Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us a textKenneth Russell DeGraff ( https://www.russelldegraff.com/ ) is a Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School ( https://shorensteincenter.org/person/k-russell-degraff/ ), where he focuses on the challenges American voters face in understanding how legislation in Congress affects them, and how they can engage with or benefit from these laws. He is also a Visiting Scholar Vanderbilt University Law School.Kenneth spent nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, culminating in 12 years as the chief climate and technology advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Kenneth played several key roles in helping Congress architect, enact, explain and enforce significant legislation as well as helping form coalitions and lead negotiations to enact policies and laws spanning administrations from different parties, reflecting his skill in bipartisan collaboration. Kenneth’s work included pivotal contributions to President Biden’s “Investing in America” jobs strategy, featuring landmark laws like the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS & Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.Before his advisory role to Speaker Pelosi, Kenneth served as the Legislative Director and Assistant to Congressman Mike Doyle, focusing on sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer protection. Prior to working on the Hill, Kenneth was a Policy Analyst at Consumer Union and was a Truman Scholar from Butler University where he received a B.A., Communications and Political Science.Important Episode Link - Truth in the Machine -https://www.truthinthemachine.com/#KennethRussellDeGraff #CapitolHill #HouseSpeakerNancyPelosi #Congress #Legislation #Policies #Laws #Bipartisan #Moonshots #ClimateChange #InvestingInAmerica #InflationReductionAct #CHIPSAndScienceAct #InfrastructureInvestmentAndJobsAct #CongressmanMikeDoyle #ConsumerUnion #RecursiveSelfImprovement #ArtificialIntelligence #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Douglas G. Adler, MD, F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F., F.A.S.G.E. ( https://douglasgadler.com/ ) is Director of the Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, AdventHealth Porter in Denver, Colorado ( https://www.adventhealth.com/find-doctor/doctor/douglas-adler-md-1891748687 ). Dr. Adler is also the Editor-in-Chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ( https://www.giejournal.org/ ). Prior to moving to Colorado, Dr. Adler was a tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Adler was also the GI Fellowship Program Director at the University of Utah School of Medicine for seven years. Dr. Adler focuses his clinical, educational, and research efforts on the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and complex gastrointestinal disease, with an emphasis on therapeutic endoscopy. Dr. Adler is an internationally recognized expert on all facets of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), gastrointestinal stenting, Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (GPOEM), and other topics. He is the author of more than 600 scientific publications, articles, and book chapters and he has published 9 gastroenterology textbooks, including the first textbook on Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound. Dr. Adler has also published more than 70 articles on history, aviation, aerospace, and astronomy.Dr. Adler received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York, NY. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Adler completed both a general gastrointestinal fellowship and a therapeutic endoscopy/ERCP fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He then returned to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for a fellowship in endoscopic ultrasound.#DouglasAdler #TherapeuticEndoscopy #AdventHealthPorter #GastrointestinalEndoscopy #EndoscopicRetrogradeCholangiopancreatography #EndoscopicUltrasound #GastrointestinalStenting #GastricPeroralEndoscopicMyotomy #Transluminal #Lumen #Choledochoduodenostomy #MinimallyInvasive #GlucagonLikePeptide1Agonists #FecalMicrobiotaTransplantation #Colonoscopy #AdvancedPancreaticobiliaryEndoscopy #NeilArmstrong #BuzzAldrin #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Michael McCullar, PhD is Chief Executive Officer  of RegCell ( https://regcellbio.com/ ), a biotechnology company has developed a best-in-class proprietary platform that allows the generation of epigenetically reprogrammed antigen-specific regulatory T-cells (Tregs) that are stable in vivo and maintain a high degree of functionality (S/F-Epigen-Tregs) to restore immune tolerance and ultimately reverse autoimmune disorders as well as the limitations with transplantation.Dr. McCullar has a wealth of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, spanning more than two decades. Throughout his career, he has been involved in various aspects of drug development and played pivotal roles in the success of several pharmaceutical companies. Dr. McCullar formerly served as the CEO of OnQuality Pharmaceuticals, where he provided executive leadership to this targeted oncology supportive therapy company focused on developing pioneering medications tailored to address the intricacies of cancer treatment-related toxicities. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer at Tolero Pharmaceuticals, where he had a prominent role in the company’s acquisition by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma and also served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Astex Pharmaceuticals, during it’s acquisition by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Dr. McCullar has held several high-level executive positions at SuperGen, showcasing his commitment and upward career path within the company. His journey at SuperGen culminated in the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations, where his expertise paved the way for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Dacogen as a treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes, and the acquisition of Astex Therapeutics, which resulted in the formation of Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Dr. McCullar holds a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of California, Riverside and an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.#MichaelMcCullar #RegCell #RegulatoryTCells #Tregs #AutoimmuneDisorders #Transplantation #ShimonSakaguchi #ImmuneSystem #SelfAntigens #Tolerance #AntiInflammatoryCytokines #AntigenPresentingCells #Thymus #BoneMarrow #Anergy #AntigenSpecificTregs #AntigenTargeting #Homing #EpigeneticEditing #Reprogramming #AutologousManufacturing #Japan #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Brian A. Grierson, Ph.D. is a leading physicist and engineer in magnetic fusion energy and is currently Director of Fusion Energy Technologies at General Atomics ( https://www.ga.com/ ) in San Diego. In this role, he leads the technical vision, design strategy, and integration of plasma physics, engineering, diagnostics, and tritium fuel‐cycle technologies for fusion pilot‐plants aimed at moving fusion from experimental facilities toward viable commercial power ( https://www.ga.com/magnetic-fusion/ ).Dr. Grierson’s career bridges academic research and applied development. He earned his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2004, majoring in Applied Mathematics, Engineering & Physics, with emphases in nuclear engineering and plasma physics. He then pursued graduate studies at Columbia University, where he obtained his M.S. (2005), M.Phil. (2008), and Ph.D. in Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics in 2009, defending a dissertation titled “Interchange Turbulence in a Dipole‐Confined Plasma.” After his Ph.D., Dr. Grierson joined the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ( PPPL - https://www.pppl.gov/ ), working on experimental diagnostics and plasma behavior at the DIII‐D National Fusion Facility ( operated by GA - https://d3dfusion.org/ ) and other tokamak projects. Over several years Dr. Grierson held roles including Associate Research Physicist, Staff Physicist, and Research Physicist within PPPL’s ITER & Tokamaks Department, and led groups focused on the plasma edge (“pedestal”), ion transport, and diagnostics development. In 2014, Dr. Grierson was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Research Program grant to advance diagnostics of main‐ion behavior at the edge of fusion plasmas — work critical for understanding confinement, stability, and performance of devices like ITER and future tokamaks. In recognition of his research contributions, Dr. Grierson received the Kaul Foundation Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research and Technology Development in 2017. In 2021, he joined General Atomics to direct the Fusion Pilot Plant Design Hub and served as Director of the Fusion Pilot Plant Design Hub for 4 years. Under his leadership, GA has put forth a concept for a compact advanced steady‐state tokamak Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) that draws on innovations in plasma physics, simulation tools like the proprietary FUSE (Fusion Synthesis Engine), modular breeding blanket design, materials engineering, control, diagnostics, and systems integration ( https://www.ga.com/magnetic-fusion/promise-of-fusion ). Dr. Grierson has also played a major role in partnerships such as GA’s collaboration with Savannah River National Laboratory ( https://www.srnl.gov/ ) to address tritium fuel handling — a critical component of making fusion power practical. General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, that specializes in research and technology development. This includes physics research in support of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy. The company also provides research and manufacturing services for remotely operated surveillance aircraft, including its MQ-1 Predator drones, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless, and laser technologies.#BrianGrierson #GeneralAtomics #FusionEnergy #Nuclear #ITER #Thermonuclear #Tokamak #ExperimentalPhysics #Energy #PlasmaPhysics #NuclearFusion #Tritium #Deuterium #CollisionlessTerrellaExperiment #InertialConfinementFusion #NationalIgnitionFacility #MagneticConfinementFusion #SustainedPlasmaBurns #FuelCycle #ElectricityGeneration #BurningPlasma #TritiumBreeding #BreedingBlankets #EdgePlasma #ProgressPotSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Aliza Apple, Ph.D. is a Vice President of Catalyze360 AI ( https://www.lilly.com/science/partners/catalyze-360 ) and Global Head of Lilly TuneLab ( https://tunelab.lilly.com/ ) at Eli Lilly where she leads the strategy, build and launch of Lilly’s external-facing AI/ML efforts for drug discovery.Lilly Catalyze360 represents a comprehensive approach to enabling the early-stage biotech ecosystem, agnostic of the therapeutic area, designed to accelerate emerging and promising science, strategically removing barriers to support biotech innovation.In her previous role at Lilly, Dr. Apple served as the COO and head of Lilly Gateway Labs West Coast, where she supported the local biotech ecosystem through early engagement and providing tailored offerings to meet their needs. Prior to Lilly,  Dr. Apple served as a co-founder at Santa Ana Bio, a venture-backed precision biologics company focused on autoimmune disease, and as an advisor to the founders of Firefly Biologics. Prior to biotech, Dr. Apple was a partner in McKinsey & Co’s life sciences practice. During her nine years at McKinsey in New York and San Francisco, she collaborated with leaders from over 20 biopharma companies to develop their corporate and portfolio strategies, evaluate business development opportunities and improve their organizational effectiveness. Dr. Apple completed her Ph.D. in bioengineering at UC Berkeley and UCSF, and holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Georgetown University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell Medical College supported by the NIH Kirschtein National Research Service Award.#AlizaApple #Catalyze360 #TuneLab #EliLilly #LillyGatewayLabs #DrugDiscoveryModels #SmallMolecules #AntibodyTherapeutics #InSilicoPropertyPredictions #AI #ML #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #LillyVentures #InnovationHubs #Preclinical #DiscoveryChemistry #StructuralBiology #Toxicology #Immunogenicity #DrugMetabolism #Pharmacokinetics #Pharmacodynamics #ClinicalOperations #SmallMoleculeDrugDevelopment #LargeMoleculeDiscoveryProcess #CorporateVentureCapital #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Leonard Petrucelli, PhD ( https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/petrucelli-leonard-ph-d/bio-00027816 ), is a leading translational neuroscientist and Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic — Jacksonville, where he leads the Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory ( https://www.mayo.edu/research/labs/neurodegenerative-diseases/overview ). Dr. Petrucelli’s lab seeks to understand and prevent neuronal degeneration and death in diseases characterized by abnormal protein aggregation and defects in RNA metabolism. His team uses a combination of cell biology, induced pluripotent stem cell technology, transcriptomics and mouse modeling to gain insight into disease mechanisms. They then leverage their findings to develop new therapeutic strategies and clinical tools tailored for these complicated disorders. Their current work focuses on a range of conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Dr. Petrucelli trained in molecular and cellular biochemistry (Ph.D., Loyola University & Stritch School of Medicine) after earning a B.S. in Biology from Barry University, and he joined Mayo Clinic as a research fellow before rising to professor and department chair. His group combines human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and animal models to connect disease-linked genes and protein misprocessing to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Scientifically, Dr. Petrucelli is best known for mechanistic work on aggregation-prone proteins and pathways that underlie neurodegeneration — including seminal contributions on TDP-43 biology, progranulin (GRN) dysfunction, and pathogenic mechanisms associated with C9orf72 repeat expansions — and for translating those findings toward biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. His lab’s work appears in high-impact journals and has helped define key pathogenic cascades now pursued by academic and industry drug-development programs. Beyond his laboratory, Dr. Petrucelli serves in prominent advisory and leadership roles across the field: he is a voice on state and national Alzheimer’s advisory efforts, has advised disease-focused nonprofits and consortia (including Target ALS and others), and participates on scientific advisory boards for translational ventures. He is also an R35 (Research Program Award) recipient and an investigator with an extensive record of NIH-supported projects investigating mechanisms and potential interventions for FTD/ALS and related dementias. #LeonardPetrucelli #Neuroscience #Neurodegenerative #MayoClinic #Proteinopathies #Tauopathies #AlzheimersDisease #ParkinsonsDisease #AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis #HuntingtonsDisease #PrionDiseases #CreutzfeldtJakobDisease #ProgressiveSupranuclearPalsy #CorticobasalDegeneration #FrontotemporalDementia #ChronicTraumaticEncephalopathy #RichardRainwater #BruceWillis #TauopathyChallenge #RainwaterFoundation #AgingMindFoundation #AlzheimersAssociation #CurePSP #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Robert Allen, PhD is Chief Scientific Officer of Invivyd ( https://www.invivyd.com/ ), a biopharmaceutical company devoted to delivering protection from serious viral infectious diseases, beginning with SARS-CoV-2, by deploying a proprietary integrated technology platform, to create best in class monoclonal antibodies.Dr. Allen brings over 30 years of experience across the infectious disease space, most recently as the Chief Scientific Officer of SmartPharm Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Sorrento Therapeutics. During that time, he led efforts to develop gene-encoded monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 that could be quickly adapted to respond to emerging variants of concern. He also served concurrently as Senior Vice President, Antiviral and Oncolytic Immunotherapy Development, at Sorrento Therapeutics. Prior to his time at SmartPharm Therapeutics, Dr. Allen held multiple senior scientific roles across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including at Sorrento Therapeutics, SIGA Technologies, and the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute. Dr. Allen holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Columbia University, an M.S. in Applied Biology from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Biology from Rhodes College. He has published extensively in the field of virology and completed his postdoctoral training in virology at Washington University in St. Louis and Emory University.#RobertAllen #Invivyd #Biopharmaceuticals #InfectiousDiseases #SARSCoV2 #MonoclonalAntibodies #Immunocompromised #RareViralEpitopes #Pemivibart #PreExposureProphylaxis #Covid19 #EmergencyUseAuthorization #EUA #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Mark Lloyd Davies, Ph.D. is the Global Head for the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Group at Johnson & Johnson ( https://www.jnj.com/ ) where he leads a global team that forges novel strategic public-private partnerships to secure collaborations that accelerate groundbreaking R&D, advances strategies that widen access to care for patients and health systems worldwide, and ultimately unlocks possibilities that transform lives.Dr. Davies has built a distinguished career at the intersection of science, policy, and global health strategy.Before taking on his current global role, Dr. Davies held a number of senior leadership positions within Johnson & Johnson, where he was instrumental in shaping external engagement strategies and guiding policy development in areas ranging from pharmaceutical innovation to public health preparedness, leading strategic initiatives such as the Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Initiative.Dr. Davies was previously Chair of the Med Tech Europe Research & Innovation Committee, where he worked on the evolution of the EU funded Innovative Medicines Initiative, as well as at Sanofi, involved in various External Affairs initiatives.Dr. Davies holds a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in Climate Change, Physical Geography and Geology, and a BSc, Biology and Geography, Earth Sciences, Climate Change, from the University of London, UK.#MarkLloydDavies #StrategicPartnershipsAndResourceGroup #JohnsonAndJohnson #PublicPrivatePartnerships #MedTechEurope #InnovativeMedicinesInitiative #InnovativeHealthInitiative #OperationWarpSpeed #LungCancerInitiative #GlobalNeurodegenerationProteomicsConsortium #Antarctica #ClimateChange #PhysicalGeography #Geology #CARBX #DrugsForNeglectedDiseasesInitiative #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textWade Demmer is Vice President of Research & Development at Medtronic where he is responsible for the development of new generations of pacemakers ( https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/l/patients/treatments-therapies/pacemakers.html ). With extensive expertise in medical technology and innovation, he leads the company's R&D efforts to develop cutting-edge healthcare solutions and is dedicated to advancing medical advancements that improve patient outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.Wade began his career at Intel, where he gained valuable experience in technology development and engineering. Building on his technical expertise, he transitioned into the medical device industry, bringing a strong innovation-driven mindset to healthcare solutions.Wade is best known for his pioneering work on pacemakers, where he contributed to the design and development of advanced cardiac pacing technologies. His innovative approaches have helped improve the reliability, longevity, and patient comfort of pacemaker devices, significantly impacting the field of cardiac care.Wade received his Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), with a focus on Computer Engineering, from Iowa State University, and his MBA from University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.#WadeDemmer #Medtronic #Pacemaker #MedicalDevice #Defibrillator #Bradycardia #CardiacResynchronization #RateAdaptivePacing #Micra #HeartRhythm #HeartFailure #Arrhythmias #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #Research #Podcast #PodcasterSupport the show

Send us a textProfessor Eyal Zimlichman, MD is an internal medicine physician, a health care executive and a researcher focused on assessing and improving health care quality and value, patient engagement and patient safety.Professor Zimlichman is currently Chief Transformation, Innovation and AI Officer at Sheba Medical Center ( https://www.shebaonline.org/ ), the largest hospital system in Israel and one that is routinely listed among the top 10 on Newsweek’s list of best hospitals worldwide. Professor Zimlichman is also the Founder and Director of Sheba’s ARC ( Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate - https://arcinnovation.org/ ) innovation program: an open global innovation ecosystem which aims to redesign healthcare through digital health solutions by 2030, focused on connecting entrepreneurs and clinicians, identifying needs, and advancing the development and deployment of new technologies from within hospital settings. Prior to these roles Professor Zimlichman has held the position of Lead Researcher at Partners Health Care Clinical Affairs Department in Boston where he was involved in the efforts to bring about a strategic care redesign initiative. Professor Zimlichman has served on several advisory committees commissioned by the Office of the National Coordinator for health information technology at the US Department of Health and Human Services and is chairing and sitting on several committees at the Israeli Health Ministry.  Professor Zimlichman is also founding member of the International Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care ( https://isqua.org/networks/isqua-academy.html ).Professor Zimlichman is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health Executive Health Care Management Master of Science program and earned his MD, specializing in internal medicine, at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.#EyalZimlichman #InternalMedicine #HealthcareExecutive #ShebaMedicalCenter #Israel #OpenInnovation #DigitalHealth #MedicalQualityManagement #Telemedicine #DisruptiveInnovation #TelAviv #ShebaLongevityCenter #ArtificialIntelligence #VirtualReality #Telepsychiatry #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show