Biotech Insiders

This episode features Jeff Marrazzo, Co-Founder of Spark Therapeutics, discussing his journey in human health and entrepreneurship. You'll also learn about the PABC’s two new board members: Mark R. Schweiker, former Governor of Pennsylvania, and J. David Owens, biotech entrepreneur and executive. 

This episode features updates about the state of biotech, NIH funding and some of the latest news shaping the biotech industry.  The second half features Heather Steinman, senior vice president, business development and executive director of technology transfer at The Wistar Institute and Carole Burns, director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Blumberg Institute. They discuss the future o...

Biotech startups depend on NIH grants that are now in doubt. How can we keep the NIH support flowing? Hear from Wistar CEO Dr. Dario Altieri and top political consultant Craig Snyder in the latest edition of Biotech Insiders with Lou Kassa.  In the second half, hear about the biotech environment with John George of the Philadelphia Business Journal.  

In this episode, we dive deep into our education programs and hear from those who make them truly unique. Dr. Scott Willett, academic director at the Blumberg Institute, manages and oversees the programs and assists hands-on with our 10-Week College Internship program and Central Bucks School District partnership. Dr. Pat Romano created and leads our Summer Two-Week Enrichment program designed for...

In this episode of #Biotech Insiders, you'll hear from two amazing scientist-entrepreneurs, Nicholas Siciliano, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Vittoria Biotherapeutics and Josep Bassaganya-Riera, PhD, CEO and president of NImmune Biopharma , who have started extremely successful companies.  We’re also thrilled that Dr. Siciliano is the Keynote Speaker at our Nov. 13 Regional Biotechnology Confere...

In this episode, we dive into the science behind Naturaz, a hair care brand built on vegan, non-GMO formulations. Mumbi Dunjwa, founder of Naturaz, discusses the company’s origin story and how Naturaz is reshaping the conversation around beauty, self-acceptance and sustainability.  More on Naturaz can be found here .

In this episode, you'll hear from Frank Jones, CEO of Greene Street Pharmaceuticals, a company dedicated to advancing innovative transdermal medicine. Greene Street also plays a vital role in training the next generation of scientists by welcoming interns throughout the year. Diya Thomas, a student at Penn State University, shares her experience at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC)...

Hear from Lou Kassa, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute and PABC, and Dr. Chari Cohen, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, as they discuss potential and actual federal cuts and how they could affect the life sciences, nonprofits and much more. In the second half Ed Tate, head of communications, talks with Emma Dolen, PhD student at Harvard University, about her social media...

Our latest podcast episode is LIVE! 🎧  On this episode you will hear from Jeff DeVuono, EVP & senior managing director, at Brandywine Realty Trust and Matthew Burkhardt, director at B+labs, discussing the start and future of B+labs. You'll also get to hear from John Kulp, longtime PABC member and founder of two companies, one focusing on AI.

In this episode, Lou Kassa talks with two influential women in the life sciences. First, we hear from Rebecca Grant, senior director of Life Sciences and Innovation in the City Philadelphia's Department of Commerce. She discusses Philadelphia's strengths in biotech compared to other locations. Next, we have Katie Diaz, chapter chair of Women in Bio Philadelphia and managing partner at th...

Episode 8 kicks off with Lou Kassa, CEO of the PABC, Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute, and Tim Kelly, vice president of Norwood Construction , describing how the partnership with Central Bucks School District got started. Following that conversation, listen to Alex Gorsky, former CEO of Johnson & Johnson give an encouraging talk to the 2023-2024 CBSD students. 

Episode 7 features a conversation between Lou Kassa, CEO of the PABC, Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute, and three top executives in the investment industry: Kathie Jordan, managing director of Ben Franklin Technology Partners; Dean Miller, president and CEO of Philadelphia Alliance for Capitol and Technologies (PACT); and Lorenzo Pellegrini, managing partner of Hatch Biofund. To learn...

We've got three fascinating conversations: one with serial, successful entrepreneur and scientist Ren Capocasale, another with Dr. Allen Reitz, CEO of Fox Chase Therapeutics Discovery Inc., and a third with a stellar Bucks Co. native and emerging scientist who did our high school summer program and a college internship at the PABC. This episode is sponsored by Pofabro Communications . 

The PABC “is like a smart phone with a bunch of apps in it,” says Maria Middleburg of Serologix, a longtime member of our center! Hear more from her and Dr. Scott Willett, director of academic affairs at the Blumberg Institute and mentor to young scientists in a new episode of Biotech Insiders!  Learn more on our podcast sponsor, Pofabro Communications here !   Interested in sponsoring an episode?...

Lou Kassa, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute & Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), talks with Dr. Lillian Chiang, CEO of Evrys Bio, about the company's start and what's to come! Also, we have Dr. Timothy Block, co-founder of PABC and its sister organizations, with Dr. Thomas Shenk, Founder of Evrys Bio, focusing on the scientific path the company is taking....

Lou Kassa, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute & Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), and Edward Tate, director of communications for those organizations, talk with Sanjay Batra, CEO, of WeThrivv & VIAS Partners, on his scientific journey. Also, we have Dr. Timothy Block, co-founder of PABC and its sister organizations, with Aykan Karabudak, Head of Immunology at Eme...

Gov. Shapiro not only toured the PABC with DCED Sec. Rick Siger, he met with CEO Lou Kassa, others on our leadership team, and the CEOs of several PABC-member companies 

Our first episode offers a conversation between Dr. Timothy Block, founder of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), and Lou Kassa, who is CEO of the PABC, Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute. Lou has been running the PABC for the past seven years. The podcast also provides a bit of biotech news from the region and a perspective from Madison Charnigo, a graduate of Central Bucks H...