The BioHub: The Top Voices in Biotech

Today we’re joined by a leader at the forefront of next-generation immunotherapy — Dr. Christian Leisner. Christian is the CEO and co-founder of CDR-Life, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of highly targeted T-cell engaging therapies designed to tackle some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.With a PhD in Biochemistry from ETH Zurich and a Master’s in Molecular Biology and Chemistry from Roskilde University in Denmark, Christian has built a career that bridges deep scientific expertise with strategic leadership. Before launching CDR-Life, he held key roles at Novartis, Alcon, and the biotech success story ESBATech, contributing to global development programs across oncology, ophthalmology, autoimmunity, and cardiovascular disease.Today, Christian leads CDR-Life’s mission to unlock the potential of MHC-targeted immunotherapies — developing treatments designed to precisely attack tumor cells by recognizing intracellular antigens, long thought to be ‘undruggable.’ Under his leadership, the company is shaping what could become a transformational approach in the fight against cancer.We’re thrilled to have him with us today to explore the science, the strategy, and the future of immunotherapy

We were delighted to welcome Dr. Christina Coughlin, CEO of Avacta Therapeutics, onto The BioHub! Avacta are a clinical-stage biotech pioneering next-generation oncology therapies.With a remarkable career spanning top pharmaceutical companies and cutting-edge biotech — from Immunocore and Rubius Therapeutics to Tmunity and CytoImmune — Christina brings a unique blend of medical expertise, scientific insight, and leadership acumen. At Avacta, she is driving the development of groundbreaking therapeutics, leveraging proprietary platforms like pre|CISION™, with the goal of bringing life-changing treatments from lab to clinic.In this episode, we’ll explore her journey from clinician-scientist to biotech executive, the vision and science behind Avacta, and the challenges and opportunities in developing innovative cancer therapies in today’s evolving regulatory and commercial landscape.

Welcome to another Episode of The BiohubToday, I’m joined by Jill Howe, Chief Financial Officer at Lineage Cell Therapeutics, a company developing groundbreaking allogeneic cell therapies for conditions like dry AMD, spinal cord injury, and hearing loss.Jill’s career spans more than 20 years across some of biotech’s most successful companies, helping take both Receptos and Gossamer Bio public before stepping into her current role at Lineage.We talk about what inspired her to join the company, how shehelps shape and protect Lineage’s culture, what excites her most about their pipeline, and her perspective on leadership and women in biotech.Let’s get into it.

Welcome back to another episode of The BioHub, we were thrilled to introduce a guest whose career lies at the cutting edge of cell therapy, biotech leadership, and real-world impact. Abigail Jenkins is a visionary biotech CEO whose journey has taken her from pioneering the development of cell therapies to leading companies at the forefront of regenerative medicine.Before stepping into her current role, Abigail served as CEO of Gamida Cell, where she guided the company through pivotal stages of clinical development, advanced its pipeline of therapies, and championed innovation in cell-based treatments for patients in need. Her leadership helped bring new hope to people suffering from life-threatening diseases — all while navigating the complexities of regulatory approval, scientific uncertainty, and market pressures.

Today on The BioHub, I’m joined by Brendan Teehan, Chief Commercial Officer at Pacira BioSciences.Brendan has spent three decades building and leading commercial teams across biopharma, from Johnson & Johnson to Amgen, Tesaro, and Acadia. Now at Pacira, he’s driving the company’s mission to transform pain management through innovative non-opioid therapies.In this conversation, we get into what inspired him to join Pacira, how the company has evolved, and how they’ve aligned the entire organization around a clear and bold mission. We also dive into leadership, culture, and the future of pain management.Let’s get into it.

Today we’re joined by one of Europe’s most respected builders of biotechnology companies — Luc Dochez.Luc is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur whose career has helped shape the next generation of therapies in oncology, rare diseases, and genetic medicine. Over the past two decades, he has co-founded and led multiple biotech companies, including Vico Therapeutics, Montis Biosciences, and Pharvaris, and he served as CEO of Tusk Therapeutics, guiding it all the way to its acquisition by Roche.Before becoming a serial entrepreneur, Luc held senior leadership roles at Prosensa, TiGenix, and other pioneering biopharma firms, building a reputation for turning cutting-edge science into real therapeutic opportunities. Today, as a Managing Partner at DROIA Ventures, he invests in and mentors the startups pushing the boundaries of precision medicine.With a background that spans pharmacy, business strategy, company formation, and venture capital, Luc brings a uniquely holistic perspective on how breakthrough therapies go from idea to impact.

Today on The BioHub, I’m joined by Robert Hoffman, Chief Financial Officer of CytoDyn.Robert is a true industry veteran — with decades ofexperience leading finance and strategy across some of biotech’s most recognizable names, from Arena to Heron and Kintara. Over his career he’s guided IPOs, spin-offs, fundraises, and M&A, all while serving on the boards of multiple biotech companies.Now at CytoDyn, Robert is helping steer the company as itadvances its lead monoclonal antibody program.This conversation is about leadership, staying motivated inbiotech’s toughest cycles, and the big vision for CytoDyn’s future.

Today, we’re joined by an extraordinary leader who has spent her career at the intersection of science, innovation, and human potential — Dr. Sheila Gujrathi.Sheila is a physician, scientist, engineer, and biotech entrepreneur whose journey embodies both precision and purpose. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and her M.D. from Northwestern University, before completing her residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School and fellowships in Allergy and Immunology at UCSF and Stanford.Her career has been defined by bold leadership and groundbreaking innovation — from leading global immunology programs at Bristol-Myers Squibb, to serving as Chief Medical Officer at Receptos, where she helped advance the drug Zeposia® to approval for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis. She went on to co-found and serve as CEO of Gossamer Bio, and today she chairs the boards of Ventyx Biosciences and Lila Biologics, while serving as a director at Janux Therapeutics.But beyond her professional success, Sheila is known for her authenticity, her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in biotech, and her belief in leading with empathy, curiosity, and courage. Through her writing and mentorship, she challenges us to bring our whole selves to our work — reminding us that science and leadership are at their best when they’re deeply human.

We were honoured to welcome Neha Krishnamohan, onto The BioHub.Neha began her professional journey at Goldman Sachs in theHealthcare Investment Banking Group, focusing on mergers & acquisitions and strategic financings for biotech and med-tech companies. During her time there, she helped execute more than $100 billion in transactions across biopharma, diagnostics and tools.Building on that foundation, Neha then moved into anoperational leadership role in biotech: she served as CFO and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Kinnate Biopharma, a precision-oncology company, where she led financial operations, business development and investor relations — working through strategic alternatives that culminated in asset transactions and acquisition. Most recently, she joined Artiva Biotherapeutics, aclinical-stage company focused on off-the-shelf natural-killer (“NK”) cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, as CFO & EVP Corporate Development (April 2024). Her role is helping drive the company’s growthstrategy, financing, M&A and operational execution as Artiva scales its pipeline.

Welcome to The BiohubJoy Clark, Chief People Officer at Worldwide Clinical Trials, joins The BioHub Podcast to talk about building belonging, leading with purpose, and driving health equity in clinical research. Joy shares her journey from high-growth tech to the CRO world, how Worldwide has cultivated a culture that’s 73% women, and why human-centered leadership matters more than ever.

We were thrilled to welcome, Heather Turner, CEO of LB Pharmaceuticals, onto The BioHub. Heather is a seasoned biotechnology executive with over 25 years of experience driving legal, operational, and strategic excellence across the biopharmaceutical industry. She currently serves as CEO of LB Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage company focused on innovative treatments for schizophrenia. Under her leadership, LB recently went public in a landmark IPO, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth journey. Prior to LB, Heather led Carmot Therapeutics through a $3.1 billion acquisition by Roche, expanded teams, and executed transformative financing and strategic initiatives. With deep expertise in navigating complex biotech landscapes, Heather’s insights span corporate strategy, IPOs, and driving innovation in clinical-stage development. We’re excited to hear her perspective on leadership, biotech growth, and the future of medicine

Today, we’re joined by Clarke Atwell, CEO of Claris Biotherapeutics — a company pioneering regenerative biologic therapies with a focus on transforming the field of ophthalmology.Under Clarke’s leadership, Claris has achieved a major milestone with its Series A financing, fueling the company’s mission to advance novel therapies designed to repair and restore vision at the cellular level, and are now in the process of going through there series B round. By combining cutting-edge biology with a deep understanding of ocular disease, Claris is working to address some of the most challenging conditions in eye health.Clarke’s career spans scientific innovation and executive leadership across the biopharma industry, and he now leads Claris through an exciting new chapter of growth and clinical translation.

Today I’m joined by Dr. Maurits Geerlings, President and CEOof NanoCell Therapeutics. Maurits is a true biotech entrepreneur — he’s co-founded and built multiple companies including Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Formula Pharmaceuticals, and Mirata Pharma — and now he’s on a mission to revolutionize in-vivo cell engineering. In this conversation, we dive into Maurits’ journey, the unique structure of NanoCell, the challenges and opportunities in cell therapy right now, and his bold vision for the future of this field.Enjoy and stay tuned.

Today I’m joined by Dena House - Chief People Officer atAdverum Biotechnologies.Dena’s career has spanned some of the world’s leading life sciences companies, from Nikon Precision to Myriad Genetics, but what stands out is her passion for building strong, intentional culture in complex organizations.At Adverum, she was brought in with a clear mission: buildthe kind of people-first culture that can power innovation, resilience, and long-term growth, even in one of biotech’s toughest markets.We talk about how she tackled that challenge, what greatculture actually looks like in biotech, and why this work matters more now than ever.Let’s get into it.

We were delighted to welcome Baruch Harris, Chief Operating Officer at Pretzel Therapeutics, a company dedicated to translating mitochondrial biology into transformative therapies. Dr. Harris’s journey spans from rigorous scientific roots to strategic leadership — he holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCSF and a degree in Biophysics from Brown University. Before joining Pretzel, he led business development, operations, and fundraising efforts at companies including ROME Therapeutics, Yumanity Therapeutics, Metera Pharmaceuticals, and Enlight Biosciences. In our conversation today, we’ll explore how Pretzel is tackling mitochondrial dysfunction as a therapeutic target, the unique operational challenges of scaling a biotech platform grounded in mitochondrial biology.

Welcome back to another episode of The BioHub, we were delighted to welcome on Abid Ansari, Chief Financial Officer at General Oncology, a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on first-in-class therapies for metastatic cancer. With more than two decades of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors, Abid has built his reputation as a strategic finance executive who bridges capital, innovation, and growth. Over his career, he’s led major capital raises — including a $153 million Series C at Artios and a $146 million IPO at Precision BioSciences — and driven business development deals, licensing agreements, and M&A transactions. Earlier in his journey, Abid held roles at GSK in deal finance and portfolio management, contributing to high-stakes transactions such as the acquisition of Bristol Myers Squibb’s HIV portfolio and licensing agreements with Adaptimmune

I’m joined by Dr. Paul Song, Chairman & CEO of NKGen Biotech.Paul has led across biotech, from CMO at NKGEN to co-founding Fuse Biotherapeutics and since 2022 he’s been driving NKGen’s mission to harness natural killer cells through their proprietary SNK platform for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.In this episode, we dive into his decision to return and lead NKGen, the science behind the SNK platform, the company’s recent SPAC merger and NASDAQ listing, and his perspective on building resilient biotech companies in today’s market.Enjoy and stay tuned.

Welcome back to another episode of The BioHub, we weredelighted to welcome on Nick Manusos, the CEO of Kenai Therapeutics, a pioneering biotech company developing neuron replacement therapies for neurological disorders. Nick’s journey spans decades of innovation and leadership—from senior roles at global pharma giants like Baxter, Takeda, and Abbott, to founding and leading cutting-edge startups like Iota Biosciences and Opsis Therapeutics. Under his guidance, Kenai Therapeutics has secured groundbreaking funding and is advancing life-changing therapies for patientswith Parkinson’s disease. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’sKellogg School of Management and a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, bringing a rare combination of business acumen and scientific vision to the table. Nick joins us today to share his insights on pioneering stem celltherapies, building biotech startups from the ground up, and what it takes to turn cutting-edge science into real-world solutions.

Today’s guest is someone who’s seen biotech from both sidesof the table—first as an investor, and now as a builder. I’m joined by Punit Dhillon, CEO of Skye Bioscience, wherehe’s leading one of the most exciting stories in metabolic health.Punit started Skye as employee number one and has sincebuilt it into a clinical-stage company with one first-in-class programs and backing from major life science investors like 5AM and Versant. With a background in finance and business development—and a career that includes partnerships with Merck, Genentech, BMS and Pfizer—he brings a unique anddeeply strategic lens to biotech leadership.In this episode, we dig into the mindset it takes to buildfrom the ground up, the wave of innovation in obesity, and how Skye is carving out its own lane in one of the most competitive markets in biotech.

We were delighted to welcome Paula Soteropoulos, Chairman of the Board at Ensoma and Venture Partner at 5am Ventures, onto The BioHub. Paula is a seasoned leader whose career spans some of the most influential companies in the industry and she's played a pivotal role in shaping the biotechlandscape over the past few decades She began her journey at Genzyme, where she spent nearly two decades helping bring transformative therapies to patients. She later took on leadership roles at Moderna during itsearly days. Paula went on to serve as CEO of Akcea Therapeutics, steering the company as it developed medicines for rare diseases, and today she serves asExecutive Chair of Ensoma, a company pioneering a new generation of in vivo gene therapies designed to reach far more patients than ever before, and also serves as a Venture Partner at 5am Ventures. Join us in this episode as we talk through Paula's journey,company building, Ensoma's first IND approval & her role at 5am Ventures.