The Biotech Startups Podcast

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications. In addition to his work at Ochre, Quin is also a highly accomplished academic with a medical degree from Witwatersrand University and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Oxford in computational biology, mathematics, and statistical genomics. Along with his academic accomplishments, Quin also co-founded SimuGen and has worked at the University College London, the Mayo Clinic, and Novo Nordisk before he went on to co-found Ochre Bio. Quin's diverse experiences offer a wealth of insights that everyone can draw inspiration from.Join us this week and hear about:Quin's childhood, the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, and challenging the status quoHis time at the University College London (UCL) Transitioning from medical school to studying genetics while at Witwatersrand UniversityGetting his MPhil in biology at CambridgeEarly exposure and passion for bioinformatics and big data during the Human Genome Project eraAnd much more!Please enjoy my conversation with Quin Wills.Find Our Guest, Quin Wills, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinwills/https://www.ochre-bio.com/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps:00:28 Intro2:22 Episode starts, childhood experiences in Johannesburg that influenced Quin’s leadership philosophy, being an action-prone scientist, and challenging the status quo 7:07 Developing a passion for science in connection to the evolution of society9:33 Undergraduate academic experience with genetics, microbiology, and lab-based work11:51 Decision to leave South Africa to attend University College London (UCL), passion for bioinformatics and big data during the Human Genome Project era15:06 Learning that taking steps back is sometimes necessary to move forward17:38 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:What is Bioinformatics?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biologyHuman Genome Projecthttps://www.genome.gov/human-genome-projectWitwatersrand Universityhttps://www.wits.ac.za/University College Londonhttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/University of Cambridgehttps://www.cam.ac.uk/Lab Equipment for Genetic Engineering Researchhttps://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-genetic-engineering-researchWhat is Live-Cell Imaging & How Does It Work?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-live-cell-imagingThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Grant Aarons, Co-Founder of FabricNano, discusses meeting his co-founder at Entrepreneur First, the importance of sales in the scientific community, disrupting the petrochemical industry with biocatalysts, and the dark horse of biology: synthetic biology. The podcast highlights FabricNano's mission to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship in the biotech sector.

Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, discusses the defensibility of software companies, the value of hardware companies in the tech industry, the significance of mentorship in career development, fostering a culture of continuous learning, navigating academic decisions, aligning career choices with personality, and building a collaborative startup culture.

Grant Aarons, Co-Founder of FabricNano, discusses his journey from engineering to biotech. He shares insights on diverse experiences shaping his career, benefits of biocatalysts for sustainable chemical production, challenges in securing funding for Deep Tech projects, and the impact of the economy on tech startups.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health.Before Sherlock, and most recently, Bryan was Executive VP at Myriad Genetics and CSO and CMO at Assurex Health. His extensive career spans over two decades and also includes prominent positions at Medco Health, Pfizer, Oxagen, Sequana Therapeutics, and Roche. Bryan's vast experience working at both startups and Fortune 500 companies gives him unique insights that any entrepreneur can benefit from. Join us this week and hear about:Scaling Assurex Health out of a garage to developing a best-in-class pharmacogenomic test, GeneSightWorking for multiple companies that had gone through the M&A processDeveloping Sherlock Biosciences’s home diagnostics test during Covid-19Tips and advice to other CEOs on how to raise capital in a challenging economic environmentAnd much more!Please enjoy my conversation with Bryan Dechairo.Find Our Guest, Bryan Dechairo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryandechairo/https://sherlock.bio/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps:00:28 Intro and episode overview01:23 Getting acquired by Express Scripts and dealing with new ownership03:34 Working on a small team that got their start out of a garage and helping them scale06:23 Pitfalls to avoid while scaling your business and other tips for growing companies07:47 Why scientists do not always make the best biotech CEO's and the value of having a diverse knowledge base11:56 Myriad Genetics's acquisition of Assurex and keeping his team together through the M&A process15:60 Leaving Myriad Genetics and figuring out why Sherlock Biosciences was the right move19:26 What the home diagnostics environment was like during Covid22:20 Deciding on what would be the first over-the-counter test Sherlock would focus on25:15 Adapting diagnostic testing to the modern convenience world we live in today27:37 Why did this brilliant idea take so long to get to where it is today?31:12 Comparing the system used to distribute at-home Covid tests with Sherlock's and how they improved on it32:56 Tips for other business owners on how to develop and maintain your company's talent35:59 Advice for raising capital while in lean economic environments from a biotech CEO's point of view40:17 Sherlock Biosciences acquisition of Sense Biodetection and why the move made sense43:45 What on the horizon for Sherlock Biosciences and what Sherlock and Netflix have in common47:18 Shout outs, thank you's, and advice to younger Bryan48:38 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Assurex/GeneSight https://genesight.com/ Myriad Genetics https://myriad.com/ Sherlock Biosciences https://sherlock.bio/ Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportBiotech & Big Pharma Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchMarketing and Sales Strategies for Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs Staffing Your Startup https://www.excedr.com/blog/staffing-your-startup How to Get Funding for Lab Research https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-get-funding-for-lab-research What is a C-Corp & Why Do Investors Prefer it? https://www.excedr.com/resources/c-corp-investors-preferHow to Write a Business Plan for Your Biotech Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-a-business-plan-for-biotechs People Mentioned:Julie Garlikov https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegarlikov/David Walt https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-walt-29935b8/ Dale Muzzey https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-muzzey-70512889 Paul Meister https://magnolia-medical.com/leadership/paul-m-meister/ Andrew Marshak https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-marshak/ John Taylor https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-taylor-16953115/Jim Burns https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-burns-78360814/ Mark Capone https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcapone/ The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health.Before Sherlock, and most recently, Bryan was Executive VP at Myriad Genetics and CSO and CMO at Assurex Health. His extensive career spans over two decades and also includes prominent positions at Medco Health, Pfizer, Oxagen, Sequana Therapeutics, and Roche. Bryan's vast experience working at both startups and Fortune 500 companies gives him unique insights that any entrepreneur can benefit from. Join us this week and hear about:Bryan’s move from a small startup to PfizerThe crucial nature of big data in modern geneticsBryan’s experience at Medco Health (an American Pharmacy Benefits Management company)The importance of accessible, affordable, and accurate diagnostics resourcesPlease enjoy my conversation with Bryan Dechairo.Find Our Guest, Bryan Dechairo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryandechairo/https://sherlock.bio/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps00:28 Intro and episode overview01:53 Bryan’s transition from academia and a small startup to Pfizer02:37 The role and impact of big data in Bryan's career05:20 Building a team and fostering the right environment for employees06:56 Supporting team growth, helping individual contributors succeed09:37 Reflections on career development, key learning points from working at startups12:08 Adjusting to Pfizer, finding the right fit, and dealing with anxiety15:07 Discussing strategic decision-making and incorporating new technologies16:23 Managing different teams and the matrix-based organizational structure19:49 Start with the Problem Statement: identify a need, then create a solution24:40 Transitioning from Pfizer to Medco Health and learning about personalized medicine27:17 Evolving role of pharmacy benefit managers in healthcare and diagnostics reimbursement30:38 Closing thoughts on the healthcare industry and advancements in Diagnostics33:10 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Oxagen https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/oxagenBiotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportBig Data in Healthcare https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8733917/Biotech & Big Pharma Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchTherapeutics https://www.nature.com/subjects/therapeuticsPersonalized Medicine https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Personalized-MedicinePfizer https://www.pfizer.com/Molecular Medicine https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/molecular-medicineGenetics, Proteomics, & Metabolomics https://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/15/default.aspMatrix Organization https://asana.com/resources/matrix-organizationPharmacy Benefit Managers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacy_benefit_managementPeople Mentioned:Jeff Kindler https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-b-kindler-a304b136/Rob Epstein https://www.linkedin.com/in/epstein-robert-2937979/Julie Garlikov https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegarlikov/The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health. The Sherlock team and founders include engineering biology pioneers with world-leading expertise in CRISPR and synthetic biology, diagnostic industry veterans, and disease area authorities. Together, they provide an unparalleled set of capabilities that are transforming molecular diagnostics in clinical and non-clinical settings. Before Sherlock, and most recently, Bryan was Executive VP at Myriad Genetics and CSO and CMO at Assurex Health. His extensive career spans over two decades and also includes prominent positions at Medco Health, Pfizer, Oxagen, Sequana Therapeutics, and Roche. Bryan's vast experience working at both startups and Fortune 500 companies gives him unique insights that any entrepreneur can benefit from. Join us as we sit down with Bryan as he discusses his early years growing up on a 10-acre hobby farm in Valley Center, Southern California, his decision to study integrative biology at UC Berkeley, and his early exposure to clinical diagnostics at Roche. Bryan talks about his transition to a startup, Sequana Therapeutics, and his love for that familial environment all while pursuing his PhD. Lastly, Bryan recounts embracing a new cultural experience in the UK while studying at the University College London. Please enjoy my conversation with Bryan Dechairo.Find Our Guest, Bryan Dechairo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryandechairo/https://sherlock.bio/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps: 00:28 Intro02:20 Episode starts, early days and upbringing, growing up in the 70s on a Southern California hobby farm04:33 Being raised around science and research, finding business inspiration while being on a farm08:02 Bryan’s decision to attend Berkeley and study Integrated Biology11:00 Undergrad lab experience with genetics, mushroom hunting, volunteering for free experiences15:23 Experiences and opportunities at Roche post-graduation, the opportunity to collaborate with competitors19:19 Determining what was next after Roche, attended a life-changing career fair that led to working at Sequana Therapeutics22:21 The enjoyment and family dynamic of working with a startup26:23 A surprising and exciting move to the UK to work with Oxagen Ltd and receive a PhD at the University College of London32:08 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:UC Berkeley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley What Is A PCR Machine? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-a-pcr-machinePCR, qPCR, & DNA Amplification https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/pcr?47e8dc57_page=2What Is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-polymerase-chain-reaction-pcrPCR Master Mix: Definition, Types, & More https://www.excedr.com/resources/pcr-master-mix-definition-types-and-moreHow PCR Systems Work & How We Save You Time & Money https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/pcr-systemsGenetic Vectors: Overview, Types, & Applications https://www.excedr.com/resources/genetic-vectorsSingle-Cell Epigenomics: Changes to Genomes without DNA Alterations https://www.excedr.com/blog/single-cell-epigenomicsPeople Mentioned:Richard Brown https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sandiegouniontribune/name/richard-brown-obituary?id=24374150Jamie Oliver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Oliver John Taylor https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-taylor-16953115/The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics.Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market, with a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Hologic, and PerkinElmer. In addition to his two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.Join us as we conclude our conversation with Terry, where we talk about him working in the revolutionary fields of spatial biology and spatial genomics, the challenges of growing a five person company, and some of the exciting things that Vizgen has on the horizon. We also discuss the importance of genetic mapping, Terry gives some advice for weathering turbulent economic times, and we talk about the important influence his parents had on his development. Please enjoy my conversation with Terry Lo.Find Our Guest, Terry Lo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-lo-034a034/https://vizgen.com/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps:00:28 Intro01:25 Revolutionizing spatial biology and scaling up Akoya Bioscience's operations04:30 Recognizing a new opportunity emerging in spatial genomics and transitioning from Akoya to Vizgen06:09 How Vizgen came to be and what early development was like on a 5 person team07:53 What the spatial genomics field was like at that time and what is it like now09:32 Vizgen's go-to-market strategy and how it is different from others12:25 How Vizgen communicates the technical aspects behind what makes their product so accurate14:33 Meaning behind the statement "Every disease has a map, every cure has a path"18:14 Tips for running a business during turbulent economic times20:22 Dealing with fundraising while being a private company that isn't profitable yet, managing rapid growth of the company22:48 Exciting developments for Vizgen in 202425:57 Terry shouts out his parents and talks about their influence on him27:08 Terry's advice to his 21 year old self28:26 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Spatial Genomics https://vizgen.com/what-is-spatial-genomics/Spatial Biology https://www.akoyabio.com/why-spatial-biology/Vizgen https://vizgen.com/Akoya Bioscience https://www.akoyabio.com/Cell Atlasing https://www.humancellatlas.org/How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-stepsUnleashing Innovation https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-tax-credits-incentivesBiotech Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchPre-Money vs. Post-Money: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/resources/pre-money-vs-post-moneyWhat Is Financial Modeling & How Can It Help with Fundraising? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-financial-modelingEquipment Leasing vs. Financing: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/blog/equipment-leasing-vs-financingFinance https://www.excedr.com/category/financeWhat Is a C-Corp & Why Do Investors Prefer It? https://www.excedr.com/resources/c-corp-investors-preferWhat Is Due Diligence? How to Prepare For It & Avoid Mistakes https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-due-diligenceA Guide to Writing a Small Business Grant Proposal https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-write-a-small-business-grant-proposalHow to Write a Business Plan for Your Biotech Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-a-business-plan-for-biotechs How to get Funding for Lab Research in 2024  https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-get-funding-for-lab-researchThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Part 2 of 3. As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics.Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market, with a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Hologic, and PerkinElmer. In addition to his two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.Join us for part 2 of our conversation with Terry, where we talk about his transition from Big Pharma to diagnostics, the challenges of moving into the diagnostics industry, and the contrasts between drug and diagnostic development processes. Terry also discusses his experience at Roche, his time with Akoya Biosciences after PerkinElmer, and his involvement in the M&A process while balancing multiple roles. Please enjoy my conversation with Terry Lo.Find Our Guest, Terry Lo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-lo-034a034/https://vizgen.com/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps:00:28 Intro01:35 Leaving Bristol, joining Cytyc, and transitioning into International Strategy role 03:48 The contrasts between Diagnostics and Big Pharma05:28 Drug development vs. diagnostics development processes09:27 Moving to China and adapting to his role change from International Strategy to Managing Director10:43 Adjusting to life in China with his pregnant wife13:25 Moving back to the US and joining Roche Molecular in California15:26 Transitioning to PerkinElmer and Terry’s intro to spatial biology17:28 The challenges and triumphs in this new field20:25 The challenges of regulatory agencies and reimbursement in Diagnostics and getting a product through the FDA24:58 Merging with Akoya Biosciences after PerkinElmer to support Terry’s platform26:51 Terry’s experience with M&A of Akoya by PerkinElmer, balancing multiple roles29:13 Outro ​Social & Website:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Topics Mentioned:Corporate Business Development https://www.rontar.com/blog/corporate-development-vs-business-development/International Strategy https://phrase.com/blog/posts/international-strategy/Diagnostics vs. Pharmaceuticals https://tarikyildirim.com/blog/2019/1/21/pharma-vs-diagnosticsP&L statement https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/plstatement.aspDrug development vs. diagnostics development https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235489/AI/ML in drug development https://www.fda.gov/science-research/science-and-research-special-topics/artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning-aiml-drug-developmentProtein folding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_foldingProtein therapeutics https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd2399How Biotech & Big Pharma Partner to Support R&D https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchSpatial Biology https://www.akoyabio.com/why-spatial-biology/Regulatory and reimbursement impacts in Pharma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234312/ Drug approval with FDARegulatory and reimbursement impacts in Diagnostics https://www.lighthouselabservices.com/understanding-the-keys-to-diagnostic-reimbursement/Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.aspThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Part 1 of 3. As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” at https://www.excedr.com/rewards.My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics. Vizgen’s technology will aid the acceleration of biological research and discovery to advance human health. Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market and has a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hologic, Roche, PerkinElmer, and Akoya Biosciences. In addition to over two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.Join us as we sit down with Terry as he talks about his early years, studying psychology and molecular genetics as an undergraduate at Ohio State and his later decision to pursue a master's in microbiology at Virginia Tech and then finance at the University of Chicago. Terry also discusses his transition from investment banking to corporate development and marketing roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, and highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and financial modeling in business development. Please enjoy my conversation with Terry Lo.Find Our Guest, Terry Lo, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-lo-034a034/https://vizgen.com/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comTimestamps: 00:28 Intro02:10 Episode start, early experiences at Ohio State and Terry’s decision to pursue science05:09 Terry's unique undergraduate lab experience in psychology and molecular biology07:01 Terry's time at Virginia Tech as a molecular microbiology grad student running experiments10:08 Terry mapping out his decision to go towards business after graduating from Virginia Tech13:00 Terry's experience in sales after being in the lab16:02 MBA at the University of Chicago and the decision that led Terry there17:44 Key lessons and takeaways from being at the University of Chicago19:28 Terry's experience in investment banking and financing, key takeaways, and learning financial modeling25:28 Terry's time at Bristol-Myers Squibb in corporate development and experience in the marketing department29:45 Terry's experience and transition to international business31:50 Advice on business development37:16 OutroSocial & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Topics Mentioned:An Equipment Leasing Program for Scientists https://www.excedr.com/leasingHow to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-stepsUnleashing Innovation https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-tax-credits-incentivesBiotech Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchPre-Money vs. Post-Money: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/resources/pre-money-vs-post-moneyWhat Is Financial Modeling & How Can It Help with Fundraising? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-financial-modelingEquipment Leasing vs. Financing: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/blog/equipment-leasing-vs-financingFinance https://www.excedr.com/category/financeWhat Is a C-Corp & Why Do Investors Prefer It? https://www.excedr.com/resources/c-corp-investors-preferWhat Is Due Diligence? How to Prepare For It & Avoid Mistakes https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-due-diligenceA Guide to Writing a Small Business Grant Proposal https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-write-a-small-business-grant-proposalHow to Write a Business Plan for Your Biotech Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-a-business-plan-for-biotechs The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.