The gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, plays a crucial role in our health. However, there is still much to learn about this complex ecosystem. On this episode we talk with experts who tell us where the science is—how much we know, and how much we don’t. Two companies, Bloom Science and Seres Therapeutics, are leveraging the microbiome to develop new therapeutics. The potential of the microbiome is vast, and further research and technological advancements will continue to unlock its benefits.

2023 ended with an exciting biotech breakthrough for sickle cell patients. A gene-editing therapy using the revolutionary CRISPR technology provides new hope and options for the nearly 100,000 Americans with sickle cell disease. In this episode, we talk with the company behind one of the life-changing therapies, CASGEVY, and speak with two advocates for sickle cell patients. 

For biotech companies, the valley of death describes the difficult path from initial discovery to FDA approval and commercialization. It's a treacherous journey—one that even promising innovations often don't complete. Adequate funding, regulatory hurdles and the immense complexity of the biotech landscape are among the never-ending challenges faced by early stage biotechs. In this episode we talk with two biotech executives about what it’s like to struggle and survive in this rough-and-tumble industry.  

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

The physician-wife of Roivant Sciences CEO Vivek Ramaswamy rushed back to the front lines at the pandemic’s peak — less than a month after giving birth to the couple’s first son. Meanwhile, dad cared for their newborn while testing a promising therapeutic that seeks to overcome deadly cytokine storms caused by the novel coronavirus. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

By studying our earliest evolutionary ancestors in the ocean, marine biotech researchers are gaining fresh insights about everything from anti-virals to coronavirus nasal swab testing to the inner workings of our adaptive immune systems. Learn what sea sponges, lugworms and sharks can teach us about improving human health during this crisis. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

How can global nonprofits like the Center for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) deliver a safe and effective vaccine against the novel coronavirus in just 12 to 18 months when the world record for vaccine approval is four years? CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett, a 9/11 hero, says it’s all about smart planning. By the time governments give the green light on the safety and efficacy of a covid vaccine, manufacturer capacity will be pre-scaled up and able to quickly churn out doses by the tens or hundreds of millions. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

The people of Iceland — a country of 360,000 — eagerly volunteered for genetic research on how the coronavirus affects a homogeneous population. Amgen’s work in the Land of Fire and here at home could deliver answers and antibodies to help mitigate the pandemic threat. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Modernity is plowing new frontiers, bringing us closer to exotic wildlife rich in viruses that our immune systems have not evolved to fight. Preventing future pandemics will require global cooperation, local action and a comprehensive strategy to monitor infectious disease hotspots to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

The diversity of our adaptive immune system is why people are reacting so differently to the novel coronavirus. No two people present the virus the exact same way to their immune systems. We’ve evolved in this way as humans to ensure no virus can eradicate our species. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Overcrowded hospitals during the pandemic can pose treatment challenges for patients with other serious illnesses. As Kite Pharma CEO Christi Shaw says, “Cancer doesn’t stop in a crisis.” Neither do her company’s employees, who go to extraordinary lengths to get personalized CAR-T treatments to patients around the world. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

As the world waits for biotechnology to deliver COVID-19 treatments and a vaccine, Ambassador Deborah Birx tells BIO’s scientists: “Expectations are high because you’ve delivered for us before and I know that you can deliver for us again.” BIO chairman Jeremy Levin, a biotech pioneer, explains how the industry will rise to meet this moment. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Biotech companies are working feverishly to develop antibody therapies to provide short-term protection against COVID-19. But what if the novel coronavirus mutates and outwits traditional monoclonal antibodies? Well, that’s where the super cows come in. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

There's a joke among ecological health scientists that if “you don’t believe one person can change the world, try eating an undercooked bat.” However, what EcoHealth Alliance’s Dr. William Karesh — a world-renowned expert on zoonotic disease transmission — reveals about the trend line for animal-to-human viral transmission is no laughing matter. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

The biotech industry offers unique opportunities for women to advance as executives and entrepreneurs. There are headwinds, however, including unequal access to venture capital. In this episode, we talk with three executives who are part of a wave of women-led companies in biotech. Our guests speak to why women’s leadership matters and the barriers that remain to breaking the glass ceiling. They also tell us about a new networking initiative—the biotech sisterhood—to catalyze women’s success in corporate leadership and mentor the next generation of women executives.  

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, which take its name from the center and brightest star in Orion’s Belt, is working on an RNAi therapy to destroy the genome of the novel coronavirus — and with it, its ability to replicate and kill. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

As biotech researchers work around the clock on a covid vaccine, ill-informed, anti-science anti-vaxxers must be denounced and excoriated in the public square. BIO’s head of infectious disease policy Phyllis Arthur administers a vital dose of vaccine education, because none of us is safe until we all are. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

There's a joke among ecological health scientists that if “you don’t believe one person can change the world, try eating an undercooked bat.” However, what EcoHealth Alliance’s Dr. William Karesh — a world-renowned expert on zoonotic disease transmission — reveals about the trend line for animal-to-human viral transmission is no laughing matter. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

For years, leaders on the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense told Congress and the White House that it wasn’t a matter of if, but when, a pandemic would happen. Exploring the panel’s unheeded recommendations can give the United States a blueprint for what to do going forward to protect us from the coronavirus and future threats. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Vir Biotechnology CEO George Scangos is the scientist selected by his peers to lead the biotechnology industry’s efforts to mitigate and ultimately end the pandemic. He explains how and why the novel coronavirus is so contagious and potentially dangerous to millions. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

As the world waits for biotechnology to deliver COVID-19 treatments and a vaccine, Ambassador Deborah Birx tells BIO’s scientists: “Expectations are high because you’ve delivered for us before and I know that you can deliver for us again.” BIO chairman Jeremy Levin, a biotech pioneer, explains how the industry will rise to meet this moment. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Only antibody testing can tell us who has been infected and recovered from coronavirus and when it might be safe to return to work. There’s a massive global shortage of these tests, and a Maryland biotech is racing to bolster the U.S. supply. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Need a dose of inspiration in a time of national tragedy? A remarkable biotech breakthrough from Global Blood Therapeutics offers fresh hope to patients living with sickle-cell disease. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Futuristic biotech Moderna is the first to clinically test a coronavirus vaccine, created in weeks using only the virus’ genetic code. The company’s messenger RNA breakthrough may be just in time as a former CDC director warns that animal viruses spilling over to humans is the new normal. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Regeneron’s rheumatoid arthritis drug shows promise to treat coronavirus-related lung syndrome and stop the inflammation that leads to death. The company also expects to test a preventative antibody shot in June. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Bees and other pollinators are critical to our survival, with one out of every three bites of food we eat depending on pollination to produce. That’s why reports of a decline in bee populations and rising threats from pests, viruses and environmental pressures, including climate change, are alarming.

In this episode we talk with an expert on bees and other pollinators about how bees are doing and why it’s important to save them. We also talk with two biotech leaders whose companies are working to improve bee health through development of innovative treatments for some of the worst threats faced by bees.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

As genetic sequencing gives scientists new tools to hone in on medical mysteries, Washington politicians flirt dangerously with policies that would stymie the genomic revolution while giving patients scant pricing relief at the pharmacy counter. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

While Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has kindled a global dialogue about the ravages of climate change and the role of airline emissions, a Colorado biotech is putting forward a jaw-dropping alternative to flight shaming: actual jet fuel with no carbon footprint. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

Incurable gonorrhea and the deadly hospital superbug C. diff offer a frightening window into the gathering public health menace of antibiotic resistance. If society doesn’t wake up and tackle the problem, we could be headed toward a calamity on the magnitude of climate change. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

One day before 16-year-old Izzy Thorpe-Wall takes her first dose of Vertex’s stunning Cystic Fibrosis breakthrough, Thorpe and her mother, Clare, open up about their emotional journey and one brave girl’s determination to stay healthy long enough to meet this day of her dreams. Hosted by Jim Greenwood.

The horseshoe crab has endured for over 450 million years. It has survived several mass extinctions including the one that killed off the dinosaurs. One reason for their incredible resiliency is their ability to fend off bacterial infection. Their blood contains cells that clot around invading bacteria, thereby protecting them from the attacking toxins.

In this episode we talk with three experts about how this animal’s unique blue blood has become essential to modern medicine. We also talk about why horseshoe crab populations are dwindling, and what biotech is doing to address the shortfall.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Bradley Burnam woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and found one ear twice it’s normal size and his face swollen and discolored. He would spend the next several years in and out of the hospital fighting a relentless infection that would not respond to available treatments. The experience took him from patient to "mad scientist" to biotech company founder. In this episode, Bradley takes us through his desperate journey to find a cure. We also talk with the leader of an organization helping to get more antimicrobials to the marketplace.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Click HERE to watch the documentary-style film Race Against Resistance presented by the AMR Action Fund and funding support from Pfizer Shionogi and MSD.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Innovative companies are using synthetic biology to engineer organisms and create new materials that could transform every sector of our economy, from health care to food and energy production. Those companies say we’ve entered a synbio revolution, and it holds potential to improve the health of people and our planet. In this episode, we talk with three synbio experts about how this convergence of genetic engineering, computer science and other scientific disciplines is making our world more sustainable. 

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

For biotech companies, the valley of death describes the difficult path from initial discovery to FDA approval and commercialization. It's a treacherous journey—one that even promising innovations often don't complete. Adequate funding, regulatory hurdles and the immense complexity of the biotech landscape are among the never-ending challenges faced by early stage biotechs. In this episode we talk with two biotech executives about what it’s like to struggle and survive in this rough-and-tumble industry. 

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

The biotech industry offers unique opportunities for women to advance as executives and entrepreneurs. There are headwinds, however, including unequal access to venture capital. In this episode, we talk with three executives who are part of a wave of women-led companies in biotech. Our guests speak to why women’s leadership matters and the barriers that remain to breaking the glass ceiling. They also tell us about a new networking initiative—the biotech sisterhood—to catalyze women’s success in corporate leadership and mentor the next generation of women executives.    

For more resources, visit Women In BIO, Lean In, and The Economist’s glass-ceiling index. 

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Bees and other pollinators are critical to our survival, with one out of every three bites of food we eat depending on pollination to produce. That’s why reports of a decline in bee populations and rising threats from pests, viruses and environmental pressures, including climate change, are alarming.

In this episode we talk with an expert on bees and other pollinators about how bees are doing and why it’s important to save them. We also talk with two biotech leaders whose companies are working to improve bee health through development of innovative treatments for some of the worst threats faced by bees.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

The horseshoe crab has endured for over 450 million years. It has survived several mass extinctions including the one that killed off the dinosaurs. One reason for their incredible resiliency is their ability to fend off bacterial infection. Their blood contains cells that clot around invading bacteria, thereby protecting them from the attacking toxins.

In this episode we talk with three experts about how this animal’s unique blue blood has become essential to modern medicine. We also talk about why horseshoe crab populations are dwindling, and what biotech is doing to address the shortfall.

YOU asked, and we answered. In this episode, we had our experts on standby to answer questions from you, our listeners. We discuss topics ranging from the safety of genetically modified foods (GMOs), to the new era of personalized medicine, feeding the world by 2050, and even what makes start-up companies attractive to investors.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

Wading through the torrent of information available online is challenging for everyone. It can be hard to know what and whom to believe. We talk with the FDA Commissioner and other leaders on the frontlines of health and science about how to be more aware of false and misleading information, and its risks to our wellbeing and future innovation. And we discuss ways to stand up for science and stop the spread of misinformation. 

The International Space Station has been orbiting in lower earth since 1998 and has been continually inhabited since November 2000. The ISS was originally conceived as a staging base for future missions into deep space. As it turns out, lower earth orbit is an ideal setting for scientific research, from physics and meteorology to astronomy and the life sciences. In this episode we talk with three scientists whose projects are using lower earth orbit to deepen our knowledge of biotechnology and its benefits for mankind.

CRISPR has emerged as a powerful tool for altering DNA sequences with incredible precision, opening up new avenues of research into the treatment of disease. In this episode, we explore the science behind CRISPR, as well as its potential. From curing genetic disorders to creating new crop varieties, the possibilities seem endless. Our four guests today are scientists working to push these gene editing tools to the next frontier.

When people were dying from AIDS in the 1980s and 90s, Congress found a way to expedite the drug approval process and saved countless lives. Established in 1992, the Accelerated Approval Program allows the FDA to speed approval of drugs for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. In this episode we talk with the father of children with a rare disease, a company CEO working to treat rare diseases and two policy experts on Accelerated Approval.

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and biotechnology has emerged as one of the most exciting and transformative areas of science. Researchers are developing new tools and technology that could bring about breakthroughs to revolutionize the fields of medicine and health care.  In this episode, we talk with scientists who are using AI to unlock new possibilities in the search for novel drugs, cures, and treatments.

Imagine living with excruciating pain that prevents you from walking or doing the things most of us take for granted. We all experience pain, and 50 million people cope with chronic, debilitating pain. The market for pain therapies is estimated at $74 billion. And yet, investment in new pain and addiction treatments is falling short of what is needed, according to a new BIO report, which shows a 44% decrease in clinical drug programs for pain over the past five years. Our guests on this episode talk about the challenges of living with and treating pain, as well as research and development on new, non-addictive and safer pain therapies. 

During the last several decades Boston has become a biotech Mecca, with its Kendall Square attracting more than 120 biotech companies, both large and small. It is called the most innovative square mile on the planet.  This June BIO will bring over 15,000 biotech leaders to Boston for its 2023 BIO International Convention. Speakers including award-winning journalist and health advocate, Katie Couric, will talk about how they will “Stand up for Science”—the Convention’s theme. MassBIO CEO, Kendalle Burlin O’Connell joins host, Rachel King in a wide-ranging discussion about how Boston became the largest biotech hub in the world.

Wading through the torrent of information available online is challenging for everyone. It can be hard to know what and whom to believe. We talk with the FDA Commissioner and other leaders on the frontlines of health and science about how to be more aware of false and misleading information, and its risks to our wellbeing and future innovation. And we discuss ways to stand up for science and stop the spread of misinformation. 

The International Space Station has been orbiting in lower earth since 1998 and has been continually inhabited since November 2000. The ISS was originally conceived as a staging base for future missions into deep space. As it turns out, lower earth orbit is an ideal setting for scientific research, from physics and meteorology to astronomy and the life sciences. In this episode we talk with three scientists whose projects are using lower earth orbit to deepen our knowledge of biotechnology and its benefits for mankind.

CRISPR has emerged as a powerful tool for altering DNA sequences with incredible precision, opening up new avenues of research into the treatment of disease. In this episode, we explore the science behind CRISPR, as well as its potential. From curing genetic disorders to creating new crop varieties, the possibilities seem endless. Our four guests today are scientists working to push these gene editing tools to the next frontier.

With its potential to expand the horizons of what’s possible for patients, CRISPR is the new darling of biotech. Reaching an important milestone in 2023 with the FDA approval of a sickle cell treatment using CRISPR, the technology is poised to break new barriers for treating patients in the near future. In this episode we talk with two companies working together on the next generation of CRISPR: editing cells within the body.  We discuss the progress and the challenge in making this breakthrough a reality. 

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Visit us at https://www.bio.org/

When people were dying from AIDS in the 1980s and 90s, Congress found a way to expedite the drug approval process and saved countless lives. Established in 1992, the Accelerated Approval Program allows the FDA to speed approval of drugs for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. In this episode we talk with the father of children with a rare disease, a company CEO working to treat rare diseases and two policy experts on Accelerated Approval.

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and biotechnology has emerged as one of the most exciting and transformative areas of science. Researchers are developing new tools and technology that could bring about breakthroughs to revolutionize the fields of medicine and health care.  In this episode, we talk with scientists who are using AI to unlock new possibilities in the search for novel drugs, cures, and treatments.