It's Bigger than Biotech

Ron Demuth has done almost everything you can do in biotech: bench scientist, academic administrator, CRO operator, private equity investor, VC, and now founder again at the frontier of physiomics. In this episode, we dig into what four decades of building actually teaches you: how to kill a project before it kills you, why lean-agile drug development is the only model that makes financial sense a...

Unlock the secrets to accelerated success in biotech with René's personal five-point plan—a straightforward, practical roadmap that can transform your career today. Whether you're just starting out or aiming for the next level, these five principles are designed to give you an edge, grounded in real-world experience and proven tactics. Dive into the power of strategic internships—how six g...

On this episode of IBTB, Rene Hubert (Director of Early Career Talent at Amgen) breaks down the moves that actually matter early on. Finding the right mentors, getting clear on your goals before the industry gets loud, and making internships work harder for you. 25 years in biotech, distilled into a conversation for anyone just getting started.

Unlock the strategic secrets behind translating groundbreaking science into real-world impact with Rohit Shukla, founder and CEO of LARTA Institute. Discover how a small biotech startup can leverage over $1 million in federal funding through SBIR grants and avoid common pitfalls in commercialization. Rohit reveals the insider frameworks that have helped over 7,000 companies, including 1,500 biosci...

In this conversation, Hriday Gondalia interviews Atul Dubey, who discusses the role of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) in ensuring drug quality and safety. He explains the history of USP, the importance of continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, and the advantages it offers over traditional batch manufacturing. Atul also shares insights on balancing innovation with compliance...

In this episode of It's Bigger Than Biotech , Dr. Garnica shares his extensive journey through the biopharma industry, highlighting his transition from a purely scientific background to a pivotal role in market access and health economics. He discusses the importance of bridging science and business, particularly in the context of cell and gene therapy, where understanding both the scientific...

Join us in this inspiring episode as we delve into the remarkable journey of Dr. Erika von Euw, a VP in biotech and translational research. From her early days in a small town in Argentina to her pivotal role in oncology, Dr. Erika shares her passion for helping patients and her path through academia and industry. Discover the challenges and triumphs of translational research, the importance of me...

Join us as we dive into the world of biotech with Dan Gober, Executive Director of BioCom California. Discover how to navigate distractions, build thriving ecosystems, and the importance of being a connector in the industry. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in the Los Angeles biotech scene and how students and professionals alike can contribute to its growth. Don't miss this ins...

This short It’s Bigger Than Biotech explainer breaks down the key insights from our episode with Dr. Hovhannes (Hovik), Director at USC’s Mann School of Pharmacy. In just a few minutes, learn how he navigated career moves from big pharma to academia, the evolving world of drug development, and the core skills students and professionals need to thrive. This recap is perfect for anyone on the go who...

Today on It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Dr. Benjamin Suratt , Global Project Head and Clinical Lead at Sanofi , whose journey from academic medicine to industry leadership offers a masterclass in navigating science, purpose, and career reinvention. With a background in Pulmonary and Critical Care , Dr. Suratt spent two decades in academic research before stepping into the biotech worl...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Dr. Llewellyn Cox , Executive Director of Corporate Relations for Life Science Innovations at USC, to explore a side of biotech that students and early-career professionals rarely hear about: the business of academic innovation. With experience founding biotech incubators, advising startups, and now building partnerships between USC an...

Not a scientist? No problem. In this episode, Andy Wilson shares how he successfully pivoted into the world of biotech and health innovation—without a background in science. Now VP of Business Development for Health Affairs at USC and former leader of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, Andy explains how he built a purpose-driven career by connecting capital, universities, and entrepreneurs. Listen...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we’re joined by Engie Salama , a passionate scientist and Program Manager at Xencor , where she leads teams working on cutting-edge immuno-oncology therapies. Engie’s journey from the lab bench to biotech program management is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, developing leadership skills, and finding purpose in the life sciences industry. We...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Dave Whelan , Chief Business Officer at Big4Bio , to talk about how you can do more than just join biotech—you can shape it . With a career spanning Stanford, UCLA Anderson, startups, VC, digital health, and wellness innovation, Dave has helped bring breakthrough health ideas to life and built thriving biotech communities along the way...

What if finding your “why” was the first step toward building something that actually matters? In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Mandika Swartz and Keshav Soni , two student founders who turned a shared frustration with healthcare into Halo Medical Solutions —a fast-growing startup helping physicians reclaim hours of their day with AI-powered documentation tools. But t...

Most people think a science degree locks you into the lab forever. Tae Sung is proof that it doesn’t have to. In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , Tae shares how he went from pipetting at the bench to managing multi-million dollar oncology research projects at Pfizer — one of the biggest biotech companies in the world. We get into: → Why your technical skills alone won’t get you promoted...

Does anyone in your family have diabetes? Chances are, they’ve used a blood sugar monitor designed by Dr. Laurence (Larry) Katz —or a therapy he helped bring to market. In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , Dr. Katz pulls back the curtain on a decades-long career in pharmaceutical innovation, where he's helped launch life-saving products at companies like Johnson & Johnson , LifeScan ,...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Dr. Lawrence Liberti , a seasoned expert in regulatory science and global drug development , to explore one of the most essential—but often overlooked—career paths in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Liberti breaks down: What a career in regulatory affairs actually looks like How regulatory science shapes which drugs reac...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Brielan Smiechowski, Founder and Managing Partner of BS Strategy. With a background in epidemiology and a passion for health equity, Brielan shares her journey from academia to consulting, discussing how data-driven decision-making is shaping the future of healthcare. We dive into the evolving landscape of healthcare consulting, the ro...

Episode Description: In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Dr. Farhad Parhami , Founder & CEO of MAX BioPharma , to discuss his journey from PhD and MBA student to biotech leader. We explore his work pioneering oxysterol-based therapeutics for MASH, atherosclerosis, and bone regeneration, as well as the challenges of launching a biotech startup. Dr. Parhami shares insi...

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech , we sit down with Philip Sell, CEO & Co-Founder of Metaba, a biotech company leveraging metabolomics to combat infectious diseases like tuberculosis and COVID-19. Philip shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the role of metabolomics in drug development, and the challenges of building a biotech startup. Whether you're a student explor...

In this episode of It's Bigger Than Biotech, we chat with Chloe Duckworth, Co-founder and CEO of Valence Vibrations, a voice AI company at the forefront of neurotechnology and affective computing. Chloe shares her inspiring journey from computational neuroscience at USC to founding a startup that redefines emotional communication. She also discusses her passion for social impact through her no...

In this episode of It's Bigger Than Biotech, Hriday and Vishnu sit down with Christian Chung, a recent USC graduate and Process Development Intern at Genentech. Christian shares his journey through academia, where he earned a B.S. in Human Biology and a Master’s in Stem Cell Biology, and his transition into the pharmaceutical industry. From co-founding Revilico to pioneering AI-driven drug repurpo...

In this episode of It's Bigger Than Biotech, Hriday and Vishnu welcome Mr. Gilles De Prevoisin, a seasoned professional with a dynamic career spanning consulting and the pharmaceutical industry. From his early days at Deallus, where he honed his expertise in competitive intelligence, to his impactful role at Kite Pharma, Gilles shares his journey, insights, and advice for aspiring professionals. D...

In this episode of It's Bigger Than Biotech, Hriday and Vishnu chat with Dr. Hovik, Director of USC's Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and AbbVie, Dr. Hovik shares his journey from leading drug discovery and development in big pharma to shaping the next generation of biotech innovators in academia....