Lab Rats to Unicorns

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns: Rising Stars , we are joined by Dr. Gabe Kwong, a trailblazing biomedical engineer, innovator, and entrepreneur. Gabe is the director of the Laboratory for Synthetic Immunity at Georgia Tech and Emory University, where his groundbreaking research focuses on engineering immune cells as living drugs and developing cutting-edge diagnostics for early disease de...

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Casey McPherson, a musician, songwriter, and rare disease advocate whose life took an extraordinary turn when his daughter, Rose, was diagnosed with HNRNPH2, an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Best known for his work as the lead vocalist and songwriter for Alpha Rev and Flying Colors, Casey has spent much of his career cr...

This episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns features an inspiring conversation with Julia Vitarello, founder of Mila’s Miracle Foundation and a trailblazer in the field of individualized genetic therapies. Julia shares the story of her daughter Mila, who was diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic disease, Batten disease, at age six. Confronted with a system ill-equipped to handle ultra-rare conditions,...

In this episode, John Flavin sits down with Dr. Ivan Liachko , co-founder and CEO of Phase Genomics , a company at the forefront of genomics and microbiome research. Ivan shares his journey from a young immigrant fascinated by biology in Ukraine to a biotech leader based in Seattle . His academic path began with a keen interest in genetics, leading him to work at the University of Washington, wher...

In this insightful episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , Steve Lehmann sits down with Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Qin shares his groundbreaking work in biomedical engineering, focusing on the development of nanomaterials to advance diagnostics and therapeutic delivery. From innovations in nanoparticle technology to ex...

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Raghu Kalluri, a leading figure in cancer biology, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. With over 300 publications, multiple successful biotech ventures, and groundbreaking work in exosome research, Dr. Kalluri discusses the intricate relationship between science, medicine, and industry, his career path from r...

Join us on Lab Rats to Unicorns as we dive into the career of Michael Torres, CEO of Crossbridge Bio. With a Ph. D. in cancer biology and a background in equity research, Michael has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge oncology treatments. In this episode, he discusses the evolution of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the process of building biotech companies in the Texas innovatio...

Join us on Lab Rats to Unicorns as we dive into the inspiring journey of Dr. Jochen Reiser, President of UTMB and CEO of UTMB Health System. A nephrologist, healthcare executive, and biotech entrepreneur, Jochen shares insights from his transition into the U.S. medical landscape, his pioneering research in kidney disease, and the founding of Walden Biosciences. This episode explores the exciting i...

Join Steve Lehmann & Jeremy Langsam from Portal's Stargaze team on a bimonthly segment of Lab Rats to Unicorns: Rising Stars. In this episode, they explore the groundbreaking work of Zachi Attia, the Director of Artificial Intelligence at Mayo Clinic. With a rich background in electrical engineering and a Ph. D. in Bioinformatics, Zachi discusses his pivotal role in advancing AI models that pr...

In this captivating episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , we journey into the universe of biotechnology with Steve Lehmann , Director of Venture Operations, and Jeremy Langsam , Venture Analyst at Portal Innovations. In this episode, Steve and Jeremy share their insights into the relay race of innovation—from the "aha" moments in the lab to creating groundbreaking companies with global impact. They de...

In this episode, Dr. Walter E. Massey shares insights from his illustrious career in science and academia, detailing his journey, evolving focus, and key advancements in physics that have shaped his work. He discusses significant leadership decision points, his approach to decision-making, and offers guidance on preparing for impactful choices. Reflecting on his tenure at the National Science Foun...

Episode 54 of LRTU wants us to know about Tony Martignetti, the founder and chief inspiration officer at Inspired Purpose! With over 25 years of experience in the life sciences and tech sectors, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on leadership. He shares his journey from being a pre-med major to holding pivotal roles in biopharma companies like Genzyme and Sarepta, before t...

Join us on episode 53 of Lab Rats to Unicorns as we sit down with Solomon Wilcots, a former NFL player who has transitioned into a health advocate. Solomon invites us on his remarkable journey from the competitive arenas of professional sports into the insightful world of broadcast television, and further into the impactful realm of health communications. He discusses the vital roles of teamwork a...

In this episode of "Lab Rats to Unicorns," recorded at TMC's Helix Park in Houston during a Portal Pours event, we're joined by a distinguished panel led by featured host Ritu Shah , a seasoned expert in the biopharma industry and Managing Director at Portal Innovations. The conversation features:  Sarah Hein , the visionary founding CEO of March Biosciences, a trailblazer in clinical-stage c...

In this live taping of Lab Rats to Unicorns, John Flavin and Jeff Karp discuss the challenges and triumphs of bringing lab research to market, the evolving landscape of biotech startups, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving scientific breakthroughs. Dr. Jeff Karp is a renowned figure in the biotechnology sector, known for his groundbreaking work and innovative approache...

In this episode of "Lab Rats to Unicorns," we're thrilled to spotlight Ritu Shah, the Managing Director at Portal Innovations, whose distinguished career in the biopharma industry spans over two decades. Ritu's unparalleled expertise shines in her role, where she's instrumental in driving growth and enhancing the value of portfolio companies. Specializing in steering early-stage companies tow...

In this episode, we venture into the intricate world of life science innovation spaces with James Lewis and Mason Ailstock. From the nuances of creating standout spaces that cater to diverse innovator types to the importance of location in driving differentiation, we dissect what truly makes an innovation hub thrive. As we spotlight their landmark projects, James and Mason share insights into pivo...

We're thrilled to welcome Kenneth T. Christensen, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology to this episode of LRTU! With a career spanning decades at the forefront of engineering and academia, Christensen brings a wealth of knowledge and insight. In this episode, we'll explore the intersection of academia and industry, the evolving landscape of eng...

Erika Jefferson stands at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and advocacy in the STEM world. She is the President and Founder of Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE), an initiative born out of the need to bridge the leadership gap for Black women in STEM fields. Erika's academic foundation, with a BS in Chemical Engineering from LSU and an MBA from Georgia Tech, set the stage fo...

On this episode of "Lab Rats to Unicorns," we sit down with Julie Gilmore, Ph. D., Lilly’s vanguard in bridging the worlds of big pharma, startups, and academia. With over two decades at Lilly, Julie unpacks the role big pharma plays in scientific innovation and the multifaceted career paths and opportunities within it. We'll delve into her experiences in portfolio management, explore the nuances...

This episode features a conversation in front of a live audience in Atlanta with Dr. James Lillard. Dr. Lillard is a Distinguished Fellow of AAI and Fellow of NAI and AAAS that uses both in silico and in vivo methods to develop biologics or molecular tests to better treat or diagnose, respectively, chronic diseases. His research involves dissecting the molecular mechanisms of cancer and inflammato...

Dr. Todd Sherer has dedicated over three decades to the advancement of academic technology transfer, ensuring research, especially federally-funded, translates into life-saving applications for the public. As the helm of Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer since 2003, he transformed the department into a global leader in the field. Instrumentally, he innovatively introduced product pipelines to...

e.043!! Learn about & from: Lesley Millar-Nicholson! Ms. Millar-Nicholson is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and was part of the founding leadership team of the recently formed MIT Office of Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer (OSATT). As TLO Executive Director, she leads a team managing MIT’s intellectual asse...

Ryan Meyers is a skilled biotech executive with significant experience in management consulting, venture capital and company creation. He is the co-founder of both AddGraft Therapeutics – a novel skin based cell therapy platform – as well as Alnair Therapeutics - which aims to develop a platform technology that improves the delivery of drugs to difficult-to-treat cancers. Ryan has his MBA from the...

e.041 is another live audience recording! Taped in partnership with Marcus Whitney and his awesome podcast Health: Further, this one takes a unique form. Jump into a wide conversation from the macroeconomic environment entrepreneurs are facing currently to broadening the health equity conversation. The conversation explores the perspectives of Kedar Mate (Institute for Healthcare Improvement), Kam...