New Wave

Snack Labs
  • 5.0 (21)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Come along as we explore some of the world's most fundamental problems, and how a New Wave of innovative companies are dead set on solving them. New Wave weaves storytelling with fascinating science that is accessible to everyone, giving you insights into your health, the struggles of others, and the pioneering entrepreneurs behind it all. You might be surprised to find out which tucked-away place is shaping the future of Life Sciences. Find out on New Wave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1. Frozen Diagnostics

    EPISODE 1

    Frozen Diagnostics

    A frozen vial, a lifesaving diagnosis: how a Nova Scotia company reimagined bleeding tests and changed outcomes worldwide. In this episode of New Wave we unpack how Precision Biologic turned a simple customer insight - freeze the reagent - into a global shift in hemostasis diagnostics. Episode breakdown & timestamps - 00:00 Hook & scene: the everyday miracle of blood clotting and why it matters. (00:00) - 01:48 Show intro & mission: New Wave, Life Sciences Nova Scotia & Snack Labs. (01:48) - 02:07 The clotting cascade explained: Dr. John Geske walks us through the 13-step process and why each factor matters for diagnosis. (02:07) - 06:55 Athlete story: Alex Dowsett on living with severe hemophilia A and the stakes of timely testing. (06:55) - 12:10 Diagnostic delays and family stories: why unreliable tests cost years of life and peace of mind. (12:10) - 13:48 The breakthrough: Precision Biologic’s frozen (cryopreserved) reagent strategy and product story. (13:48) - 17:31 Cold chain & scale: liquid nitrogen, dry ice, logistics and global distribution challenges. (17:31) - 19:31 Systems impact: how accurate diagnostics reduce costly treatment errors and protect health budgets. (19:31) - 22:00 Closing: regulation, persistence, and what comes next for diagnostics innovation. (22:00) Guests & bios - Dr. John Geske — Chief Scientific Officer, Precision Biologic. He explains the science behind hemostasis, the technical hurdles for reagents, and why frozen plasma-based controls changed lab workflows. - Paul Empy — CEO, Precision Biologic. Describes customer discovery, product strategy, and the company’s operational choices. - Alex Dowsett — Professional cyclist and person living with severe hemophilia A. His story humanizes diagnostic urgency. Key takeaways & memorable quotes - "A frozen vial of plasma" became the phrase that reminded the company of the lives their work touches. - Frozen liquid reagents eliminate a high-risk, error-prone reconstitution step in labs—improving accuracy, speed, and patient safety. - Accurate diagnostics lower system-wide costs (avoiding unnecessary $10,000 drug switches) and speed correct treatments. - Quote: "If you do this work once under perfect conditions and ship it frozen, you remove human error at the bench." Why this matters This episode explores diagnostic innovation, frozen reagents, hemostasis labs, hemophilia diagnostics, cold-chain logistics, and patient-centered product design. Target keywords include frozen diagnostics, hemophilia testing, precision biologic, cryo reagents, and Nova Scotia life sciences. Call-to-action If you found this episode illuminating, subscribe to New Wave, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share with colleagues in lab medicine. Links & resources mentioned - Precision Biologic: https://precisionbiologic.com - Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca/ - Snack Labs podcast production: https://wearesnack.io - World Federation of Hemophilia (patient resources): https://www.wfh.org Show branding & social handles New Wave — stories about life sciences and health tech from Nova Scotia. Follow: Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LinkedIn) | @snackpodcasts (instagram | Precision BioLogic (LinkedIn) This episode blends investigative reporting with scientific explanation and patient stories to reveal how a small operational change—freezing reagents—reduced diagnostic risk and improved outcomes worldwide. Perfect for clinicians, lab directors, biotech founders, and anyone interested in relatable science and systems-level healthcare impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. The Delivery Dilemma

    EPISODE 2

    The Delivery Dilemma

    In this episode of New Wave, we trace Dr. Abdullah "Dr. K" Kirumira's extraordinary path from 1970s Uganda to Windsor, Nova Scotia — and how his decades of cross-disciplinary biotech work produced Bioteem 40, a probiotic supplement designed to meet real-world nutrition and gut-health challenges. We explore the science behind the microbiome, the social and medical drivers of a global gut-health crisis, and why a simple, durable design matters for healthcare everywhere. Episode timestamps & highlights: 00:00 — Opening hook: Gut as the "second brain" and the stakes for modern health 02:20 — Teaser: What Bioteem 40 promises that other probiotics don’t 03:30 — Introducing Therapy Bios Pharma and Dr. Abdullah Kirumira ("Dr. K") 05:30 — Origin story: escaping Idi Amin’s Uganda and the pivot from dentistry to food tech 11:00 — Science deep-dive: fermentation, dry-reagent chemistry, and medical diagnostics 15:30 — The innovation: how Bioteem 40 works differently (stability, strains, delivery) 20:00 — Real-world impact: malnutrition, elderly care, mental health connections 25:00 — What’s next: commercialization, clinical trials, and global distribution 28:30 — Key takeaways, final thoughts, and calls-to-action Guest bio & credentials: Dr. Abdullah Kirumira (Dr. K) — President & CEO, Therapy Bios Pharma (Windsor, NS). Trained in dentistry and food processing technology; postgraduate work in the U.S. (University of Maryland) and Australia; decades of work in fermentation, industrial and medical biotechnology, and dry-reagent diagnostics. A survivor of political violence in Uganda whose career spans diagnostics, probiotics, and practical healthcare solutions for low-resource settings. Links & resources mentioned: - Bioteem 40 product page: https://bioteem40.ca - Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca - Read more on microbiome basics: https://www.nature.com/subjects/microbiome (reference) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  3. Koi & Cannabis

    EPISODE 3

    Koi & Cannabis

    What if the next medical cannabis breakthrough wasn't in a lab but in a basement with 3,000 koi? In this episode we trace how Aqualitas created an aquaponic ecosystem that caught the eye of a global cannabis distributer and helped them transform their business. Episode breakdown & timestamps: 00:00 — Opening: The unlikely origins of big medical innovation (intro to the central mystery and stakes). 02:20 — From hockey rinks to hedge funds to cannabis: Josh Roberts' journey and why Wellford pursued Aqualitas (founder & investor perspective). 06:30 — Meet the scientist: Danielle Maitland explains aquaponics vs hydroponics and the living ecosystem that fuels plants. 10:15 — Inside Aqualitas: the basement system, 3,000 koi, recirculating aquaculture, and the water chemistry that changes product quality. 13:30 — Business & science meet: why aquaponics creates a defensible moat, R&D hurdles, and the global response. 16:30 — Takeaways, implications for sustainable cultivation, and what's next for Nova Scotia's life sciences scene. Guest bios & credentials: - Danielle Maitland — Director of Science & Cultivation Technology, Aqualitas. Background: chemical engineering, MSc in sustainable aquaculture, PhD candidate in agricultural sciences; expert in aquaponics and plant–microbe interactions. - Josh Roberts — Chief Business Officer, Wellford Group. Former hedge fund trader and co-founder of Cannaray/Wellford What you'll learn: - How aquaponics works and why it can outperform hydroponics for cannabis: closed-loop water, nutrient cycling, and beneficial microbes. - The sustainability gains: 90–95% water recirculation, reduced synthetic fertilizers, and lower energy/resource footprint. - Commercial and regulatory implications: why unique cultivation methods create supply-chain advantages and differentiation for medical cannabis. - Lessons for founders and investors: the power of deep R&D, place-based innovation (Nova Scotia), and vertical integration strategies. Resources & links mentioned: - Aqualitas: https://aqualitas.ca - Wellford Group / Cannaray: https://wellford.com - Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca - Snack Labs: https://wearesnack.io - Intro reading on aquaponics vs hydroponics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  4. The Key and the Lock

    EPISODE 4

    The Key and the Lock

    One in two of us will face cancer. This episode follows a Nova Scotian scientist who discovered ALDH1A3 and risked everything to try to turn it into a therapy. Episode breakdown & timestamps: 00:00 — Cold statistic and the stakes: why every cancer discovery matters. We open with the brutal reality: despite promising lab results, only ~10% of discoveries become human therapies. 02:00 — The enemy explained. Dr. Paola Marcato breaks down what cancer and metastasis really are and why targeting spread is critical. 06:00 — The scientist’s path. Paola’s pivot from bacterial research to oncology, mentorship at Dalhousie, and the moment the lab “whispered” a secret. 12:00 — The discovery: ALDH1A3 — a supercharger enzyme linked to aggressive, treatment‑resistant tumours and why it matters for precision medicine. 14:30 — The choice: translate to a drug or stay in the lab. The moral, financial and scientific risks of starting Theranib in Nova Scotia. Guest bio & credentials: Dr. Paola Marcato — cancer biologist at Dalhousie University and co‑founder of Theranib. Her work identified ALDH1A3 as a driver of aggressive, metastatic cancer phenotypes and sparked a translational effort to develop targeted therapies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  5. Quiet Rebellion

    EPISODE 5

    Quiet Rebellion

    Walk down the supplement aisle and you're faced with rows of promises, but who is proving them? This episode follows Nature's Way Canada's quiet rebellion: swapping hype for evidence, marketing for education, and fishy burps for something people actually want to take. Guest bios & credentials: - Tsege Gebreyohannes - Director of Brand & Digital, Nature's Way Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Come along as we explore some of the world's most fundamental problems, and how a New Wave of innovative companies are dead set on solving them. New Wave weaves storytelling with fascinating science that is accessible to everyone, giving you insights into your health, the struggles of others, and the pioneering entrepreneurs behind it all. You might be surprised to find out which tucked-away place is shaping the future of Life Sciences. Find out on New Wave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    Snack Labs
  • Creator
    Snack Labs
  • Episodes
    28
  • Seasons
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Snack Labs
  • Show Website
    New Wave

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