Explore every episode of the podcast Nucleate Singapore Pulse
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting Singapore's Biotech Pipeline with Dr. Katherine Wang of A*STAR's STDR | 19 Jul 2026 | 00:40:52 | |
Dr. Katherine Wang, Deputy Director of the Biomedical Research Council and lead of the Singapore Therapeutics Development Review (STDR), joins the show to unpack what it really takes to move a scientific discovery from the lab bench to a viable biotech company. Drawing on a career that spans a PhD at NYU, tech transfer, program building at Duke-NUS, and now national drug-discovery strategy at A*STAR, Katherine explains why Singapore's researchers excel at science but stumble at commercialization. She also delves into what STDR is doing about it through mentorship, bootcamps, and new schemes that pair scientists with serial entrepreneurs. Along the way she compares the US, China, and Singapore ecosystems, shares what she looks for when funding early-stage projects, and offers candid advice for any scientist curious about a career beyond the PI track. It's a practical, clear-eyed conversation about turning good science into products that reach patients. In this episode, Katherine discusses how researchers can translate scientific discoveries into commercially viable therapeutics and why strong science alone is not enough to build a successful biotech company. She explains the importance of defining unmet medical needs, developing a clear target product profile, understanding the competitive landscape, prioritizing value-driving experiments, and building multidisciplinary teams with complementary scientific and business expertise. Katherine also shares perspectives on the differences between the biotechnology ecosystems in Singapore, the United States, China, and Europe; the role of public funding and private-sector partnerships; and how initiatives under RIE2030 may shape Singapore’s biomedical research and innovation landscape. Host: Shamieraah Jamal Timestamp 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Katherine Wang 01:17 From Research to Research Leadership 03:13 Comparing the US, Singapore and China Biotech Ecosystems 06:20 Building a Career Across Strategy and Operations 10:10 What Is the Singapore Therapeutics Development Review? 17:59 Global Models for Translational Funding 23:22 Introducing the Venture Lead Scheme 27:15 Bridging the Commercialisation Skills Gap 29:00 New STDR Initiatives under RIE2030 33:26 The Future of Singapore’s Biotech Ecosystem 35:01 Training the Next Generation for Commercialization 37:40 Current Gaps in Singapore’s Biotech Ecosystem | |||
| Rewriting human aging with Physics and AI with Dr. Peter Fedichev of Gero (Part 2) | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:50:07 | |
Dr. Peter Fedichev is the co-founder and CEO of GERO, a Singapore-based biotech startup that uses physics-informed AI and massive human health datasets to discover drugs aimed at slowing down aging and treating age-related diseases. In the 2nd part of this episode, Peter explains how Gero builds generative models of human health to predict disease trajectories and identify shared biological drivers across multiple chronic conditions. He discusses why metabolic dysfunction and inflammation represent promising intervention points, how partnerships with pharma companies like Chugai accelerate translation, and why companion dogs could become the proving ground for longevity therapeutics. Peter also shares his perspective on AI-driven drug discovery, arguing that target identification, not molecule generation, will create the greatest value. He outlines Gero’s open-source approach, fundraising journey, and vision for a future where therapies can meaningfully slow the aging process itself. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Dillon Chew, Chi Dam, Vasilina Gedzun 00:00 Gero Roadmap Overview 00:35 Predicting Disease Trajectories 03:03 Super Targets Strategy 05:07 Ozempic Market Wakeup 07:28 Binary Strategy With Pharma 10:11 Gerosense Wearable Aging API 11:58 Crossdisciplinary Lab Workflow 14:09 ProtoBind Diff Explained 17:16 Open Source Business Logic 21:10 Chugai Partnership Begins 23:57 AI Push In Big Pharma 27:09 Funding Gero Early 31:38 Differentiating From Calico and Altos 35:56 Longevity Roadmap Dogs To Humans 42:36 Next Milestones For Gero 43:45 Personal Motivation To Fight Aging | |||
| Rewriting human aging with Physics and AI with Dr. Peter Fedichev of Gero (Part 1) | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:30:53 | |
Dr. Peter Fedichev is the co-founder and CEO of GERO, a Singapore-based biotech startup that uses physics-informed AI and massive human health datasets to discover drugs aimed at slowing down aging and treating age-related diseases. In this episode, explains his transition from a decade in theoretical physics to longevity biotech, motivated by applying physics tools to complex living systems and discoveries like the naked mole rat’s lack of mortality acceleration. He contrasts biology’s case-control, fact-collecting culture with physics’ search for universal variables, arguing aging is a universal, chronic-process problem well suited to physics-style modeling. Peter describes Gero’s approach as building predictive, generative AI models from large-scale medical records and omics data to capture the “equations of motion” of health over time. He critiques hallmark-of-aging narratives and emphasizes “functional decline” (functional span) over healthspan, noting very old people can be disease-free yet severely impaired. Using thermodynamics as an analogy, he argues aging involves entropy-like, stochastic damage that is hard to reverse but potentially possible to slow or stop by targeting fundamental control variables. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Dillon Chew, Chi Dam, Vasilina Gedzun 00:00 Meet Peter Fedichev 00:23 From Physics to Biology 02:30 Non Aging Animals Spark 04:27 Physics Lens on Aging 06:21 Why Gero Exists 09:46 Modeling Health Dynamics 10:49 Beyond Lifespan Healthspan 12:43 Functional Decline Focus 16:07 Thermodynamics Meets AI 18:56 Entropy Limits Reversal 22:02 Temperature and Lifespan 25:12 Modeling to Speed Drugs 27:20 Closing Why Aging First | |||
| Advancing Precision Microbiome Innovation with Dr. Boon Chong Goh | 14 May 2026 | 00:38:54 | |
Dr. Boon Chong Goh is the co-founder and CTO of ArrowBiome, a Singapore-based biotech startup developing precision microbiome solutions through its lysin engineering platform. Spun out from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, ArrowBiome develops proprietary and patented platform technologies that enable highly selective bacterial targeting and killing. With “arrow-like” precision, the company is advancing microbiome solutions across applications including body odour, acne, other bacteria-associated skin conditions, gut health, and antimicrobial resistance. In this episode, Boon Chong shares how his journey from physics, protein structure, and molecular simulations led him into antimicrobial resistance research and eventually entrepreneurship. He discusses why lysins are powerful tools for precision microbiome control, how ArrowBiome moved from academic research to commercialization, and why the company strategically entered skincare and personal care before tackling more complex antimicrobial challenges. He also reflects on startup fundraising, Singapore’s biotech ecosystem, scaling production, global expansion, and the personal shift from scientist to entrepreneur. Host: Shamieraah Jamal Editors: Chi Dam, Shamieraah Jamal, Dillon Chew Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Boon Chong Goh 00:54 Journey From Physics to Antimicrobial Research 01:36 Why Lysins Became the Focus 04:24 Why Lysin Technology Matters for AMR 05:25 Funding Early Antimicrobial Projects 07:19 From Research Scientist to Entrepreneur 09:19 From CEO to CTO 14:10 Building ArrowBiome in Singapore 15:48 Why Singapore for Deep Tech and Cosmeceuticals 17:28 ArcherZyme and SmartArrow 19:19 Why Start with Cosmeceuticals 21:15 Regulatory Pathways and Clinical Testing 22:01 Measuring Success in Acne and Body Odor 23:23 Microbiome Differences Across Populations 24:51 Scaling Fermentation 25:37 B2B Partnerships and Global Clients 26:33 Formulation Partnerships with CHAKS 27:49 Singapore Startup Ecosystem and Partnerships 29:01 Winning Gold at In-Cosmetics Asia 31:06 Belgium Subsidiary and Global Expansion 32:20 What Next for ArrowBiome 33:20 M&A Strategy and Exit Planning 34:22 Advice for Researcher-Entrepreneurs 36:31 From Scientist to Strategic Founder | |||
| Futureproofing Aquaculture through field ready diagnostics with Kit Yong | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:43:27 | |
Mr. Kit Yong is the co-founder of Forte Biotech, a Singapore-based agritech startup developing rapid, point-of-care molecular diagnostics for aquaculture. Forte Biotech was founded in 2021. The concept behind RAPID was inspired by the founders’ experiences working with farmers in Vietnam, as well as insights from their own family businesses. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by farmers, their families, and their livelihoods, the team remains committed to developing solutions that can make a meaningful and lasting impact. In this episode, Kit shares how Forte Biotech was founded to address a critical but overlooked problem in shrimp farming: catastrophic losses due to undetected disease outbreaks. He explains how the company built a portable isothermal amplification platform and proprietary DNA extraction chemistry capable of handling challenging shrimp samples, enabling farmers to conduct reliable, onsite pathogen detection without complex laboratory infrastructure. Host: Aakash Naresh Kumar Editors: Dillon Chew, Shamieraah Jamal, Vasilina Gedzun, Hana Maldivita Tambrin Timestamp 00:00 Meet Kit Yong 02:33 No Manual for Startups 04:09 Why Forte Bio Started 06:53 Net Zero and Farm Impact 09:35 Rapid DNA Extraction Breakthrough 11:57 Sample Degradation and False Negatives 14:44 Major Shrimp Diseases Explained 18:26 Bridging Farmers and Scientists 20:18 Portable Hardware and Isothermal Tech 21:19 Balancing Cost Accuracy 21:55 Rapid Hardware Overview 22:52 On Farm Reliability Lessons 24:53 Scaling Across Southeast Asia Markets 25:46 Regulation And Local Partners 31:09 Building An Agile Team 33:40 Diagnostics And Food Security 35:57 Milestones Profitability Goals 36:47 Science Communication For Impact | |||
| Building World-Class Biomedical Research Institutions with Dr. Edison Liu (Part 2) | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:32:42 | |
Dr. Edison Liu is a medical doctor turned cancer geneticist, whose work focuses on cancer genomics, breast cancer biology, and translational medicine. He has held senior leadership roles in biomedical research institutions in the United States and Asia, as the founding executive director of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), and later the president and CEO of the Jackson Laboratory, one of the world's leading genetics research institutions. Along the way, he helped shape Singapore's biomedical landscape, led genomics research through crises like SARS, and expanded global position medicine efforts across Asia and North America. In Part 2, Dr. Edison Liu covers covers accountability and KPIs for Singapore’s biomedical initiative and how the 2003 SARS crisis validated translational research and GIS’s role, leading to recognition, embedding in MOH pandemic planning, and expanded work on H1N1/H5N1, Chikungunya, and Dengue. He shares that Singapore engineered healthcare as a discovery engine that supports economic welfare through pandemic control, precision medicine, and healthy aging, contrasting Singapore’s efficient population-based system with the US. He describes Singapore’s planned hospital/research cluster model versus evolving academic medical centers in the US, then explains leaving GIS after 11 years after developing successors. He recounts leading Jackson Laboratory’s transformation from 2012, scaling revenues and endowment and expanding campuses internationally, and emphasizes leadership traits (risk-taking, humility, learning), self-sufficiency in training, PhD reform, and Singapore’s bilingual role bridging a “two-systems” world while noting small size can enable global excellence. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Dillon Chew, Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Shamieraah Jamal, Vasilina Gedzun Chapters: 02:40 KPI and doubts 05:25 Health as Economic Engine 09:50 Knowing When to Step Down 13:10 Why join JAX 14:01 Scaling JAX Globally 18:15 Leadership Traits for Scientists 21:10 Rethinking the PhD in today’s era 26:10 Singapore and Asia's Biotech Future | |||
| Building World-Class Biomedical Research Institutions with Dr. Edison Liu (Part 1) | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:36:32 | |
Dr. Edison Liu is a medical doctor turned cancer geneticist, whose work focuses on cancer genomics, breast cancer biology, and translational medicine. He has held senior leadership roles in biomedical research institutions in the United States and Asia, as the founding executive director of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), and later the president and CEO of the Jackson Laboratory, one of the world's leading genetics research institutions. Along the way, he helped shape Singapore's biomedical landscape, led genomics research through crises like SARS, and expanded global position medicine efforts across Asia and North America. In this episode, Dr. Edison Liu shares his journey from being motivated from childhood by medicine, then pivoting into basic science late in training after frustration with empiric cancer care and inspiration from oncogene discoveries, leading to work at UCSF with Nobel laureate J. Michael Bishop. He explains how clinical experience shaped his research questions, how he balanced lab discovery with focused clinical work and molecular trials, and how leading a 1,200-person NCI division taught institutional-scale leadership. Recruited to Singapore by Philip Yeo and others, Liu chose functional and transcriptional genomics over sequencing alone, built GIS’s collaborative culture, recruited fearless, high-performing, non-“jerk” talent, and empowered young leaders during events like SARS, helping establish preeminence within a decade. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Dillon Chew, Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Shamieraah Jamal, Vasilina Gedzun Chapters: 02:18 Childhood Doctor Dream 06:00 Deep Dive into Molecular Biology 09:40 The value of being a Clinician Scientist 15:00 Juggling Clinic Lab And Trials 19:50 Recruited to Singapore 23:00 Leading GIS and Recruiting the right talent 29:40 Culture of GIS | |||
| Mining Bat Biology for Novel Therapeutic Strategies with Dr Lewis Hong of Paratus Sciences | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:40:10 | |
Dr. Lewis Hong is the Vice President of Paratus Sciences, a biotech company uncovering novel therapeutics by studying the extreme biology of bats. With a background spanning genomics research, pigmentation genetics at Stanford, and leadership roles in translational sciences at MSD, Lewis brings deep scientific and industry expertise to this pioneering field.
In this episode, Lewis shares how Paratus was founded to explore bats as a unique model for human health. He explains how the company built a large-scale bat genomics and bioinformatics platform which combines global sample collection, industrial sequencing, and a powerful knowledge graph, to identify high-impact therapeutic targets.
Lewis highlights Paratus’ two lead focus areas: • Immunology & inflammation, featuring theirASC inflammasome inhibitor program now entering IND-enabling studies; • Cardiometabolism, inspired by bats’ remarkablemetabolic resilience and cardiac performance.
He also discusses the challenges of scaling bat genomics, the role of academic partnerships, building an R&D team in Singapore, and the broader trajectory of Singapore’s biotech ecosystem. Lewis closes with practical advice for scientists entering biotech, emphasizing resilience, long-term thinking, and the importance of strong mentors and collaborators.
Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar Editors: Shamieraah Jamal, Vasilina Gedzun, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew
Timestamps 01:07 Introduction 01:28 Early Career Journey 06:20 Transition to Industry 10:35 Bat Biology & Drug Discovery 16:28 Scaling Bat Genomics 20:58 Pursuing ASC2 as a Therapeutic Target 23:43 Future Directions & Partnerships 34:52 Advice for Aspiring Biotech Professionals 39:16 Closing Remarks | |||
| Simplifying medication regimens through 3D-printed pills with CraftHealth’s Dr. Goh Wei Jiang | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:40:10 | |
Dr. Goh Wei Jiang is the Co-founder and CEO of CraftHealth, a pioneering Singapore-based startup revolutionizing personalized medicine through 3D printing. With a background in pharmacy and a PhD-MBA from NUS, Dr. Goh brings both scientific expertise and commercial insight to the forefront of MedTech innovation. Drawing on his clinical experience and translational research, he co-founded CraftHealth to solve a real-world challenge: simplifying polypharmacy and improving drug compliance through customizable, on-demand medications. In this episode, Dr. Goh Wei Jiang shares his journey from hospital pharmacist to a Healthtech founder. Motivated by the challenge of polypharmacy and the pill burden faced by patients, Dr. Goh and his co-founder developed a 3D printing platform that enables personalized medicine—combining multiple drugs into a single, tailored pill with customized release profiles. He walks us through the early ideation phase, shaped by his experiences in Stanford Biodesign, GRIP, Lean Launchpad, and other innovation ecosystems, and how they tested their first 3D printed pill using a small grant. Dr. Goh explains how CraftHealth's proprietary platform integrates hardware, software, and material science to create a modular, scalable approach to medication production. Dr. Goh also explores real-world applications: from improving precision dosing in pediatric or renal patients to enabling compounding pharmacies and supplement companies to rapidly prototype and personalize products. He discusses regulatory challenges, automation, hospital partnerships, and long-term visions for decentralised drug manufacturing. Finally, he shares his reflections on entrepreneurship, emphasising the importance of customer validation and building what people are willing to pay for. Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew Chapters:
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| Redefining Bioconjugation and the Future of ADCs with Dr. Abbas Sahili of Singzyme | 16 May 2025 | 00:36:07 | |
Dr. Abbas Sahili is the CTO of Singzyme, a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation bioconjugation technologies. With a strong background in biochemistry and structural biology, Abbas brings deep scientific expertise and entrepreneurial vision to the field of precision medicine. His transition from academia to biotech leadership is marked by a commitment to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that are more efficient, effective, and accessible. Under his leadership, Singzyme has developed a proprietary platform leveraging Peptide Asparaginyl Ligase (PAL) technology, setting a new standard in ADC manufacturing and performance. In this episode, Dr. Abbas Sahili walks us through his unique journey from academic research in structural biology to founding Singzyme, a cutting-edge biotech startup. He shares the motivations that led him to pivot from lab-based research to real-world therapeutic development and the founding story of Singzyme. Dr. Sahili breaks down complex concepts like antibody-drug conjugates and bioconjugation in a way that’s easy to understand. He discusses Singzyme’s PAL technology, a novel enzymatic platform that offers significant advantages over traditional methods, particularly in oncology and diagnostic imaging. He explains how PAL improves efficiency and precision in linking payloads to antibodies, unlocking new possibilities in targeted therapies and radiodiagnostics. He also sheds light on the operational and strategic challenges faced by a young biotech company and outlines how Singzyme is overcoming them through innovation, industry partnerships, and a strong vision. Looking ahead, Abbas discusses the potential for expanding beyond cancer into other areas like autoimmune and infectious diseases, and the roadmap for product development and partnerships. Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew
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| Devising new methods of next-gen genetic testing with Gene Solutions' Dr. Hoa Giang | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:39:31 | |
Dr. Hoa Giang is the Co-founder and Data Science Lead of Gene Solutions. His background boasts a broad range of experience in the global therapeutics industry. His technical background includes computational biology, bioinformatics analysis and understanding genetic interactions and how they affect the cellular functions. This experience and immense knowledge inform his mindful and robust approach to founding Gene Solutions. Hoa’s experience spans the globe having lived, studied and worked in Vietnam and USA. In this episode, Hoa shares his journey of how he moved to the USA to pursue an advanced degree in computational biology. Starting from having an interest in biotech, he also shares how he was able to work with Professor Jun Hyong Kim at the University of Pennsylvania and broaden his expertise to bioinformatics. This knowledge helped him to develop new methods of combining wet lab protocol and dry lab analysis for next generation sequencing (NGS). He goes on to mention that he is very passionate about making new technology available to all and thus brought these new novel methods of NGS back to Vietnam in the form of Gene Solutions. In this episode, Hoa also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Gene Solutions, including their way of staying ahead of competition while aiming to keep solutions affordable and accessible to the masses. He also briefly talks about Gene Solution’s technology, focusing on their two main pillars of reproductive health and clinical oncology, and how it varies from older tests and their strategies of expansion into various new geographical markets. Lastly, he describes the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up and the importance of good teamwork. Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng
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| Inspiring the next breakthroughs in cancer therapy with Tikva Allocell's Dr. Ivan Horak | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:22:36 | |
Dr. Ivan Horak is currently the CEO and founder of Tikva Allocell, a biotech company whose mission is to develop safe, effective, readily available and affordable “off-the-shelf” T cell therapies by leveraging excellent safety profile of proprietary technologies that enhance the T cell's performance to treat cancer. In this episode, Ivan shares his journey from having an interest in becoming a medical oncologist. He also shares how his experience in working in some of the top oncology institutes in Central Europe to working in the United States helped shape his early career before moving into Singapore, where he worked with Tessa and finally set out to develop Tikva Allocell. Tikva Allocell is focused on creating therapy using proprietary IP protected platform to drive the next breakthrough in cancer therapy. In this episode, Ivan also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Tikva, and also the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up. He goes on to talk about making therapies affordable, how to manage scaling up and also the importance of collaboration. He also mentions the intricacies of VCs and also how they function. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 01:37 Ivan's Background and Early Career 04:46 Founding of Tikva 11:41 Importance of Collaborations 14:26 Tikva's recent milestones 15:36 VC mindset 20:20 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs and Final Thoughts | |||
| Redirecting Immunity to fight Cancer with VerImmune's Dr. Joshua Wang | 16 Feb 2025 | 00:34:42 | |
Dr. Joshua Wang is currently the CEO and founder of VerImmune, a biotech company focused on developing novel virus inspired particle technology platform that can be used as a delivery system to target cancers.
Host: Dillon Chew 00:00 Josh's Background and Early Career 05:13 Founding his first Startup 06:27 Challenges in the Vaccine Business 07:46 VerImmune and their VIP Technology 21:24 Collaborations and Global Expansion 29:48 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs 32:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||
| Strategizing for fundraising success with MissionBridge's Ritika Khetawat | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:40:40 | |
Ritika Khetawat is the founder of MissionBridge, a fundraising advisory firm that empowers Singapore’s biotech and medtech ventures to secure the capital they need. In this episode, Ritika discusses her transition from investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to supporting healthcare startups through MissionBridge. She shares her insights into the unique challenges of biotech fundraising, emphasizing the need for strategic planning, strong storytelling, and relationship-building with investors. Ritika explains MissionBridge’s mission to “democratize fundraising” by simplifying the process for founders and bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and global funding opportunities. She also highlights the importance of optionality in biotech pipelines and adapting to market dynamics during the “biotech winter.” Host: Dillon ChewEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 01:17 Introduction 09:22 Various Sources of Funding for Startups 22:19 Common Challenges and Mistakes Made During Fundraising 30:00 Selecting a Good VC Partner 36:47 Future of MissionBridge and Emerging Trends in Singapore | |||
| Innovating new cancer-selective biologics with PairX Bio’s Dr. David M. Epstein | 16 Nov 2024 | 00:25:26 | |
Dr David M. Epstein is the co-founder and president of PairX Bio, a company that specializes in the next generation of cancer selective biologics. In this episode, David shares his experience and journey from working in various biotech companies and big pharma institutions to eventually building his own companies. One of these is Pairx Bio, a company specializing in the next generation of cancer biologics. David stresses the importance of how being able to follow the science and being transparent and open with the discussions on data collected from research projects plays a key role in the success of a company. He also touches on the success of targeted cancer therapies, some of which has led to an increase in lifespan, as well as the limitations in terms of the range of diseases that can be treated with this therapy. He also highlights the future of therapeutics in general, discussing the push in biotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics and expanding the horizon where these new innovative treatments can be effective. Lastly, he touches on the importance of how to handle IP matters and protecting one’s IP. Host: Aakash S/O Naresh KumarEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org. 01:01 Introduction 05:10 Origins of Pairx Bio and Key Characteristics For a Successful Startup 13:18 Key differences in the process of IP patenting 18:22 Singapore VS USA Biotech Ecosystems 20:51 Future of Singapore’s Biotech Ecosystem | |||
| Empowering biotech startups with JLABS Singapore’s Dr. Alessandro Falcone | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:36:31 | |
Dr. Alessandro Falcone is the Head of JLABS Singapore. In this episode, Alessandro talks about his transition from clinical medicine to business consulting, eventually landing in leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies. He explains the mission of JLABS Singapore, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Singapore’s Economic Development Board, which aims to nurture early-stage biotech and medtech startups. Alessandro highlights JLABS’ shift from a traditional lab incubator to a Universal model, which emphasizes advisory support, mentorship, and global networking opportunities for resident startups. He also discusses Singapore’s biotech ecosystem and shares his insights on building resilient companies amid the "biotech winter" funding challenges. Host: John Joson NgEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org. 01:23 Introduction 05:37 JLABS Singapore: Mission and Role 16:38 Challenges and Successes 18:46 Singapore’s Ecosystem 31:09 Navigating Career Transitions | |||
| Simulating atomic movement with QDX's Loong Wang | 15 Sep 2024 | 00:49:06 | |
Loong Wang is the CEO and Co-Founder of QDX, a company specializing in computational drug discovery using quantum mechanics and supercomputing. In this episode, Loong discusses his journey from supercomputing at the Australian National University to founding multiple startups in distributed computing and blockchain—before making a significant pivot to biotechnology. His deep dive into quantum chemistry aims to address complex drug discovery challenges by simulating atomic and molecular behaviors at a fundamental level. He also touches on the potential for quantum chemistry to revolutionize high-throughput screening methods that big pharmaceutical companies currently rely on, making these processes faster, cheaper, and more precise. He emphasizes understanding the nuances of biomedical problems and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in developing groundbreaking solutions. Host: John Joson NgEditors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 01:02 Introduction 06:16 Understanding Quantum Mechanics in Drug Discovery 18:53 Challenges in Biotech: Collaboration and Simulations 26:30 Entrepreneurship, IP Strategy, and Scaling Up 42:22 Advice for Non-Traditional Entrants to Biotech | |||
| Fermenting sustainable foodtech with TurtleTree’s Fengru Lin | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:35:37 | |
Fengru Lin is the Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, a pioneering biotechnology company that has successfully developed the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin “LF+” using precision fermentation technology. Host: Jessie WongEditors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 01:00 Introduction 05:51 Pivoting from Cell-Based Milk to Lactoferrin Production 16:02 Challenges and Strategies in Building TurtleTree 20:14 Consumer Perception and Adoption of Precision Fermentation Products 26:09 TurtleTree’s Role in Singapore’s 2030 Sustainable Food Initiative 30:58 Balancing Sciences and Business in Biotech Startups | |||
| Harnessing the power of antibody therapeutics with Hummingbird Bioscience’s Dr. Lisa Ooi | 15 Jul 2024 | 00:35:03 | |
Dr. Lisa Ooi is the Senior Vice President of Strategy at Hummingbird Bioscience, a leading biotech company in Singapore focused on antibody therapeutics. In this episode, Dr. Ooi discusses her journey from her PhD at Stanford to her current role, highlighting her experience in biomedical research and corporate strategy. She delves into Hummingbird Bioscience's innovative platform for developing antibody-based therapies, sharing insights on the company's strategic direction, the challenges of drug development, and the potential impact of their work on cancer treatment and beyond. Dr. Ooi also explores the reasons behind Hummingbird Bioscience's success in attracting investment and the unique advantages of being based in Singapore. Host: Jessie WongEditors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 01:00 Introduction 10:06 Establishing Hummingbird Bioscience in Singapore 14:22 Innovative Antibody and ADC Development Strategy 23:37 Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Dual Payload ADCs 28:56 Hummingbird Bioscience's Role in Singapore's Biotech Ecosystem | |||
| Protecting innovations in biotech with Mewburn Ellis’ Dr. Adam Gregory | 15 Jun 2024 | 00:43:24 | |
Dr. Adam Gregory is a Partner and Patent Attorney at Mewburn Ellis LLP. He works with biotech companies to build and manage their patent portfolios, drafting patent applications and co-ordinating prosecution worldwide. In this episode, he highlights success stories from Singapore’s vibrant biotech scene, including Enleofen Bio and Hummingbird Bioscience, and discusses the evolving nature of patent strategies in the face of emerging technologies like AI and gene editing. From understanding the differences between patents, trademarks, and copyrights to exploring the patent application process and common pitfalls, this episode is packed with valuable information for anyone in the biotech industry. Host: John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 01:02 Introduction 08:50 The patent application process 14:57 Strategic IP management and common pitfalls 27:06 Success stories from Singapore biotech 36:18 Emerging technologies and future trends | |||
| Finding a cure for hematologic malignancies with Vor Bio's Dr. Robert Ang | 15 May 2024 | 00:43:36 | |
Dr. Robert Ang is the CEO of Vor Bio, a clinical-stage cell and genome engineering therapy company. In this episode, Dr. Ang discusses the challenges of treating cancer, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the need for new and innovative approaches. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating clinical trials during the pandemic and securing funding for research and development. Lastly, he explains how Vor Bio is using cell and gene therapies, such as CAR-T cells and genome engineering, to target AML and potentially cure patients. Host: John Joson Ng 01:15 Introduction 07:47 Cancer and treatment modalities 12:02 Vor’s approach to treating AML 31:55 Investing in clinical manufacturing 34:21 Navigating clinical trials and funding during the pandemic 39:53 Looking ahead | |||
| Advancing Singapore's biotech ecosystem with Albatroz Therapeutics' Dr. Guy Heathers (Part 2) | 22 Apr 2024 | 00:29:18 | |
Dr. Guy Heathers is the Chief Business Officer and one of the co-founders of Albatroz Therapeutics. In this episode, Dr. Guy Heathers shares his insights and experiences in the biotech industry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by startups in Singapore. He discusses the importance of patent protection, the need for strong product development capabilities, and the significance of effective interaction with pharma companies. Dr. Heathers emphasizes the value of pursuing first-in-class innovations and the importance of confidence and conviction in the entrepreneurial journey. He also provides advice for academic trainees and early career professionals, encouraging them to take their time and enjoy the process of building a successful career in biotech. Host: John Joson NgEditors: Jessie Wong, John Joson NgThe show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 01:22 Establishing Albatroz Therapeutics 06:59 Challenges and deliverables in biotech startups 10:11 Differences in modalities and investor appetite 16:28 Key ingredients for competitive biotech startups 25:29 Personal advice and future outlook | |||
| Advancing Singapore's biotech ecosystem with Albatroz Therapeutics' Dr. Guy Heathers (Part 1) | 14 Apr 2024 | 00:34:42 | |
Dr. Guy Heathers is the Chief Business Officer and one of the co-founders of Albatroz Therapeutics, a preclinical stage biotech company focused on developing therapeutic antibodies and antibody drug conjugates for the treatment of solid tumors and arthritis. In this episode, Dr. Guy Heathers shares his extensive experience in the biotech industry and discusses the challenges and opportunities in Singapore's biotech ecosystem. He talks about how he became involved in building the biotech industry in Singapore. Dr. Heathers also reflects on the progress and setbacks in the Singapore biotech scene, highlighting the importance of having a clear business strategy and the need for specialized biotech investors. He emphasizes the global mindset and the potential for biotech companies to make a significant impact on a global scale. Host: John Joson Ng 01:03 Introduction 06:28 Getting invovled with Singapore's nascent biotech ecosystem 10:17 Early successes 16:16 Mindset shift 26:37 Tessa's closure and lessons learned | |||
| Screening diseases through pharmacogenomics with NalaGenetics' Levana Sani | 15 Mar 2024 | 00:28:56 | |
Levana Sani is the co-founder and CEO of NalaGenetics. In this episode, Levana shares how her background in biochemistry and her MBA from Harvard Business School helped shape her understanding of the business side of science. She explains the four main problems NalaGenetics aims to solve in the field of genetic testing and the challenges they faced in the early stages. Additionally, she highlights the differences in commercialisation in Singapore and Indonesia, and the current challenges faced with the adoption and application of pharmacogenomics in clinics. Host: Jessie Wong The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on 01:00 Introduction 05:09 Early beginnings of NalaGenetics 12:11 Product development and market expansion 17:10 Technology and democratization of genetics 24:15 Future outlook | |||
| Modeling human skin in 4D with REVIVO BioSystems’ Dr. Massimo Alberti | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:35:39 | |
Dr. Massimo Alberti is the CEO and co-founder of REVIVO BioSystems. In this episode, Dr. Alberti shares valuable insights into the process of spinning off a technology from an academic setting. He discusses the genesis of REVIVO BioSystems, the development of their innovative 4D human tissue models, and the pivotal role of perseverance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and client feedback in shaping REVIVO BioSystems' trajectory. Aspiring biomedical entrepreneurs and young scientists will find inspiration in Dr. Alberti's entrepreneurial journey, along with actionable advice for navigating the transition from academia to startup. Host: Jessie Wong The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on 01:07 Introduction 04:52 What REVIVO BioSystems offers 09:13 Challenges and triumphs of early development 11:08 Navigating the investment landscape 24:02 Overcoming regulatory hurdles and industry standards 32:51 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs | |||
| Investing in biotech with TPG Life Sciences Innovations' Dr. Carolyn Ng | 15 Jan 2024 | 00:36:39 | |
Dr. Carolyn Ng is the Managing Director and Partner of TPG Life Sciences Innovations. With a decade of expertise in life sciences investment under her belt, she's the powerhouse behind infusing capital into groundbreaking startup companies in precision oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, metabolic diseases, and rare diseases. In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Ng shares her journey from academia to venture capital and discusses the investment thesis of her company. She also shares her insights on startup success factors - robust IP, strategic partnerships, and a stellar team. Plus, get the lowdown on navigating macroeconomic headwinds and savvy exit strategies for biotech companies. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org. 00:58 Introduction 03:50 Journey to venture capital 09:34 Assessing biotech startups and their risk profiles 19:56 Keeping up with biotech 27:47 Different flavors of biotech 29:59 Advice for entrepreneurs | |||
| Diagnosing GI diseases using AI with Iterative Health’s Dr. Jonathan Ng | 15 Dec 2023 | 00:21:37 | |
Dr. Jonathan Ng is the CEO and founder of Iterative Health, a company that focuses on AI diagnostics for gastrointestinal diseases. In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Ng discusses his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship and the development of AI diagnostics for gastrointestinal diseases. He shares his experiences in healthcare and the challenges he faced in starting a company focused on AI. He also talks about the importance of mentorship and the role of AI in transforming healthcare. He emphasizes the need for business model innovation and the gradual adoption of AI tools in order to ensure patient safety and improve outcomes. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz. 01:22 Introduction 04:04 The inception of Iterative Health 06:40 Challenges and evolution of AI adoption 09:42 Entrepreneurial journey and mentorship 11:29 Comparison of ecosystems 13:16 Future of AI in healthcare 19:15 Advice for entrepreneurs | |||
| Developing digital therapeutics with KYAN Technologies' Prof. Dean Ho | 15 Dec 2023 | 00:47:57 | |
Prof. Dean Ho is the Provost’s Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He is also the Director of the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) and The N.1 Institute for Health, and one of the Scientific Co-Founders of KYAN Technologies. In this episode, Prof. Ho discusses the importance of accessibility and community in fostering innovation. He highlights the role of academia in bridging the gap between innovation and real-world impact. Prof. Ho also shares his experience in setting up a biotech company in both the US and Singapore, emphasizing the ease and agility of the Singaporean ecosystem. He discusses the opportunities for AI in healthcare, particularly in clinical trial design and digital therapeutics. Prof. Ho also mentions the importance of a human talent pipeline to support the growing biotech industry in Singapore. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz. 01:27 Introduction 06:32 The importance of impact 09:53 Singapore’s advantages as an ecosystem 21:36 CURATE.AI, Optim.AI, and other AI technologies 29:39 Digital therapeutics (DTx) 35:56 Growing the local talent pipeline for the biotech industry 42:55 Resources for those interested in biotech | |||
| Building the local microbiome community with AMILI's A/Prof. Jeremy Lim | 22 Sep 2023 | 01:01:57 | |
A/Prof. Jeremy Lim is the director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and the CEO and co-founder of Asian Microbiome Library (AMILI). In this episode, he discusses his transition from surgical practice to public health, policy, and entrepreneurship. He explains the important work of cataloguing the Asian microbiome and describes the work AMILI has undertaken in building the world's largest multiethnic Asian microbiome database. He highlights the potential of personalized gut health treatments and the role of partnerships in advancing research and development. A/Prof. Lim also shares his insights on Singapore's healthcare system and the challenges and opportunities in the biotech ecosystem. The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz. 00:39 Introduction 02:30 Experience in public health and civil service 12:41 Transition into entrepreneurship 16:53 Co-founding AMILI 23:26 Building the world’s largest multi-ethnic Asian gut microbiome database 31:59 Partnerships and IP 42:54 Growing the local microbiome community 49:34 Biology, behavior, bureaucracy, budget | |||
| Addressing unmet health needs through precision diagnostics with Lucence's Dr. Tan Min-Han | 05 Aug 2023 | 00:42:58 | |
Dr. Tan Min-Han, founder and CEO of Lucence, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of precision health in Singapore and the region. He shares his journey from being a medical oncologist and researcher to becoming an entrepreneur focused on noninvasive early detection of cancer through liquid biopsies. In this episode, he emphasizes the urgent need for early cancer detection, as 80% of cancer deaths are from unscreened cancers. Listen as he highlights the challenges of implementing change in healthcare systems and the importance of engaging stakeholders to address these gaps. Finally, he also discusses Lucence's expansion to the United States and China, as well as the company's mission to bridge the gap in cancer detection worldwide. The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz. 00:39 Introduction 06:12 Lucence's value proposition in the cancer diagnostics market 11:59 Formation of Lucence's team and its evolution 23:06 Challenges in implementing change in healthcare systems 28:39 Key pillars of support and models for entrepreneurship advice 33:15 Difficulties for Asian healthcare services in securing US approval 36:34 Lucence's future expansion and impact in the world 40:13 Evolution of the life science ecosystem in Singapore | |||
| Teaser | 01 Jul 2023 | 00:01:03 | |
Who are the stakeholders in Singapore's biotech ecosystem? What's it like to build a startup here in Singapore? And how have Singaporean founders blazed new trails locally or overseas in the biotech space? Find out the answers to these questions here on Nucleate Singapore Pulse, Singapore’s premier podcast on the biotech ecosystem. Whether you’re a student thinking about creating your own startup or an industry professional looking for diverse perspectives, this is the podcast for you. Nucleate Singapore Pulse is available on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The show notes and transcripts can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. Subscribe and follow us to keep your finger on the pulse of Singapore’s biotech ecosystem. Host: John Joson Ng (MD-PhD Candidate, Duke-NUS Medical School) | |||