Inside Biotech

Strong scientific presentations are about more than sharing data they’re about making your research clear, engaging, and memorable. In this solo Host Chat episode of Inside Biotech, co-host Riley Conover-Elmer explores practical strategies for creating presentations that effectively communicate complex scientific ideas to a variety of audiences. Whether you’re preparing for a lab meeting, conferen...

In this episode of Inside Biotech, we sit down with Philip Sell, founder of Metaba, a biotech company focused on developing new approaches to combat drug-resistant infections, including tuberculosis. We dive into the founding story of Metaba, exploring the problem the company aims to solve and the scientific strategy behind its approach. Philip discusses the challenges of transitioning from a rese...

NEW HOSTS CHAT EPISODE Networking can feel intimidating, but it remains one of the most powerful tools for career growth. In this Hosts Chat, Karishma Chhugani shares her perspective on building meaningful professional relationships, making the most of LinkedIn, and why attending local networking events can lead to opportunities you never expected. Whether you're a student, recent graduate, or ind...

Live from BPI West 🎙️ This week on Inside Biotech, Riley Elmer sits down with Andrew Bender from Atlas, Sage Aronson from Kymo Co, and Yogesh Brahmecha from Janux Therapeutics for a conversation on AI wearables, metabolism and inflammation, cancer immunotherapy, and the future of biotech innovation. From machine learning and translational oncology to drug discovery and entrepreneurship, this pa...

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 off...

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 s...

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 pub...

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 plat...

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 tr...

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 disc...

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...

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 doc...

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...

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,...

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 b...

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 rese...

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...

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 pl...

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 t...

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 Fish...

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...

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...

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,...

NeuraSignal: https://www.neurasignal.com https://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