Chris Bahl is the Co-founder and CEO of AI Proteins. He also established the Boston Protein Design and Modeling Club (BPDMC), where he serves as Co-organizer. After completing his PhD in biochemistry from Dartmouth, Chris joined David Baker Lab at the University of Washington, where he pioneered the ability to design mini-proteins as a postdoc with the future Nobel Laureate. Chris later joined Institute of Protein Innovation as one of the founding faculty members, with co-appointments at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In 2021, Chris left academia and co-founded AI Proteins.

In this episode,

* Chris shares his career journey from academic faculty to founder, CSO, and recently CEO of AI Proteins, which is a Boston-based startup with a niche in using AI to design proteins. Over the past 3 years, the company has generated 150 protein drug candidates

* Chris discusses how mini-proteins could transform medicine, agriculture, and beyond. He offers his vision on the future and the trend of AI powered protein design.

* Chris reflects on his own path and offers career advice for academic scientists interested in becoming a startup founder.

* As a self-proclaimed protein geek, Chris credits the vibrant Boston biotech ecosystem with helping him grow into a mature biotech entrepreneur.

About Chris Bahl

Christ Bahl’s TED talk

AI Proteins

BPDMC

Co-Hosts: Fang Xie and Yossef Baidi

Planning: Yossef Baidi

Post-production: Fang Xie

Peter Kolchinsky: Scientist, investor, author, founder of No Patient Left Behind, and co-founder of RA Capital Management.

Peter is a virologist by training from Harvard University. After finishing his PhD, he went on to create RA Capital, a leading biotech venture capital firm. In this episode, Peter shares his journey to starting RA Capital and becoming a venture capital investor.

* He shares his background, growing up in an entrepreneurial family.

* He shares the origin of why he started the Harvard Biotech Club during his PhD.

* We discuss how Peter started RA Capital and his career as a venture capital investor.

* We discuss drug pricing and how Peter created No Patient Left Behind, to help make innovative medicines more affordable for patients.

About Peter

Read more about Peter’s views and opinions

Read Peter’s Book “The Great American Drug Deal”

Photos (front row, from left): Michelle Boisvert (Co-President of Harvard Biotech Club), Fang Xie (Host), Peter Kolchinsky (Guest), Yossef Baidi (Host), Binita Shah (Co-President of Harvard Biotech Club); (Back rows): Harvard Biotech Club Leadership members, friends, and guests. The event organizer: Monica Cassandras (the third row, the first from left); the HBC website manager: Isabella Jaen Maisonet (the second row, the second from left).

Location: Serengeti Atrium, Broad Institute.

Maddie is a parasitologist by training from Harvard University. After her PhD graduation, she joined McKinsey as an associate. In this episode, Maddie shared her journey from the lab to consulting.

* Emily Gaudiano reflects on her PhD in Arlene Sharpe Lab at Harvard Medical School and shares the pivotal moments that influenced her career.

* With experience in recruiting interns for VC, she offers valuable insights and actionable strategies for graduates aspiring to break into biotech VC.

* She shares her experience as an intern and later as a full-time Associate in MPM BioImpact and SV Health Investors, offering a glimpse into life in the Biotech VC industry.

Emily is an energetic person. She likes traveling, scuba-diving, and cooking.

Guest speaker: Emily Gaudiano

Podcast hosts: Fang Xie & Yossef Baidi

The Pulse is brought to you by the Harvard Biotech Club