In this episode, Dr. Darrick Carter, founder and CEO of PAI Life Sciences, shares the extraordinary evolution of his company from an early attempt at artificial intelligence–driven drug discovery into a global biotech focused on neglected diseases. What began as Protein AI eventually shifted toward solving real-world challenges in infectious disease, leading to breakthrough work including the development of the world’s first approved leprosy screening test in Brazil and a long-term mission centered on serving underserved populations worldwide.

Dr. Carter discusses PAI Life Sciences’ current work on vaccines for some of the world’s most devastating but overlooked diseases, including schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and river blindness, as well as emerging applications in cancer immunotherapy. He also breaks down the scientific strategy behind their vaccine platforms, the complexities of scaling biotech manufacturing, and the difficult “valley of death” between early research and human clinical trials where funding is hardest to secure. The conversation highlights both the scientific innovation and the resilience required to advance life-saving treatments in a high-risk, high-impact field.

Connect:

Website: https://pailifesciences.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrick-carter/