Stories in Life Sciences

Christopher Wilson
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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. 1 DAY AGO

    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

    1hr 3min

  2. 1 MAY

    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

    47 min

  3. 1 APR

    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

    39 min

  4. 1 APR

    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.

    44 min

  5. 1 APR

    Paul Davison Reimagining Open Surgery with Lamina Surgical Stories in Life Sciences

    Open surgery accounts for a third of all surgical procedures. Paul Davison puts the market at 35 million cases in the U.S. annually, growing at 9% a year, and the core tool used in most of them dates to the 1920s.  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Paul Davison, CEO and Co-founder of Lamina Surgical, to explore what it looks like to reimagine open surgery with advanced electrosurgery and integrated imaging. Paul has spent 30 years building medical devices at Baxter, Medtronic, ArthroCare, and Peak Surgical, which was acquired by Medtronic. He brings a founder's perspective that spans factory technician to CEO, and a deep understanding of how platform technologies evolve across clinical applications. At Lamina Surgical, he is building tools that combine electrosurgery with integrated imaging to give surgeons visibility they have not had before. We cover: Why the open surgery market represents 35 million U.S. procedures annually with minimal recent innovationElectrosurgery history: from William Bovie at Harvard in 1928 to today's safety gapsHow Lamina Surgical combines electrosurgery and integrated imaging for open surgeryPlatform technology pivots: how ArthroCare moved from coronary arteries to arthroscopyPlasma blade origin: how Peak Surgical was born from a Stanford eye surgery conceptSeed-stage MedTech funding: navigating a difficult early-stage capital environmentHow AI tools are helping lean founding teams replace early hiresPaul's journey from factory technician at Baxter to CEO at Lamina Surgical Who this is for: founders and engineers in MedTech, open surgery, electrosurgery, surgical devices, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand how legacy clinical tools get reimagined. Guest:  Paul Davison CEO and Co-founder, Lamina Surgical www.laminasurgical.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-davison-medtechhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/lamina-surgical 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.

    41 min

  6. 27 MAR

    Isabel Hoffmann Personalized Neonatal Nutrition and AI in the NICU Stories in Life Sciences

    Premature baby nutrition in most NICUs is standardized: the same fortification dose for every infant, regardless of gestational age, weight, or clinical profile. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Isabel Hoffmann, CEO of TellSpec and Preemie Health, to explore how a 30-second human milk sensor and personalized AI prescriptions are changing neonatal care. Isabel built a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor that analyzes human milk for fat, protein, and fatty acids in 30 seconds and generates a personalized fortification prescription matched to each premature baby's clinical data. Her path to neonatal AI ran through children's educational software and Apple bundling deals, giving her a founder's perspective that spans consumer tech and deep medical device development. We cover: Why standardized fortification over- or under-doses preterm infants and what personalized nutrition changesHow near-infrared spectroscopy analyzes human milk composition in 30 secondsFederated learning in healthcare: training NICU AI models without sharing patient data across hospitalsHow the FDA freeze-and-resubmit process works for AI model certification in medical devicesHow TellSpec trained early models using synthetic data from peer-reviewed literatureThe gap between developed and developing country NICU standards in neonatal intensive careWhy we know less about human milk than about erectile dysfunction and what that reveals about research prioritiesIsabel's journey from children's educational software and Apple bundling deals to neonatal AI Who this is for: founders and researchers in MedTech, neonatal care, digital health, AI in healthcare, and life sciences commercialization who want to understand how personalized nutrition and AI are changing outcomes in the NICU. Guest: Isabel Hoffmann, CEO, TellSpec and Preemie Health https://tellspec.com  https://www.preemiesensor.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelhoffmann https://www.linkedin.com/company/tellspec 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.

    45 min

  7. 27 MAR

    Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk: Biological Testing Standards for Supplements | Stories in Life Sciences

    What if the supplement you have been taking for years has never actually been tested in human cells?  In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, Co-founder and CEO of Canomiks, to explore what standard chemical analysis misses and why biological testing at the cellular level changes what we know about supplement safety and efficacy. Leena holds a PhD in pharmacology and an MBA from MIT Sloan, and spent years as a faculty investigator at Harvard Medical School focused on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and wound healing. At Canomiks, she applies genomics and bioinformatics to the nutraceutical and dietary supplement industry, bringing biological rigor to ingredients that have been validated culturally for centuries but rarely tested at the cellular level. Canomiks is backed by an NSF grant exceeding $1 million and is building the biological batch-to-batch standards the supplement industry currently lacks. We cover: Why chemical analysis confirms the right compound is present but misses how it affects human gene expressionHow the same turmeric at the same concentration can produce completely different biological effectsHow Canomiks is building biological batch-to-batch standards for natural ingredientsWhat WhatToTrust.com is doing to help consumers evaluate supplements based on the science behind themLeena's path from Harvard faculty to MIT Sloan MBA to biotech co-founderHow scientists can approach commercializing research in the nutraceutical and supplement spaceWhy the current validation bar for dietary supplements is not high enough Who this is for: life sciences founders, biotech operators, researchers in genomics and nutraceuticals, and anyone who wants to understand what actually goes into validating a supplement at the biological level. Guest: Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk Co-founder and CEO, Canomiks  https://www.canomiks.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leenapradhannabzdyk https://www.linkedin.com/company/canomiks 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.

    42 min

  8. 27 MAR

    Dr. Michael Cetta: Modernizing the EKG Process with Crimson Scientific | Stories in Life Sciences

    Almost 2 million EKGs are performed every day worldwide. Every single one still requires ten wires, ten stickers, and hoping someone puts them in the right place. In this episode of Stories in Life Sciences by MedAxis AI, Christopher Wilson sits down with Dr. Michael Cetta and Mark Zachary, Co-founders of Crimson Scientific, to explore how they are cutting EKG capture time in half and eliminating the complexity that leads to errors. Dr. Cetta spent years running emergency departments, watching this same slow, error-prone process repeat itself thousands of times. Mark Zachary, a biomedical engineer who built AI tools at Boston Scientific and Mayo Clinic, saw the same inefficiency from the technology side. Together at Crimson Scientific, they are building a more accurate, faster EKG process designed for how clinical environments actually work. We cover: Why the EKG process has remained largely unchanged for 50 years despite daily use at scaleHow Crimson Scientific is cutting EKG capture time in half and reducing placement errorsWhy customer validation came before building the solutionThe decision to build in-house rather than rely on contractorsThe hidden challenge in MedTech: bridging clinical improvement to economic valueHow M-Hub accelerated Crimson Scientific's path to commercializationWhat it takes to modernize a standard used 2 million times daily worldwide Who this is for: MedTech founders, clinicians, investors, and researchers in cardiology, medical devices, and healthcare AI who want to understand how established clinical standards get modernized. Guests:  Dr. Michael Cetta, MD FACEP FACHE CEO and Co-founder Mark Zachary Co-founder Crimson Scientific  https://www.crimsonscientific.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcetta 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.

    42 min
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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
    2k
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Christopher Wilson
  • Show Website
    Stories in Life Sciences