Advertise on podcast: BIO from the BAYOU: Build Your Biotech Network with Key Opinion Leaders and Investors

Could a single diagnostic test change the trajectory of a child's life by identifying preventable complications before they begin? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Chandler Monk, PhD, Founder and CEO of Cleaved Diagnostics and a finalist in the BioChallenge Pitch Competition, to explore how her company is developing CRISPR-based diagnostics to improve newborn screening. Chandler shares how her experiences conducting high-throughput testing during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to develop a more sensitive and efficient diagnostic approach, with a particular focus on detecting congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss in newborns. In this episode, you'll discover: What it takes to transition from academic research to biotech entrepreneurship, including securing early funding, building a support network, and finding mentors who can help accelerate a startup's growth. How CRISPR-based diagnostic technology could improve the sensitivity and efficiency of newborn screening for congenital CMV and help identify infants at risk of hearing loss. Why early detection and timely treatment are critical for reducing the potential long-term consequences of congenital CMV, and how expanded screening could improve patient outcomes. Tune in to discover how innovative diagnostics and entrepreneurial determination could help transform newborn screening, prevent avoidable complications, and create better futures for children and families. Links: Connect with Chandler Monk, PhD, and learn about Cleaved Diagnostics. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and their BioChallenge Pitch Competition. Check out The Startup Podcast. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

Can you take a biotech company from an early scientific discovery to clinical trials without giving up equity to investors? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Nazneen Dewji, PhD, Founder and CEO of Cenna Biosciences and a finalist in the BioChallenge Pitch Competition, to discuss her company's innovative approach to Alzheimer's disease and her unconventional path to biotech entrepreneurship. Nazneen shares how she leveraged NIH grants and other non-dilutive funding to advance Cenna Biosciences from early research to an IND clearance for Phase 1 clinical trials, all without traditional venture capital investment. In this episode, you'll discover: How Cenna Biosciences is approaching Alzheimer's disease by targeting amyloid-beta production rather than removing existing plaques, and what that could mean for future treatments. Why NIH grants, SBIR funding, and other non-dilutive financing opportunities can help biotech startups advance drug development while retaining equity. What academic researchers should consider before launching a biotech company, including the challenges of transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship and learning the business side of science. Tune in to discover how innovative science, strategic grant funding, and entrepreneurial determination can help turn academic research into a clinical-stage biotech company without relying on traditional venture capital. Links:  Connect with Nazneen Dewji, PhD, and learn about Cenna Biosciences. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and their BioChallenge Pitch Competition. Connect with James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, and learn about Connect. Check out the book Dual Fluency. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How do you know when it's time to stop fighting for your startup and start planning for its closure? In this episode, James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, takes over hosting duties and welcomes regular host Elaine Hamm, PhD, as well as Canaan Heard, MS, MBA, Founder and CEO of Heard Holding Company, for a candid conversation about one of the toughest decisions entrepreneurs face: shutting down a company. Drawing from their own experiences, Elaine and Canaan discuss how founders can recognize the warning signs, navigate difficult conversations with investors and employees, and determine when persistence is no longer the best path forward. In this episode, you'll discover: How to recognize when financial challenges, missed milestones, or leadership disagreements signal that it may be time to shut down a startup. What founders should consider when winding down a company, including financial obligations, employee communication, investor relationships, and protecting their professional reputations. Why learning from failure, setting realistic milestones, and knowing when to walk away can make entrepreneurs more effective in their future ventures. Tune in for an honest conversation about the difficult side of entrepreneurship and how closing a company responsibly can preserve relationships, protect your reputation, and prepare you for whatever comes next. Links: Connect with Canaan Heard, MS, MBA, and learn about Heard Holding Company. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Connect with James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, and learn about Connect. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can disease foundations combine the financial discipline of venture capital with a mission to accelerate treatments for patients? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Rusty Kelley, PhD, MBA, Managing Director of the Gund Vision Fund, the venture philanthropy arm of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Rusty explains how the fund invests in promising biotech companies developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration. From balancing financial returns with patient impact to supporting emerging approaches in gene therapy, neuroprotection, and vision restoration, he shares how venture philanthropy can help bridge funding gaps and accelerate innovation. In this episode, you'll discover: How venture philanthropy differs from traditional venture capital and how the Gund Vision Fund reinvests financial returns to support its mission. What the Gund Vision Fund looks for in early-stage biotech investments and how its scientific, clinical, and financial resources help companies advance toward clinical proof of concept. Why emerging technologies like genetic medicines, cell therapies, and optogenetics are creating new opportunities to address vision loss and potentially restore sight. Tune in to discover how mission-driven investing can bring together capital, expertise, and collaboration to advance biotech innovation and create new possibilities for patients living with vision loss. Links: Connect with Rusty Kelley, PhD, MBA, and learn about the Gund Vision Fund. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can biotech entrepreneurs challenge traditional approaches to funding and drug development to bring much-needed innovations to patients? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Sabrina Martucci Johnson, the Founder, President, and CEO of Daré Bioscience, to explore her journey building a company dedicated to addressing overlooked and underfunded needs in women's health. Sabrina shares how she identified opportunities in an underserved market, built a diverse portfolio of therapeutics, and developed innovative solutions. They discuss Daré's creative approach to fundraising, including how the publicly traded company created an opportunity for everyday investors to directly support its mission In this episode, you'll discover: How Daré Bioscience identifies gaps in women's healthcare and develops innovative therapies by combining patient needs with established science. Why alternative fundraising strategies, including public investment offerings, can help biotech companies engage new investors and expand access to capital. How creative thinking, strategic risk management, and a patient-focused mission can help entrepreneurs overcome barriers to developing and commercializing healthcare innovations. Tune in to discover how challenging conventional approaches to biotech development and fundraising can create new opportunities for entrepreneurs while advancing much-needed solutions in women's health. Links:  Connect with Sabrina Martucci Johnson and learn about Daré Bioscience. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.  Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

What role can disease foundations play in moving scientific discoveries from the lab toward meaningful solutions for patients? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Tim Coetzee, PhD, President and CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, to explore how disease foundations can help shape the research and innovation ecosystem. Tim shares the Society’s evolution from funding its first research grants nearly 80 years ago to connecting scientists, clinicians, policymakers, patients, biotech innovators, and pharmaceutical companies around a common goal: creating a world free of multiple sclerosis. They also explore the possibilities emerging technologies like AI could create for scientific discovery and drug development. In this episode, you’ll discover: How disease foundations can connect patients, researchers, government, biotech, and industry to help move promising science toward solutions. Why MS remains an important area for biotech innovation despite decades of progress, and where new therapies and scientific discoveries are still needed. How funding, convening, advocacy, and a willingness to support bold scientific questions can help foundations accelerate innovation and bring better outcomes closer to patients. Tune in to learn why disease foundations can be powerful partners in biotech innovation, and how bringing the right people, resources, and ideas together can help turn scientific possibility into progress for patients. Links: Connect with Tim Coetzee, PhD, and learn about the National MS Society. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out the Pathways to Cures Roadmap and the Voice of the Patient. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

You have a promising technology – but does that mean you should build a company around it? In the second installment of our listener-submitted questions series, producer Ian McLachlan is back in the host seat with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, to tackle questions about starting and building a biotech company. They explore one of the most important lessons for aspiring founders: fall in love with the problem, not your solution, and make sure there is a real customer willing to change what they are doing and pay for something better. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to determine whether a technology solves a meaningful problem, has a real market, and should become a company in the first place. Why customer discovery should begin before you build the company and how early conversations with customers, investors, and partners can test your assumptions and strengthen your strategy. How founders can establish milestones and go/no-go decisions that help them recognize when to move forward, pivot, or shut a company down before wasting valuable time and capital. Starting a biotech company is hard, but for founders with the right problem, the right team, and the passion to keep going, the potential impact can make the risk worthwhile. Tune in for a candid look at what aspiring entrepreneurs should consider before turning an idea into their next company. Links: Connect with James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, and learn about Connect. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.  Learn about NSF I-Corps and I-Corps at NIH. Check out Elaine’s book recommendations: The Lean Startup, The Startup Owner's Manual, Business Model Generation, and Talking to Humans. Connect with Haley Marcotte and learn about Nucleate New Orleans. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer, and submit your questions for future episodes! Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

What does it really take to build a successful career in biotech beyond being good at the science? In this episode, producer Ian McLachlan takes over the microphone to ask Elaine Hamm, PhD, and James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, career and professional development questions submitted by listeners of the podcast. From building trust and becoming a reliable teammate to gaining real-world experience and finding mentors, Elaine and James share lessons they’ve learned throughout their own careers. In this episode, you’ll discover: The professional skills that can matter just as much as technical expertise, from reliability and communication to adaptability and teamwork. How students and early-career professionals can gain practical experience, build relationships, find mentors, and become better prepared for careers beyond the classroom or lab. Why career growth requires more than intelligence or good science, and how feedback, communication, and self-advocacy can help turn your expertise into impact. Whether you’re still in school, beginning your biotech career, or looking for ways to keep growing professionally, tune in for candid lessons on building a career, developing your network, and becoming the kind of professional people want to work with. Links: Connect with James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, and learn about Connect. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Elaine’s book recommendations: The Fine Art of Small Talk, The Speed of Trust, How to Talk to Anyone, and The Vault Guide to Schmoozing. Check out our previous episode on Why Every Biotech Professional Needs a Strong Personal Brand. Connect with Haley Marcotte and learn about Nucleate New Orleans. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer, and submit your questions for future episodes! Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

What happens when the way you normally do business doesn’t translate across borders? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, welcomes back Rod Beeler, Executive Partner at Magellan Executive Partners, for a conversation about navigating cultural differences in international business. Drawing from Rod’s extensive experience working across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia, they explore how communication styles, relationship-building, and expectations can vary dramatically from one culture to another - and why understanding those differences matters when building global partnerships. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why communication styles, business etiquette, and expectations can differ significantly across cultures, and how assumptions can derail otherwise promising relationships. How taking time to understand cultural norms and build trust can make international business development, networking, and dealmaking more effective. Why research, curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to understand the person behind the business can help leaders navigate cross-cultural relationships. Tune in to learn how greater cultural awareness can help you build trust, communicate more effectively, and create stronger business relationships across borders. Links: Connect with Rod Beeler and learn about Magellan Executive Partners. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Caterpillar and the Latitude podcast. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

Who does the person at the top turn to when they need advice? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Rod Beeler, Executive Partner at Magellan Executive Partners, to explore the value of executive coaching for entrepreneurs, startup founders, and business leaders. Drawing on more than 30 years of global leadership experience, Rod shares how an outside perspective can help executives tackle immediate challenges while developing the skills and long-term vision they need to become more effective leaders. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why having a confidential, trusted outside perspective can be especially valuable for startup founders and executives. How effective executive coaching goes beyond a one-size-fits-all formula to address each leader’s individual challenges, goals, and development. How coaching can help leaders navigate everything from team dynamics and conflict to boards, investors, long-term strategy, and the isolation that can accompany leadership. Tune in to discover why even the person leading the team can benefit from having a coach in their corner. Links: Connect with Rod Beeler and learn about Magellan Executive Partners. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Caterpillar and the Latitude podcast. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.  Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can scientists and biotech leaders move forward when the policy and funding landscape keeps shifting beneath their feet? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, welcomes back Srinu Sonti, JD, Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates, for an update on the current state of science and healthcare policy. Srinu explores what changes in federal research funding, healthcare policy, and international collaboration could mean for scientists, universities, and early-stage biotech companies – and where opportunities may still be emerging. In this episode, you’ll discover: How changes in science funding, healthcare policy, and federal priorities could affect researchers and biotech companies in the months ahead. Why AI, organ-on-a-chip technologies, in silico models, and other new approach methodologies could create new opportunities for research and drug development. How scientists and biotech leaders can advocate for their work by engaging policymakers, communicating their impact, and demonstrating the economic and public health value of scientific innovation. Tune in for a practical look at how scientists and biotech leaders can navigate uncertainty, identify emerging opportunities, and make sure their voices are heard as the science policy landscape continues to evolve. Links:  Connect with Srinu Sonti, JD, and learn about Lewis-Burke Associates. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Help a Reporter Out. Check out our previous episode with Srinu. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can biotech teams move faster (and smarter) from preclinical research to human trials without sacrificing safety or rigor? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Todd Kilbaugh, MD, Founder of Pharos Biolabs and a physician-scientist specializing in anesthesiology, critical care, and pediatrics. Todd shares his journey from clinical medicine to biotech entrepreneurship and unpacks one of the industry’s toughest challenges: why so many promising therapies fail to translate from animal models to humans. Together, they explore how AI, advanced modeling, organoids, and more thoughtful use of non-human primates could reshape preclinical development and reduce costly failures. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the translational gap between animal models and humans remains one of biotech’s biggest bottlenecks, and how AI can help close it. How biomarkers, mathematical modeling, and digital twins can improve trial design long before a therapy reaches the clinic. What the future of preclinical development could look like with smarter integration of AI, organoids, and non-human primate studies. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on AI-enabled science, better trial prediction, and how biotech can rethink the path from discovery to patients. Links: Connect with Todd Kilbaugh, MD.  Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.  Connect with Doug Wallace, PhD.  Learn more about TBI.  Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can students start building a future in biotech before they even leave the lab? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Haley Marcotte, Co-Managing Director of Nucleate New Orleans and a PhD student at Tulane University School of Medicine. Haley shares how discovering biotech as an undergraduate opened her eyes to career possibilities beyond traditional academia and how she is now helping other students make those connections through Nucleate. From workshops on AI and intellectual property to conversations about emerging areas of science, Nucleate brings students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals together to learn about life science innovation. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Nucleate is helping students explore biotech, entrepreneurship, and career opportunities beyond traditional academic paths. Why connecting students across universities and with the broader life science community can help strengthen emerging biotech ecosystems. How students and industry professionals alike can get involved, build their networks, and help develop the next generation of biotech leaders. Whether you’re a student wondering what opportunities exist beyond academia or an established biotech professional looking for a way to give back, tune in to hear how getting involved today can help build a stronger life science community for tomorrow. Links: Connect with Haley Marcotte and learn about Nucleate New Orleans. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Nucleate’s event on September 10, 2026, at 6pm. Connect with Sammy Vodovoz and Chad Steele, PhD. Learn more about NOBIC, The BioChallenge, and Tulane Innovation Institute. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

Could family offices help biotech founders unlock new sources of capital in an increasingly challenging fundraising environment? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Danielle Patterson, Executive Director of Family Office at ISS Market Intelligence, to explore the growing role of family offices in startup investing. Danielle shares her entrepreneurial journey, explains why founders need to move beyond the traditional “spray and pray” approach to fundraising, and offers strategies for identifying family offices whose interests, values, and investment goals align with their companies. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why family offices can offer patient, long-term capital - and why founders need to approach them differently from traditional institutional investors. How visibility, value alignment, and genuine relationship-building can help founders establish trust with potential investors. How better market intelligence can help entrepreneurs identify the right family offices and focus their fundraising efforts on relationships with the greatest potential. For biotech founders looking beyond traditional sources of capital, this conversation offers a new way to think about fundraising. Links: Connect with Danielle Patterson and learn about ISS Market Intelligence. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Elaine’s book recommendations: The Fine Art of Small Talk, The Speed of Trust, How to Talk to Anyone, and The Vault Guide to Schmoozing. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How can biotech startup founders navigate the intersection of science, technology, and data to build truly durable companies? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, talks with Cain McClary, MD, Founder and Managing Partner of KdT Ventures, a seed-stage venture firm investing at the convergence of science and technology. A Tulane alumnus and “supply chain junkie,” Cain shares how curiosity, data-driven insight, and strategic storytelling can set biotech innovators apart. In this episode, you’ll learn: ·       The biggest mistakes biotech startups make—and how to avoid them. ·       Why understanding incentives, storytelling, and systems is key to scaling innovation. ·       How AI, data ownership, and new consumer health models are reshaping the future of biotech. Tune in to discover how KdT Ventures is rethinking biotech investment—and what it takes to turn scientific insight into lasting impact. Links: Connect with Cain McClary, MD, and check out KdT Ventures. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.  Learn more about PathAI.  Check out our fireside chat with Walter Isaacson.  Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.   Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.