#21 Connor Blair: Why working in a spinout is the best training for launching your own spinout

In this episode of The Research Adventure Podcast we speak with Connor, a researcher and first-time founder currently spinning out Dysruptx Ltd from the University of Glasgow. Connor shares how his academic journey led him into biotech entrepreneurship and the development of a peptide drug discovery platform designed to create more precise cancer therapies with fewer side effects.

He reflects on the value of early exposure to startup environments, the realities of preparing a biotech spinout, and why engaging investors, clinicians, and patients early helped shape both the technology and the business model. The conversation also explores the role of early-career researchers in university commercialisation, the importance of mentorship, and how universities might better support innovation-driven career paths.