Penn Undergraduate Biotech Society (PUBS) Podcast

In this episode, Abby Joseph speaks with Cameron Applegate, patent agent at NK Patent Law. They discuss how patent agents approach IP strategy, including what to protect, when to file, and how to think about freedom to operate. Cameron covers common early mistakes made by inventors, how patent strategy can influence business outcomes, and how AI is beginning to impact patentability and prior art. Tune in to learn about pathways into patent law and what day-to-day work for a patent agent looks like.

Today, Adya Srinivasan sits with Dr. Prathap Jayaram, a clinician-scientist and Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine at Emory University. His work sits at the intersection of biotechnology, regenerative medicine, and clinical care, focusing on translating emerging regenerative therapies into real-world patient treatments. Tune it to learn more about where this field is headed and how it is leading the breakthrough in all disease systems.

In this episode, undergraduate Lola Mallela sits down with Jonathan D. Moreno PhD. Dr. Moreno, as of recording, was the Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, of History and Sociology of Science, and of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. He has written many books including Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die: Bioethics and the Transformation of Healthcare in America and The Brain in Context: A Pragmatic Guide to Neuroscience. Their discussion discusses the ethics of healthcare, his experience within the field, and so much more. Tune in to learn more about a part of healthcare that is not discussed enough!

Today, undergraduate Eshal Momin sits down with Hyun (Michel) Koo, DDS, MS, PhD. Dr. Koo is a dentist-scientist who is also a professor at the School of Dental Medicine and in School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. He also is the co-founder of the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD). In this podcast, Dr. Koo discusses how diseases of the mouth can also have an impact on people’s full bodies and overall wellness. In particular, Dr. Koo discusses how oral biofilm interacts with our immune system and how those interactions can directly impact other parts of our body. He ends the podcast with a reflection on getting involved in research and healthcare at large.

In this podcast, Claire Tian, undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, sits down with Josh Schwartz MD, MBA who sits as the Vice President of Medical Affairs in North America at BeOne Medicines. Dr. Schwartz dives into his career but also the pipeline of developing drugs, specifically highlighting the oncology therapeutics that have made it to market from BeOne. Dr. Schwartz pulls on his knowledge of both the scientific understanding of cancer as well as strategies on bringing a drug to market. Listen in to get one of the best insights about this intersection in healthcare.

Today, Kevin Lee, an undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania, talks with Dr. Theodore Drivas MD, PhD, assistant professor in Translational Medicine and Human Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine. In this episode, Dr. Drivas talks about his path to clinical and research work, his passion in disease of the primary cilium, and current challenges in genetic analysis of rare and common disease.

In this episode, Suchi Patel sits down with Zarina S. Ali, MD, Chief of Neurosurgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Ali shares insights from her pioneering career in neurosurgery, discussing the clinical complexities in nerve surgery, and her research into optimizing patient outcomes through data-driven approaches like ERAS and GREEN OR. The conversation explores the intersection of academic medicine and healthcare innovation with Dr. Ali’s inspiration of going into neurosurgery. Edited by Suchi Patel and Divyash Shah

In this episode, Arnav Gupta sits down with Dr. Mark Pauly, a health economist at the Wharton School, to discuss the economics of healthcare delivery, insurance market design, and the trade-offs between cost, access, and quality in the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Mark Pauly is best know for writing one of the most influential pieces in health economics: "The Economics of Moral Hazard: Comment" in 1968. Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Pauly shares insights on moral hazard, value-based care, and the policy levers that most effectively improve health outcomes without unsustainable spending. Edited by Arnav Gupta and Divyash Shah

In this episode, Adarsh Ramamurthy talks with Bruce Levine PhD, Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In this unique sit down, Dr. Levine discusses his path into research, emerging trends and what the future holds for immunotherapy as a treatment modality and closes with his guidance and advice for younger scientists entering any field.

In this episode, Abby Joseph sits down with Dr. Terry Bray. Dr Brady serves as Executive Director of Licensing for Physical Sciences & Engineering at the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI). With over 30 years spanning academia and industry, Dr. Bray brings a rare view of technology deals from both the inventor and the licensing side. In this episode, we dig into the mechanics of technology licensing—structuring and negotiating agreements, building diligence and performance milestones that move projects forward, and more. Together, we’ll learn about Dr. Bray’s path into tech transfer and practical advice for how students can prepare for industry now. Edited by Abby Joseph and Divyash Shah

In this episode, Mary Zawalick sits down with Dr. Jonathan Steckbeck to discuss how he entered the biotechnology industry and created his company, Peptilogics. Peptilogics has gained popularity recently for their development of a peptide therapy for Periprosthetic Joint Infections (PJI). Steckbeck talks about the current projects his team is working on, the challenges of running a biotech company, and the future of the biotech industry as a whole. The episode concludes with advice for listeners who are interested in biotech and are looking to create their own startup.

Today, undergradute Abby Joseph sit down with Dr. Tomas Isakowitz from the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) which helps researchers at Penn move their discoveries out of the lab and into the real world through startups, licensing, and entrepreneurship programs. Listen in to learn about what it really takes to turn research into real-world impact, lessons learned from working with over 150 startup teams, and advice for students who want to explore innovation and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Mallory Evanoff sits down with University of Pennsylvania student Mary Zawalick to discuss her current research with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology at the University of California, San Diego. She discusses her specific research focuses and how they can be applied clinically to cure genetic diseases. She will also provide insights into how she became a postdoctoral researcher, explain different careers in science, and give advice to young students who hope to research in the future.

In this episode, we invite Dr David Schlesinger to speak with Lara Mizne about his experience as co-founder and CEO of Mendelics, the largest genomics lab in Latin America, exploring how it functions on a day-to-day basis, its growth over the past decade, and the impact of AI: both on the lab itself as well as on medicine as a whole.

In this episode, Jason Fang, an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, sits down with Dr. Nicholas Balderston, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine, to explore the science behind Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and its role in modern psychiatry. Dr. Balderston talks about his career path, from his early research interests to his ongoing work studying brain stimulation and anxiety disorders. They discuss how TMS compares to traditional treatments, the evolving landscape of psychiatric research, and what it could mean for the future of mental health care.

In this episode, the CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Mr. Kevin Mahoney, sits down with undergraduate Divyash Shah to discuss his unique position in controlling one of the largest health systems nationally. While discussing the responsibilities he holds, he also discusses the effort required to create a health care system that promotes innovation and translational research while also ensuring healthcare equality. In the conversation, Mahoney describes his vision for his health system and hospitals nationally as he aims to make changes that will inspire others to follow his footsteps.

In this episode, Neil Tangal and Dr. Christoph Thaiss, Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania, sit and discuss the idea of the microbiome as a switchboard for the human body. Dr. Thaiss talks about his work exploring gut-brain signaling and interoception, as well as Spyridon Biotechnology, his new startup. Potential therapeutics are discussed, where this gut-brain axis could be used in widespread applications such as obesity and addiction. Thaiss then emphasizes the need for whole body research as opposed to more niche specializations.

In this episode, Siddharth Adda and Dr. Sampath Rangasamy, Research Associate Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute sit down to discuss his journey researching therapeutics for diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Rangasamy, a lifelong Type-I diabetic, reveals how the disease motivated him to conduct research on angiopoietin-2, and contribute towards a potential therapeutic.

In an age of such rapid innovation, we are often so wrapped up in excitement for new science and flashy discoveries that we forget the implications of the technology itself and whom it affects: stakeholders, end users, and all those involved in its creation. Dr. Brit Shields is a senior lecturer of Bioengineering and leader of the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering Ethics Initiative. In this episode, Claire Kang and Dr. Shields discuss her engineering ethics curricula for the Bioengineering course sequence, as well as the importance of educating young scientists that they must think on a larger moral and societal scale when creating technology.

In this episode, Risa Garg speaks with distinguished virologist, lead scientist, and entrepreneur Dr. Rupsa Basu. Dr. Basu has a deep passion for exploring the intersections of science, business, and advocacy. In addition to her groundbreaking research at Humane Genomics, she is deeply committed to advancing women's leadership. She serves as the Director at Large and Regional Vice President for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) New York Chapter, where she focuses on expanding communications and building relationships among women leaders in the industry.