Leading Beyond The Lab

This episode is a masterclass in how world-class life sciences investors think about risk, conviction, and real patient impact.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Nikhil Thatte, Partner at Lumira Ventures, a leading Canadian life sciences venture capital firm, with over a decade of experience backing transformative biotech and medtech companies across North America.

In this conversation, Nikhil shares how Lumira Ventures has built a top-quartile VC track record over multiple market cycles, investing across therapeutic areas including oncology, gene editing, gene therapy, immunology, cardiometabolic disease, and...

Duration: 00:45:03

Cardio-metabolic diseases are the world’s biggest killer. But what if the next generation of treatments could change everything?

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jyothis George, CMO of Nodthera, and a global thought leader in the obesity space, shaping the future of cardio-metabolic and inflammatory disease innovation. Jyothis has led global programs across GLP-1, SGLT2, PCSK9 and now the emerging NLRP3 inhibitor class. His work spans companies such as Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim and his move into biotech with NodThera marks a shift from big-Pharma leadership into next-wave th...

Duration: 00:41:56

25 years of life sciences venture experience in one episode.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, @Lawrence Rose sat down with @Joey Mason, a venture investor with 25 years of experience across venture debt, venture capital and company building. Joey’s background spans senior roles with @Claret Capital Partners, @Sofinnova Partners, and earlier positions in investment banking and CRO services. His track record includes multiple successful exits, advising boards, working across Medtech, Biotech, digital health and Techbio, and supporting companies through regulatory approval, clinical development and commercial scale.

In this episode, Joey covers:

Jo...

Duration: 00:51:37

🤔 What does it really take to build a biotech that survives the clinical gauntlet and scales into a global business?

🎬 This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Roel Bulthuis, Managing Partner and Head of Investments at Syncona Limited.

Roel has spent his career building, funding and scaling European biotech companies end-to-end, supporting high-performing teams from inception through clinical development, commercial launch and manufacturing scale-up.

Along the way he references outcomes from portfolio companies such as Autolus Therapeutics and Beacon Therapeutics, showing how patient capital and convic...

Duration: 00:45:29

A once-in-a-century transformation, and the leader driving it.

This week, in one of our biggest episode of Leading Beyond the Lab yet, we sit down with Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, a company valued in the multi-billion-euro range and entering one of the most defining chapters in its 100-year history.

With over 25+ years of global biopharma leadership experience, spanning pivotal roles at Amgen, Sanofi, and Orphazyme, Christophe brings a rare combination of commercial excellence, turnaround leadership, and global market insight. He also shares how senior leaders such as Murdo Gordon helped shape his...

Duration: 00:35:02

What does it take to shape a high-impact biotech investment portfolio - and do it under a medical charity mandate?

This week we sit down with Clare Terlouw, Head of LifeArc Ventures, whose 20+ year career spans investment banking, biotech company building, and leading venture teams focused on health innovation. With a unique perspective at the intersection of science, capital, and patient impact, Clare shares a candid and optimistic view of the evolving biotech landscape in the UK and beyond.

In this episode, Clare covers:

- LifeArc Ventures’ mission: how a medical ch...

Duration: 00:39:49

If you're not paying attention to nuclear medicine, Danielle Meyrick will change that in under five minutes.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Danielle Meyrick, Director and Co-Founder at EPIC Theranostics, to explore the meteoric rise of nuclear medicine and radiotheranostics. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia, biotech, and hospital environments, Danielle is uniquely positioned as both a scientific pioneer and commercial strategist. Her career has spanned from launching radiopharmaceutical therapies in hospitals to shaping global strategies for biotech companies. If you're serious about understanding the future of oncology, this is the episode to...

Duration: 00:34:42

Two of the most influential minds in immuno-oncology walk into a biotech… and build something that could change everything.

Dr. Rachel Humphrey (CEO) and Dr. Melinda Merchant (CMO) of Normunity are two of the most seasoned and respected leaders in oncology drug development, with a combined 45+ years of experience across big pharma, biotech, and translational science. Rachel led the development of Yervoy® (ipilimumab) at BMS, Imfinzi® (durvalumab) at AstraZeneca, and Nexavar® (sorafenib) at Bayer, before holding CMO roles at Black Diamond, Mirati, and CytomX. Melinda, an immunologist and dual board-certified pediatric oncologist, spent a decade leading clini...

Duration: 00:39:47

Dr. Arndt Schottelius, CEO of Maxion Therapeutics, is a physician-scientist with a standout career across Genentech, MorphoSys, Kymab, and now at one of the UK’s most promising biotech companies. At Maxion, he leads a team pioneering KnotBody technology - an innovative approach to targeting ion channels and GPCRs, long considered “undruggable” with biologics. Arndt brings more than 25 years of experience across translational science, drug development and leadership in global R&D. His conviction, clarity, and track record - including developing molecules that have become partnered, acquired and approved - makes this conversation a must-listen for anyone in life scienc...

Duration: 00:32:42

If you want to understand what it really takes to build and lead a successful biotech, this episode is for you.

Dr. Christopher Morabito, Chief Medical Officer at Astria Therapeutics, joins us to share hard-won lessons from 25 years in rare disease, oncology, and immunology. But this isn’t a career retrospective - it’s a deep dive into the mindset, strategies, and leadership habits that drive biotech success.

In this episode, Chris reveals:

How to make tough go/no-go decisions when the data isn’t clear.The leadership traits that keep teams aligne...

Duration: 00:47:43

If you're in biotech, immunology, or drug development - this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

We’re joined by Dr. Bhaskar Srivastava, Chief Medical Officer at Triveni Bio, whose career has spanned over 10 years across J&J, Nimbus, and now Triveni Bio, one of the most ambitious autoimmune biotech startups on the scene.

In this episode, Bhaskar dives deep into:

· How Triveni is building a first-in-class pipeline targeting the kallikrein system - a bold bet to treat severe skin and inflammatory conditions by tackling novel biology.

· What i...

Duration: 00:41:24

If you care about the future of genomics, diagnostics, and biotech investing, you can’t miss this episode.

We’re joined by Mara Aspinall, Partner at Illumina Ventures, a trailblazer with over 30 years of leadership in diagnostics and eight years in venture capital funding groundbreaking genomics companies.

In this episode, Mara reveals:

The next wave of diagnostics, from liquid biopsies to home testing and new AI-driven tools.Hard-won lessons from leading Genzyme Genetics, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, and building her own startup.Insider tips for founders on pitching, choosing the right investors, and building winn...

Duration: 00:44:48

To anyone interested in life science VC investment – you need to watch this.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sascha Berger, a biotech investment director based in Saudi Arabia and a very experienced life science investor globally. With nearly two decades in the industry, he’s seen breakthroughs, pivots, and billion-dollar transactions.

He reveals:

Saudi Arabia’s high-stakes plan to become a global biotech superpower by 2040 - and why it could disrupt the industry as we know it.The real role of a VC beyond the money - how top investor...

Duration: 00:40:16

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tomoko Maeda-Chubachi - a global leader in dermatology drug development and biotech innovation:

Dr. Maeda-Chubachi serves as fractional Chief Medical Officer at various startups focusing on dermatology indications.20+ years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Maeda-Chubachi has held senior roles at major companies like Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and GSK. Her expertise spans the entire drug development process, from early-phase trials to regulatory approvals.Tomoko has multiple notable achievements, she led the FDA approval of Zelsuvmi, helped secure a $250M deal for Vtama, and was named one of 2023’s...

Duration: 00:24:09

In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Reder, who’s pushing the boundaries in AI-driven spatial tissue analysis, with a mix of experience and insights:

Nick is the Founder & CEO at Alpenglow Biosciences, pioneers in AI-powered 3D spatial biology that transforms how we see and understand tissue biopsies.10+ years in translational research, with degrees in biochem, epidemiology, and medicine – plus a residency and fellowship in pathology at the University of Washington.Co-developed a groundbreaking open-top light-sheet microscope – now the core of Alpenglow’s tech.Nick is a major conference speaker at AACR, SID, PMWC, NextGen...

Duration: 00:31:04

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bernardo Cervantes, leading the charge in microbiome science, with a mix of experience and insights:

Bernardo is the Co-Founder and COO of Concerto Biosciences, a biotech pioneering the development of microbial consortia-based therapeutics.With a robust background in microbial engineering, Bernardo has dedicated his career to studying microbial interactions and microbiome health. His expertise spans sythetic biology and metabolic engineering.Bernardo is internationally recognised for his contributions to microbiome science, particularly in translating complex microbial ecology into practical applications. His work at Concerto Biosciences has positioned him...

Duration: 00:30:31

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Frank Watanabe, a titan of biotech and pharma, and leader shaping the future of medicine:

CEO of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, one of the few commercial stage Dermatology focused Biopharma companies; leading them from startup to IPO to commercial success.25+ years in biotech and pharma with expertise across of various Therapeutic areas.Proven leader in life sciences, known for building and scaling companies from early-stage to FDA approval - with leadership forged from time spent in the U.S. Navy.Former roles at Kythera, Lilly Amgen, and Allergan...

Duration: 00:40:06

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Volker Koscielny, a distinguished figure in the pharmaceutical industry, with a wealth of experience and a forward thinking approach to medical innovation:

CMO at Almirall, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in medical dermatology, dedicated to developing innovative treatments for skin diseases.20+ years of experience in dermatology, bridging between R&D, business development, marketing, and sales.Recognised globally for his commitment to understanding patient needs and demonstrating the real-world value of medicines.Former roles at Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Servier and Boehringer Ingelheim, leaving Volker with the experience to...

Duration: 00:26:38

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brian Kim, a true trailblazer at the cutting edge of science and medicine:

Co-Founder at Alys Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company with an innovation focus on immuno-dermatology, redefining how we understand chronic itch and skin inflammation. Brian is also the Director of the Mark Lebwohl Center for Neuroinflammation and Sensation and the Allen Discovery Center for Neuroimmune Interactions.Sol and Clara Kest Professor and Vice Chair of Research in Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Nearly two decades of experience spanning dermatology, immunology, allergy and...

Duration: 00:55:18

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Juergen Reess, a Board-Certified Neurologist with an incredible career spanning over 20 years in corporate and drug development leadership roles at Boehringer Ingelheim. After an extensive career in big pharma, Juergen transitioned into the world of biotech, where he now plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of medicine.

Juergen is the Founder & CEO of MoglingBio Inc, an innovative company in the longevity space, pioneering novel pharmacological approaches to rejuvenate old stem cells, a field with immense potential. As well as this, Juergen is also the Fractional CMO...

Duration: 00:28:03

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Ingmar Bruns, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in biotech leadership and hematologist/oncologist. Dr Bruns is the Executive VP and CMO at Trillium Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer. We discuss Ingmar's breadth of experience in academia, where he studied medicine at both the Medical University of Vienna, as well as the Universität zu Lübeck, He then spent many years at both the University of Düsseldorf and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

We discuss a var...

Duration: 01:00:07

In this episode, our episode is Dr. Christophe Giot, a highly accomplished global executive with a foundation as a clinical cardiologist and extensive experience in Clinical and Medical Affairs across diverse therapeutic areas including cardiology (interventional cardiology, structural heart), vascular diseases, interventional oncology, urology, immunology, and rare diseases. Dr. Giot is the CMO and VP Clinical Affairs at Affluent Medical, and attended Université libre de Bruxelles to study Cardiology and become a MD. We discuss how Christophe kick-started his career in the Life Science Industry, before transitioning to Pharma, as well as the key achievements and milestones he made a...

Duration: 00:23:11

In this Episode, our guest is Dr. Michael Tusche, Ph.D., M.B.A, a visionary biotech leader and seasoned investor in the space. Dr. Tusche is also the CEO of 3io Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of the next generation of viral immunotherapies for cancer. Dr. Tusche is also the Co-Founder and current Board Director at Nirsum Labs, a biotechnology company inventing and developing new medications for opioid use disorder (OUD). We discuss how Michael began his career, from his academia spanning a number of years at the University of Victoria as well...

Duration: 00:46:54

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha, globally recognised founder of the Women’s Brain Foundation, TED speaker, medical doctor and neuroscientist. Dr. Chadha is also a fractional CMO in Neurology & Medtech, as well as an Advisor to ReconnectLAB, Bottneuro, and EQUAL CARE. We discuss how Antonella paved her way from being a medical doctor to a Biotech Leader, and Antonella gives insights and advice to people wanting to become successful in the life science industry. We then delve into AI, where Dr. Chadha provides some super interesting thoughts of how AI will shape Drug Development in...

Duration: 00:50:56

In this Episode, our guest is Dr. Behzad Kharabi, a consultant and CMO of multiple biotechs. At present, Dr Kharabi is the Medical Advisor at MaaT Pharma, the leading microbiome company in oncology, and has established the most complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis to improve survival outcomes in life-threatening diseases. Behzad is also the CMO at Tigen, a clinical-stage biotech company in the field of cell therapies to cure cancer.. Dr. Kharabi has founded his own clinical consulting company - Kharabi Consulting, aiming to provide the highest quality of clinical development support. We discuss Behzad’s profound career be...

Duration: 00:34:18

The Leading Beyond The Lab Podcast is hosted by Lawrence Rose, one of the Directors at ARTO, a talent solutions agency specialising in leadership roles within the Life Sciences sector globally.

This podcast discusses insightful discussions with industry experts, leaders and innovators, shaping the future in drug development and clinical devices. We talk with biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical executives, and find out from them their stories, personal career development and analyse their opinion on how to become successful in this space. We talk on a range of topics including soft skills, oncology, leadership, micromanagement, investment, cardiology...

Duration: 00:02:19