This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 6/6).

In this final episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, wraps up the conversation with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer, by exploring the career and life lessons Dean has learned along the way.

Dean reflects on why he has no regrets about his unconventional career path and how experiences from DJing to investment banking shaped his professional mindset. He shares the importance of setting both short- and long-term goals, thinking strategically about career moves, and keeping perspective on the bigger picture.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

The benefits of diverse career experiences

Strategic thinking for long-term success

Balancing professional ambition with personal goals

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 5/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, explores with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer, how pharma companies are rethinking their relationships with vendors.

Dean breaks down the pros and cons of in-house, fully outsourced, and hybrid Functional Service Provider (FSP) models. He explains why a hybrid approach—embedding vendor talent within sponsor teams—offers transparency, faster turnaround times, and reduced risk, especially for smaller biotech firms.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

The benefits and drawbacks of different vendor models

How hybrid FSP partnerships drive efficiency

Reducing risk while maintaining quality in clinical trials

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 4/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, and Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer, dive into how AI is transforming the clinical trial process—especially in biostatistics and data management.

Dean explains how automation can cut the time for generating analysis datasets and statistical tables from three months to just one, while improving accuracy and reducing human error. He shares real examples of how AI tools help teams adapt instantly to new data, run analyses in minutes instead of hours, and ultimately accelerate time-to-market for critical treatments.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Cutting trial timelines with AI-powered workflows

Improving data quality and reducing redundancy

Why speed matters for patients, sponsors, and investors

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 3/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, talks with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer, about the real-world impact of AI in pharma operations.

Dean shares how tools like ChatGPT-based copilots are transforming contract management and workflow efficiency. He explains how automating tasks—such as comparing hundreds of pages in master service agreements—saves hours of work, frees teams to focus on strategy, and enhances overall quality without disrupting company culture.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Using AI to streamline contract review and operations

The balance between automation and human judgment

How AI boosts productivity while strengthening workplace culture

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 2/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, continues the conversation with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer.

Dean reflects on his transitions between three distinct worlds — investment banking, contract research organizations (CROs), and the sponsor side at Pfizer. He compares the fast-paced, aggressive culture of finance with the service-oriented approach of CROs, and explains how those experiences shaped his adaptability, resilience under pressure, and ability to connect with the right people.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Key differences between banking, CRO, and sponsor roles

How cross-industry experience strengthens career skills

Adapting to new environments without losing your edge

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 1/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, sits down with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer.

Dean shares his unconventional career path — starting as a DJ and music producer, moving into investment banking on Wall Street, and then making the leap into the clinical trials industry. He talks about the hustle of breaking into the DJ scene, an unexpected back-to-back set with Goldman Sachs’ CEO, and how early experiences in finance sparked his interest in healthcare and improving patients’ lives.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Building a career through unconventional paths

Transferring skills from finance to pharma

Finding purpose in healthcare innovation

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at:

Welcome to AI on the Hill, the podcast where we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, featuring thought leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of drug development and health tech. In this series, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, and expert guests like Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer, discuss how AI is streamlining clinical trial operations, improving data quality, and accelerating the delivery of life-saving treatments.

Dean Zheng shares his unique career journey from DJ booths and investment banking to clinical trial outsourcing in pharma. In this show, we dive into Dean’s transitions between industries, the lessons learned from working on both the CRO and sponsor sides, and how his diverse background fuels his approach to efficiency, collaboration, and problem-solving. Dean explains how AI can cut trial programming timelines by up to 70%, reduce human error, and free up teams to focus on strategic decision-making.

Join us as we explore the real-world impact of AI on trial operations, from improving data workflows to creating hybrid collaboration models between pharma and tech. Dean’s insights into adaptability, strategic thinking, and embracing new tools make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of clinical trials.

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renebaston/

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at https://www.hillresearch.ai/podcast.

This is an excerpt from Crashing Excel to Curing Cancer — How AI and Open Science Are Rewiring Drug Discovery(Part 6/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, sits down with Tommy Tang, Director of Bioinformatics at AstraZeneca.

Open science isn’t just a philosophy—it’s a catalyst for progress. In this episode, we explore how sharing code, data, and methods empowers researchers, accelerates discoveries, and improves reproducibility. Tommy reflects on his journey from struggling to access others’ scripts to becoming an advocate for transparency, helping build a more collaborative and impactful scientific community.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Overcoming challenges in data science

Embracing AI in healthcare

Leveraging technology to revolutionize healthcare

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renebaston/

And our guest, Tommy Tang, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/🎯-ming-tommy-tang-40650014/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at https://www.hillresearch.ai/podcast.

This is an excerpt from Crashing Excel to Curing Cancer — How AI and Open Science Are Rewiring Drug Discovery(Part 5/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, sits down with Tommy Tang, Director of Bioinformatics at AstraZeneca.

Large language models and machine learning promise to revolutionize drug development—but what does it take to make that real? In this episode, we explore the critical role of domain expertise, data quality, and infrastructure. From messy datasets to organizational data silos, we break down why AI alone isn’t enough—and what must change to truly accelerate breakthroughs in cancer research.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Overcoming challenges in data science

Embracing AI in healthcare

Leveraging technology to revolutionize healthcare

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renebaston/

And our guest, Tommy Tang, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/🎯-ming-tommy-tang-40650014/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at https://www.hillresearch.ai/podcast.

This is an excerpt from Crashing Excel to Curing Cancer — How AI and Open Science Are Rewiring Drug Discovery(Part 4/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, sits down with Tommy Tang, Director of Bioinformatics at AstraZeneca.

AI, bioinformatics, and computational biology are reshaping how cancer drugs are discovered and developed. Tommy explains how data-driven insights—from target identification to clinical trial analysis—are accelerating timelines, improving precision, and unlocking personalized medicine. What once took a decade may soon take less, saving lives and transforming the future of healthcare.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Overcoming challenges in data science

Embracing AI in healthcare

Leveraging technology to revolutionize healthcare

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renebaston/

And our guest, Tommy Tang, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/🎯-ming-tommy-tang-40650014/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at https://www.hillresearch.ai/podcast.