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.
Welcome back to another episode of The BioHub, we were thrilled to welcome on Nolan Townsend, CEO of Lexeo Therapeutics.Nolan has been at the helm of Lexeo since January 2020, leading a clinical-stage genetic medicine company aiming to transform treatment for genetically-defined cardiovascular diseases and APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease. Under his leadership, Lexeo has built a pipeline of therapies rooted in breakthrough science, partnered with prominent academic institutions like Weill Cornell Medicine, and raised significant capital to support its mission. Before Lexeo, Nolan spent more than a decade at Pfizer, where he was President of Pfizer Rare Disease for North America, and also President for its International Rare Disease operations — overseeing strategy, cross-functional teams, and large operating budgets.
Welcome to The BioHub podcast, where we interview the top minds from across the Biotech and Pharma industry.I’m joined by Dr. Stefan Lutz, SVP of Research at Codexis—a leader in enzyme engineering and the force behind some of the most exciting advancements in RNA manufacturing.Stefan’s journey spans academia and industry, from chairing the Chemistry Department at Emory University to now driving innovation at Codexis. He and his team are helping solve some of biotech’s biggest challenges—from improving RNA synthesis to using AI to unlock new frontiers in protein engineering.This one’s all about the evolution of RNA, the role of AI in discovery, and what it takes to lead with a growth mindset in modern science.Enjoy and stay tuned.
Thanks for tuning into another episode of The BioHub, we were delighted to welcome on Micah Mackison who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Vico Therapeutics, a company blazing trails in genetic neurology with RNA-based medicines. Since taking the helm in August 2022, Micah has been leading Vico’s drive to translate novel oligonucleotide RNA-modulating therapies from the lab into clinical trials, particularly in disorders like Huntington’s disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. Before Vico, Micah served as Chief Business Officer and EVP of Strategy & Corporate Development at Locanabio, a gene therapy company targeting neurological disease, where he played a key role in strategy setting, capital-raising, and organizational development. Prior roles include senior leadership in corporate development and strategy at Assembly Biosciences; heading new ventures and corporate strategy in neuroscience at Lundbeck; and before that, leading M&A & corporate development at Ovation Pharmaceuticals — the company that launched the first product for Huntington’s disease. Early in his career, he worked in finance with Eli Lilly and Pfizer. At Vico, Micah is particularly focused on advancing their lead candidate VO659, an antisense oligonucleotide that aims to slow or halt progression in CAG-repeat neurological diseases, and on growing the company’s proprietary VICOMER™ platform for RNA modulation
Welcome to The BioHub podcast, where we interview the top minds from across the Biotech and Pharma industry.Today I’m joined by Andy Parker, the CEO of Step Pharma.Andy has spent over two decades in biotech and pharma,holding senior leadership roles at companies like AstraZeneca, Shire and Zealand Pharma and even spending time on the VC side at Eclosion. Since 2019, he’s been leading Step Pharma, a companydeveloping first-in-class CTPS1 inhibitors, with their lead program now in the clinic for cancer.We talk about the science behind Step’s approach, what’snext for the company, and Andy’s experience moving from big pharma to small biotech. Plus: lessons on fundraising in today’s market and building a great work culture.Enjoy and stay tuned.
We were delighted to welcome Robert Ross, Chief Executive Officer at Clasp Therapeutics, onto The BioHub. Clasp Therapeutics are a pioneering biotech company spearheading the next generation of T-cell engager therapies. Founded in 2024 and backed by a successful $150 million Series A round with top tier investors, Clasp stands out for its novel approach in delivering off-the-shelf, bispecific T‐cell engagers that narrowly target cancer-driving mutations while sparing healthy tissues. Dr. Ross brings a wealth of experience to Clasp’s mission. Before stepping into the CEO role at Clasp in November 2023, he led Surface Oncology through its acquisition by Coherus Biosciences and directed oncology strategy at bluebird bio, where he played a key role in advancing groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapies.In this episode we dive into inspiration behind the founding of Clasp, what it takes to build a biotech and the shift from preclinical to clinical, an insight into some of the work Clasp are doing, as well as Rob transitioning from a practicing Oncologist to a Biotech CEO.
I am conscious that I redo the ontro here - Please excuseWelcome to The BioHub podcast, where we interview the top minds from across the Biotech and Pharma industry.I’m joined by Aaron Kantoff — Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Scion Life Sciences.Aaron helped build the therapeutics group at Apple Tree Partners from scratch, co-founding 11 companies along the way. After leaving Apple tree, Aaron co-founded RayzeBio, which was acquired by BMS for $4.1B.Now at Scion, he's continuing to back and build bold biotech companies with long-term potential — and a fresh approach to VC.We talk about the companies he’s built, what he’s learned from them, and why Scion is doubling down on science-first biotech in today’s market.Enjoy and stay tuned.