WELCOME TO VITALS, THE PULSE OF GEORGIA LIFE SCIENCESIn this incredible, timely, and informative episode of
VITALS, Maria Thacker, the CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, interviews Mike Walker, Vice President of Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft, for a rubust discussion on the integration of AI in the life sciences industry. He emphasized the importance of focusing on non-sexy use cases like SOPs and document generation to enhance productivity and compliance. Walker highlighted the need for trustworthy data, governance, and a zero-trust architecture to ensure regulatory compliance. He also stressed the importance of AI in talent retention and acquisition, particularly in small and mid-size biotech companies. Looking ahead, he predicted significant advancements in biohacking and quantum computing, and advocated for a proactive approach in building the "factory of the future."
Introduction- Maria Thacker introduces the podcast and welcomes Mike Walker, Vice President of Health and Life Science at Microsoft.
- Mike Walker shares his background in corporate strategy, innovation management, and his time at Gartner as VP of Technology Innovation and CTO Strategy.
- Mike discusses his role at Microsoft, emphasizing his work as a strategic advisor, a bridge between Microsoft and partners, and his experience in writing books and speaking at events.
- Maria highlights the importance of AI in the life sciences industry and the growing manufacturing capacity in Georgia, mentioning companies like Takeda, Burning Rock, and J&J.
AI in Life Sciences: Use Cases and Non-Sexy Applications- Maria asks Mike about the role of AI in the life sciences industry, specifically in pharma and biotech.
- Mike advises focusing on non-sexy use cases like SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and document generation for regulatory submissions.
- He emphasizes the importance of data trustworthiness and the need to upskill talent within organizations to adopt AI.
- Mike suggests avoiding advanced autonomous agents unless the organization is a leading innovator in AI.
Generational Divide and AI Integration- Maria clarifies that Mike is referring to AI tools and not human agents when discussing the generational divide.
- Mike explains the integration of AI tools like Copilot in Microsoft 365 and the importance of creating a platform of intelligence within organizations.
- Maria shares a TikTok example of a woman discovering AI tools in her new company and the potential for AI to create efficiencies and save costs.
- Mike discusses the architectural approach of creating a platform of intelligence and the importance of having AI capabilities accessible like an app store.
Regulatory and Geopolitical Forces Driving AI Adoption- Maria asks why life sciences companies should care about AI, especially in a regulated industry.
- Mike explains the amplification of workforce productivity through AI and the importance of AI in regulatory compliance and geopolitical aspects.
- He discusses the impact of regulatory changes, tariffs, and high-risk jurisdictions on supply chain networks and the role of AI in optimizing operations.
- Mike highlights the aging population and the need for AI to supplement workforce efforts and create a framework for talent retention and acquisition.
AI in New Product Introduction and Tech Transfer- Maria and Mike discuss the importance of AI in new product introduction (NPI) and tech transfer.
- Mike explains the challenges of hitting a patent cliff and the need for AI to maximize patent life cycles and improve NPI processes.
- He emphasizes the role of AI in creating repeatability and reducing the time to onboard new drugs.
- Maria and Mike agree on the importance of AI in small and mid-size biotech companies to stay competitive and agile.
Credibility and Governance of AI in Life Sciences- Maria asks about the credibility of AI and the need for guardrails and fallback systems.
- Mike emphasizes the importance of trustworthy data, governance, and zero-trust architecture to ensure regulatory compliance.
- He discusses the need for AI systems to be evergreen and agile in adapting to new regulatory requirements.
- Maria and Mike agree on the importance of having SOPs in place to track data and ensure compliance.
Practical Steps for Small Companies to Integrate AI- Maria asks about practical steps for small companies to integrate AI.
- Mike suggests starting small, using AI to help with upskilling and adopting AI tools like Copilot.
- He recommends hiring AI digital natives to shadow existing employees and share best practices.
- Mike emphasizes the importance of investing in talent and upskilling the existing workforce to leverage institutional knowledge.
Future of AI in Life Sciences: Short-Term and Long-Term Impact- Maria asks about the future of AI in life sciences and its impact on patients and the industry.
- Mike predicts that biohacking and quantum computing will have significant impacts in the next 5-10 years.
- He discusses the potential of biohacking to create meaningful data and human augmentation.
- Mike highlights the importance of quantum computing in security algorithms and its potential to revolutionize the industry.
Building the Factory of the Future- Maria and Mike discuss the concept of the factory of the future and its importance in life sciences.
- Mike emphasizes the need for a blueprint to define the capabilities and requirements of future manufacturing sites.
- He suggests that states and companies should proactively define what the factory of the future should look like.
- Maria highlights the opportunity for states like Georgia to be ahead of the game by defining and building the factory of the future.
Final Thoughts and Call to Action- Maria asks Mike for his final message to the growing ecosystem of small to mid-size biotech and medical device companies in Georgia
- Mike advises being deliberate in innovation and leveraging AI in smart ways to achieve business objectives.
- He emphasizes the importance of aligning AI initiatives with shareholder and investor KPIs.
- Maria concludes the conversation by highlighting the importance of AI in bringing treatments and cures to patients faster and creating efficiencies in the industry.
About Georgia Life SciencesAs the leading advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences’ mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry through partnerships and initiatives that accelerate innovation, investment, and job creation. To accomplish this mission, Georgia Life Sciences conducts economic development activities; advocates on behalf its members on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for idea exchange and cooperation.
For more information on the impactful work, to join as a member, or provide support to the mission, please visit Georgia Life Sciences at https://www.galifesciences.org/
About Cloudcast MediaAs the national leader in local podcasting to create a "listen where you live" mindset, Cloudcast Atlanta, a division of Cloudcast Media, proudly produces "VITALS: The Pulse of Georgia Life Sciences" through its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.
This episode was produced by Senior Associate Producer Brandon Joe. The episode was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Sky Guides Atlanta, the podcast program and studio affiliated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
