Fractals: Life Science Conversations

Mary Hardy, Chief Commercial Officer at SimpliFed, is helping reshape maternal health care with a virtual platform that supports families before birth and well beyond the baby’s first milestones. By combining lactation guidance, postpartum care, maternal mental health screening, and remote monitoring, SimpliFed is setting a new standard for holistic, accessible maternal care.In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations, Mary joins host Colin Miller to explore:How SimpliFed’s virtual care model bridges gaps in maternal health, particularly in underserved areas and for mobile families.The integration of prenatal planning, postpartum support, and behavioral health referrals to improve both outcomes and patient experience.Leveraging technology and human relationships together to deliver personalized care at scale.Insights from Mary’s journey in healthcare, and her vision for embedding community and connection into maternal care.Tune into Fractals on your preferred podcast platform, and contact Bracken to discover how our cross-functional teams support life science and digital health solutions.

What if a nasal spray could switch off acute social anxiety in minutes—without systemic side effects?Shawn Singh, CEO of Vistagen, joins Fractals to explain how pherines work: odorless intranasal molecules that tap the olfactory pathway to flip specific brain circuits on and off.Highlights from the episode:How pherines activate the nose → olfactory bulb → targeted brain regions in milliseconds.Why fasadienol could be the first acute pharmacologic option for social anxiety disorder.The practical benefits of nasal-delivered treatment: on-demand use, fewer systemic risks, and new opportunities for people to engage in life (work, school, medical care).Real CEO lessons on resilience, trial design, and building teams that span science, regulatory, and operations.Tune into the full episode on your preferred podcast platform and contact Bracken to learn how we can support you from development through regulatory and commercial planning.

With more than four decades of experience in oncology, cardiovascular imaging, ultrasound, and radioligand therapy, Dr. François Tranquart has helped shape the field of molecular imaging from both sides of the table—first as an academic physician and researcher, and later as an industry leader driving global clinical development.In this French-language episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations, François joins host Paul Martinetti to share:Why the transition from academia to industry brought new opportunities for innovation.The critical role of collaboration and patient-centered thinking in clinical research.How emerging tools like AI, FAP tracers, and therapeutic ultrasound are transforming nuclear medicine.The biggest lessons he’s learned across 40+ years of advancing imaging and therapeutic solutions.Listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Bracken to learn how our cross-functional expertise can support your development strategy.

What does it take to lead successful drug development—whether at a global pharma giant or a small biotech start-up?In this episode of SNiPs, Dr. David Krause joins Bracken CEO Dr. Colin Miller to reflect on three decades of experience spanning large organizations like GSK to fast-moving start-ups. From aligning clinical development with medical affairs to serving “many masters” in drug development, patients, regulators, providers, and marketers, Dr. Krause shares insights on how to keep the patient at the center while driving innovation forward.Topics include:Lessons learned moving from big pharma to start-upsThe evolving relationship between medical affairs and clinical developmentBalancing regulatory, commercial, and patient prioritiesWhy knowing what you don’t know is key to success in smaller companiesListen to this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations wherever you get your podcasts—and connect with Bracken to learn how we support drug development from concept to approval.

With more than 30 years of experience spanning global pharma, emerging biotech, and the evolving field of personalized medicine, Bracken Senior Partner Dr. David Krause has helped shape the clinical and regulatory landscape across therapeutic areas—from vaccines and anti-infectives to neuropsychiatry and oncology.As a physician, former Chief Medical Officer, and trusted development advisor, David brings a uniquely humanist and interdisciplinary lens to the science and strategy of drug development.In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations, David and host Colin Miller explore:How leadership style must evolve from large pharma to small biotech—and why succession planning matters more than you think.The future of personalized medicine in CNS and oncology—and how AI, genetics, and neuroplasticity are reshaping treatment paradigms.What pharma can learn from infectious disease: why psychiatry is just now catching up to decades-old precision strategies in anti-infectives.Reflections on partnering with the FDA, lessons learned from vaccine development, and the clinical promise of psychedelics.Listen to Fractals on your favorite podcast platform, and contact Bracken to learn how our cross-functional teams can support your clinical, medical, and regulatory strategy.

Can AI help radiologists see what humans can’t—and speed up drug development in the process?In this episode of SNiPs, Dr. Ben Larimer joins Bracken CEO Dr. Colin Miller to explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are redefining what’s possible in molecular imaging. From interpreting complex PET scans to designing radiopharmaceuticals faster than ever, the future of diagnostics is being shaped by intelligent tools.Dr. Larimer shares real-world examples of how AI is already shaping radiopharmaceutical innovation and clinical trial design—and why the era of data-driven diagnostics is just getting started.Topics include:PET imaging and tumor heterogeneityAI-assisted radiologyAccelerating development of imaging agentsThe promise of radiomics and multimodal dataTune in now and explore how intelligent tools are reshaping life sciences from pixel to patient.

As a scientist, innovator, and CEO of CytoSite BioPharma, Dr. Ben Larimer has reshaped how we think about imaging immune response in cancer. His work on Granzyme B PET imaging is unlocking unprecedented insights into whether—and where—immunotherapies are working inside the body.In this episode of Fractals, Ben joins host Colin Miller to discuss:The origins of Granzyme B imaging and what makes it a uniquely powerful imaging agent.How CytoSite’s imaging agent revealed success in preclinical models—and sparked a new clinical path forward.The balance between scientific innovation and real-world biotech execution.Why PET imaging’s future depends on AI, cost reduction, and deeper diagnostic precision.Tune into Fractals: Life Science Conversations wherever you get your podcasts—and contact Bracken to learn how we help imaging agents move from molecule to market.

With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of biostatistics and biomedical imaging, Bracken Senior Partner Dr. David Raunig has been a driving force in biomarker development, validation, and regulatory strategy. From leading FDA biomarker qualification review teams to co-inventing imaging advancements and setting industry-wide standards through QIBA, David has played a pivotal role in defining how we measure—and trust—biological data in clinical trials.In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations, David and host Colin Miller explore:What truly defines a biomarker—and how clinical outcome assessments differ from biological markers.Why the FDA’s "context of use" is key to biomarker qualification and how to demonstrate that a biomarker measures what it’s meant to.How the evolution of imaging—from WHO criteria to RECIST to AI-assisted reads—could transform how we assess tumor burden and therapeutic response.Statistical strategies for trial design and endpoint validation, and why QIBA’s standardized imaging protocols are essential tools for trial sponsors.Tune in to Fractals on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Bracken to learn how David and our experts can support your clinical trial strategy from biomarker planning to regulatory approval.

In drug development, the right biomarker can mean the difference between success and a missed opportunity. In this episode of SNiPs, Bracken Senior Partner David Raunig, PhD explores how imaging biomarkers—like DXA and the fracture risk score—are being used in new ways to assess efficacy in clinical trials, especially for rare and complex diseases. David breaks down the evolving landscape of FDA qualification, highlighting a flexible path that allows sponsors to leverage novel endpoints without requiring tens of thousands of patients. From muscle mass in aging populations to trial-specific biomarker strategies, he shares valuable insight into what’s possible today—and what’s coming next.

Scientist, entrepreneur, and investor—three small words to describe the way Hatch BioFund Managing Partner Dr. Lorenzo Pellegrini has devoted his career to translating the cutting-edge into impactful solutions. From founding six biotech companies to driving investments in industry-shaping firms like Elevation Pharmaceuticals and Anacor, Lorenzo has consistently championed the necessity of fusion between innovation and practicality in the life sciences. In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations, Lorenzo and host Colin Miller take a wide-ranging deep dive on:The rapid evolution of biotech within the last few decades, from small molecules to biologics, and its impact on drug evolution, supply, demand, and adaptation.Balancing financial success with societal impact in life sciences venture capital decisions—and why 80% of these decisions hinge not upon the science, but on the management team executing it.The role of fractional support in scaling startups and avoiding costly over-hiring mistakes.The importance of exploring global markets beyond the US to diversify pricing and reimbursement strategies.Tune in to Fractals on your preferred podcast platform, and contact Bracken to learn more about how we can support biotech companies in navigating complex M&A decisions.