Nucleate Podcast

Armand Cognetta, CEO and founder of General Proximity, shares his transformative journey from a struggling student to a pioneering figure in biotech. He discusses the resilience required to navigate startup life and the unique challenges of fundraising, including imposter syndrome. Armand highlights the innovative concept of proximity in drug discovery and explores its potential to tackle previously undruggable diseases. His insights emphasize the importance of working on ambitious ideas and staying focused in the complex biotech landscape.

Hilary Schulz, Co-founder and CEO of Persephoni BioPartners, and Dr. William Heath, Chief Scientific Officer, share their journeys from healthcare to biotech entrepreneurship. They discuss how co-founder dynamics can overshadow technology in startup success. The duo reveals critical insights on IP strategies, patient-centered approaches, and the importance of resilience in entrepreneurship. With real-world advice for navigating the biotech landscape, they emphasize the value of collaboration and a strong team to overcome challenges and drive lasting innovation.

Dr. William Pao, CEO and co-founder of Revelio Therapeutics, shares his compelling journey from losing his father to colon cancer at 13 to spearheading breakthroughs in lung cancer research. He discusses the discovery of EGFR mutations and the fierce competition in publishing this pivotal finding. Dr. Pao highlights the serendipitous origins of Tylenol and delves into drug development challenges in the biotech world. He offers valuable insights on resilience for aspiring entrepreneurs and the future of medical innovation.

Peter Campbell, CSO of Quotient Therapeutics, discusses his journey from a traditional medical background in New Zealand to becoming a pioneer in cancer genomics. He shares insights from his time at the Sanger Institute, highlighting groundbreaking cancer sequencing projects and the evolution of genomic research. Campbell emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic mutations for personalized medicine, collaborations with Pfizer for innovative therapies, and how adaptive mutations impact cell regeneration. His passion for translating genomic insights into real-world applications is truly inspiring.

Raj Devraj, CEO of Rectify Pharmaceuticals and a seasoned venture partner, shares his insights on the ever-evolving biotech landscape. He reflects on his journey from India to pharmaceutical success, emphasizing the need for determination and aggressive advancement. The conversation dives into the challenges of securing funding in a risk-averse market and the importance of strategic team-building. Raj also discusses the pivot to hepatobiliary diseases, advocating for innovative, broad applications of biotechnology while stressing mentorship and solid planning for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this episode of the Nucleate Podcast, Aikium co-founder and CEO Eswar Iyer joins host Anastasia Janas to explore how drug discovery can move beyond structured targets to engage the disordered proteome. Aikium is developing SeqRs, programmable, sequence-specific binders that can selectively target intrinsically disordered regions of proteins, unlocking new therapeutic possibilities in cancer, neuroinflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Built using generative AI and screened with a proprietary trillion-scale mRNA display system, Aikium’s platform challenges the traditional assumptions of druggability and expands the therapeutic landscape into areas once considered inaccessible.Beyond the science, Eswar reflects on the emotional realities of building a company at the frontier of biology, sharing lessons on believing in an idea before the world is ready, navigating failure and doubt, and sustaining conviction when there is no established path forward. If you are interested in the future of therapeutics, the evolution of protein engineering, or the personal journey behind pioneering biotech startups, this conversation offers a rare and honest perspective.

In this episode, Anastasia Janas and Paula Lengerke Diaz sit down with Dr. Uli Stilz, Head of the Bio Innovation Hub (BIH) at Novo Nordisk, to explore how strategic partnerships and emerging technologies are redefining the future of drug discovery. Uli reflects on his journey from chemistry and molecular biology to biopharma leadership, and shares how the BIH is accelerating breakthroughs in cardiometabolic diseases using emerging modalities like RNA editing, AI-guided drug discovery, and partnership-first science.Whether you’re an aspiring innovator, translational researcher, or healthcare entrepreneur, this episode offers a candid masterclass in how bold ideas get translated into impact — especially in the space of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.Show Notes0:00 - 02:20: Uli’s early fascination with science (and a chemistry set mishap at home)02:20 - 05:15: Transitioning from chemistry to biology to biophysics — and why it mattered05:15 - 09:45: The value of speaking multiple “scientific languages”09:45 - 13:00: Why Uli left academia for pharma, and what drove that leap13:00 - 17:30: Founding the Bio Innovation Hub (BIH) at Novo Nordisk17:30 - 20:00: Three big questions BIH is trying to solve in cardiometabolic disease20:00 - 24:30: How programmable RNA editing is being applied to drug discovery24:30 - 28:00: Why BIH funds early science without contracts — the Greenhouse model28:00 - 33:00: How AI, human biology, and subtyping diabetes open new possibilities33:00 - 36:30: What makes small biotechs a “superpower” in R&D36:30 - 41:00: The role of trust, creativity, and iteration in building partnerships41:00 - 45:20: Advice for young scientists: embrace discomfort, follow curiosity45:20 - 49:30: What excites Uli most? The unknown. “I’m most excited about the things I don’t know today.”

Shelby Newsad, a Partner at Compound VC, is passionate about advancing technologies in bio and health. She shares her journey from a small-town background to a prominent role in biotech investing. The discussion dives into the crucial transition from academia to real-world applications, highlighting what makes a strong investment thesis. Shelby also explores the fascinating world of biohacking and emerging health technologies, emphasizing the balance between innovation and accessibility. Her insights promote an optimistic view of future advancements in science and healthcare.

Follow us here https://signal.nucleate.xyz/02:16 - Dave discusses his early career path and how he got into science 04:41 - Dave’s work on the Human Genome Project 13:38 - Founding Cofactor Genomics16:42 - Discussing Pioneer Fund and its investment approach 48:58 - Thoughts on AI in health and biology 58:27 - Advice for founders in the current challenging funding environment 1:09:04 - How Pioneer Fund makes investment decisions 1:14:16 - Most difficult advice for entrepreneurs 1:16:47 - Final advice for founders: "Just go do it"

Dr. Michelle Hoffmann, Executive Director at the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, shares her transition from a molecular neuroscience PhD to biotech consulting. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration in bridging science and business. Dr. Hoffmann discusses the Entrepreneurial Fellows Program aimed at nurturing future biotech leaders and highlights Chicago's evolving biotech landscape. The conversation also addresses the need for diversity and operational experience in fostering innovation within the industry.