Back of the Napkin - Inspiring Stories from Biotech Pioneers

Alessio Ciulli is a Professor and Chair of Chemical Structural Biology at the University of Dundee, where he is also the founder and director of the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD). He is also the scientific founder of Amphista Therapeutics. This conversation covers the significant moments in Alessio’s career where he began to shape an exciting new approach in drug discovery:  targeted protein degradation.

CeTPD page: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/cetpd

Alessio’s group page: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/alessio-ciulli

Alessio’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/alessiociulli

Jennifer Petter is the founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Arrakis Therapeutics. Here she discusses the moments that led up to the founding of a successful biotech company built on a remarkable new approach in drug discovery: RNA-targeting small molecules. This back of the napkin conversation covers the standout moments in Jen’s career as well as some insightful perspectives into the future of drug discovery.

Arrakis Therapeutics Website: https://arrakistx.com/

Matthew Disney is a Professor and Chair at the University of Florida Scripps Institute. In this podcast he discusses the origins of a new field he has pioneered – ‘Drugging RNAs with small molecules’.  The conversation covers the eureka moments, the challenges, RIBOTACs, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Disney Lab Website: https://disney.scripps.ufl.edu/

Matt’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/disney_lab?lang=en

A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind, but every story behind a discovery is different. Perhaps the idea is conceived in a light bulb moment or brainstorming session or captured in scribblings on the back of a napkin. All these great game changing discoveries seem to have one thing in common...  and that is that: the pioneers, the scientists, the entrepreneurs that conceive the ideas aren’t afraid to step outside the constraints of every day thinking and to propose new ideas.

In this series, we introduce you to these scientific pioneers, taking you beyond their publications and into innovation corner to hear the untold stories behind their discoveries.

This podcast is brought to you by Bio-Techne and hosted by Alex Moloney.