Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us a textNikita Michelsen, is Founder & CEO of Pearlita Foods (https://www.pearlitafoods.com/), the world's first cell-based mollusk company, which is developing sustainably & ethically grown products, like oysters and abalone, that are contaminant free without compromising flavor or nutrition. Most recently Nikita served as both Director of Community and Director of Marketing of SynBioBeta and their Built With Biology premier innovation network for biological engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors who share a passion for using biology to build a better, more sustainable planet. Nikita has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from UC Santa Barbara, and a Master of Science in Information Science from Aalborg University.Support the show

Send us a text Dr. Dana K. Merriman Ph.D. (http://www.uwosh.edu/facstaff/merriman/VaughanHome), is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Biology, and Director of the Squirrel Colony, at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin. With her BA in Biological Science and her PhD in Physiology and Cell Biology, both from University of California-Santa Barbara, as well as having spent time as a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Utah Health Sciences Center, a core focus of Dr. Merriman’s laboratory research over the years has been the development of a captive breeding colony of the 13-lined ground squirrels. This unique, one-of-a-kind captive breeding program, due to this species very unique cone-dominant, diurnal visual system, as well as their impressive physiological ability to survive in hibernation for over six months without food or water, has served investigators with animals and custom-dissected tissues from the US, Asia, and Europe for decades, as well as been core to Dr Merriman’s own work on vision, including cone cell biology and retinal function during the metabolic state transitions associated with hibernation. Over the years, Dr. Merriman expanded her research horizon well outside of vision, into neuroscience, and in recent years she has collaborated on studies of muscle physiology, viral genomics, molecular biology of transposable elements, and comparative genetics of the control of coat patterning. Dr. Merriman’s lab research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the University of Wisconsin System Comprehensive Campuses tech transfer organization, WiSys. Support the show

Send us a textMr. Eric Fournier is the Director General Innovation for the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program (https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/ideas-2019-2020-annual-report/introduction.html), which over the past year, has been able to invest more than $100M in organizations across Canada (now over 270 and counting) that are using their innovative thinking and solutions in support of the women and men that are part of Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). IDEaS aims to be Canada’s science, technology, and innovation leader, trusted advisor, collaborative partner, and knowledge integrator for defence and security. Mr. Fournier began his career with Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) as a Defence Scientist in the Flight Mechanics Group of the Precision Weapons Section at the Valcartier laboratory in August 1992. He spent most of his scientific career in that establishment, where he held a number of positions in the Weapons field of study. He also spent one year at the United Kingdom DERA Fort Halstead laboratory as an exchange scientist in the late ninety’s. In May 2006, Mr. Fournier was appointed Director, Science & Technology Air, in Ottawa, where he managed the Air Force S&T Program portfolio. As part of his duties, he also served as National Representative on the Aerospace Systems group (AER) in The Technical Cooperation Program. From September 2008 to July 2009, he moved to the Canadian Forces College in Toronto where he completed the National Security Program 1 (NSP-1). Upon his return to Ottawa, Mr. Fournier was appointed Director of Defence Research and Development Canada’s Centre for Operational Research and Analysis (CORA), and was responsible for the delivery of a Science and Technology program in the areas of operational research, strategic analysis, and scientific and technical intelligence. In 2014, Mr. Fournier took up the position of Defence R&D Counsellor at CDLS (London) where he was responsible for liaison in defence Science and Technology between Canada and the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Upon returning to Canada in July 2017, he was appointed DG for Strategic Decision Support, and also selected to develop and lead the implementation of the IDEaS initiative.Support the show

Send us a textSenator Joe Lieberman, is senior counsel at the law firm of Kasowitz Benson Torres (https://www.kasowitz.com/people/joseph-i-lieberman) where he currently advises clients on a wide range of issues, including homeland and national security, defense, health, energy, environmental policy, intellectual property matters, as well as international expansion initiatives and business plans. Prior to joining Kasowitz, Senator Lieberman, the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee in 2000, served 24 years in the United States Senate where he helped shape legislation in virtually every major area of public policy, including national and homeland security, foreign policy, fiscal policy, environmental protection, human rights, health care, trade, energy, cyber security and taxes, as well as serving in many leadership roles including as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Senator Lieberman served as the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut for six years. He also served 10 years in the Connecticut State Senate, including three terms as majority leader. In addition to practicing law, Senator Lieberman is honorary national founding chair of No Labels (https://www.nolabels.org/), an American political organization composed of Republicans, Democrats and Independents whose mission is to “usher in a new era of focused problem solving in American politics.” Since 2014, Senator Lieberman, and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, have Co-Chaired the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense (https://biodefensecommission.org/), which has provided recommendations to improve the United States' efforts in the biodefense arena, particularly as it relates to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness. Senator Lieberman is also on the Board of Trustees for The McCain Institute for International Leadership, the Board of Trustees for the Institute for the Study of War, and the Board of Directors of the Center for a New American Security. Senator Lieberman is also an accomplished author with his most recent book, The Centrist Solution: How We Made Government Work and Can Make It Work Again (https://www.amazon.com/Centrist-Solution-Made-Government-Again/dp/1635769043), recently released in Oct 2021.Support the show

Send us a textDr. Chris Zaino (https://www.drzaino.com/) is a world-renowned speaker, author, entrepreneur, Former Mr America, Mr. Universe and IFBB Pro bodybuilder. After defying a deadly terminal disease in his late 20's, and studying Exercise Physiology & Wellness at University of Central Florida, Dr. Zaino leveraged his experience to get his doctorate and developing one of the largest wellness clinics in the world (Abundant Life Chiropractic - http://www.abundantlifechiro.com/drzaino), seeing thousands of patients weekly. He has also served as an official doctor of the World USA Olympic Judo, Wrestling, and Weightlifting Teams, as well as other sports teams. Dr. Zaino created the “I Am Hero Project”, to resurrect Heroes from the complacency of their secret identities, so they may live heroic lives once again, by expressing and experiencing true love, now, and in every area of their lives, through his 4 Step methodology “Hero Rises”. Recently, Dr. Zaino has become a top thought leader internationally in the area of applications of Regenerative Medicine, with a focus on enhancing Male Vitality (https://www.regeneragemedical.com/).Support the show

Send us a textDr. Tristin Brisbois, Ph.D., (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristin-brisbois-6b352b56/) is Director, Advanced Personalization Ideation Center, Life Sciences, Global R&D, at PepsiCo (https://www.gssiweb.org/en/about/pepsico-life-sciences), where she is involved in delivering actionable personalized nutrition solutions to promote the health and wellness of their consumers (https://pepsicohealthandnutritionsciences.com/). She also recently held the role of Director, Platform & Academic Partnerships, where she was involved in translating strategic intent and science-based analyses into actionable work plans and optimal project portfolio to meet PepsiCo’s short and long-term needs. This included developing internal capabilities, such as personalized nutrition, as well as identifying and forming key partnerships with leading academic institutions and external vendors. Dr. Brisbois previously served as a Senior Principal Scientist for Global R&D Nutrition Sciences, where she was involved in advancing the translation of nutrition science in key areas, directing and guiding regional product innovation and brand communications for PepsiCo North American beverages. She also provided expert input and support on external stakeholder issues and oversaw PepsiCo North American nutrition communication outreach program and strategy. Prior to working for PepsiCo, Dr. Brisbois was the Manager of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs at the Canadian Sugar Institute, where she led the Institute's nutrition communications program. Dr. Brisbois completed her PhD and BSc (in Nutrition and Food Science) at the University Alberta. Her PhD investigated food intake behavior in cancer with a focus on appetite stimulation and improvement of taste and smell perception using marijuana therapy. She studied appetite and reward related pathways in healthy and disease populations, and explored mechanisms which may cause a surfeit (obesity) or deficit (cancer) of calories. Dr. Brisbois also has a Masters of Business and Science (MBS), in Global Food Technology and Innovation, from Rutgers University.Support the show

Send us a textDr. Thomas V. Johnson III, M.D., Ph.D. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/thomas-johnson) is a glaucoma specialist and the Allan and Shelley Holt Rising Professor in Ophthalmology at Wilmer Eye Institute, at Johns Hopkins University. He is also a member of the Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) Repopulation, Stem cell Transplantation, and Optic nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) consortium (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/research/storm/rrestore/index.html), an initiative focused on advancing translational development of vision restoration therapies for glaucoma and other primary optic neuropathies by assembling an international group of more than 100 leading and emerging investigators from related fields. Dr. Johnson received his BA (summa cum laude) in Biological Sciences from Northwestern University in 2005. As a Gates-Cambridge Scholar and an NIH-OxCam Scholar, he earned his PhD in Clinical Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge (UK) in 2010. He completed his medical training (AOA) at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2014 and served as an intern on the Johns Hopkins Osler Medical Service prior to completing his ophthalmology residency and glaucoma fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute. Dr. Johnson’s research interests are focused on understanding the pathophysiology of retinal and optic nerve neurodegenerative disorders, and on the development of neuroprotective and neuroregenerative therapies for these conditions. His doctoral thesis work evaluated intraocular stem and progenitor cell transplantation as a possible neuroprotective therapy for glaucoma. His research contributions have been recognized with a World Glaucoma Association Award nomination, the National Eye Institute’s Scientific Director’s Award, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s Merck Innovative Ophthalmology Research Award. He also founded and served as director of the Student Sight Savers Program, a program that provides vision screening services to low-income residents of Baltimore, and helps them obtain access to clinical ophthalmological care. Presently, Dr. Johnson is interested in the neurobiological processes that lead to retinal ganglion cell death and dysfunction in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. In particular, he seeks to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal degeneration, dendrite retraction and afferent synapse loss, and cell body death in glaucoma. His goal is to utilize knowledge of these processes to develop targeted neuroprotective strategies to slow or halt RGC death and preserve vision for patients with glaucoma. He is also leading new investigations into the use of stem cell transplantation to achieve retinal ganglion cell placement, as a potential regenerative treatment for optic nerve disease, with a focus on anatomic incorporation of cell grafts, neurite growth and synapse formation, and electrophysiological retinal circuit integration.Support the show

Send us a textProf. Dr. Christine Stabell Benn, MD, PhD, DMSc, (https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/cbenn), is a physician, a professor of global health at the University of Southern Denmark, and a vaccine researcher with almost thirty years of experience in the field, where the focus of her research is "non-specific vaccine effects", defined as all those other effects, both positive and negative, that vaccines have on our immune systems and overall health, beyond their very specific ability to protect against a specific infectious disease. Prof. Dr. Stabell Benn has her medical degree, PhD, and Doctor of Medical Science from University of Copenhagen and has been responsible for planning, executing and publishing epidemiological and immunological studies of health interventions internationally, as well as supervising a number of pre- and postgraduate/PhD students. Prof. Dr. Stabell Benn started working as a medical student in 1993 at the Bandim Health Project (https://www.bandim.org/), a population based health research project in one of the world's poorest countries, Guinea-Bissau, developing a health and demographic surveillance system of over 100,000 people. She spent postdoc time at the Danish National Hospital, Department for Infectious Diseases and at Stanford University. In 2012, Dr. Benn was selected by the Danish National Research Foundation to establish and lead a Center of Excellence, the “Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines” (CVIVA - www.cviva.dk).Support the show

Send us a textDr. Jessica Whited, Ph.D. (https://hscrb.harvard.edu/labs/whited-lab/) is an Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University where her lab focuses on limb regeneration in axolotl salamanders and where they develop tools to manipulate gene expression during limb regeneration, and explore signaling events following wound healing that initiate the regenerative process. Dr. Whited earned a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri, and obtained her Ph.D. in Biology from MIT, where she studied in Dr. Paul Garrity’s laboratory. Dr. Whited's thesis focused on molecular mechanisms controlling the development and maintenance of cellular architectures in the Drosophila nervous system. During this work, Dr. Whited became interested in processes that may be required long after initial developmental events to ensure cells do not revert to immature behaviors, as well as processes that provoke such events in response to injury. She worked in the laboratory of Dr. Cliff Tabin (Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics) as a postdoc studying total limb regeneration in axolotl salamanders. During this time, Whited developed several molecular tools that can be used to interrogate regenerating axolotl limbs, which is one of the core focuses of her lab today. Dr. Whited is also Co-Founder of Matice Biosciences, a company leveraging regenerative biology for the next generation of skincare and consumer scar products.Support the show

Send us a textAndrea De Souza, is Associate Vice President, Research Data Sciences and Engineering, at Eli Lilly & Company (https://www.lilly.com/) where over the past three years her work has focused around empowering the Lilly Research Laboratories (LRL) organization with greater computational, analytics-intense experimentation to raise the innovation of their scientists. A former neuroscience researcher, Andrea’s portfolio career has included leadership assignments at the intersection of science, technology and business development. She has built and led informatics and scientific teams across the entire pharmaceutical value chain. Most recently, Andrea focused on building the Pharma Artificial Intelligence market at NVIDIA. Through this experience she has traveled the world advising bio-pharmaceutical clients, academics, research institutes, and startups in the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence across every discipline of the industry. Prior to her role at NVIDIA, Andrea held leadership positions at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Amgen, and Roche. In her current role as Associate Vice President at Lilly, Andrea leads four organizations: the High-Performance Computing Team, the Data Engineering team, the AI/ML team and the Translational Informatics team for LRL. Additionally, Andrea serves as a strategic advisor for the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) for The Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HubMap) Advisory Team. Andrea has a B.S. in Animal Physiology from UC Davis, a Master’s in Health Administration from University of San Francisco, and an MBA from MIT Sloan. Through her broad research efforts, Andrea has publications in journals as diverse as the Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, Bio-organic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and Neuropharmacology. Her leadership has gained her international recognition as a leader in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Data Sciences.Support the show