BioTalk with Rich Bendis

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Sai Nandi, D.Phil., Founding Principal of Immune Boost Capital (IBC), joins the conversation to discuss how mission-driven investing can help bridge the gap between scientific discovery, company formation, and new treatments for patients with autoimmune diseases. Sai shares his journey from a small mining town in rural India to Oxford University, Cold S...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Maureen L. Mulvihill, Ph. D., Founder, President, and CEO of Actuated Medical, discusses the company's 2026 BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition win and its work advancing medical device innovation from central Pennsylvania. Maureen shares how Actuated Medical grew from a focus on improving patient outcomes through innovative motion into a com...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Ralf Huss, MD, PhD, Managing Director and CEO of BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH and spokesperson for the Bavarian Biotechnology Cluster, joins the conversation to discuss Bavaria's biotechnology ecosystem and BioM's role in moving science toward commercialization. Ralf introduces BioM, the organization supporting biotech development in Munich and...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Subin Baral, Partner at Ernst & Young LLP and EY-Parthenon Global Life Sciences Deals Leader, joins the conversation to discuss the changing life sciences dealmaking environment and what it means for companies, investors, and regional innovation ecosystems. Subin shares how life sciences companies are shifting from defensive portfolio management toward...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Tammi Thomas, President of TEDCO, joins the conversation to discuss how Maryland is helping entrepreneurs move ideas from research and concept to market. Tammi shares how TEDCO has evolved from an early-stage funding organization into a broader partner for Maryland startups, supporting companies through capital, federal funding navigation, technical ass...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Matt Adams, Chief Executive Officer of BrainScope, joins the conversation to discuss how the Rockville-based company is working to bring objective brain function measurement into real-world clinical care.   Matt shares how BrainScope is using EEG-based technology and artificial intelligence to help decode brain electrical activity and provide clinicians...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Travis McCready, Head of Industries, Leasing Advisory at JLL, joins the conversation to discuss quantum computing, why real estate professionals are paying attention, and what this emerging technology could mean for regions like the BioHealth Capital Region. Travis explains that quantum computing should be understood as an enabling technology, much like...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Rebecca "Becky" Fisher, PhD, Deputy Director for Program Management at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, joins the conversation to help listeners better understand one of the federal biomedical research funding pathways that may be less familiar to many entrepreneurs, researchers, and life science companies. Dr. Fisher explains how...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Sara Dauber, Vice President, Startup Banking for J.P. Morgan's Innovation Economy team, joins the conversation to discuss how early-stage life science and healthcare companies can think more strategically about banking, financing readiness, and long-term growth.   Sara shares how her career moved from life science operating companies to NIH and now to J...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Jeffrey N. Hausfeld, M.D., Chairman of the Board and Chief Medical Officer of BioFactura Inc., and Darryl Sampey, Ph. D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Biologics, join the conversation to discuss the launch of Capitol Biologics as BioFactura's CDMO division. Jeff and Darryl explain how BioFactura's experience building biologics develo...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Neal Piper, Founder and CEO of Luminoah, returns to share a major milestone in the company's journey: FDA clearance for Luminoah Flow. A past winner of the BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition, Neal first joined BioTalk to discuss the deeply personal story behind the company. His family's experience during his son Noah's cancer treatment revea...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Sam Gussman-Toh, Portfolio Manager for the Small Business Program at ARPA-H, joins the conversation to discuss how the agency is creating new pathways for small businesses developing ambitious health technologies. Sam explains how the ARPA-H model differs from traditional federal funding programs, with a focus on moonshot health solutions, program manag...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Jared Smith, MBA, CEcD, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, joins the conversation to discuss his new role leading economic development efforts in one of the nation's most important biohealth markets. Jared shares how his experience in Louisiana and Nevada shaped his approach to economic development, including th...

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Ellen D. Harpel, Ph. D., Founder of Smart Incentives, joins the conversation to explore a topic that has shaped the growth of the BioHealth Capital Region but has rarely been discussed directly on the podcast: economic development incentives. Ellen explains why state and local governments use incentives, how they influence business location and expansio...

How do universities move promising discoveries out of the lab and into the market? In this episode of BioTalk, Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, Vice President of Georgetown's Office of Technology Commercialization, Christon Hill, Program Manager for Georgetown Tech Ventures, and Jennifer Butler, Entrepreneur-in-Residence with BioHealth Innovation, discuss how Georgetown is building a stronger pipeline fro...

What does it take to build a biohealth ecosystem that can compete nationally? In this episode of BioTalk, Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin, discusses how Wisconsin helped shape the early use of the term "biohealth" and how that approach has supported the growth of its life sciences sector. Lisa shares how BioForward connects industry, academia, and government to strengthen the state's eco...

Dr. Sheetal Ajmani joins BioTalk to discuss a topic rarely addressed in the life sciences startup world. The personal and leadership toll that accompanies building and scaling a company. A physician turned executive coach and founder of Radiant Living Institute, Dr. Ajmani works closely with founders and senior leaders navigating intense professional pressure while trying to maintain clarity in de...

Dr. Frank Peacock and Dr. Damon R. Kuehl join BioTalk for a focused discussion on one of emergency medicine's most persistent challenges: accurately diagnosing and predicting outcomes in mild traumatic brain injury. As Scientific Advisory Board members for BrainBox Solutions, Inc., they walk through what happens when a patient presents to the emergency department after a fall or sports injury and...

This episode of the BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast brings together leaders from industry, academia, and economic development to unpack the vision behind a new life sciences Innovation District anchored in Prince William County. With introductions to NAUGEN, George Mason University's Institute for Biohealth Innovation, and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, setting the...

IonQ Vice President and GM of Quantum Platform Matthew Keesan joins BioTalk for a clear look at how they are advancing quantum computing from its home base in the BioHealth Capital Region. He shares the story of IonQ's Maryland roots and explains quantum computing in straightforward terms for listeners seeking a high-level understanding. The conversation moves into why biohealth leaders should tra...

William Hurley, known widely as Whurley, joins BioTalk for a deep look at how quantum computing is moving from theory into practical use across the biohealth landscape. He opens the conversation with an introduction to Strangeworks and explains why the company is focused on making quantum computing more accessible for real-world problem-solving. The discussion explores how quantum could support br...

Secretary Juan Pablo Segura joins BioTalk for a conversation about Virginia's growing position in the biohealth economy and the statewide strategy behind it. He outlines the significance of the new partnership with AstraZeneca, Lilly, and Merck, including up to $120 million in private investment to create a workforce development center and expand the Commonwealth's life sciences capacity. Segura t...

This episode brings together three leaders working at the intersection of pediatric innovation, health security, and early-stage commercialization. Kolaleh Eskandanian, Program Director of SPARK, is joined by founders Dori Jones of AcQumen Medical and Jugal Suthar of Vesynta for a conversation about advancing breakthrough solutions for children. They discuss the mission behind the BARDA-funded SPA...

In this episode of BioTalk, CEO Gerard Eldering explains how Perfusion Medical is addressing a problem that trauma physicians and military medics have been struggling with for decades: capillary compression.  Perfusion Medical is developing a drug aimed at treating hemorrhagic shock and other ischemic conditions. PM‑208 is a novel IV therapeutic designed to restore capillary blood flow, resolve is...

In this episode of BioTalk, Rich Bendis sits down with Councilman Brian Knudsen, Jamie Schwartz of UNLV, and Vance Farrow from the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development to spotlight the rapid emergence of Southern Nevada as a rising force in the biohealth landscape. The conversation covers the launch of the $10 million BioHealth Innovation Challenge, the Desert Forge Venture Fund, and t...