Global Trial Accelerators™: Fast-Tracking First-in-Human Trials, Anywhere

In this episode of Global Trial Accelerators, we speak with Daniel S. Chen, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Synthetic Design Lab and former Global Head of Cancer Immunotherapy Development at Genentech/Roche. Daniel shares insights from his pioneering work in cancer immunotherapy, the development of breakthrough therapies such as atezolizumab, and the future of oncology innovation. We also discuss the...

 Shareef Mahdavi joins the podcast to discuss how patient experience directly impacts practice growth, referrals, and retention. He shares the strategies that helped transform Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley by improving how patients felt throughout their journey — leading to stronger reviews, increased leads, and long-term growth. 

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Geraci — mathematical physicist, medical scientist, and AI innovator — to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of medicine and clinical research. Dr. Geraci began his career in quantum computing and mathematical physics, earning his PhD under renowned scientist Dr. Daniel Lidar with research supported by DARPA and the U.S. Army...

In this episode, we welcome Gary K. Zammit, a leading expert at the intersection of science, business, and innovation in the life sciences industry. Gary is the founder and CEO of Clinilabs, a CNS-focused contract research organization, and the author of Beyond the Science: How People, Process, and Systems Transform the Business of Life Sciences . He also serves as a clinical professor of psychiat...

In this episode, we speak with Joseph Grieco and Liza Micioni, two experienced leaders in clinical development. Joseph Grieco leads clinical programs in neurological disorders at Tris Pharma, focusing on innovative solutions for unmet medical needs. Liza Micioni brings over 25 years of experience in global clinical operations, specializing in rare diseases and CNS disorders, with a strong focus on...

In this episode, we are joined by Robert Packard , a seasoned Quality and Regulatory Affairs professional with over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry and a decade in biotech manufacturing validation and scale-up. Robert has held leadership roles in multiple startups, co-founded a laparoscopic imaging company, and previously worked as a lead auditor and instructor for a major No...

In this episode, we sit down with Kristen Mittal, RAC, PMP, Co-Founder and CEO of Mittal Consulting, a leading regulatory affairs firm supporting medical device innovators. With over 10 years of experience across startups and Fortune 500 companies, Kristen brings deep expertise in navigating FDA pathways for Class I, II, and III devices. She shares practical insights on regulatory strategy, accele...

In this episode, we welcome A/Prof Tina Soulis , a life sciences leader with over 30 years of experience in clinical research, biotechnology, and healthcare. Founder of Alithia Life Sciences and academic contributor at the University of Melbourne , Tina has held senior roles including CEO of a CRO, Director of an ASX200 company, and VP of Clinical Strategy and Development . She is also one of the...

In this episode, we welcome Gregory Mark Hill , Managing Partner at GCH Partners , an investment holding firm working globally with family offices, asset managers, foundations, and public and private companies. Gregory has spent more than two decades helping entrepreneurs and organizations grow, raise capital, and expand their enterprise value across industries including technology, healthcare, an...

This episode features David E. Albert, MD, a physician-inventor and serial entrepreneur whose work has shaped modern digital cardiology. Over a 30-year career, Dr. Albert has developed life-saving medical technologies and successfully translated many of those innovations into high-impact startups. As founder of several health-technology companies and former Chief Scientist of GE Cardiology, Dr. Al...

In this episode, we welcome Alfonso , CEO at Leon Research and Managing Board Member and Marketing Director at AICROS , for an in-depth conversation on leadership, clinical research, and business development in the pharmaceutical industry. Alfonso has 14 years of experience in managerial and executive roles , with the last 10 years dedicated to clinical investigation. Originally trained in psychol...

This episode features Steven Collens , CEO of MATTER , a premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub that has supported over 1,000 healthcare startups. MATTER helps entrepreneurs and organizations innovate faster and more efficiently while increasing the likelihood of long-term success. Founded by Steven in 2015, MATTER provides an accelerator-as-a-service solution for health systems, life sci...

In this episode, we sit down with Pablo Yarza , a bioinformatics expert with over 15 years of experience developing advanced databases for both academic and industrial applications. Throughout his career, Pablo has gained deep insight into one of the most critical challenges in R&D: data curation . He explains how poor-quality or inaccessible data can significantly delay research and developme...

This episode features Scott Stout , who is helping reshape clinical trial recruitment through MedVector’s innovative HCP Recruitment model. By engaging community physicians in a new way, MedVector enables access to larger and more diverse patient populations for clinical trial sites. Their approach allows trusted healthcare providers and their patients to benefit from clinical trials as a care opt...

This episode features Matteo Talotta , a global leader with experience across banking, academia, government, and a wide range of organizations — from start-ups and scale-ups to large multinationals. After working in Canada, Italy, the U.S., Spain, and Romania, Matteo brings a rich, multicultural perspective to the world of clinical innovation. Fluent in four languages and driven by collaboration,...

In this episode, we’re joined by Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni, Ph. D. , Co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Uvisa Health . With a background that bridges women’s health, the microbiome, digital health innovation, and medical device development, Sonal is at the forefront of creating smarter, science-driven solutions for vaginal health management. Sonal shares her journey from research scientist to...

In this episode, we sit down with David M. Kraemer , Founder of a boutique investment bank and former Vice President at Merrill Lynch and Wilshire Consulting . With deep experience across public and private markets, David shares insights on capital formation, innovation, and navigating complex investment landscapes .  From biotech and MedTech to AI, robotics, and venture capital , his perspective...

Today we’re joined by Dr. Joseph M. Palumbo , a physician-scientist, mentor, and therapeutics developer with more than three decades of leadership in psychiatry, neurology, and neurodegenerative research.  Dr. Palumbo has led groundbreaking work across the full R&D spectrum—from preclinical innovation to global drug approvals—advancing programs valued at over $1 billion. He has held senior lea...

In this episode, we welcome Nicholas Kadysh , CEO of PharmAla Biotech , the company pioneering GMP MDMA production and named the top-performing stock on the Canadian capital markets in 2023 by The Market Herald .  As Chair of Psychedelics Canada , Nicholas has been instrumental in advancing legal and ethical standards, building strong relationships with government, and shaping a regulatory landsca...

In this episode, we sit down with Carolina [Last Name] , a senior biotech executive with over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Carolina is the Founder & Principal of Bio Strategy Advisors , serves on multiple biotech and nonprofit boards, and is the Co-Founder & Co-Chair of Latinos in Bio .  She shares insights from her leadership journey at companies like Genzyme,...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jason Hurt , a clinician-scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in radiopharmaceutical development, clinical trial strategy, and oncology drug development .  In March 2025, Dr. Hurt founded Theragnostic Insights , a consulting and strategic advisory firm focused on advancing theranostic solutions and radioligand therapies —pioneering approaches t...

 In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Martin R. Schiller , Prabhu Endowed Professor at UNLV, Founding Director of the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, and founder of Heligenics Inc. Dr. Schiller shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the breakthroughs behind the GigaAssay technology, and how personalized medicine is shaping the future of healthcare.  Tune in to learn how...

Today’s guest is Ross O. Youngs , Founder and CEO, with over 35 years of experience inventing products, technologies, and processes across multiple industries. He holds more than 75 patents worldwide and is driven by a passion for creating innovations that are better, faster, and more cost-effective.  His recent accomplishments include winning an R&D 100 Award for his work in biopolymer techno...

Today we’re joined by Gianluca Fontana, CEO and Co-Founder of Prova Health—the London-based advisory firm helping digital health and life sciences innovators prove their value with rock-solid clinical and economic evidence. With a background as a McKinsey consultant and Deputy Director at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation, Gianluca has led billion-pound research progr...

Could opioids be silently undermining cancer immunotherapy? This week, Justin Chickles — CEO and co-founder of Glycyx Therapeutics — explains how his team is tackling this overlooked challenge with axelopran, a breakthrough therapy now advancing to Phase 2 trials. From his early career at Johnson & Johnson to leading multiple startups, Justin offers a rare, insider’s perspective on driving bio...