Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Michael Fanous, Founder of SCANIMUS.Michael discusses how SCANIMUS combines continuous slide scanning with AI image reconstruction to make digital pathology more accessible. The conversation explores the practical barriers to digitization, including cost, complexity, and workflow fit, and how a compact imaging system could help bring digital tools to more researchers and laboratories.Michael also shares perspective on his transition from computational imaging research to entrepreneurship. He discusses how feedback from pathologists shapes product development, the importance of earning trust in AI-assisted imaging, and the challenges of moving from a working prototype to hardware that can be manufactured, shipped, and supported reliably. The conversation also examines how scientific founders balance affordability, funding, and the partnerships needed to support adoption.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on October 30, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Ryan Beal, M.D., Founder and CEO of Dyve Biosciences.Ryan discusses how Dyve is working to translate decades of research on tumor acidity into new therapeutic approaches for cancer. The conversation explores how an acidic tumor microenvironment can suppress immune function and limit treatment effectiveness, and how Dyve's transdermal drug delivery platform may offer a new way to address this longstanding challenge.Ryan also shares perspective from his career spanning medicine, pharmaceutical strategy, and biotechnology entrepreneurship. He discusses Dyve's evolution from drug delivery innovation toward oncology, its collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center, and the challenges of advancing unconventional scientific approaches toward clinical development. The conversation also examines the importance of recognizing opportunities where established biology has yet to translate into practical therapies.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on October 19, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Mark Rutledge, President and CEO of World Precision Instruments.Mark discusses how evolving research needs are reshaping the tools and technologies used in preclinical science. The conversation explores the growing importance of more standardized and physiologically relevant in vitro models, including organ-on-chip applications, as researchers look for better ways to generate meaningful data earlier in development.Mark also shares perspective from his leadership experience across diagnostics, life sciences tools, and commercial organizations. He discusses how World Precision Instruments evaluates where to innovate, the role of customer insight in product development, and the challenges of leading an established scientific instrumentation company through changing research and market expectations.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on September 28, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Justin Byers, Founder and CEO of Axio BioPharma.Justin discusses why the next generation of AI-enabled biomanufacturing depends on something more fundamental than better algorithms: better access to structured, contextualized process data. The conversation explores how fragmented information across labs, manufacturing sites, sponsors, and external partners can slow development, complicate tech transfer, and limit the value organizations can extract from AI.Justin also shares perspective from his career across analytical science, process development, commercialization, and company building. He discusses Axio BioPharma’s approach to connecting real-world laboratory execution with broader process knowledge, the challenges of transferring knowledge across organizational boundaries, and what life sciences leaders should consider as they prepare their manufacturing operations for more effective use of AI.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on September 14, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Dhruv Patwardhan, Founder of LuminOne.Dhruv discusses how AI can improve commercial decision-making in life sciences by helping teams make better use of fragmented market, account, and customer signals. The conversation explores where AI is genuinely useful today, why many implementations stall after the pilot stage, and how leaders can distinguish practical workflow improvements from impressive demonstrations that fail to change day-to-day execution.Dhruv also shares perspective from more than a decade in life sciences commercial leadership, including lessons on workflow design, source traceability, human oversight, and accountability. He explains why AI should support rather than replace human judgment, and what CEOs and commercial leaders should consider as AI becomes more deeply embedded in commercial organizations.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on August 28, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Pawel Krysiak, President & CEO of Jaya Biosciences.Pawel discusses JayaBio’s work to develop CNS-directed gene therapies for genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and frontotemporal dementia. The conversation explores JayaBio’s focus on lysosomal enzyme gene heterozygosity and how this approach may help identify patient subpopulations within diseases historically treated as broad, heterogeneous conditions.Pawel also shares perspective from more than 20 years across neurodegeneration, oncology, rare diseases, commercialization, market access, and company building, including lessons from orphan drug launches and the challenge of advancing differentiated science toward clinical development.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on June 29, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with David Pass, CEO and President of AltrixBio.David discusses AltrixBio’s work to advance AJN003, a once-daily, oral, gut-targeted therapeutic candidate being developed for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and related cardiometabolic conditions. The conversation explores how AltrixBio’s approach is inspired by the metabolic effects observed after bariatric surgery, and how a non-systemic oral therapy could address important gaps in today’s treatment landscape.David also shares perspective from more than 25 years across diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, pharma, biotech, and digital health, including lessons from commercial leadership, company building, and advancing differentiated science toward the clinic.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on June 15, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Dave Gallup, Co-Founder and CEO of EMPIRI, an oncology platform company advancing functional precision oncology through its E-slice platform.Dave discusses how EMPIRI is using live human tumor tissue to measure drug response while preserving native tumor architecture and the tumor microenvironment. The conversation explores how E-slice may complement genomic and molecular profiling, help bridge the translational gap between preclinical models and clinical outcomes, and support better decision-making in oncology drug development.Dave also shares his path from building biological analysis businesses to co-founding EMPIRI, including lessons from scaling complex technical platforms, earning market trust, and balancing scientific rigor with commercial execution.This episode covers functional precision oncology, live tumor tissue assays, oncology drug development, translational science, and the future role of empirical drug response data in cancer research and care.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on May 29, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Dr. Anil Goyal, Co-Founder and CEO of IMMvention Therapeutix, a VC-backed biotechnology company developing globally accessible therapies for rare and chronic diseases, including sickle cell disease and Friedreich’s ataxia.Anil shares insights from nearly 30 years in biotechnology leadership spanning company formation, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and therapeutic innovation across multiple modalities and disease areas. The conversation explores Immvention’s scientific approach, the realities of building emerging biotech companies in today’s funding environment, and the balance between scientific ambition and operational discipline.They also discuss Immvention’s strategic collaboration with Novo Nordisk focused on developing oral therapies for sickle cell disease and other chronic diseases, including what partnerships like these can signal about platform validation and long-term development strategy.Beyond his work in biotechnology, Anil is also a passionate ecosystem builder and co-founder of the OpenDoors Group, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing equity, diversity, and access for the next generation of life sciences entrepreneurs and innovators. The discussion also touches on North Carolina’s growing R&D ecosystem and the importance of regional innovation clusters in advancing life sciences.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on May 18, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Executive Insights for Life Sciences Innovators, Don Alexander speaks with Stan Watowich, Founder and CEO of Ridgeline Therapeutics and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch.Stan shares his journey from academic science to biotech company building, and how Ridgeline is developing small molecule therapies aimed at improving how we age and treat chronic disease. The conversation explores the company’s focus on NNMT, a key regulator of cellular energetics, and the broader opportunity to address age-linked conditions through targeted drug discovery.They also discuss the realities of translating academic research into commercial success, prioritizing programs in a constrained funding environment, and what it takes to build a company around high-conviction science.This episode was streamed live on YouTube on May 1, 2026. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠genecoda.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.