Dr. Anh Nguyen has built a career at the intersection of medicine, biotechnology, and public policy, bringing a unique perspective on how scientific innovation translates into real-world impact. As the co-founder and CEO of Alnair Therapeutics, Anh is leading the development of a novel drug delivery platform designed to transform cancer treatment, ensuring that therapies reach their targets more effectively while reducing side effects for patients.  In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, Anh shares his journey from clinical practice to biotech entrepreneurship, detailing the pivotal mom ..read more

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, we welcome Dede Willis, co-founder and CEO of Orbit Genomics, a trailblazer in the field of diagnostics and life sciences. With a background in engineering and over 25 years of leadership experience, Dede shares how her engineering mindset and entrepreneurial resilience have driven her to build impactful startups that tackle complex challenges.  Dede dives into the mission of Orbit Genomics, exploring how they’re harnessing the potential of “junk DNA” to revolutionize cancer detection and save lives. She also opens up about the challenges of securi ..read more

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, we welcome Dede Willis, co-founder and CEO of Orbit Genomics, a trailblazer in the field of diagnostics and life sciences. With a background in aerospace engineering and over 25 years of leadership experience, Dede shares how her engineering mindset and entrepreneurial resilience have driven her to build impactful startups that tackle complex challenges.  Dede dives into the mission of Orbit Genomics, exploring how they’re harnessing the potential of “junk DNA” to revolutionize cancer detection and save lives. She also opens up about the challenges ..read more

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns: Rising Stars, we are joined by Dr. Gabe Kwong, a trailblazing biomedical engineer, innovator, and entrepreneur. Gabe is the director of the Laboratory for Synthetic Immunity at Georgia Tech and Emory University, where his groundbreaking research focuses on engineering immune cells as living drugs and developing cutting-edge diagnostics for early disease detection.  Gabe shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, founding Glimpse Bio and Port Therapeutics to bring life-saving technologies from the lab to the market. He delves into the tra ..read more

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, John Flavin sits down with Casey McPherson, a musician, songwriter, and rare disease advocate whose life took an extraordinary turn when his daughter, Rose, was diagnosed with HNRNPH2, an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Best known for his work as the lead vocalist and songwriter for Alpha Rev and Flying Colors, Casey has spent much of his career crafting powerful music that resonates deeply with audiences. But when faced with the challenges of navigating the healthcare system for rare diseases, Casey turned his creativity, resilience, and determ ..read more

This episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns features an inspiring conversation with Julia Vitarello, founder of Mila’s Miracle Foundation and a trailblazer in the field of individualized genetic therapies. Julia shares the story of her daughter Mila, who was diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic disease, Batten disease, at age six. Confronted with a system ill-equipped to handle ultra-rare conditions, Julia embarked on a transformative journey to develop Milasen, the first-ever genetic therapy tailored for a single individual.  Through resilience and collaboration, Julia mobilized a global net ..read more

In this episode, John Flavin sits down with Dr. Ivan Liachko, co-founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, a company at the forefront of genomics and microbiome research. Ivan shares his journey from a young immigrant fascinated by biology in Ukraine to a biotech leader based in Seattle. His academic path began with a keen interest in genetics, leading him to work at the University of Washington, where he honed skills in both genetics and computer science. Dr. Liachko discusses how Phase Genomics emerged from a passion project to solve unique biological challenges, evolving into a full-fledged compan ..read more

In this insightful episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, Steve Lehmann sits down with Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Qin shares his groundbreaking work in biomedical engineering, focusing on the development of nanomaterials to advance diagnostics and therapeutic delivery. From innovations in nanoparticle technology to exploring the blood-brain barrier for treatment delivery, Dr. Qin’s journey reveals the power of interdisciplinary research. This episode dives into the evolution of his career, his shift from traditiona ..read more

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Raghu Kalluri, a leading figure in cancer biology, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. With over 300 publications, multiple successful biotech ventures, and groundbreaking work in exosome research, Dr. Kalluri discusses the intricate relationship between science, medicine, and industry, his career path from researcher to entrepreneur, and his exciting vision for using innovation to transform cancer care.  ..read more

Join us on Lab Rats to Unicorns as we dive into the career of Michael Torres, CEO of Crossbridge Bio. With a Ph.D. in cancer biology and a background in equity research, Michael has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge oncology treatments. In this episode, he discusses the evolution of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the process of building biotech companies in the Texas innovation ecosystem, as well as his personal journey from researcher to CEO.  ..read more