without overcomplicating the process.Guest: Shem LachhmanManaging Partner and Co-Founder, Menlo Park Patentshttps://menloparkpatents.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shemlachhmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/mppatentsHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

What if the implant that fixes your bone could disappear once you've healed? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Vicky Ahuja, CEO of OsseoLabs, to explore how 3D-printed magnesium implants are changing what patients and surgeons can expect from bone repair.Unlike titanium implants that remain in the body permanently, OsseoLabs' magnesium plates do their job and then bioresolve, eliminating the need for a second surgery. Dr. Ahuja is also using AI to dramatically accelerate implant design, reducing a process that once took 40 hours to under one hour, making custom implants faster and more accessible for patients who need them.We cover:Why magnesium implants bioresolve inside the body and what that means for patientsHow OsseoLabs' 3D-printed magnesium plates eliminate the need for second surgeryHow AI reduced implant design time from 40 hours to under one hourThe strategy behind building clinical trust with titanium before introducing magnesiumThe regulatory and commercial path for bioresolvable implant technologyDr. Ahuja's journey to founding OsseoLabs and building a next-generation implant platformThe future of patient-specific, bioresolvable implants in bone and orthopedic surgeryWho this is for: surgeons, MedTech founders, investors, and researchers in orthopedics, biomaterials, AI in healthcare, and medical device innovation who want to understand where bioresolvable implant technology is headed.Guest: Dr. Vicky Ahuja, CEO, OsseoLabshttps://www.osseolabs.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/osseolabs https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikramahujaHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

A surgeon told him: "If you had sent me a good picture, I could have saved you the trip." That seven-hour ER wait with his son became the origin story for Predictive Healthcare. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Talal Ali Ahmad, Founder and CEO of Predictive Healthcare, to explore how AI is closing the visibility gap between hospital discharge and post-surgical recovery.Talal's background in communications engineering shaped his approach to a problem most healthcare systems haven't solved: patients go home after surgery with no reliable way for clinicians to monitor wound healing remotely. His platform, My Health Pal, guides patients to capture clinical-grade wound images and flags complications before they escalate, reducing unnecessary ER visits and giving surgeons the visual data they need to make remote decisions confidently.We cover:Why post-surgical patients fall into a visibility gap once they leave the hospitalHow My Health Pal guides patients to capture clinical-grade wound images remotelyHow inverse engineering in image capture unlocks reliable wound monitoring at homeWhat 18-month hospital sales cycles teach founders about navigating healthcare procurementWhy doctors expect AI to be 100% accurate from day one and how to reset those expectationsTalal's journey from communications engineering to MedTech entrepreneurshipThe commercial strategy behind building an AI platform for clinical remote careWho this is for: founders, clinicians, investors, and researchers in MedTech, digital health, remote patient monitoring, and AI in healthcare who want to understand how AI is changing post-surgical care.Guest: Talal Ali Ahmad Founder and CEO, Predictive Healthcare https://predictivehealthcare.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/talalaliahmadhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/predictivehealthcareaiHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

We have made enormous progress in drug discovery. Yet most therapies still fail when they reach humans.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Suleen Raad, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Telescope Therapeutics, to explore why traditional animal models continue to fall short and how human-relevant biology paired with AI could change the odds.Suleen's transition from academic research into biotech entrepreneurship is grounded in a clear conviction: the future of drug discovery depends on modeling disease in systems that actually reflect human biology. Her work brings together stem cells, organoids, and biosensors to study disease progression earlier and more accurately.Telescope Therapeutics is applying this approach to cardiac fibrosis, a major and often overlooked driver of heart failure with no targeted therapies available today. The company uses human stem-cell models combined with AI-driven virtual screening to identify potential treatments faster, cheaper, and with greater translational relevance. This conversation is about fixing the foundations of drug discovery so science has a better chance of reaching patients.We cover:Why traditional animal models continue to fall short in drug discoveryHow human-relevant models using stem cells, organoids, and biosensors improve translational successTelescope Therapeutics' approach to cardiac fibrosis, a major unmet need in heart failureHow AI-driven virtual screening accelerates and focuses drug candidate identificationWhy better models matter more than more data in early-stage researchSuleen's transition from academic research to biotech entrepreneurshipWhat translational success requires beyond biology aloneWho this is for: founders, researchers, and investors in drug discovery, cardiovascular disease, AI in healthcare, and life sciences who want to understand how human-relevant models are changing the path from lab to patient.Guest:Suleen Raad, PhD Co-founder and Chief Operating OfficerTelescope Therapeuticshttps://www.telescopetherapeutics.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/telescopetherapeutics https://www.linkedin.com/in/suleenraadHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Many promising cancer proteins are nearly impossible to detect. Not because of biology, but because of engineering. Christopher Wilson sits down with Jessika Valero Gonzalez, Chief Research Officer at BioClonal, to explore how advanced antibody engineering is unlocking targets that traditional methods and animal models miss.Jessika's path runs from chemistry and protein science into biotech leadership, driven by a clear mission to translate science into patient impact. At BioClonal, she is helping build a platform focused on monoclonal antibodies for challenging cancer targets, using inverse engineering and super immunogens to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:Why many cancer detection failures are engineering problems, not biology problemsHow inverse engineering and super immunogens unlock targets animal models missBioClonal's platform approach to monoclonal antibody development for challenging targetsCommercialization strategy: platform partnerships versus internal pipeline developmentWhy early market feedback is critical in long biotech development cyclesWhat it takes to move deep biotech innovation from lab to marketJessika's journey from chemistry and protein science to biotech leadershipWho this is for: researchers, founders, and investors in oncology, antibody engineering, biotech diagnostics, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand where cancer detection technology is headed.Guest: Jessika Valero GonzalezChief Research Officer, BioClonal https://bioclonal.eshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/bioclonalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jessika-valeroHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Most food byproducts are thrown away or downcycled, taking their nutritional value with them. Christopher Wilson sits down with Nina Granucci, Co-founder and President of Green Spot Technologies, to explore how solid-state fermentation is transforming food waste into scalable, high-value functional ingredients.Green Spot Technologies works with fruit, vegetable, legume, and cereal side streams, turning what manufacturers discard into ingredients that preserve nutrition and perform at commercial scale. Nina brings a grounded perspective on what it takes to move deep science into a real business, from listening to customers rather than selling technology, to raising capital and building the right team in today's venture landscape.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:How solid-state fermentation transforms food byproducts into high-value functional ingredientsWhy food waste contains some of the most nutritious parts of our food systemGreen Spot Technologies' approach to upcycling fruit, vegetable, legume, and cereal side streamsWhy sustainability only works when the product also performs commerciallyHow scientists must shift from technology-first to customer-first thinking to scaleCreative funding strategies for deep tech companies in today's venture landscapeThe role of mentorship and networks at every stage of growthWho this is for: founders, investors, and researchers in food tech, sustainable ingredients, fermentation science, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand how food waste becomes a scalable business.Guest: Nina GranucciCo-founder and President, Green Spot Technologies https://greenspot-tech.com/enhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/greenspot-techHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Most biotech founders are deeply fluent in their science. Fewer are fluent in the story that moves their market. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Karl Schmieder, Founder of MessagingLab and co-host of the Grow Everything podcast, to explore how strategic communication and narrative shape the path from discovery to commercialization.Karl's background spans biochemistry and creative writing, a combination that led him to build a practice helping biotech innovators translate complex science into messaging that drives adoption. He works with founders at every stage of the product lifecycle to sharpen strategy, clarify value, and build narratives that accelerate market entry.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:Why biotech founders struggle to communicate their value to non-scientific audiencesHow to tailor messaging for each audience across the product lifecycleWhy niche focus and ecosystem thinking are essential for biotech commercializationThe role of AI as a strategic collaborator in research, marketing, and go-to-market planningHow Karl's path from biochemistry to creative writing shaped his approach to biotech strategyThe most common communication pitfalls as companies move from discovery to marketWhy the fastest-growing biotech companies invest in strategic storytelling earlyWho this is for: biotech and medtech founders, commercialization leads, and life sciences marketers who want to understand how strategic communication drives market adoption.Guest: Karl SchmiederCEO and Founder, MessagingLab https://www.messaginglab.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/messaginglabHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Most cancer therapies target tumors from a single angle. When tumors adapt and escape, treatment stops working. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Jennifer Altomonte, molecular biologist and founder of Fusix Biotech, to explore a different approach built on engineered viruses that attack tumors from multiple directions at once.Dr. Altomonte shares her journey from New York to Munich, decades in virus engineering, and the moment she realized her lab had developed something with the potential to change how cancer is treated. Fusix Biotech's therapy kills tumor cells directly, delivers immune-boosting genes, and activates the patient's immune system to continue fighting long after the drug is gone.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:How engineered oncolytic viruses attack tumors from multiple angles to overcome resistanceThe science behind Fusix Biotech's approach to cancer therapyWhy hitting tumors with multiple mechanisms reduces the risk of immune escapeThe role of AI in identifying biomarkers and guiding cancer therapy developmentDr. Altomonte's journey from academic virus engineering to biotech entrepreneurshipThe transition from academia to founding a biotech company and what it requiresBuilding conviction and networks in a field where failure is commonWho this is for: oncology researchers, biotech founders, clinicians, and investors in cancer therapy, immunotherapy, and life sciences innovation who want to understand where engineered virus platforms are headed.Guest: Dr. Jennifer AltomonteManaging Director and CSO, Fusix Biotech www.fusixbiotech.de https://www.linkedin.com/company/fusix-biotechHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

"You always realize you are already late. By the time that you apply the therapy, it's too late."What if early diagnostics became the new standard of care? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Sonia Trigueros, Founder of NIVD and former Co-Director of the Nanotechnology Program at Oxford, to explore how nanotechnology, quantum materials, and AI are opening an entirely new frontier in healthcare.Dr. Trigueros is working to detect sepsis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections before a single symptom appears, using diagnostic tools that require no electricity and can reach underserved communities globally. Her work sits at the intersection of physics, biology, medicine, and commercialization, and her vision is to make ultra-early detection accessible at the point of care worldwide.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:How nanotechnology and quantum materials enable ultra-early disease detectionWhy early diagnosis is the missing link in effective therapies for cancer and sepsisHow AI can correlate clinical, molecular, and unknown datasets to reveal hidden biological relationshipsNIVD's vision for electricity-free, point-of-care diagnostics in underserved communitiesDr. Trigueros' journey from Oxford nanotechnology research to founding NIVDBuilding a multidisciplinary team across physics, biology, medicine, and commercializationThe future of accessible diagnostics and global health equityWho this is for: founders, clinicians, researchers, and investors in diagnostics, nanotechnology, AI in healthcare, global health, and life sciences who want to understand where early detection technology is headed.Guest: Dr. Sonia Trigueros, Founder and Director, NIVDwww.nivd.world https://www.linkedin.com/company/nivdworldHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

What does it take to turn a scientist into a successful biotech founder? In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Vanloan Nguyen, Founder and Executive Director of Berkeley Pharma Tech, to explore the realities of building and scaling life sciences startups from the ground up.Vanloan has navigated the full arc from bench scientist to angel investor to founder, and now leads an ambitious program to incubate and launch 100 biotech startups in ten years. She brings a perspective that combines scientific rigor with the strategic pragmatism of an investor, including candid lessons from her own experience of startup failure alongside a serial entrepreneur.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:Berkeley Pharma Tech's mission to launch 100 biotech startups in ten yearsHow AI is automating and accelerating 800-page FDA submissionsWhy data quality is the new gold standard for AI in drug discoveryThe role of CRISPR and genetic editing coming out of UC BerkeleyWhat causes startups to fail even with strong teams and experienced foundersWhy in-person relationship building is non-negotiable in biotech investingThe transition from pre-med scientist to angel investor and biotech founderWho this is for: early-stage founders, life sciences investors, and researchers in biotech, drug discovery, AI in healthcare, and pharmaceutical R&D who want to understand what it takes to build a commercially viable biotech company.Guest:Vanloan Nguyen, Founder and Executive DirectorBerkeley Pharma Tech President and DirectorBerkeley Pharma Tech Foundation www.berkeleypharmatech.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/berkeleypharmatechfosteringinnovationsHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Drug development is being reshaped by AI, precision medicine, and a growing culture of collaboration across the life sciences. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Kim Kjøller, CEO of Union Therapeutics, to explore what that transformation looks like from inside a leading biotech company.Dr. Kjøller draws on decades of experience in Big Pharma to discuss how Union Therapeutics is advancing therapies for chronic diseases, why Denmark's collaborative biotech ecosystem has become a global model for life sciences innovation, and what it takes to bring a European biotech into the U.S. healthcare market.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:How AI is accelerating data-driven drug discovery and developmentUnion Therapeutics' approach to advancing therapies for chronic diseasesLessons from decades in Big Pharma applied to biotech innovationWhy Denmark's Life Science Cluster is a global model for collaborationThe challenges of entering the U.S. healthcare market as a European biotechThe growing role of precision medicine and prevention in patient careWho this is for: founders, investors, clinicians, and researchers in biotech, pharma R&D, precision medicine, and life sciences who want to understand how collaboration and AI are changing drug development.Guest: Dr. Kim Kjøller, CEO, Union Therapeutics www.uniontherapeutics.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/uniontherapeuticsHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how biotech companies are built, funded, and scaled. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Michael Schrader, Co-founder and former CEO of Vaxess Technologies, to explore what that shift means for the next generation of founders.Michael's path from mechanical engineer to biotech entrepreneur spans mission-driven innovation, creative problem-solving, and the hard lessons of building a globally recognized vaccine delivery company. He brings a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to launch and grow a biotech startup in today's landscape.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:How AI is lowering barriers for new biotech founders in design, prototyping, and regulatory workLessons from building Vaxess Technologies, a globally recognized vaccine delivery companyThe role of mission and perseverance in biotech entrepreneurshipHow creative funding models and global thinking support biotech growthWhy collaboration and diversity drive better problem-solving in life sciencesWhat the next generation of AI-powered biotech startups looks likeWho this is for: founders, investors, and researchers in biotech, deep tech, AI in healthcare, and life sciences who want to understand how artificial intelligence is changing how companies are built.Guest: Michael SchraderCo-founder and Former CEO, Vaxess Technologies https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelschraderHost:Christopher WilsonFound, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

For decades, women's health has been under-researched, underfunded, and underserved. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Somer Barburek, CEO and Co-founder of Hera Biotech, to explore how precision diagnostics and molecular innovation are starting to change that.Somer's path to biotech founder ran through professional rodeo athletics and a firsthand understanding of how little the healthcare system was built around women's biology. At Hera Biotech, she's building a platform that uses molecular and machine-learning diagnostics to detect endometriosis earlier and more accurately, replacing invasive surgery with simple, office-based testing.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:Why women's health has been historically underfunded and what that means for patients todayHow Hera Biotech is tackling endometriosis with molecular and AI-driven diagnosticsThe shift from invasive surgical diagnosis to office-based precision testingSomer's journey from professional rodeo athlete to biotech founderThe realities of biotech commercialization and scaling a women's health companyWhat a more equitable, data-driven future in medicine actually looks likeWho this is for: founders, clinicians, investors, and researchers in women's health, biotech diagnostics, medtech, and digital health who want to understand where precision medicine for women is headed.Guest: Somer Barburek, CEO and Co-founder, Hera Biotech www.herabiotech.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/hera-biotechHost:Chistopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

90% of drugs fail in clinical trials. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Pavez Lorie, CEO and Co-founder of CompreVie, to explore why that number keeps climbing and what biotech innovation can do about it.Dr. Lorie is building human-relevant organ and tissue models that move, react, and respond like the human body, no animal models required. Her work sits at the intersection of AI-powered drug discovery, digital health, and clinical research, and she's doing it as a founder navigating the biotech funding downturn while generating early revenue through pilot testing.In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences, we cover:* Why 90% of drugs fail in clinical trials and what that means for pharma R&D* How human-relevant testing models are replacing animal models in drug development* CompreVie's approach to building advanced organ and tissue models for biotech startups* The path from academia to entrepreneurship in life sciences* Fundraising strategy and generating early revenue in the biotech funding downturn* The future of AI in healthcare, clinical research innovation, and medtechWho this is for: founders, investors, and researchers in biotech, medtech, digital health, and pharmaceutical R&D who want to understand where human-centered testing is headed.Guest:Dr. Elizabeth Pavez Lorie, CEO and Co-founder, CompreViewww.comprevie.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/comprevieHost:Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AIwww.medaxisai.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisaihttps://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisaiFollow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.