Covid Vaccine Pioneer, Bob Langer: Turning Science Into Billion Dollar Ideas

Today on the podcast, we are joined by Robert Langer, scientist, inventor and entrepreneur - and one of the most cited researchers in history, often called the “Edison of Medicine”. 

What makes Dr Langer special is that he is not only an academic but also an entrepreneur: turning frontier science into groundbreaking companies. Langer Lab's research has given rise to over 400 companies, and is also the co-founder of multiple companies, including Moderna, which discovered the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Langer is one of nine Institute Professors at MIT - the highest honour that can be awarded to a faculty member. Langer’s MIT research laboratory is the largest biomedical engineering lab in the world, with over $10 million in annual grants and over 100 researchers. He has written over 1,600 articles, which have been cited almost half a million times. Dr Langer has also received over 220 awards and served as Chairman of the FDA’s Science Board.

Dr Langer's work specialises in biotech fields of drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. He was the pioneer of delayed release medicine, and it was calculated his work had impacted an estimated two billion lives, helping those with cancer, burns, heart disease, spinal injuries and more - even before the Moderna Covid19 vaccine was developed.

In this episode we talk about what scientific founders should watch out for, why getting patents are so critical, why you should follow your passion, why he thinks science is better than ever in the US, why he's excited by brains built on chips, if Attention Deficit Disorder makes him a better founder, and why failure makes you better.

Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.

Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.

Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.