Xtalks Life Science Podcast

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha speaks with Craig Erickson, MD, chief medical officer at Spinogenix and a leading expert in translational neurodevelopmental research.
Dr. Erickson shares insights into Spinogenix’s work on restoring synapses to reverse cognitive and motor decline in conditions like Fragile X Syndrome, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
Dr. Erickson is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine-Affiliated and the Director of the Cincinnati Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. His work focuses on enhancing the ability to detect brain target engagement with treatment to identify meaningful functional changes in patients as early as the initial stages of human drug trials, while also determining which individuals are most likely to benefit from treatment.
Dr. Erickson holds several investigator-initiated INDs and is the inventor of several patents describing new treatment approaches. His work has been extensively supported by the NIH, CDC, US Department of Defense, stakeholder foundations and biotechnology companies from around the world.
Tune into the episode to hear Dr. Erickson discuss the evolving landscape of neurotherapeutics, early-stage drug trials and how precision biomarkers are shaping individualized treatment approaches.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha speaks with Michael Thurn, PhD, Managing Director & CEO, Neurizon Therapeutics, a company focused on advancing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, with expansion efforts in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and others.
With over 25 years of experience in biotech innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership and broad experience in drug discovery, development, regulation and commercialization, Dr. Thurn shares his vision for advancing next-generation therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Thurn has led a variety of FDA lnvestigational New Drug (IND) applications across a range of therapeutic areas, and the evaluation of drugs and vaccines for registration in Australia as a part of the Drug Safety Evaluation Branch (DSEB) of the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).
Dr. Thurn co-founded MARP Therapeutics and held roles at companies including Botanix, Mimetica, Spinifex, Cytopia, Xenome and Novogen.
Tune in to hear Dr. Thurn discuss Neurizon’s strategic pipeline, clinical development efforts, as well as his global experience spanning drug discovery, regulatory affairs and capital markets.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha speaks with Stella Sarraf, PhD, founder, CEO and director of Spinogenix, a company pioneering neurodegenerative therapeutics designed to restore synapses with the potential to reverse cognitive and motor decline in conditions such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.
Dr. Sarraf shares the scientific inspiration behind Spinogenix’s novel approach and how the company is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in neuroscience.
With a career spanning big pharma (Merck), venture capital (Foresite Capital, Prospect Ventures) and multiple biotech startups, Dr. Sarraf brings a unique and visionary perspective to the translational challenges of drug development.
In 2013, Dr. Sarraf founded Amydis, a company developing ocular tracers for digital detection of neurodegenerative diseases. She then founded Spinogenix in 2016 to focus on developing novel neurodegenerative therapeutics.
Dr. Sarraf has a PhD in organic chemistry from Columbia University and a BA in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Tune in to hear Dr. Sarraf discuss the urgent unmet needs in neurodegeneration, what makes Spinogenix’s approach different from traditional neuroprotective therapies and how restoring synaptic function could change the trajectory of these diseases. Dr. Sarraf also reflects on her journey as a scientist-turned-entrepreneur and the importance of resilience, adaptability and patient-driven innovation in biotech.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha Rashid speaks with Laura Williams, MD, MPH, chief patient officer at Ardelyx, a company developing and commercializing first-in-class medicines for diseases like chronic kidney disease (CKD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Dr. Williams brings nearly 30 years of experience in clinical development, drug strategy and patient advocacy. With leadership roles across big pharma and biotech — including Abbott, Myovant and AMAG Pharmaceuticals — her impact is marked by eight FDA drug approvals and a relentless focus on improving patient outcomes.
Before joining Ardelyx, Dr. Williams was SVP and head of clinical development and biostatistics at AMAG Pharmaceuticals, overseeing four investigational assets and two marketed products. She previously served as VP of clinical development at Myovant Sciences and spent 18 years at Abbott/AbbVie, where she led global clinical programs and managed the general medicine therapeutic area.
Dr. Williams received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University, a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Iowa and a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from University of Washington, where she also completed a clinical fellowship in infectious diseases. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at University of Michigan, where she also served as Chief Resident and Junior Faculty.
Tune in as Dr. Williams shares how her unique blend of scientific expertise and deep commitment to the patient voice drives innovation at Ardelyx. She discusses the evolving, up-and-coming role of chief patient officer, key lessons learned, the challenges of patient-centric drug development and what’s ahead in addressing critical unmet medical needs.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Vera Kovacevic speaks with Gene Mack, CEO and President of Gain Therapeutics, a company focused on AI-driven small molecule discovery for diseases with high unmet medical needs.
With over 25 years of leadership across biopharma, capital markets and corporate strategy, Gene shares his unique perspective on the intersection of artificial intelligence and drug development — and how Gain Therapeutics is using it to tackle diseases with high unmet medical need.
Prior to joining Gain, Gene was CFO at Imcyse SA between 2021 and 2023, and at OncoC4, which spun out of Merck’s acquisition of OncoImmune in 2020 where he had also been CFO.
Gene discusses his career journey from Wall Street to the C-suite, his experience raising over $350 million in biotech funding and the exciting science behind Gain’s drug discovery platform.
Gene received both his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and MBA in finance from Fordham University.
Whether you're a biotech investor, drug developer or simply curious about how AI is reshaping the future of medicine, tune into the conversation.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid speaks with Edwin Tucker, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Jasper Therapeutics, about innovative approaches to treating chronic mast cell diseases such as asthma, food allergies and IBS.
Dr. Tucker has over 30 years of clinical drug development experience, with past roles as CMO at Goldfinch Bio and Mirum Pharmaceuticals, where he led the first FDA approval for Alagille Syndrome. He also served as COO at Acerta Pharma and held leadership positions at Genentech, Janssen and Bayer.
Dr. Tucker is a member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He received his MBA from the University of Connecticut and holds degrees in Pharmacology and Medicine from the University of Leeds, UK. Additionally, he serves as a managing director at Golden Seeds, an investment firm dedicated to pursuing early-stage investment opportunities in women-led businesses.
Tune in to learn how Jasper Therapeutics’ work could reshape the landscape for patients with allergic and inflammatory conditions.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Adam Grant, PhD, Principal Scientist at CancerVax, to discuss the company’s Universal Cancer Treatment Platform.
The immunotherapy tool uses AI to train the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells by modifying those cells to resemble known pathogens like measles. This innovative approach prompts a stronger and more effective immune response compared to traditional immunotherapies.
Dr. Grant, a leading computational biologist and one of the inventors behind the platform, shares insights into how AI and next-generation sequencing are revolutionizing fields like cancer immunotherapy.
Dr. Grant previously served as a Bioinformatician at Xenter Medical Technologies and as a Computational Scientist at RAPT Therapeutics. His innovations include software designed to improve cancer antigen detection and a gene-signature approach for selecting treatments for breast cancer.
Dr. Grant earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Bioinformatics from Brigham Young University and a PhD in Cancer Biology with an emphasis in Bioinformatics from the University of Arizona.
From discovering new drug targets to engineering smarter immune strategies, tune in to hear Dr. Grant discuss how bioinformatics is reshaping innovations in cancer immunotherapy.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Dr. Alessandra Maleddu, a medical oncologist and sarcoma specialist at the University of Colorado. Dr. Maleddu specializes in soft tissue and bone sarcomas, with a particular focus on desmoid tumors and advancing clinical trials in this rare disease area.
Desmoid tumors are locally invasive soft tissue tumors that present unique diagnostic and treatment challenges, as they can vary significantly from patient to patient and are often misdiagnosed. Women are two to three times more likely than men to be diagnosed with a desmoid tumor.
Dr. Maleddu trained in Italy and the UK, completing a sarcoma fellowship at University College London Hospital, general oncology training at the University of Bologna and earning her MD from the University of Cagliari in Italy.
Tune in to hear how Dr. Maleddu is helping lead in the sarcoma space, with a focus on desmoid tumors.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Jay Hartenbach, President and Chief Operating Officer of Diakonos Oncology, a company developing cancer immunotherapies to address the critical and unmet medical need of late-stage and aggressive cancers like glioblastoma.
Jay is a passionate advocate for wellness and innovative healthcare, bringing a unique blend of scientific knowledge, entrepreneurial enthusiasm and business strategy expertise to the Life Sciences industry.
He concurrently serves as the COO of another cancer immunotherapy company, Immunocine. Before moving to biotech, Jay co-founded wellness company Medterra, where he continues to shape the company’s strategic direction as Chairman of the Board. Jay also co-founded Perland Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage biotech company actively developing therapies for arthritis conditions.
Jay has a Masters in Engineering Management from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami.
Tune into the episode to hear how Jay is helping drive new frontiers in cancer immunotherapy at Diakonos Oncology through scientific innovation and strategic leadership.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Chris Ehrlich, CEO at CERo Therapeutics, a company developing next-generation T cell immunotherapies, called chimeric engulfment receptor T cells (CER T).
Chris has extensive experience in biotechnology, venture capital and strategic transactions, currently serving as CEO and Chairman of the board since February 2024 and previously as CEO of PBAX.
He has held leadership roles at Locust Walk Partners and InterWest Partners, where he was involved in several notable biotech acquisitions, including the sales of Xyphos Biosciences to Astellas and Thar Pharmaceuticals to Grunenthal.
Chris also serves on multiple boards, including at Prostate Management Diagnostics, the Peter Michael Foundation and Northwestern University's Kellogg School.
Chris has a BA in Government from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, where he is a frequent lecturer.
Tune into the episode to hear Chris discuss how the company’s approach differs from traditional CAR T-cell therapies, his path from venture capital to the C-suite and what’s next in the evolving immunotherapy landscape.
For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/Follow Us on Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured