Last December, a United Airlines’ flight from Chicago to Washington DC was the first ever passenger flight powered with 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The achievement demonstrated the potential for the aviation sector to reduce its carbon footprint. Our guests in this episode each played a key role in in helping the airline reach this exciting milestone.

We are on the precipice of a looming crisis. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the evolution of deadly pathogens like bacteria and fungi to resist all current antimicrobial medicines. In this episode, we talk about how the dwindling supply of new antibiotics is fueling this silent pandemic, and why we need a continued pipeline of new antibiotics to avoid this crisis.

Guests:

Ankit Mahadevia, Spero Therapeutics

Henry  Skinner, AMR Action Fund

Mary Dwight, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 

I am BIO will begin a new season of exciting topics on Feb 28. During our hiatus, we are bringing back some of our most popular episodes beginning with “Hope for Alzheimer's.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a heartbreaking diagnosis and tragically there is no cure. But every day, researchers, scientists and the medical community are working to change that. In this episode, we speak with three guests who are fighting to bend the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease and, in doing so, offering hope for the millions suffering from this devastating illness.

Talking about women’s health has been a taboo subject for some time, contributing to a lack of innovation in the sector. Still today, many are uncomfortable discussing the topic. Consequently, only 2% of medical products in the pipeline are for women’s health and only 2% of all venture capital dollars go into developing these products. In this episode, we talk with two women in biotech who are trying to change that narrative and infuse more investment in innovations that meet the needs of half the population.

Sabrina Martucci Johnson, CEO
Daré Bioscience

Elizabeth Baily, Managing Director
RH Capital

Plastic is polluting our waterways and oceans, but biotechnology may deliver solutions. Plant-based bioplastics that can break down in months are one solution. Another is mighty microbes bioengineered to speed up consumption of plastic. This episode spotlights scientists, companies and even a filmmaker and artist who are working in different ways to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste. 

Guests:

Scott Tuten, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Danimer Scientific

Andrew Held, Vice President of Engineering & Business, Virent

Dr. Tae Seok Moon, Associate Professor of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Founder and head of the Scientific Advisory Board, Moonshot Bio

Ben Lear, Independent Film Producer/Director

Not that long ago psychedelics were considered dangerous, and only enjoyed recreationally by a fringe element of society. Today, researchers are looking at drugs like psilocybin to develop treatments for depression, PTSD, addiction, and anxiety. This episode features guests steeped in the world of psychedelics who are finding new ways to treat mental health. 

Guests:

Dr. Frank Wiegand, Chief Medical Officer, Beckley Psytech

Kurt Rasmussen, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Delix Therapeutics

Clara Burtenshaw, Co-founder and Partner, Neo Kuma Ventures

Patient Advocates do more than raise money—they are active participants in the drug development process. While the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge garnered global attention, lesser-known patient advocates also flex their expertise to drive new treatments and cures.  In this episode, we talk with two moms, one who is a patient herself, about their work as partners in research and development, helping bring treatments for two rare diseases to the market. 

Susan Ruediger, Founder and Chief Mission Officer, CMT Research Foundation  

Nasha Fitter, CEO, FOXG1 Research Foundation  
 

Monkeypox hit our shores in May of this year. How did our public health agencies and infrastructure perform? What went right, what went wrong, and what needs to improve? We talked with three experts in public health and biodefense about the threats on their radar screens and how the U.S. can better prepare for the next inevitable outbreak or pandemic.

Guests:

Dr. Asha George, Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense

Dr. Lynn Goldman, Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University

Dr. John Redd, Medical Countermeasures Coalition 

You might be surprised to learn that data storage currently requires huge amounts of land and energy, and we're running out of both. In this episode, we speak with a small group of researchers who are working to revolutionize the way we store the massive amounts of data we produce every day. Their solution: use DNA.

Speakers:

• Emily Leproust, Twist Bioscience
• Jeff Nivala, University of Washington
• Kyle Tomek, DNAli Technologies

Current market trends have put investors in a “flight-to-safety” mentality, especially when it comes to biotech companies. What does this mean for getting biotech innovations to the marketplace? This episode explores the daunting challenge of raising capital in a bear market.

Speakers:

• Bill Newell, Sutro Biopharma
• Dr. Lisa Drakeman, Biotech Entrepreneur
• Sougato Das, PRISM.science