BioTalk Unzipped
BioTalk Unzipped, hosted by Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe, unzips the stories behind medical progress through candid, intelligent, and often entertaining conversations with leaders across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, clinical research, bioanalysis, and drug development. Each episode explores the science, strategy, setbacks, breakthroughs, and human stories shaping the future of medicine. From first-in-human trials and biomarkers to oncology, rare disease, AI, regulatory strategy, and emerging therapeutic technologies, BioTalk Unzipped makes complex life science topics engaging, accessible, and relevant. The show feels like the conversation you would want to overhear after a great scientific conference: thoughtful, unscripted, curious, and grounded...
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Is AI Changing Scientists? The Future of Pharma with Dr. Rob Dodge
<p>Rob Dodge says AI has made him an expert Python programmer, even though he never took a class in it. But does having new capabilities change what it means to be a scientist?</p><p>Dr. Chad Briscoe sits down with Dr. Robert “Rob” Dodge at the AAPS National Biotechnology Conference in San Diego to discuss how artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing pharmaceutical research.</p><p>Thank you to our sponsors</p><p>TruTechnologies provides real-time clinical trial oversight, helping research teams improve protocol adherence and protect biospecimen integrity.</p><p>https://trutechnologies.ai/</p><p>Leucentra: Insp...
Do Clinical Trials Take Too Much Blood? Patient-Centric Sampling with Joleen White
<p>Clinical trials often collect far more blood than an assay actually needs. Dr. Joleen White asks a more disciplined question: What information is required to make a sound decision, and how little sample can be collected without compromising that decision?</p><p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, recorded at the 2026 AAPS National Biotechnology Conference in San Diego, Dr. Chad Briscoe sits down with Joleen to explore patient-centric sampling, dried blood microsampling, global bioanalytical capacity, and the values behind better drug development.</p><p>Joleen traces her path from a childhood friendship with someone living with cystic fibrosis to...
Why Gene Therapy Is Still So Hard to Manufacture at Scale | Phillip Ramsey
<p>Why is gene therapy still so difficult to manufacture at scale after decades of progress?</p><p>Phillip Ramsey, Chief Technical Officer at Sangamo Therapeutics, joins BioTalk Unzipped for a candid conversation about one of the central challenges facing advanced therapies: turning extraordinary science into reproducible, scalable medicines.</p><h3>Thank You to Our Sponsors</h3><p>Leucentra - https://leucentra.com/</p><p>Inspired by Science. Empowered by IT. Leucentra provides specialized IT consulting and services for life sciences and healthcare, helping organizations use technology more effectively to support innovation.</p><p>TruTechnologies - https://trutechnologies.ai/</p><...
Her Daughter’s Brain Tumor Turned Her Into a Biotech Founder | Tracy Ryan
<p>A mother’s search for answers to her daughter’s relentless brain tumor led her into natural killer cell biology, cancer immunotherapy, and biotech entrepreneurship.</p><p>Sponsored by Leucentra, https://leucentra.com/ </p><p>Inspired by science, empowered by IT. Leucentra helps life science and healthcare organizations evaluate, implement, and get more value from technology that supports innovation.</p><p>Tracy Ryan, co-founder of NKore BioTherapeutics and former chief communications officer, joins Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe to explain how her daughter Sophie’s pediatric brain tumor transformed her from a parent searching for options into a cancer...
The Future of Oncology Drug Development | Dr. Lakshmi Amaravadi
<p>Oncology drug development is becoming more complex, and bioanalysis can no longer be treated as simple drug measurement.</p><p>Sponsored by Leucentra, https://leucentra.com/</p><p>Inspired by science, empowered by IT. Leucentra helps life science and healthcare organizations evaluate, implement, and get more value from technology that supports innovation.</p><p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe speak with Dr. Lakshmi Amaravadi, Head of Oncology Bioanalysis at AstraZeneca, live from AAPS PharmSci 360 in San Antonio.</p><p>Dr. Amaravadi unpacks why biomarker validation is not one-size-fits-all, how context of use...
Active Machine Learning for Drug Discovery & Nanomedicine with Dr. Daniel Reker
<p>Can artificial intelligence help make cancer therapies safer, more targeted, and more effective?</p><p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin sits down with Dr. Daniel Reker, Assistant Professor at Duke University, for a wide-ranging conversation on active machine learning, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and the future of AI in biomedical research.</p><p>This episode is brought to you by Leucentra.</p><p>Inspired by Science Empowered by IT</p><p>https://leucentra.com/</p><p>Dr. Reker works at the intersection of AI, chemistry, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and molecular medicine. His lab develops computational and experimental...
Why Haven’t We Cured Cancer Yet? | Dr. Bob Liu Explains
<p>Why haven’t we cured cancer yet? A Genentech scientist explains the real reason.</p><p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe sit down with Dr. Bob Liu, Senior Principal Scientist at Genentech Roche, to unpack one of the most important and misunderstood questions in modern medicine.</p><p>This is a rigorous, scientifically grounded conversation on cancer biology, immunotherapy, and the real constraints shaping oncology drug development today.</p><p>Dr. Liu brings over a decade of experience across antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, and CAR-T therapies, offering a rare, insider pe...
The Intersection of Biotech, Patent Law, and AI with Dr. Kate Neville, IP Attorney
<p>Recorded October 31, 2025</p><p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe sit down with Dr. Kate Neville, immunologist turned seasoned biotech patent attorney at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, to unpack one of the most misunderstood and mission-critical areas of life sciences: intellectual property.</p><p>If you are a biotech founder, scientist, executive, or investor, this conversation is essential listening.</p><p>We explore what patent prosecution really means, when startups should begin thinking about IP protection, how “freedom to operate” can determine commercial viability, and how emerging AI tools are reshaping the patent landscape.</p><p...
Long-acting Cell-Based Gene Therapy, Fabry Disease and Beyond with Glafabra CEO, Dr. Chris Hopkins
<p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, hosts Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe sit down with Glafabra CEO: Dr. Chris Hopkins, geneticist, biochemist, and biotech entrepreneur, to explore the science and strategy behind next generation cell-based gene therapies for rare diseases.</p><p>With more than 25 years of experience spanning gene augmentation, rare disease biology, CRISPR licensing, and biotech formation, Dr. Hopkins shares how autologous, ex vivo engineered cell therapies may overcome key limitations of current enzyme replacement and viral gene therapies, particularly for Fabry disease.</p><p>The conversation dives deep into:</p><p> • How lentiviral gene augmentation in...
Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Drug Development in Rare Disease with Dr. Binodh DeSilva
<p>In this episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe sit down with Dr. Binodh DeSilva, Senior Vice President of Bioanalysis at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, to explore the science and soul behind rare-disease drug development.</p><p>From her early days studying electrochemistry at the University of Kansas to leading cutting-edge bioanalytical programs at Ultragenyx, Dr. DeSilva shares how curiosity and community shaped her four-decade career. She discusses the profound responsibility of working with limited, often irreplaceable patient samples with care.</p><p>A special thanks to AAPS (https://www.aaps.org/) for their help and support of...
