Affected

In the final episode of our KaloCyte Coffee Break Chat series, we sit down with Dr. Philip Spinella, Co‑founder and Chief Medical Officer of KaloCyte, to explore his frontline experiences that shaped the vision behind the company.Dr. Spinella shares the journey that took him from pediatric critical care to battlefield medicine, and how witnessing preventable deaths from blood shortages drove his interest to rethink trauma care. He reflects on the moments in Iraq that changed his perspective forever, and how those lessons now guide the development of life‑saving synthetic oxygen‑carrier technology for both military and civilian emergencies.He also opens up about the practical challenges facing blood availability today, from remote communities to cruise ships and disaster zones, and why innovations like ErythroMer could one day transform how we respond to bleeding in the moments that matter most.It’s a grounded, eye‑opening conversation offering a true frontline look at why KaloCyte’s mission matters, and what the future of emergency care could look like.

In episode three of our KaloCyte Coffee Break Chat series, we sit down with Dr. Dipanjan Pan, PhD, Co‑founder and Chief Technical Officer of KaloCyte, to explore the science, imagination, and innovation behind the company’s groundbreaking work.Dr. Pan shares how his journey from chemistry to nanomedicine led him to bio‑inspired design, and how a chance collaboration helped spark the earliest ideas behind KaloCyte’s artificial oxygen‑carrier technology. He opens up about the challenge of turning elegant science into something that can actually be manufactured, regulated, and ultimately used to save lives, and why true innovation means thinking beyond the bench from day one.It’s a thoughtful, fascinating look at the science driving KaloCyte forward, and the innovation mindset behind it.

In episode two of our KaloCyte Coffee Break Chat series, we talk with Elaine Haynes, President and CEO of KaloCyte, about her experiences, her leadership story, and what it means to be part of a mission built to save lives.

Elaine shares her journey from her early days in nuclear pharmacy to taking the lead at KaloCyte, opening up about the mentors who shaped her, the challenges of being a woman in leadership, and the key moments that made her realise she wanted to help build something truly impactful.

She also offers a down‑to‑earth look at what it takes to grow a mission‑driven science startup, from funding and partnerships to building a culture where curiosity, accountability, and celebration really matter.

It’s an honest, inspiring conversation with one of the women guiding KaloCyte’s future.

Join us for the very first episode of our KaloCyte Coffee Break Chat series!

In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Allan Doctor, MD, Co‑founder and Chief Scientific Officer of KaloCyte, for an insightful conversation about the ideas and experiences that shaped the company’s mission.

Allan reflects on his years in pediatric critical care, the challenges of treating patients with failing oxygen delivery, and how those moments inspired KaloCyte’s breakthrough synthetic red blood cell solution.

It’s an honest, human look at the purpose, passion, and innovation behind one of life sciences’ most exciting ventures.

We sit down with Simone Ammons, founder of QuneUp, to explore how technology and representation are reshaping the life sciences industry.

From ensuring engineers have 24/7 access to vital machine information to challenging systemic barriers faced by people of colour, Simone is building more than just a tool, she’s building change.She shares her insights on:

⚙️ How QuneUp is revolutionising on-the-ground support for life sciences engineers

🧑🏽‍🔬 The importance of visibility and leadership for people of colour

🚧 The discrimination still present in the industry, and how we tackle it

🤝 Why real, impactful allyship is essential for lasting change

A powerful conversation on progress, purpose, and the people driving it.

In the third instalment of our Women in Leadership in Life Sciences event talks, Dr. Elsa Zekeng delves into the root causes behind the lack of diversity in clinical trial data, and why inclusive datasets are critical to advancing the life sciences industry and improving outcomes for all patients.

As the founder and CEO of SökerData, an AI-driven platform accelerating access to genomic and clinical data from underrepresented populations, including women and Black and ethnic minority groups, Dr Zekeng brings deep expertise and personal insight to this vital conversation.

This honest, thought-provoking, and at times deeply moving talk is not to be missed.

In the first of our Women in Leadership talks, Claire explores how imposter syndrome isn’t just holding back the leaders of tomorrow... it could also be impacting your bottom line.She delves into the root causes of imposter syndrome and discusses what we can do as businesses, mentors, friends, and leaders to create an environment that nurtures the development of future leaders.Claire is the SVP of Talent at Meet, overseeing our internal recruitment, learning and development, and human resources functions. Beyond her role, she’s committed to making Meet a place where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole selves to work.

🤖 AI is transforming cardiology, but how far can it really go? Can machine learning predict heart conditions before symptoms appear? And will AI ever replace human analysis, or is it just an enhancement tool?In our latest episode, we sit down with Ioana, who’s using AI to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. 🏥💜From the clinical applications of deep neural networks to the ethical challenges of AI driven healthcare, we’re covering it all. Ioana will share insights into how AI is improving real-time decision-making for doctors, the role of wearable tech in early intervention, and what the future holds for AI assisted treatments.If you’re curious about the intersection of AI and medicine, this one’s not to be missed! 🎙️

West Coast/Best Coast?

In a special mini Affected, your host Owen Beynon tracks down Matt Lowe-Lauri, (who definitely didn't move to San Diego to avoid being on video) to chat about the unique challenges Life Sciences businesses face on the West Coast. 🌅From understanding the distinct culture, to helping start-ups bring their drug or device to market, Matt lays out a comprehensive guide to pairing with a talent provider. 🤝

In this episode of The Affected Podcast, host Owen Beynon welcomes back VP of Insight, Success, and Marketing at Meet Recruitment, Glenn Southam, alongside Zak Marks and James Cohen from Kitt Medical.

The duo shares their journey of developing a groundbreaking anaphylactic device, a defibrillator-like kit designed to treat life-threatening allergic reactions in schools and qualified businesses. Zak opens up about his personal struggles with severe allergies and how these experiences inspired Kitt Medical’s mission to make adrenaline pens accessible and easy to use for those that need it.

They also discuss the challenges of building a business in the life sciences sector, including learning on the job to navigate complex regulations, market demands, and the unique hurdles of bringing a medical service to life.

Kitt Medical’s Anaphylaxis Kitt service can only be purchased by registered UK schools and qualifying businesses with an occupational health scheme, as per the UK Human Medicines Regulations, Schedule 17.

To find out more and make an enquiry, go to www.kittmedical.com