Stories in Life Sciences

Christopher Wilson
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Stories in Life Sciences explores the people, technologies, and strategies transforming how ideas move from discovery to real-world impact in healthcare. Presented by MedAxis AI, each episode features candid conversations with founders, scientists, investors, and commercialization leaders from across Biotech, MedTech, Pharma, and Digital Health. From reimagining surgical tools and personalizing neonatal care with AI, to pioneering predictive ophthalmology and developing bioabsorbable implants — we go behind the scenes of the breakthroughs shaping modern medicine. Every conversation bridges commercialization strategy, ethical AI, and human-centered storytelling to uncover how visionary ideas become real-world impact. Whether you're a startup founder, life sciences professional, investor, or simply curious about the future of healthcare innovation, this podcast is your front-row seat to the stories that matter. Subscribe for new episodes and visit medaxisai.org to learn more.

  1. 2d ago

    Mustafa Al-Adhami: Diagnosing a UTI and the Right Antibiotic in One Hour | Stories in Life Sciences

    Most UTIs are treated with a best-guess antibiotic and a two-day wait for the culture. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Mustafa Al-Adhami, Founder and CEO of Astek Diagnostics, to explore how his device confirms the infection and names the right antibiotic in about an hour directly from a patient sample. Mustafa is a refugee turned mechanical engineering PhD and Y Combinator founder who started Astek Diagnostics after his grandfather nearly died from a mistreated UTI. Astek's platform tracks whether bacteria are still metabolizing to deliver a UTI diagnosis and antibiotic recommendation faster than any existing standard of care, with plans to extend the platform to blood testing through a mosquito microfluidic chip. We cover: How Astek's device confirms a UTI and identifies the right antibiotic in about one hourWhy roughly half of initial UTI screens come back as false positivesThe link between untreated UTIs and sepsis and why speed of diagnosis mattersHow the technology works by tracking whether bacteria are still metabolizingThe FDA De Novo pathway and the strategy of starting with neurogenic bladder patientsBuilding a founding team off a single LinkedIn messageExtending the platform to blood testing including the mosquito microfluidic chipFundraising lessons for early-stage life sciences founders Who this is for: founders, operators, and investors in diagnostics, MedTech, and life sciences, and anyone following antimicrobial resistance and the future of rapid infection testing. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Mustafa Al-Adhami and his journey 02:06 From refugee to biotech founder 04:45 The story behind Astek Diagnostics 06:17 Current challenges in UTI diagnosis 08:37 How the device detects bacterial respiration 11:09 Integration into hospital workflow 12:29 Regulatory pathway and FDA strategy 15:08 Next steps and funding 16:59 Building a team from scratch 22:54 Advice for early-stage founders 23:44 Long-term vision and platform potential 28:08 The story of the device's name and personal touch Guest: Mustafa Al-Adhami, Founder and CEO, Astek Diagnostics https://astekdx.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/maladhami https://www.linkedin.com/company/astek-diagnostics Host: Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  2. Jul 8

    Andrea McBeth: Building a Microbiome Company Alongside AI with Thaena | Stories in Life Sciences

    Andrea McBeth left academia, became a naturopath, and made fecal transplant safe and shelf-stable. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Andrea McBeth, Founder and CEO of Thaena, to explore how she built a microbiome company around rigorous science and how her five-person team now uses AI across nearly everything they do. Andrea's path ran from cellular biology and a PhD she left behind to naturopathic medicine and the microbiome. At Thaena, she chose the dietary supplement route over a pharma path, built a donor screening process grounded in microbiome science, and is now focused on the role of postbiotics in the future of the microbiome field. She also brings a thoughtful, ethics-first perspective to running a small science company alongside AI, navigating the valley of death between research and commercialization with a lean team and modern tools. We cover: How Andrea made fecal transplant safe and shelf-stable as a dietary supplementWhy she chose the dietary supplement route over the pharma path for ThaenaHow Thaena screens its donors and what rigorous microbiome health standards look likeThe role of postbiotics in the future of microbiome science and product developmentWhat it looks like to run a five-person science company alongside AI in a thoughtful, ethical wayNavigating the valley of death between research and commercialization as a lean biotechThe ethics of AI in biotech startups and how Andrea thinks about responsible adoption Who this is for: biotech founders, microbiome researchers, naturopathic practitioners, and life sciences operators interested in the intersection of microbiome science, dietary supplements, and AI-powered startup operations. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Thaena and Andrea's Journey 09:10 The Transition from Fecal Transplant to Dietary Supplements 16:14 Donor Screening and the Importance of Microbiome Health 19:29 Navigating the Clinical Landscape and the Valley of Death 24:31 The Role of AI in Accelerating Business and Innovation 26:02 Exploring AI and Obsidian: A Personal Journey 31:16 Ethics in AI: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility 36:18 Navigating Chaos: The Role of AI in Startups 45:40 The Future of AI: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead Guest: Andrea McBeth, Founder and CEO, Thaena https://thaena.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-mcbeth-nd https://www.linkedin.com/company/thaena-inc Host: Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  3. Jun 10

    Dr. Ruben Lopez: RNA Therapy Formulation at Any Scale | Stories in Life Sciences

    RNA therapy formulation is one of the most resource-intensive steps in preclinical development.  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Ruben Lopez, Ph.D., Founder of Nanofacile, to explore how his Montreal-based biotech is changing how researchers and biotech companies approach LNP formulation. Ruben holds a Ph.D. from École de technologie supérieure and brings a background in mechatronics, microfluidics, and cancer biology to the problem of RNA delivery. Nanofacile is developing tools that let scientists formulate RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles faster, at lower cost, and without requiring specialized formulation expertise. The insights behind the platform came from 140+ customer interviews that revealed the real barriers researchers face in this space. We cover: How RNA therapy formulation works and why it creates a bottleneck in preclinical developmentWhat Nanofacile Symphony does and how it works in any wet lab with a centrifugeHow the AI formulation companion reduces iteration cycles in LNP developmentWhat 140+ customer interviews revealed about the real barriers in RNA formulationBuilding a team organically from shared labs and incubators in MontrealThe Montreal biotech ecosystem: District 3, Centech, the Merck Digital Science Studio, and CQDMWhat the First Access program is and how researchers can get early access to Nanofacile Symphony Who this is for: biotech founders and researchers working on RNA therapies, LNP formulation, targeted drug delivery, or anyone navigating the preclinical development process with limited resources. Guest:  Ruben Lopez, Ph.D. Founder, Nanofacile  https://www.nanofacile.bio https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ruben-lopez-nanofacile https://ca.linkedin.com/company/nanofacile Host: Christopher Wilson Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  4. May 23

    Salim Dhanji: In Vivo CAR Therapy and Accessible Cancer Treatment | Stories in Life Sciences

    In vivo CAR therapy delivers cancer-fighting immune cell reprogramming through a simple injection, skipping the external manufacturing process that makes traditional CAR T therapy cost close to half a million dollars per patient.  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Salim Dhanji, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of ME Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (CSE: METX), to explore how his team is building a platform to bring in vivo CAR therapy to patients who currently have no accessible treatment options. Dr. Salim brings 25+ years as an immunologist and 20+ publications in cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammation to a preclinical company founded at UBC in 2014. ME Therapeutics' platform focuses on reshaping the tumor microenvironment, with a CD19/CD22 in vivo CAR lead program licensed from the National Research Council of Canada and a first-in-human clinical trial targeted for late 2026 or early 2027. We cover: How in vivo CAR therapy works and how it compares to traditional ex vivo CAR T manufacturingThe tumor microenvironment and why myeloid cells are central to ME Therapeutics' platformThe CD19/CD22 in vivo CAR lead program licensed from the National Research Council of CanadaLipid nanoparticle delivery and the role of COVID vaccine technology in unlocking in vivo immune reprogrammingThe Canadian biotech capital landscape and the strategic case for a Nasdaq or NYSE American uplistingME Therapeutics' path to a first-in-human clinical trial targeted for late 2026 or early 2027What it takes to build a lean preclinical biotech and why Salim believes lean is a strategic choice, not a constraintWho this is for: biotech founders navigating the transition from preclinical to clinical stage, immunologists thinking about company formation, and life sciences investors tracking the in vivo CAR and immune reprogramming space. Guest: Salim Dhanji, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder, ME Therapeutics www.metherapeutics.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/salim-dhanji https://www.linkedin.com/company/me-therapeutics Host: Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  5. May 20

    Sirona Dx: Spatial Biology and Single-Cell Analytics in Clinical Programs | Stories in Life Sciences

    Sirona Dx pioneered the first commercial spatial-omics CRO service in 2018, giving biopharma access to spatial biology and single-cell analytics at the depth and regulatory rigor clinical programs require. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Nasry Yassa, PhD, CEO, and Andrew Brown, PhD, Chief Commercial Officer of Sirona Dx, to explore how they built a technical CRO from scratch in Portland, Oregon, and what it takes to bring spatial biology into clinical trial programs. Sirona Dx operates as a GCLP and CLIA accredited laboratory and has taken a technology-agnostic approach that lets biopharma clients access the right platform for their program rather than being locked into a single vendor. Their biomarker rescue work, helping a pharma client whose program had produced no useful data advance to Phase 2, is a clear example of what that approach makes possible. We cover: How spatial biology and single-cell analytics differ from traditional biomarker methodsWhy pharma companies need a technology-agnostic CRO rather than a lab tied to one platformThe biomarker rescue: how Sirona Dx helped a pharma client advance to Phase 2 after producing no useful dataBuilding a technical team where scientists own equity and are driven by the scienceWhat it means to operate as a GCLP and CLIA accredited laboratory in a clinical contextHow Oregon's talent pool and Obi Innovation Hub infrastructure enabled growth without outside investmentThe next chapter: bringing spatial biology technologies to individual health and personal medicine Who this is for: biopharma founders, biotech executives, and life sciences operators working in immuno-oncology, cell therapy, or precision medicine who are evaluating CRO partnerships or thinking about the intersection of analytical science and clinical development. Guests:  Nasry Yassa, PhD, Co-founder and CEO, Sirona Dx  Andrew Brown, PhD, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Sirona Dx  www.sironadx.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nasry-yassa-phd-08433911https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-brown-0536755https://www.linkedin.com/company/sirona-dx Host: Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  6. May 1

    David Esposito From Big Pharma to Clinical-Stage Biotech CEO Stories in Life Sciences

    David Esposito spent 16 years in commercial leadership at Merck before stepping into the early-stage life sciences world. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with David Esposito, CEO of ONL Therapeutics, to explore what it takes to lead a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company from one month of runway to a $65 million Series D and an active Phase 2 trial. ONL Therapeutics is developing Xelafaslatide, a first-in-class Fas inhibitor designed to protect retinal cells from vision loss in patients with geographic atrophy associated with dry age-related macular degeneration. The company is currently running the GALAXY Phase 2 trial across 324 patients in the US, Canada, and the EU, with a dosing schedule of every three to six months rather than the monthly injections standard in retinal disease treatment. We cover: Leaving big pharma for early-stage life sciences: the decision process and what made it possibleWhat commercial discipline from large pharma actually transfers to startup environmentsHow to build a lean, high-functioning team when resources are limitedThe story of joining ONL Therapeutics with one month of runway and closing the first financing roundsONL's GALAXY Phase 2 trial for dry AMD, geographic atrophy, and the science behind XelafaslatideWhy dosing every three to six months versus monthly injections matters for retinal disease patientsAI's role in patient identification, data aggregation, and clinical trial efficiencyHow investors read commitment in scientific founders and why getting the right operators early matters Who this is for: life sciences founders, early-stage biotech executives, commercial leaders in pharma considering a transition to startups, and clinical development professionals working in retinal disease. Guest:  David Esposito  CEO, ONL Therapeutics  https://onltherapeutics.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidesposito2  https://www.linkedin.com/company/onl-therapeutics  Host: Christopher Wilson Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai

  7. Apr 1

    Nikole Kimes: Preventing Allergic Disease From Birth | Stories in Life Sciences

    Can the gut microbiome in the first year of life determine whether a child develops allergies, asthma, or atopic dermatitis?  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Nikole Kimes, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Siolta Therapeutics, to explore the clinical evidence behind early-life microbiome intervention and what it means for the future of allergic disease prevention. Nikole spent years studying microbial ecosystems in coral reefs before applying ecological systems thinking to the human gut. Siolta Therapeutics recently completed a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study using a defined bacterial consortia given orally in the first year of life. Results showed a 64% reduction in atopic dermatitis and a 77% reduction in food allergy, with durability past the treatment period. We cover: How the developing infant gut microbiome is linked to allergic disease riskSiolta Therapeutics' Phase 2 clinical results for atopic dermatitis and food allergy preventionHow a defined bacterial consortia is formulated from clinical data and functional optimizationWhy the first year of life is the critical immune training window for allergic diseaseThe reimbursement and funding challenges unique to prevention drug developmentHow GLP-1s and HIV PrEP demonstrate that prevention medicine can be economically viableWhat a Phase 3 pivotal study and BLA pathway looks like for a new prevention modalityNikole's advice for founders navigating a system not designed for prevention Who this is for: life sciences founders, biotech investors, clinical researchers, and healthcare professionals interested in the microbiome, early-life disease prevention, and the future of immune modulation therapies. Guest: Nikole Kimes, Ph.D. Co-Founder and CEO, Siolta Therapeutics https://www.sioltatherapeutics.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikole-kimes-4b357786 https://www.linkedin.com/company/siolta-therapeutics

  8. Apr 1

    Michael Howell The Gap Between a Drug and a Product Stories in Life Sciences

    What separates a promising drug from a commercial product runs deeper than the science.  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Michael Howell, Founder and President of Mountaineer Biosciences, to explore what it actually takes to move from scientific discovery to a commercially viable drug development strategy. Michael has spent 20+ years moving between academic research, big pharma, and early-stage biotech, co-inventing drugs like Skyrizi, helping build Incyte Dermatology, and serving as CSO for two publicly traded companies. Today at Mountaineer Biosciences, he works with venture firms, investment banks, and early-stage companies to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization strategy. We cover: How the transition from academic research to industry actually worksWhat scientists miss when they first encounter commercial drug developmentThe Lombard Street framework: finding the straight path in drug developmentHow pharma deals are actually made and what the due diligence process revealsWhat AI can and cannot do in drug discovery todayResetting the immune system: combinatorial approaches to autoimmune diseaseHow Mountaineer Biosciences helps early-stage companies find their commercial focusAdvice for scientists navigating the transition from research to commercialization Who this is for: life sciences founders, scientists considering the transition to industry, and early-stage biotech operators looking to sharpen their commercialization strategy. Guest: Michael Howell Founder and President, Mountaineer Biosciences  https://mountaineerbiosciences.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-howell-357b1416https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountaineer-biosciences-inc Host: Christopher Wilson Founder, MedAxis AI www.medaxisai.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wilson-medaxisai https://www.linkedin.com/company/medaxisai Follow Stories in Life Sciences on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes.

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About

Stories in Life Sciences explores the people, technologies, and strategies transforming how ideas move from discovery to real-world impact in healthcare. Presented by MedAxis AI, each episode features candid conversations with founders, scientists, investors, and commercialization leaders from across Biotech, MedTech, Pharma, and Digital Health. From reimagining surgical tools and personalizing neonatal care with AI, to pioneering predictive ophthalmology and developing bioabsorbable implants — we go behind the scenes of the breakthroughs shaping modern medicine. Every conversation bridges commercialization strategy, ethical AI, and human-centered storytelling to uncover how visionary ideas become real-world impact. Whether you're a startup founder, life sciences professional, investor, or simply curious about the future of healthcare innovation, this podcast is your front-row seat to the stories that matter. Subscribe for new episodes and visit medaxisai.org to learn more.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Wilson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Christopher Wilson
  • Show Website
    Stories in Life Sciences