Data in Biotech

In this episode of Data in Biotech, host Ross Katz talks with Jesper Ryge, Director of Computational Biology at Merck Germany. Jesper shares his journey from neuroscience labs to leading computational teams, offering deep insights into disease modeling, target discovery, and multi-omics integration. Discover how AI and spatial transcriptomics are shaping the future of pharma R&D.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode

>> How single-cell and spatial transcriptomics enhance disease mechanism discovery

>> Why data integration and knowledge graphs are critical for target validation

>> How computational biology teams interface with wet lab research

>> What makes Merck Germany's data strategy unique in biotech

>> How generative AI is changing how pharma interprets complex datasets

Meet Our Guest

Jesper Ryge is Director of Computational Biology at Merck Germany. A biophysicist by training, he brings deep expertise in neuroscience, single-cell analysis, and bioinformatics to pharmaceutical R&D.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Merck
• Connect with Jesper Ryge on LinkedIn 

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

To mark our 50th episode, host Ross Katz brings back three visionary leaders—Dave Johnson (Dash Bio), Wolfgang Halter (Merck Life Science), and Jacob Oppenheim (RAVen)—together for a reflection on the evolution of biotech. They unpack the realities behind AI hype, the future of data-driven innovation, and what’s really changing in drug development.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

>> Where real innovation is emerging across startups, big tech, and academia

>> The biggest misconceptions about data in biotech—and why they persist

>> What it takes to build trust in AI-powered biotech tools

>> Why progress in biotech depends as much on execution as it does on breakthroughs

>> How industry veterans see the future of automation, regulation, and global competition

Meet Our Guests

Dave Johnson is CEO and Co-Founder of Dash Bio and former Chief Data & AI Officer at Moderna. He’s pioneering automation in clinical bioanalysis to accelerate drug development.

Wolfgang Halter leads Data Science at Merck Life Science, developing tools like BayBE to optimize R&D through smarter data modeling and open-source innovation.

Jacob Oppenheim is a Venture Partner at RAVen and co-founder of Fresnel. With a PhD in Biological Physics, he champions the transition to digital-native biopharma.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Connect with Dave Johnson  on LinkedIn 
• Connect with Wolfgang Halter on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jacob Oppenheim on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, Yaron David, CTO and Co-Founder of BioRaptor, joins host Ross Katz to explore how biotech companies can gain a holistic view of bioprocessing through real-time data integration, visualization, and modeling. Learn how BioRaptor’s full-stack platform helps scientists replace clunky spreadsheets with actionable insights—accelerating experiments and optimizing yields.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

>> Why Excel is holding back innovation in bioprocessing labs

>> How BioRaptor enables holistic bioprocess understanding across experiments

>> The role of virtual sensors in enhancing real-time data visibility

>> How BioRaptor drives ROI by onboarding customers in weeks, not months

>> The difference between operational and optimization AI in biotech

Meet Our Guest

Yaron David is CTO and Co-Founder of BioRaptor, an AI-powered analytics platform transforming bioprocess data into scientific insights. With an MD and PhD in neuroscience, he blends medical, software, and startup experience to revolutionize data infrastructure for biotech.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about BioRaptor
• Connect with Yaron David on LinkedIn 

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, Jesse Paquette, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Tag.bio, joins Ross Katz to explore how data mesh architecture and FAIR data principles are transforming clinical and research workflows in life sciences. From harmonizing legacy systems to enabling AI-readiness, Jesse shares how Tag.bio empowers domain experts to make data-driven decisions faster and more effectively.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

>> How Tag.bio leverages data mesh and FAIR principles to democratize biomedical data access.

>> The challenges biotech firms face with legacy infrastructure and clinical trial data.

>> The importance of harmonized, version-controlled data products in AI-driven research.

>> Why smaller pharma and life sciences firms benefit most from Tag.bio’s agile platform.

Meet Our Guest

Jesse Paquette is the co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Tag.bio, where he leads scientific strategy for AI-powered analytics. With over two decades in life sciences, he specializes in building tools that help researchers interpret complex biomedical data independently.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Tag.bio
• Connect with Jesse Parquette on LinkedIn 

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, Ross Katz sits down with Kenny Workman, co-founder and CTO of LatchBio, to unpack how biotech’s data infrastructure must evolve to meet the demands of next-gen assays. From scalable workflows to high-performance visualization tools, Kenny breaks down the shift from traditional biotech to a future defined by data-driven research and agile cloud platforms.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why spatial biology and high-throughput assays require new data infrastructure strategies
• How LatchBio’s five core components streamline molecular data processing
• The challenges of selling into biotech vs. solution providers and the strategic pivot LatchBio made to address this
• How large language models are revolutionizing public data curation for biotechs
• Why scientific innovation demands better tech adoption across the industry

Meet Our Guest

Kenny Workman is co-founder and CTO of LatchBio, a company transforming biological data infrastructure. A UC Berkeley alum, Kenny brings deep expertise in bioengineering, machine learning, and cloud systems. He was named to Forbes' 2023 "30 Under 30" list for his contributions to computational biology.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Latch Bio
• Connect with Kenny Workman  on LinkedIn 

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

Entrepreneur Jeremy Shane joins host Ross Katz to discuss Life for Health, a revolutionary framework aiming to tackle chronic disease through the integration of life insurance, longitudinal data, and preventative care. 

From drug discovery feedback loops to outcomes-based pricing, Shane outlines a bold new path for biotech and healthcare convergence.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why today's healthcare system fails chronic disease patients and how Life for Health aims to fix it.
• How longitudinal data and life insurance can realign healthcare incentives for better outcomes.
• The economic logic behind outcomes-based annuity pricing for breakthrough drugs like GLP-1s.
• What biotech companies gain from a proactive, participant-driven health model.
• How clinical trials could transform through pre-qualified data-rich populations.

Meet Our Guest

Jeremy Shane, Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, is a healthcare innovator focused on chronic disease. With leadership experience at HealthCentral, WebMD, and 2U, he now pioneers Life for Health, blending life insurance with preventative care to realign incentives and extend health span.

Life for Health, the book, will be released in July 2025. 

To learn more about Life For Health or get involved, go to www.lifeforhealth.com

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Connect with Jeremy Shane on LinkedIn or on Twitter @jeremylshane

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, host Ross Katz sits down with Scott Lipnick, Co-Founder and President of Etiome, to explore how preemptive medicine is changing the way biotech approaches therapeutic modeling and intervention. 

Discover how Etiome’s recently launched, AI-driven platform is built to detect disease earlier, identify precise biomarkers, and create stage-specific treatments—all before symptoms arise. 

It’s a visionary approach to healthcare focused on preserving health, not just managing illness.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Scott Lipnick believes the future of medicine lies in preemptive care.
• How Etiome uses AI to map disease progression at the cellular level.
• The role of biomarkers in identifying disease before symptoms surface.
• How Etiome applies its Temporal Biodynamics platform across diseases.
• What venture creation looks like at Flagship Pioneering.

Meet Our Guest

Scott Lipnick is the Co-founder and President of Etiome. At the forefront of preemptive medicine, Scott’s work focuses on predicting disease progression and delivering personalized, early-stage interventions using cutting-edge AI and molecular tools.

About The Host

Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Etiome
• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Sponsored by…

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, host Ross Katz speaks with Patrick Torbey, CEO and Co-Founder of Neoplants, about using genetic engineering and microbiome innovation to tackle indoor air pollution. Patrick explains how Neoplants is turning everyday houseplants into powerful air purifiers using synthetic biology, offering insights into VOC degradation, enzyme pathways, and data-driven R&D.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How genetically modified plants and microbiomes can reduce indoor air pollution by targeting VOCs like formaldehyde and benzene
• The scientific and engineering challenges of modifying indoor plants at the genomic level
• Why data-driven testing and simulation are critical to optimizing plant function and user impact
• The role of synthetic biology in creating sustainable, scalable biotech products
• Patrick’s vision for solving climate challenges through engineered plant ecosystems

​​Meet Our Guest:

Patrick Torbey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Neoplants, a Paris-based biotech startup engineering plants to purify indoor air. With a PhD in genetic editing and deep expertise in synthetic biology, Patrick leads Neoplants in building functional, aesthetically unique, and sustainable plant systems for the future.

About The Host:

Ross Katz is the Principal Data Scientist at CorrDyn. He brings decades of experience across biotech, energy, and non-profit sectors, with a focus on building smarter data systems, machine learning pipelines, and actionable insights for complex industries.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Neoplants
• Connect with Patrick Torbey on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Phage therapy is stepping into the spotlight as antibiotic resistance rises - and Jessica Sacher is helping lead the charge. In this episode, Ross Katz speaks with Jessica, Co-Founder of Phage Directory and Staff Scientist at Stanford, about sourcing phages, operationalizing therapy, and predicting efficacy through data. This conversation explores how personalized phage therapy works, its scalability, and the data challenges shaping its future.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why phage therapy is a promising solution to antibiotic-resistant infections
• How Phage Directory connects researchers and clinicians to accelerate treatment
• What operational hurdles exist in scaling personalized phage production
• How data science is being applied to predict effective phage-bacteria matches
• Why building infrastructure and awareness is essential to adoption in clinical care

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Phage Directory
• Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
• Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Resources Mentioned: 

• Why Language Itself Might Be Holding Back AI – by Ross Katz: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-language-itself-might-holding-back-ai-ross-katz-rcl9e/?trackingId=Y6%2FH45W%2BxImfl%2By2geB6%2Bg%3D%3D
• Bacteriophage Therapy for Multidrug-Resistant Infections – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40026251/
• Cystic Fibrosis Australia and Phage Australia Survey – medRxiv: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.05.14.24307275v1
• Phage Directory: https://phage.directory/

How do you drug the undruggable? In this episode of Data in Biotech, Ross Katz sits down with Will Fondrie, Head of Data Science and Engineering at Talus Bio, to explore how machine learning, mass spectrometry, and innovative computational models are transforming drug discovery. Learn how Talus Bio is targeting transcription factors—once considered out of reach—with scalable, high-impact data science.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why transcription factors are historically hard to drug and how Talus Bio is changing that
• How mass spectrometry offers high-throughput, unbiased views of protein-DNA interactions
• The role of recommender systems in prioritizing compound testing
• Strategies for balancing build vs. buy in data infrastructure at scale
• Why open-source software is essential for scientific transparency and progress

Links:

• Find out more about Talus Bio: https://talus.bio
• Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ross-katz/

Connect with Will Fondrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wfondrie/

Meet Our Guest

Will Fondrie is the Head of Data Science and Engineering at Talus Bio, a biotech company pioneering the development of small molecule drugs targeting transcription factors. With a PhD in molecular medicine and a background in proteomics, Will brings deep expertise in computational biology, machine learning, and scalable data systems.

About the Host

Ross Katz is the Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. He hosts Data in Biotech to spotlight innovative thinkers and data-driven leaders pushing the boundaries of biotechnology.

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Sponsored by CorrDyn

This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, a leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Learn more at CorrDyn.