In today’s episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Rafael Carazo Salas, a scientist, entrepreneur, and the CEO and founder of CellVoyant. This is a conversation that goes beyond the hype around AI to reveal how machine learning is reshaping the future of healthcare in ways that are both profound and immediate.

CellVoyant, a spinout from the University of Bristol, is using AI and advanced imaging technology to solve one of the most persistent challenges in biotech: the cost, time, and complexity involved in developing cell therapies.

Rafael explained how his team is applying real-time microscopy and predictive AI to monitor and guide cell behavior. This approach doesn’t rely on invasive techniques that destroy the very cells being studied. Instead, it enables a clearer path forward in cell therapy development by understanding how cells behave and adapt over time.

We explored several impactful examples, from CAR-T therapies for blood cancers to emerging treatments for Parkinson’s disease and type 1 diabetes. Rafael drew comparisons to Google Maps, describing how CellVoyant’s platform builds dynamic roadmaps for cell development, allowing scientists to correct course in real time. It’s a shift in how we think about drug development, one that has the potential to lower costs and increase access to life-saving treatments.

Beyond the science, Rafael shared his insights on the UK’s biotech ecosystem, the role of academic spinouts, and why now is a strategic moment for the UK to establish itself as a global leader in AI-powered biotech. As political and economic conditions shift in other parts of the world, he sees a window of opportunity to attract talent, drive innovation, and strengthen commercialisation.

So how far can AI go in transforming biotech, and what role will companies like CellVoyant play in making advanced therapies available to all? Tune in to find out.