Welcome back to Transcribed, the podcast where we unpack the minds building the future of biotech. Today's guest, Professor Dr. Kerstin Goepfrich, is asking one of the most fundamental questions in all of science: what is life, and can we build it from scratch? As a full professor at Heidelberg University and group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, she is one of the world's leading voices in synthetic biology and DNA nanotechnology. Her work shows that DNA is an extraordinary building material, engineering structures that mimic the machinery of living cells — cytoskeletons, contractile rings, nanopores built from the ground up, one molecule at a time. Understanding life means being able to recreate it, and that's exactly what she's working towards.

Professor Dr. Kerstin Goepfrich is a Full Professor at the Center for Molecular Biology at Heidelberg University and a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research. She studied physics and molecular medicine in Erlangen, an unusual combination that shaped her interdisciplinary approach to biology. Her lab focuses on bottom-up synthetic biology, using DNA and RNA as building blocks to create minimal, self-replicating, evolving entities.

📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com

Kerstin explains:

◼️ How her unusual background in physics and molecular medicine led her to seek a "deeper understanding of the world" and tackle big questions like "what is life?"

◼️ Why DNA is an "extraordinary building material" beyond information storage, enabling complex 3D structures like the iconic DNA origami smiley face

◼️ The challenges of RNA folding compared to DNA, and why RNA is crucial for building synthetic cells due to its ability to store information *and* execute function

◼️ The breakthrough of building a genetically encoded, evolvable RNA cytoskeleton from scratch, moving towards systems that can "create complexity by itself"

◼️ Her realistic timeline for creating a "very minimal self-replicating evolving entity" in the lab — and the hardest unsolved problem of integrating genes into genomes

◼️ The immediate applications of synthetic biology tools, from enhancing RNA therapeutics and aptamers to engineering synthetic immune factors and CO2-capturing cells

◼️ Her philosophical perspective on "what is life," viewing it as a continuum from non-life to increasing complexity, rather than a black-and-white definition

00:00 Welcome to Transcribed

00:44 What is Life? Building it from Scratch

01:40 Physics, Molecular Medicine & the Quest for Deeper Understanding

03:00 From Studying to Building: The Path to Synthetic Biology

04:30 The Origins of Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology

05:50 DNA: More Than Information Storage — An Extraordinary Building Material

07:40 The Challenges & Promise of RNA Origami

10:30 Building a Genetically Encoded RNA Cytoskeleton

13:00 The Risks & Biocontainment of Synthetic Life

14:00 AI, AlphaFold & the Future of RNA Folding

17:30 When Will We Build a Self-Replicating Synthetic Cell?

19:30 The Hardest Unsolved Problem in Synthetic Cell Research

21:00 From Science Fiction to Reality: Applications of Synthetic Cells

25:00 Curiosity-Driven Research vs. Application-Focused Science

27:00 The Philosophy of Life: A Continuum of Complexity

30:00 Life Beyond Earth: Carbon-Based or Something Else?

32:00 Advice for Young Scientists in Synthetic Biology

34:00 Closing
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🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
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#KerstinGoepfrich #TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #SyntheticBiology #HeidelbergUniversity #Goepfrich #DNAOrigami #RNATherapeutics #Kerstin

After four decades at the intersection of science, industry, and strategy — from the DKFZ bench to 14 years in pharma R&D to two decades writing the EY Biotech Report — Dr. Siegfried Bialojan has watched German biotech ask the same question for 25 years: why doesn't the money show up? In this episode, he explains why Germany has never built a venture capital culture, the Strüngmann bet on BioNTech that nobody else would take, and the uncomfortable pattern of German innovation being acquired by foreign capital before it ever reaches the market.
Dr. Siegfried Bialojan is the former Executive Director of the EY Life Sciences Center in Mannheim and the author of the German EY Biotech Report, the most cited annual snapshot of the German biotech industry. Trained in molecular biology and medicine, he spent 14 years in pharma R&D at BASF (including the lab next door to where Humira was discovered) before joining EY in 2001 to build its life sciences practice — what he calls his "yellow parrot" years as a scientist among economists.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 8 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Siegfried explains:◼️ Why Germany has the science but not the mindset — "no risk, no fun" and the cultural gap that keeps capital out of biotech◼️ The Strüngmann bet on BioNTech: how a single private family office took the mRNA risk that no VC or pharma would touch, and why that example should reshape how Germany thinks about early funding◼️ The Baden-Württemberg leverage model — two euros of state money for every private euro — and why it actually moves the needle on early-stage risk◼️ Why German innovation keeps getting acquired before it reaches the market (Tubulis is the latest), and what the country loses each time it happens◼️ Career advice from someone who pivoted three times: don't wait for job boards, talk to people directly, and carry your competence forward rather than starting from scratch
00:00 Welcome to Transcribed00:48 Inside EY: From Audit Firm to Biotech Thought Leader01:19 The "Yellow Parrot" Years — A Scientist Among Economists05:31 Building the EY Life Sciences Center in Mannheim08:11 Before Google: How to Collect Biotech Data via Questionnaires10:14 From the DKFZ Bench to BASF — Why He Left Academia12:55 The BASF–Abbott Sale and the Humira Lab Next Door14:33 Spotting Career Opportunities: Bring Your Competence Forward17:48 Advice for Scientists Moving from Academia to Industry22:00 Why Direct Outreach Beats 200 Job Applications24:00 Learning Finance as a Scientist Inside EY25:24 Two Decades of Biotech Reports: Why the Same Problems Keep Coming Back27:00 The Risk-Taking Gap — Why Germany Doesn't Own Stocks32:00 The Strüngmann Bet on BioNTech: When Private Money Beats VC36:33 Where the Money Is Really Needed (and Why VCs Show Up Too Late)39:30 The Baden-Württemberg Model — Leveraging Private Money with State Money43:00 The 1% Pension Fund Idea: What Switzerland Did and Germany Didn't45:39 Germany vs US vs China — Where the Money (and the Exits) Go48:00 Tubulis and the German Innovation Drain50:00 Advice to Young Biotech Scientists Today51:13 Closing
Follow Siegfried:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/siegfried-bialojan-64958113/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #VentureCapital #BioNTech #GermanBiotech #EY #LifeSciences #Heidelberg

From starting and selling companies across three continents to backing the next wave of European biotech, Dr. Andreas Schmidt now sits at the intersection of founder, operator, and investor. In this episode, he explains why "venture capital is the most expensive money" and when founders should reach for it last, what most investors miss when evaluating early-stage biotech, and the "diving platform" decision rule he uses at life's intersections — the only move that never works is staying still.
Dr. Andreas Schmidt is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Springboard Health Angels, a Munich-based angel network and venture fund investing in early-stage health and life sciences companies. He holds a PhD in immunology from UC Berkeley and has founded biotech companies across Singapore, the US, and Germany — including AYOXXA Biosystems — before turning his operator experience into capital and mentorship for the next generation of biotech founders.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 7 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Andreas explains:◼️ Why "venture capital is the most expensive money" — and the underused alternatives (early customer revenue, family offices, public-funding matches) most biotech founders never explore◼️ The "accidental marathon runner" mindset: why biotech takes twice the time and resources you plan for, and why grit beats brilliance◼️ Why immigrants make exceptional founders — and how "swim or sink" environments unlock creativity people never tap when life is comfortable◼️ His honest take on AI-only life science startups: why he prefers companies with "hard assets" — labs, molecules, IP, clinical data — over pure-software bets◼️ The "diving platform" rule for life's decisive decisions — jump in or step down, but standing still is the only option that never works
00:00 Welcome to Transcribed00:48 What Is Springboard Health Angels? Investing with a Founder's Mindset01:27 The Jugend forscht Moment That Opened the World of Science02:21 Why Build a Company Instead of Staying in Academia04:55 The Hidden Network: How a Founder Convention Changed His Path05:45 The First Company in Singapore: Subletting Rooms to Pay Employees07:10 Serial Entrepreneurship: What the Glossy Stories Leave Out08:11 What Makes Biotech Different: The Accidental Marathon Runner09:07 Can Entrepreneurship Be Learned? Why Immigrants Make Great Founders10:14 AI in Biotech: Why Hard Assets Still Matter11:37 Inside a VC's Due Diligence: What AI Can't Tell You About Founders13:22 Mentoring Founders: Seeing Your Younger Self Across the Table15:22 Beyond Venture Capital: Mapping All the Ways to Fund a Biotech17:07 Building vs. Investing: Why Andreas Loves the Hybrid Life18:25 A Day in the Life of a VC: Fundraising, Trust, and Coffee Chats21:03 The Sparring Partner Role: Opening Doors and Sharing What Went Wrong22:59 The AYOXXA Lesson: Why the Last 0.01% Decides Everything24:06 The Most Underrated Influences: Mentors, Family, and the Boy Scouts26:12 Advice for Young People: Take Responsibility Early27:07 The Diving Platform: How to Make Life's Decisive Decisions28:32 Exponential Hype vs. Biological Reality: Will We Cure All Disease?30:00 Advice to His 25-Year-Old Self: Don't Stay on the Rails31:00 Closing
Follow Andreas:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-schmidt-phd-80259a/ [VERIFY: confirm LinkedIn URL from episode folder]
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech#Science #VentureCapital #Startups #AngelInvesting #SpringboardHealthAngels #Munich

As managing director of BioRN, Dr. Julia Schaft sits at the center of one of Europe's most powerful biotech ecosystems — connecting world-class research institutions, startups, and 9 of the top 20 global pharma companies within the Heidelberg region. In this episode, she unpacks why Europe keeps losing biotech companies to the US, how Germany's risk-averse culture holds back innovation, and what it actually takes to turn academic science into real products.
Dr. Julia Schaft is the Managing Director of BioRN, the biotech cluster covering Heidelberg and the broader Rhein-Neckar region. She holds a PhD from EMBL and has spent over a decade building bridges between academia, industry, and policy to strengthen Germany's life science ecosystem.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Julia explains:◼️ Why Europe has dropped from #2–3 to #7–8 globally in clinical trials — and how bureaucracy and slow processes are driving startups to the US◼️ The "valley of death" problem: German startups get funded at the seed stage but struggle to find capital for preclinical development◼️ Why "Americans tend to overpromise and Europeans tend to undersell" — and what that means for European science◼️ Her honest take on AI in life sciences: "The ultimate proof that it's actually really working is still out there"◼️ How BioRN grew from 70–80 members to 185 by creating genuine win-win collaborations instead of funding-driven alliances
00:00 Welcome to Transcribed00:44 What Is BioRN? How a Biotech Cluster Works01:40 A Day in the Life of a Managing Director03:58 What Startups, Pharma, and Academia Need from BioRN05:20 From Lab Bench to Ecosystem Builder: Julia's Career Shift06:55 What Makes Heidelberg a Top European Biotech Hub08:35 The Biggest Obstacles to Translating Science into Products11:00 Is Europe Falling Behind the US and China?13:00 Venture Capital and Risk Culture: Europe vs. America15:40 How to Get Competitors to Actually Collaborate17:20 Talent Retention: "We Don't Need to Attract Them — We Need to Keep Them"18:35 BioRN's Growth: From 80 Members to 18520:07 Scientist by Heart, Networker by Evolution21:18 AI in Life Sciences: Promise vs. Proof23:10 Advice for Young Scientists Considering Industry25:01 Will AI Take Away Jobs in Biotech?26:00 Closing
Follow Julia:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-schaft-409396a/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #BioRN #Heidelberg #Startups #VentureCapital #Innovation

From dreaming of becoming a pilot to engineering proteins with light, Prof. Dr. Dominik Niopek sits at the cutting edge of programmable biology — building tools that let scientists control gene editing with a laser beam. In this episode, he walks us through how CRISPR went from a test tube experiment to an FDA-approved therapy in just 12 years, why humanoid robots might soon asist PhD students at the lab bench, and how AI is reshaping everything from protein design to how we educate the next generation of scientists.
Prof. Dr. Dominik Niopek is a professor and group leader at Heidelberg University, where he runs a ~20-person lab specializing in optogenetics, CRISPR engineering, and AI-driven protein design. His work focuses on using light-sensitive proteins to precisely control genome editing and cellular processes, bridging synthetic biology and therapeutic application.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Dominik explains:◼️ How his lab fuses light-sensing proteins to CRISPR tools — activating genome editing by shining a laser on a single point inside a cell◼️ Why CRISPR going from test tube to FDA-approved therapy in 12 years is "almost incomparable to anything else" in science◼️ Why humanoid robots at ~50–100K each could transform academic labs faster than traditional automation◼️ His bold vision: outsource all foundational university teaching to AI tutors so professors can focus on creative, project-based collaboration◼️ The internal reproducibility rule his lab enforces — and why it has produced near-zero complaints from collaborators
00:00 Welcome to Transcribed00:45 The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Pilot02:39 The Moment Science Became an Obsession04:47 Why Scientists Should Play Piano07:15 iGEM: The Competition That Changed His Life09:58 A Day in the Life of a Professor12:06 What Is Optogenetics? Controlling Cells with Light15:09 How Running a Lab Changes as You Grow17:16 AI in the Lab: From AlphaFold to De Novo Protein Design20:39 Will AI Replace University Professors?25:00 The Hidden Risk of Trusting a Single AI27:00 CRISPR: The Biggest Biotech Revolution of Our Time30:36 The Future Lab: Humanoid Robots at the Bench33:06 The Reproducibility Crisis Is Not Over38:31 Career Advice: Follow Your Curiosity, Build Your Network40:49 Closing
Follow Dominik:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominik-niopek-796775b5/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #CRISPR #Optogenetics #GeneTherapy #AI #Heidelberg

Abdelrahman Mahmoud explains how his company CellRewire is building AI architectures that can predict disease onset years before symptoms appear and computationally reprogram diseased cells back to healthy states. The conversation spans the fundamentals of single-cell genomics, why existing foundation models in biology have underdelivered, and how reinforcement learning agents can compress decades of drug discovery into weeks.
Dr. Abdelrahman Mahmoud is the founder and CEO of CellRewire, a biotech-AI company pioneering "predictive and reprogrammable medicine." He holds a PhD from DKFZ / Heidelberg University and is currently based at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Abdelrahman explains:◼️ How AI can decode the 20,000 switches that control every cell in your body◼️ Why billion-dollar foundation models in biology are being outperformed by simple linear models◼️ The "medical copilot" vision: an AI that helps doctors diagnose and patients understand their own health◼️ How CellRewire compressed 30 years of cardiac drug discovery into a single month◼️ Why lab automation — not compute — is the true unlock for AI-driven medicine
00:00 Introduction: The Future of Medicine at the Cellular Level00:47 Meet Dr. Abdelrahman Mahmoud01:02 The 20,000 Switches Inside Your Cells02:27 What Is CellRewire? Predictive and Reprogrammable Medicine03:34 The Most Surprising Thing AI Has Taught Us About Biology05:29 What Data Goes Into the AI and What Comes Out?06:27 How Single-Cell Genomics Works08:40 Learning From Failure: The Frustration That Sparked CellRewire10:33 How to Prioritize When Data Is Overwhelming12:30 CellRewire Today: Team, Stage, and Next Steps14:13 Two Products: Medical Copilot and Cell Reprogramming Therapeutics17:49 Data Privacy: Federated Learning and Hospital-Level Security19:48 The Compute Question: Do You Need a Supercomputer?22:14 Hardest Decisions and the Power of Following Fundamental Questions24:01 The Future of Research in 5 Years: Will AI Replace PhDs?27:09 The Most Exciting Frontier in Single-Cell Biology29:32 Abdelrahman's Personal Journey Into Science31:23 How to Fix Biomedical Research Worldwide35:09 Advice for Aspiring Researchers and Closing Thoughts
Follow Abdelrahman:https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdelrahman-mahmoud-264b37138/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #AI #SingleCell #CellRewire #DrugDiscovery

Dr. Volker Stadler, CEO of PEPperPRINT, explains how his Heidelberg-based company uses a modified laser printer to synthesize peptide microarrays — a technology that maps how the immune system responds to viruses, vaccines, and autoimmune conditions with amino-acid-level precision. The conversation covers PEPperPRINT's pivotal role during the early days of COVID-19, the realities of bootstrapping a biotech company, and the current turmoil in the US biotech market.
Dr. Volker Stadler is CEO of PEPperPRINT, a Heidelberg-based biotech company that pioneered laser-printer technology to manufacture peptide microarrays for immune response profiling. A physical chemist by training with a PhD from the University of Heidelberg, he joined the founding team at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Volker explains:◼️ How a modified office laser printer became one of the most powerful tools in immune system research◼️ The untold story of Germany's first nine COVID-19 patients and the microarrays that helped decode the virus◼️ Why a University of Chicago professor couldn't spend her own research money for 30 minutes◼️ The 90-page booklet on how not to offend Japanese customers — and other lessons in cross-cultural biotech sales◼️ What happens when you deliver wrong data to a pharma company that already filed it with regulators
00:00 Introduction & Welcome00:58 The Origin Story of PEPperPRINT at DKFZ02:55 From Research Group Leader to Biotech CEO04:24 Funding a Startup Without Major VC06:00 Peptide Microarrays Explained: How the Technology Works09:01 COVID-19: Building a SARS-CoV-2 Array and Testing Germany's First Patients11:52 Applications Beyond COVID: Autoimmune, Allergy, Vaccine & Biomarker Research13:07 A Day in the Life of a Biotech CEO14:40 Communication Tips: Honesty, Directness & Cultural Differences18:50 AI and Machine Learning at PEPperPRINT20:55 Hardest Moments: Cash Crises, Technical Failures & the Wrong Antibody Incident22:20 The 2025 US Biotech Downturn: NIH Cuts, DOGE & Market Impact25:10 Future Plans: Diversification, Glycopeptides & Therapeutic Antibody Discovery27:02 Inside the Printer: Laser Toner Technology & the Next-Gen cLIFT System31:14 Advice for Students Starting a Biotech Company34:08 Hiring at PEPperPRINT: What Volker Looks For36:26 Career Reflection: How Enthusiasm Changes Over Time37:59 Closing Remarks
Follow Volker:https://www.linkedin.com/in/volker-stadler-1254001a/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #PEPperPRINT #PeptideMicroarray #COVID19 #Immunology

Dr. Axel Schumacher recounts how he pioneered the epigenetic microarray assay technology — a breakthrough that allows scientists to measure DNA methylation patterns across the entire genome, something a famous professor once told him would be impossible for 50 years. The conversation dives deep into epigenetic clocks, biological aging, and the tantalizing possibility of reversing aging altogether.
Dr. Axel Schumacher is a German scientist and biotech entrepreneur who invented the epigenetic microarray assay technology during his postdoc in Toronto — publishing the first-ever methylation map of a human chromosome. He has since transitioned to founding biotech startups in the longevity and epigenetics space.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Axel explains:◼️ How your lifestyle literally rewrites your DNA — switching genes on and off◼️ The professor who laughed at a breakthrough that took only six months to achieve◼️ Why brilliant scientists end up driving taxis — the brutal reality of academic career paths◼️ Your body has a hidden clock that reveals your true biological age◼️ The trauma your grandparents survived may still be written in your cells
00:31 Welcome & Introduction to Dr. Axel Schumacher01:02 What Is Epigenetics? DNA Methylation & Histone Modifications Explained04:07 The Origin Story: How Frustration Led to Inventing Microarray Technology07:01 Late Nights in the Lab: Building DNA Printers from Inkjet Printers08:00 "They Laughed at Me": Being Rejected at the Max Planck Institute11:58 The Epigenetics Explosion: From Patent to Worldwide Impact12:28 The Professor Who Dismissed Him — And How It Fueled the Breakthrough14:01 First Principles Thinking in Science and Startups17:19 Obstacles in Academia and the 4,000 Job Applications19:55 The Bizarre Story of Not Getting Hired for His Own Invention24:00 From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Building Biotech Startups27:00 Why Networking Is the Most Critical Skill for Scientists30:50 Epigenetic Clocks: Measuring Your Biological Age37:00 Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: How Trauma Passes to Offspring41:00 Depression, Loneliness, and the Modern Epigenetic Crisis45:55 How to Test Your Epigenome Today: Longevity Clinics and At-Home Kits49:00 What Is Aging on a Cellular Level? The Hallmarks of Epigenetic Aging54:26 Longevity Escape Velocity: Preparing to Live Forever56:30 AI, Super Intelligence, and the Future of Humanity58:49 Closing Thoughts
Follow Axel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/draxelschumacher/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]
🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja
#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #Epigenetics #Longevity #Aging #BiologicalAge

Professor Patrick Most traces the 25-year journey from discovering a molecule that enhances heart contractility during his doctoral thesis, through founding two biotech startups, to his current company Aavigen's mission to deliver the first cardiac gene therapy via a simple intravenous injection by end of 2027. A masterclass in how academic scientists can navigate the path from lab bench to clinical product.Patrick Most is a W3 Professor of Molecular and Translational Cardiology at the University of Heidelberg and founder of Aavigen, a biotech startup developing heart-targeted gene therapies using engineered adeno-associated viruses (AAVs).📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.comPatrick explains:◼️ Why gene therapy could cure heart failure with a single 15-minute injection◼️ What 60 rejected investor calls taught a scientist about the business world◼️ How a failed first startup with Bristol Myers Squibb became the foundation for a stronger second company◼️ Why AI is not yet ready to design heart-targeting viruses — but will be within two years◼️ The hidden conflict young scientists face: publishing papers vs. protecting patents00:38 Introduction: Gene Therapy and the Quest to Cure Heart Disease01:42 What First Pushed You Toward Gene Therapy for the Heart?03:17 The Long Road from Academia to Biotech Startup06:55 Building the Business Plan with Mannheim Business School09:07 Pitching 60+ Investors and Finding Forbion12:18 How Pitches Evolved: Lessons in Investor Communication13:35 Biggest Pitfalls When Academics Try to Translate Discoveries16:55 The Cost Problem: Making Gene Therapy Affordable at Scale19:43 Gene Therapy 101: How Viruses Become Molecular Taxis22:29 How the Therapy Is Delivered: Injection, Infusion, or Catheter?24:57 Engineering Heart-Targeted AAVs: Capsid Design and Selection27:55 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Gene Therapy Development30:44 Aavigen's Business Model: Lead Products and Licensing34:01 Misconceptions About Gene Therapy and the Hype Cycle36:14 Managing Frustration and Staying Motivated Over Decades39:01 The Biggest Scientific Gamble: Lessons from the First Startup43:16 Balancing Professorship and Running a Company Day-to-Day45:00 Advice for Young Scientists: Incubate in Academia or Spin Out?47:20 The CEO's Role: Gut Feeling, Scenario Building, and Plan B50:02 How the Co-Founders Met and What Makes a Strong Team54:14 Pivoting Through COVID: When You Cannot Start Despite Having Funding55:57 Navigating Biotech Funding in a Scarce Market58:28 When to Start Building Investor Relationships1:01:00 Advice to Students: Knock on Startup Doors1:02:41 How Entrepreneurship Makes You a Better Professor1:05:02 US vs. Germany: Funding, Flexibility, and Academic Culture1:08:01 Career Reflections: What Would You Do Differently?1:10:12 Timeline: When Will Gene Therapy Cure Heart Disease?1:12:58 Closing RemarksFollow Patrick:https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-patrick-most-174506a4/—Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.🎙️ Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TranscribedPod📥 Free Biotech Starter Pack → https://transcribedpod.com🌐 https://transcribedpod.com📸 Instagram: @transcribedpod📧 [email protected]🎵 Jingle composed by Tembeh → https://open.spotify.com/artist/4s9JmadJjVdYQ6YxYtJgja#TranscribedPodcast #Biotech #Pharma #Science #Interview #GeneTherapy #Cardiology #Aavigen

Dr. Christian Tidona, founder and CEO of BioMed X, shares his journey from a PhD in virology to building one of Heidelberg's most innovative biotech research institutes — without taking a single euro of venture capital. He reveals the hard-won lessons from a failed first startup with striking parallels to the Theranos scandal, the critical role of trust and mentors, and why Heidelberg's walkable science campus is becoming a powerhouse for biomedical innovation.
Dr. Christian Tidona is a molecular biologist, serial entrepreneur, and founder of BioMed X, a research institute in Heidelberg that bridges academia and industry through global crowdsourcing bootcamps. He co-founded BioRN and recently expanded BioMed X to Yale University.
📥 We distilled the sharpest lessons from our first 6 guests into one free guide — the Insider Biotech Career Starter Pack. Get it at https://transcribedpod.com
Christian explains:◼️ Why his first startup had the same pitch as Theranos — and how he avoided the same fate◼️ How a broken shoelace at a conference led him to his most important mentor◼️ Why he refuses venture capital — and what he uses instead◼️ How Heidelberg's walkable campus is quietly rivaling Boston and Cambridge◼️ The sleep-deprivation test BioMed X uses to identify top scientific talent
00:00 Welcome to Transcribed: Meet Dr. Christian Tidona00:37 From PhD to Entrepreneur: Discovering Two Hearts in One Chest01:26 The First Startup That Failed — and Its Theranos Connection03:07 The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Handling Obstacles and Embracing Risk04:00 Why Entrepreneurs Should Never Separate Work and Life05:20 Trust Over Talent: How to Choose the Right People06:04 If You Could Start Over: Advice to His Younger Self07:00 Finding a Mentor: The Shoelace Story09:43 What Aspiring Biotech Founders Underestimate Most11:03 Business Plan Competitions and Perseverance13:18 Luck vs. Preparation: It Is a Numbers Game14:31 Idea Killers and Why Openness Opens Doors16:24 The Hardest Period: Losing Everything in Startup #117:49 Growing vs. Starting a Company: The VC Trap22:44 Expanding BioMed X to Yale: Why New Haven Beat Cambridge25:01 Small Company Small Problems, Big Company Big Problems26:24 The Right Way to Network: Trust Over Business Cards29:45 Family and Entrepreneurship: Making It Work Together30:38 Three Career Paths in Science33:15 A Day in the Life of a Biotech CEO35:13 The 80/20 Rule: Balancing Focus with Exploration38:17 Heidelberg's Biotech Ecosystem: From the 1970s to Master Plan 205042:17 Allergic to Mediocrity: How BioMed X Selects Top Scientists43:50 Inside the BioMed X Bootcamp: How Global Talent Is Found46:02 The Long-Term Vision: Building a Global Family of Impact47:16 Closing: Enjoy Science and Make Meaningful Connections
Follow Christian:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tidona/BioMed X - https://bmedx.com/
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Transcribed Podcast — in-person interviews with scientists, founders, and industry experts shaping the future of biotech and pharma.
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