The Research Adventure Podcast

In this episode, Brian Quinn, founder and former CEO of Wellfish Tech, shares how a conversation with a fish farmer led to a University of the West of Scotland spinout now delivering fish health diagnostics across the UK, Norway, and Canada.

Brian discusses co-creating with industry from day one, translating lab research into tools that work in real-world conditions, and using an industry advisory board to guide development and secure early sales. He reflects on navigating funding challenges and knowing when to step aside as CEO while continuing to support the company’s growth.

In this end-of-season episode, Zach and Rachel reflect on the biggest insights from Season 2 of The Research Adventure Podcast. They explore what it really takes to turn research into impact, from breaking commercialisation into manageable projects, to reframing risk between academia and entrepreneurship. The conversation covers the power of early industry partnerships, focus and protected time, storytelling, relationships, and why sales is an often-missing but critical skill in spinouts.

The episode closes with a recurring theme across the season: impact isn’t a metric - it’s a person, a story, and a reason to keep going on the hardest days. It's a thoughtful reflection on the people, choices, and behaviours that turn research into real-world change.

In this episode, Affar Karimullah, co-founder and CTO of Pinpoint Medical, shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, focusing on the commercialisation of biosensors for prostate cancer diagnosis. He discusses the challenges of balancing academic responsibilities with entrepreneurial ambitions, navigating university politics, and the importance of building a strong team. Affar emphasises the need for collaboration and finding the right technology to meet market needs, while also reflecting on the future aspirations for his company and the impact of their innovations on healthcare.

In this conversation, Raj discusses his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, focusing on the founding of Re-Vana Therapeutics, a company dedicated to innovative ocular drug delivery systems. He shares insights on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, commercialisation, and maintaining urgency in startup environments. Raj emphasises the significance of focus in research and the impact of developing technologies that benefit patients. He also reflects on his role in mentoring PhD students and fostering a culture of innovation and skills development.

In this episode of the Research Adventure podcast, Andy shares his journey as a biotech entrepreneur, detailing his transition from academia to the startup world. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned while building successful ventures, including Gemini Therapeutics, Invizius and his current stealth project. Key themes include risk management, the importance of clear objectives in drug development, and the significance of teamwork and communication in navigating the complexities of biotech. Andy emphasises the need for a structured approach to entrepreneurship and the rewarding nature of delivering impactful solutions to improve lives.

In this episode of the Research Adventure podcast, Maya shares her journey as the CEO of Apeikon, a company focused on developing activatable nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of spinning out from King's College London, the importance of stakeholder engagement, and the current status of their clinical trials. Maya also highlights the significance of funding, her advice for pursuing grants, and her vision for the future of precision medicine. The conversation concludes with her reflections on supporting the next generation of academic entrepreneurs and the impact of her work on the world.

In this episode, we meet Dr. Philip Orr, Founder and CEO of Synaptec, a University of Strathclyde spinout focused on monitoring and control technologies for the power industry amidst the energy transition. He shares insights on the journey from academic research to commercialisation, the importance of the Enterprise Fellowship, funding strategies and the significance of building credibility in a conservative industry. Philip reflects on his personal growth as a CEO, the value of teamwork, and the future vision for Synaptec, emphasising the need for innovation and collaboration in the energy sector.

In this episode of the Research Adventure podcast, we meet Prof Aline Miller, Chief Scientific Officer of Unit M and former CEO of Manchester BioGel, a biotech spinout from the University of Manchester.

Aline reflects on her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, sharing the six biggest mistakes she made as CEO, including giving away too much equity, hiring the wrong people, and starting to sell too early. Alongside these hard-won lessons, she offers practical advice for researchers and founders preparing to take their own ideas to market.

We also explore how she aligned her academic identity with the realities of leading a startup, the systemic challenges universities face in commercialisation, and why building strong teams and infrastructure is essential for sustainable innovation.

Now at Unit M, Aline is helping to shape the future of research impact in Manchester, supporting students, researchers, and spinouts to create economic growth and lasting change.

In this episode, we meet Dr. Madusha Peiris, CEO and Co-Founder of Elcella, a Queen Mary University spinout transforming appetite regulation and gut health. Madusha shares her journey from early exposure to commercialisation during her PhD, to the patient stories that inspired her mission, and the pivotal moments that shaped her path as an entrepreneur. She reflects on the highs and lows of spinout life - from “eureka” insights and successful clinical trials to surviving the funding valley of death.  Today, she leads a high-growth startup that sold out its first product batch in 20 minutes and built a 2m-strong online community through authentic science communication.

In this reflective episode of the Research Adventure Podcast, host Zach Sorrells and producer Rachel Clark share the top insights from Season 1.

Rather than a checklist, they share the themes that kept surfacing across conversations with researchers and founders.  They explore how researchers view commercialisation as a route to impact — shaping decisions, team-building, and the way relationships are nurtured over time. They reflect on how funding influences behaviour, why negotiation is such a vital skill, and how industry perspectives can sharpen research outcomes.  They highlight a lesson that came up again and again: in commercialisation, time is often more valuable than money.

It’s a conversation about what really makes research commercialisation work — and what needs to change to make it easier, faster, and more rewarding.