SKIN Angels Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Wray, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Kapha Bio, to explore an often-overlooked component of human health: mucin.

While the microbiome has become a major focus of scientific research and consumer health innovation, Lindsay explains why the environment in which our microbes live may be just as important as the microbes themselves. Mucins, the glycoproteins that help form protective mucus layers throughout the body, play critical roles in maintaining healthy biological surfaces and supporting microbial balance.

We discuss Lindsay’s journey from biomedical engineering and biotechnology commercialization to founding Kapha Bio, where her team is developing scalable, mucin-inspired technologies designed to support the body’s natural protective mechanisms.

Lindsay shares the challenges of translating complex biological molecules into commercially viable ingredients, the importance of rigorous testing and manufacturing scalability, and the lessons she’s learned about entrepreneurship, fundraising, and building a biotechnology company.

We also explore Kapha Bio’s first mucin variant, KBB-1, which is gearing up for market entry and was recently assigned its INCI name, Galactosamido Fibroin. This innovative ingredient has potential applications in skincare, feminine wellness, oral care, and digestive health.

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, the microbiome, biotechnology, or the fascinating process of bringing scientific discoveries to market, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Follow Kapha Bio on LinkedIn for updates as this technology moves toward commercialization: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kapha-bio/

In this episode, I sit down with Bicheng Wu, PhD, MBA, Founder and CEO of DPhiant, to discuss her journey from corporate research and development to building a science-driven skincare company.

Drawing on her background in food science, ingredient innovation, and cosmetic formulation, Bicheng shares how her personal experiences with acne inspired the development of Clear Shot, an invisible liquid blemish patch designed to offer a more discreet approach to managing breakouts.

We explore the challenges of bringing a new product to market, why great formulation science is only the beginning, and how customer feedback can shape everything from packaging to brand development. Bicheng also discusses the importance of maintaining scientific integrity in a competitive industry and how artificial intelligence is helping small companies innovate and move faster.

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, skincare innovation, entrepreneurship, or the future of science-driven consumer products, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

More information at: https://dphiant.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany St. Bernard, PhD, Founder and CEO of SOCAi Labs, to discuss how artificial intelligence could help solve a surprisingly fundamental problem in dermatology: how we capture and measure what we see.

Dr. Tiff shares how her own experience with hair loss helped inspire a journey from biomedical engineering into dermatology AI, and how SOCAi is working to standardize clinical photography and quantify disease severity.

We also explore the realities of building an AI company, the importance of human oversight, why AI-generated information still needs to be validated, and how these tools are dramatically accelerating everything from coding and prototyping to everyday workflows.

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, or the future of medicine, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: SOCAi Labs

In this episode, I sit down with David Demirjian, PhD, President and Co-Founder of Midwest Bioprocessing Center, to explore how biotechnology can transform naturally derived molecules into innovative ingredients for skin health.

We discuss the story behind FeruliShield™, a plant-derived ferulic acid technology designed to improve formulation and enhance UV protection, as well as the challenges of scaling production from promising science to commercial manufacturing. Dave also shares lessons from three biotech startups, including why sometimes knowing too much at the beginning can keep you from ever getting started.

We also look ahead to emerging opportunities in sunscreen technology, the skin microbiome, oligosaccharides, and the development of new bio-based ingredients.

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, or the future of skin care, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: ⁠https://mwbioprocessing.com/

How do you transform a scientific insight into a product that genuinely improves patients’ lives?

In this episode of the SKIN Angels Podcast, I sit down with Rafal Pielak, PhD, and Lama Mansour, MBA, co-founders of Soteri Skin, to discuss the journey from laboratory discovery to entrepreneurial success.

We explore:

• How one family’s struggle with eczema inspired an entirely new approach to skincare

• Why restoring the skin’s natural acid mantle may play an important role in healthy skin function

• The challenges of launching a science-based consumer brand

• How authentic patient stories built trust in a crowded marketplace

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, innovation, startups, or simply the process of bringing good ideas into the world, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: https://soteriskin.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Adam Friedman, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, to discuss the long and often unpredictable journey from scientific discovery to real-world therapies.

We explore how curiosity led to unexpected breakthroughs in nanotechnology, why successful innovation depends as much on the right team as the right idea, and the many lessons learned while navigating patents, business development, and product commercialization.

Whether you’re interested in dermatology, research, entrepreneurship, or the future of medical innovation, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: https://gwdocs.com/profile/adam-friedman

In this episode, I sit down with AJ Singhal, Founder and CEO of Kalm Therapeutics, to discuss how a father’s search for a better solution for his daughter’s eczema led to the development of the KALM Patch.

We explore the challenges of protecting inflamed skin, why reducing scratching is such an important part of eczema care, and how wound-healing science inspired a novel approach to topical treatment. AJ also shares the realities of bringing a medical innovation from concept to commercialization, including the lessons learned along the way.

Whether you’re interested in eczema, product development, entrepreneurship, or the future of over-the-counter dermatology, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: https://www.kalmwellness.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Edwards, Founder and Managing Partner of H Venture Partners and Co-Founder and President of ZenZema, to discuss the science, strategy, and persistence required to build an innovative approach to eczema care.

We explore the growing role of the skin microbiome, why itch remains one of eczema’s greatest unmet needs, what it takes to develop effective over-the-counter therapies, and how consumer insights and rigorous science can work together to drive innovation.

Whether you’re interested in eczema, microbiome research, entrepreneurship, or the future of dermatology, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Learn more: https://zenzema.com/

In this episode of the SKIN Angels Podcast, Peter Lio, MD, speaks with Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, founder of Yobee Care.

Dr. Gupta shares how her daughter’s severe eczema and cradle cap inspired her to develop microbiome-supporting skin care products, and how her background as a pediatrician, researcher, and food allergy expert shaped the company’s mission.

Together, they discuss the challenges of building a physician-led skin care brand, the importance of rigorous clinical research, the promise of microbiome-focused skin care, and the lessons learned from balancing medicine, research, family, and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Yobee Care: https://yobeecare.com/

In this episode of the SKIN Angels Podcast, I sit down with Oliver Liu, co-founder and CEO of Topaz Biosciences and the Hypothesis brand, to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in dermatology: precision engineering of the skin microbiome.

Oliver shares how his background in metagenomics, synthetic biology, and microbiome research led to the development of highly targeted enzymes designed to selectively remove problematic bacteria while preserving the beneficial microbes that support healthy skin.

We discuss the science behind microbiome-directed skincare, the challenges of building a biotechnology company from the ground up, the realities of product development and formulation, and why precision approaches may ultimately replace many of the broad-spectrum treatments that have dominated dermatology for decades.

This was a fascinating conversation about innovation, perseverance, scientific discovery, and the future of precision skin health.

More at: https://hypothesis.bio/