16 GIU 2024 · Today’s guest is Charlotte Bradshaw, the Founder & CEO of Evrima Technologies. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting: https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ Evrima aims to solve the problem of finding patients for clinical trials by building networks of clinicians and integrating trial information into their workflow. The goal is to make it easier for healthcare providers to identify eligible patients and provide them with trial options, with the ultimate vision is to have a measurable impact on the clinical trial value chain, enabling research to happen faster and getting treatments to the people who need them. Evrima offers three products: - evripath, a referral network that connects sites, CROs, and sponsors to pharmacists and GPs - evrilink, a recruitment platform that securely delivers participant referrals to sites, and - evriquest, innovating recruitment marketing solutions In this episode, Charlotte describes how the company was built based on feedback from clinical trial teams who struggled with outdated tools like spreadsheets, and emphasizes the importance of technology adoption and collaboration in the clinical trial industry. Charlotte also shares her experiences and challenges in starting and growing the business, including the decision to raise capital and the need for continuous learning and support. You can find out more about Charlotte Bradshaw and Evrima here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottebradshaw/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/evrimatechnologies/posts/?feedView=all https://www.evrima.com/ Podcast Takeaways: - Raising awareness about clinical trials is crucial for the advancement of medicine and human health. - Evrima aims to make it easier for healthcare providers to access trial information and provide it to their patients. - Integrating clinical trial data into existing systems can help identify eligible patients and streamline the recruitment process. - The ultimate goal is to have a measurable impact on the clinical trial value chain and ensure that treatments reach the people who need them. - The clinical trial industry needs to adopt and embrace technology to overcome challenges and improve processes. - Starting and growing a business requires making pivotal decisions, learning quickly, and seeking support from mentors and advisors. - Entrepreneurs in the clinical trial space should prioritize mental health and self-care and build a strong network for guidance and support. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:11 Identifying the Pain Points in Clinical Research 09:31 The Traditional Approach to Finding Patients for Clinical Trials 11:48 Integrating Clinical Trial Information into Healthcare Practice 15:24 Measuring the Impact of Clinical Trial Solutions 21:36 Raising Awareness and Reducing Taboos 24:22 The Vision and Impact of Evrema 29:01 Challenges and Decisions in Starting and Growing a Business 32:13 Prioritizing Progress over Perfection 36:30 Raising Capital and Building a Support Network 43:30 Expanding the Reach of Evrima and the Future of Clinical Trials 46:28 Lessons Learned and Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs Keywords: clinical trials, awareness, patients, doctors, Evrema, barriers, participation, healthcare providers, integration, digital phenotype, impact, Evrima, EveryPath, EveryLink, referral network, recruitment platform, clinical trials, technology adoption, collaboration, starting a business, raising capital, challenges, continuous learning, support Subscribe for free on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3Vet6Hn8XFMhprr2LrY3XS G et in touch in the comments below or head to: https://www.instagram.com/_good_clinical/ Developing Technology to Streamline Clinical Trial Recruitment | Charlotte Bradshaw | Ep 26 

26 MAG 2024 · Today’s guest is John Robson (JR), General Manager at Bridgewest Ventures NZ, and Managing Director of BioOra, a company that is automating the manufacture of CAR T-cells. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting: https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ The development of new technologies, whether it be medical or otherwise, requires a lot of resources. One of those resources is capital - financial capital. Financial capital for new ventures can come in many forms, including loans from Mom & Pop or the bank, angel investment, grants, or private capital. One of the forms of private capital is venture capital, or VC. VC is characterised by investment in young companies with growth potential. But it's not just about the money. As JR puts it, no founder has every said they were successful because they had an endless supply of money... In this episode, and I discuss: - The idiosyncrasies of the New Zealand start-up ecosystem - Venture Capital's role to play in the ecosystem - Bridgwest's portfolio of companies working in the CAR space ....and much much more.  You can find out more about John Robson and Bridgewest Ventures here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrobsonjr/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgewest-ventures-nz/posts/?feedView=all https://bridgewest.ventures/ https://bioora.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Teaser 00:30 Introduction 02:20 True Venture Capital vs. Vulture Capital 05:00 Early Stage / Deep Tech Investment 09:20 Improving the status quo - Infrastructure, Human Capital, Regulation 16:00 Money follows success 20:33 Shaping the world around you 23:15 Doing more with less 25:20 It's not just about the money 26:10 Celebrating, and advertising, our successes 29:45 Where does the money come from - Bridgewest edition 34:30 Industry average is one in ten companies 36:20 Early VC - TechTransfer Office involvement 40:00 Founder Equity - Bespoke arrangements 44:00 Bridgewest's CAR portfolio companies 53:15 Advice for Biotech entrepreneurs To get in touch head to:https://www.instagram.com/_good_clinical/ Vulture Capital vs. True Venture Capital | John Robson | Ep 25 #goodclinical #goodclinicalpodcast #goodclinicalexplains #goodclinicalevents #goodclinicalnetwork #innovation #podcast #newzealand #commercialization #venturecapital #vc #clinicalresearchassociate #technologytransfer #biotech #science #choices #country #entrepreneur #products #clinicalresearch #biotech #clinicalpractice #chatgcp #healthcare #clinicaltrials #medicine #humanhealth

12 MAG 2024 · Today’s guest is Cameron Quilter, and Clinical Research Associate (CRA) at Novotech. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting: https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ In most Clinical Research Trials, there are three players: - The "Sponsor" - the entity that is funding the research and could be a pharmaceutical company, insitute or other non-profit entity; - The "Site" - hospital or private research clinical that is carrying out the research and administering the treatments and other procedures to the patients, and - The "Contract Research Organization", or CRO, which is delegated various responsibilities on behlaf of the sponsor. The Clinical Research Associate, or CRA, is the workhorse of the Sponsor or CRO. CRAs work with staff at the "site" to ensure that the research is conducted according to local and international regulatory and Ethical requirements, and helping to ensure that safety, rights and well-being of research participants are the priority. CRAs need to have keen attention to detail, a solid understanding of human biology and pharmaceutical science, and an ability to work well with all different personality types and manage the multitude of different "stakeholders". Oh, and being comfortable travelling to different cities every other day is a plus too! Despite this, the hardest part about a CRA role? Can often be getting a role in the first place! Yet once one has their foot in the door, the CRA role provides a spring-board to take your Science Career in a multitude of different directions. In this episode, Cameron and I discuss: - How to get land a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) job - The different careers paths that one can take after a CRA career - Some thoughts on the future of Clinical Research and biotechnology in New Zealand and Australia You can find out more about Cameron and Novotech here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-q-058243133/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/novotech/ https://novotech-cro.com/ Cameron Quilter | How to get a CRA job and how to make the most of it | Ep 24 #goodclinical #goodclinicalpodcast #goodclinicalexplains #goodclinicalevents #goodclinicalnetwork #innovation #podcast #newzealand #commercialization #clinicalresearchassociate #technologytransfer #biotech #science #choices #country #entrepreneur #products #clinicalresearch #biotech #clinicalpractice #chatgcp #healthcare #clinicaltrials #medicine #humanhealth

5 MAG 2024 · Today’s guest is Dr Zahra Champion, Executive Director of BiotechNZ. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting: https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ Biotechnology is a broad category, and ranges from the use of yeast to brew beer, something humans have been doing for the past 9,000 years to manipulating our DNA to fight cancer, something we have been doing for last 20 years. Biotech is a platform technology that sits across all sectors - animal health, agriculture, human health etc. Modern Biotechnology has the potential to change lives and economies. New Zealand is at a crossroads, after years of onerous regulations stifling advancement in this area, the new government have made moves to re-vamp these regulations to unlock capacity. But to make a modern biotechnology industry happen, you don't just need benign regulations, you also need smart and motivated individuals and even smarter money. I n this episode, Dr Champion and I discuss: - What is Biotechnology and where the opportunities are - What we can learn from other countries that have developed frameworks to support the implementation of biotechnology - Advice for budding and future biotech entrepreneurs You can find out more about Dr Champion and BiotechNZ here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahra-champion-09178b11/ https://biotechnz.org.nz/ Timestamps: 00:00 Teaser 00:30 Introduction 02:50 Regulatory framework holding Biotech back 04:10 Negative implications of not having a Biotech industry 05:30 What is Biotech 08:50 Taking gene technologies from the lab to trial 13:19 Medicinal cannabis: a case study 14:00 New Zealand can adopt the gold-standard of regulations from the world 15:15 Opportunity-cost of NOT having a thriving biotechnology industry 18:20 Biotechnology is expensive 21:00 Early-stage funding is available, but late-stage is not 25:00 Developing a New Zealand flavour for biotech 29:00 Australia vs. New Zealand 31:15 Tall poppy syndrome & showing the world that we are open for business 33:40 Short vs. Long-termism 37:20 Aroa Biosurgery & Neuren Pharmaceuticals set an example 38:50 Smart money = not repeating the same pitfalls 40:30 Internal monologue or dialogue 44:50 Advice for Biotech Entrepreneurs Dr Zahra Champion | The Future of Biotechnology in New Zealand Ep 23 | Ep23 #goodclinical #goodclinicalpodcast #goodclinicalexplains #goodclinicalevents #goodclinicalnetwork #innovation #podcast #newzealand #commercialization #clinicalresearchassociate #technologytransfer #biotech #science #choices #country #entrepreneur #products #clinicalresearch #biotech #chatgcp #healthcare #clinicaltrials #goodclinical #goodclinicalnetwork #goodclinicalmedia 

21 APR 2024 · Today’s guest is Dr Paul Hamilton, Clinical Director of Early Phase Research at Pacific Clinical Research Network (PCRN). This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting: https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ New medicines are first studied in animals before they are tested in humans. Animal testing provides an insight into the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the new medicine. But before a new medicine can be tested on their intended patient population, the so-called "First In Human" (FIH) testing needs to take place. This is typically done in Normal Healthy Volunteers (NHVs) - i.e., a group of healthy individuals, not taking any prescription medications. Once the safety and tolerability of a new medicine has been substantiated in NHVs, only then can the medicine be tested in a patient. These types of trials are Phase 1 and 1b/2a trials, respectively, and are collectively called "Early Phase Trials". Early Phase trials are an exciting part of the clinical trials spectrum, as this is where the "Proof of Concept" is first determined. And, as Dr Paul Hamilton explains, can deliver impressive health improvements if the technology works as expected. As time progresses, new medicines become more targeted as we enter the era of "precision medicine". The drugs of tomorrow, are being tested today. The argument for participating in a clinical trial as a patient with a disease is compelling as Dr Hamilton explains in this podcast. In this episode, Dr Hamilton and I discuss: - The importance of Early Phase Clinical Trials - Why clinical trials need to be seen as a component of a patient's overall healthcare journey  - Future opportunities and challenges in the Clinical Research/Trials space in New Zealand You can find out more about Dr Hamilton and Pacific Clinical Research Network (PCRN) here: https://pcrn.co.nz/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-hamilton-0a99b36b/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-clinical-research-network/ Timestamps: 00:00 Teaser 00:22 Introduction 01:30 Pivoting from from medicine and clinical research 08:40 Paul's defining moment in clinical trials - Sofosbuvir 12:30 Danicopan 15:50 The future of medicine starts with Early Phase research 21:30 Early Phase vs. Late Phase 23:30 Setting up a new Early Phase research location 29:25 Clinical trials have a responsibility for delivering healthcare 33:00 Designing good early phase studies 37:00 The Future of Clinical Trials in New Zealand 44:25 Advice for getting into clinical research Dr Paul Hamilton | Clinical Trials are driving the Future of Medicine and Healthcare | Ep 22 innovation #podcast #newzealand #commercialization #clinicalresearchassociate #technologytransfer #biotech #science #choices #country #entrepreneur #products #clinicalresearch #biotech #clinicalpractice #chatgcp #healthcare #clinicaltrials 

14 APR 2024 · Today’s guest is Dr Brian Ward, Founder and CEO of Aroa Biosurgery, an ASX-listed, biotech company with with a ~$200 m AUD market capitalization. This episode is brought to you by https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ Aroa Biosurgery is a New Zealand-based, ASX-listed biotech company that develops and commercializes novel products that promote wound healing and soft-tissue repair. Their proprietary products, developed from tissue taken from the fore-stomach of sheep, provide the body with structural and biological components that provide a head start in the healing process.  Biotech is a hard business. It's expensive, time-consuming and the road to success is fraught with difficulty and complexity and many biotech companies never make it to profitability. Despite this, there are a number of biotech entrepreneurs with such a fire within them that the odds seem to be in their favour.  Dr Ward's and the Aroa Biosurgery story is remarkable. From the idea, to the product, the manufacturing and commercialzation, the various challenges that have arisen have been overcome resulting in a compelling success story that would inspire any current, or aspiring, biotech entrepreneur.  In this episode, Dr Ward and I discuss: 1. The eureka moment that made Brian pivot from clinical practice to entrepreneurial endeavour 2. The science and technology that underpins their novel products 3. Brian's tips for aspiring biotech entrepreneurs - just get started, understand it will not be easy, be prepared for a "game of attrition" and surround your self with people smarter than you. You can find out more about Brian Ward and Aroabiosurgery here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-ward678/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/aroa-biosurgery-limited/ https://aroa.com/

7 APR 2024 · Today’s guest is Madhu Vyas, Theranostics Site Leader at Mercy Radiology, and Programme Lead at Unitec.  This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting PTY Ltd https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry sound like terms pulled straight from a science fiction novel. Yet the use of radioactive materials for the purposes of diagnosing and treating disease - collectively referred to as theranostics (therapy + diagnostics) - are commonly place and an exciting field of discovery and development. But with so many different radioactive materials to choose from, each with their own characteristics, how do researchers and physicians choose the right one? And how is the radiation targeted to the desired organ or diseased tissue without damaging normal tissue? In this episode, Madhu and I discuss: 1. The origins of nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and "theranostics" 2. How radioactive material is targeted to different tissues within a patient for the purposes of either diagnosis or therapy 3. What we can expect for the future of an area of medicine that is now hitting it's stride Madhu Vyas' passion for this field is palpable. When not working as the Theranostics Site Leader at Mercy Radiology, he is teaching the next generation of Medical Imaging technicians and also completing a PhD. Clearly, Madhu has discovered a way to wring more than 24 hours out of a single day! You can find out more about Madhu, Mercy Radiology & Unitec: https://www.linkedin.com/in/150880/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercy-radiology/ https://radiology.co.nz/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/unitecnz/ https://www.unitec.ac.nz/ #newzealand #radiochemistry #radiation #radiationtherapy #theranostics #nuclear #nuclearimaging #molecularimaging #theranos #innovation #podcast #commercialization #science #entrepreneurship #innovation

1 APR 2024 · Today’s guest is Will Charles, the Executive Director of Investment at UniServices. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting PTY Ltd https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ UUniversities are a great place to get higher education, but they're also places where new ideas, concepts and technologies first take root. But how do new ideas make their way from the academic setting to the commercial setting? UniServices is wholly owned by the University of Auckland and is a not-for-profit, stand-alone company that provides support to researchers by helping them secure the funding and connections that can help them make a positive impact. Will Charles (great surname) has built an amazing career over time, tacking on new skills to make him a force in the world of commercialization of science and ensuring that University Intellectual Property simply doesn't gather dust on a shelf. In this episode, Will and I discuss: - What Technology Transfer is - How UniServices supports acadmics and entrepreneurs alike - 3. Will's recommendations for budding entrepreneurs - top tip: Get in early, make mistakes in a low-risk environment (i.e., while at university). You can find out more about Will and UniServices here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-charles-b4005a5/ https://www.uniservices.co.nz/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/auckland-uniservices-limited/ #newzealand #technologytransfer #innovation #podcast #commercialization #science #entrepreneurship #innovation

23 MAR 2024 · Today’s guest is Dr Rohit Katial, a Research Physician involved in Early Phase Clinical Trials in New Zealand. This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting PTY Ltd https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ Unfortunately, in New Zealand our access to modern medicines is well behind our OECD peers, and it typically takes 10 years before a new medicine is funded by https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=pharmac&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912 after being approved by https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=medsafe&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912. Thus, Clinical Research is starting to do more and more of the heavy lifting to fill the gap between need and https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=access&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912. An interesting component of https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=clinicalresearch&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912 is Early Phase trials - which range from https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=firstinhuman&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912 trials, to the initial studies in patients i.e., single ascending dose or multiple-ascending dose studies, aptly shortened to SAD or MAD trials. New Zealand is increasingly becoming an attractive place to conduct Early Phase research, by virtue of our diverse & young population, less onerous regulatory requirements and skilled workforce.  Despite this, early phase https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=clinicalresearch&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7177135003066150912 is not an obvious career choice for those studying or participating in medicine. This is a challenge that will need to be addressed if we are to make the most of the opportunity that is before us. In this episode, Dr https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-katial/ and I discuss: 1. His journey from mainstream medicine to early phase clinical research 2. the core skillset that is needed to be proficient as an early phase clinical trials investigator 3. Some of the exciting trials Rohit has been a part of....hint: gene editing You can find out more about Rohit and New Zealand Clinical Research here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-katial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nzcr-christchurch/ https://www.nzcr.co.nz/ #newzealand #clinicalresearch #innovation #podcast #clinicalresearchassociate #principalinvestigator #clinicaltrials #CRISPr #geneediting

17 MAR 2024 · Today’s guest is Shamubeel Eaqub, and economist, author and commentator.  This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting PTY Ltd https://www.saproconsulting.com.au/ In this episode Shamubeel and I discuss New Zealands productivity has not kept up with our OECD peers. Reasons for this include some things we cannot change, such as the fundamental realities of our small population and remote location at the bottom of the South Pacific, but also things we can, including policy settings, institutions, incentives, long-termism, and culture.  Some very impressive companies have been built in New Zealand by some truly great minds, yet it would seem that the success of these companies has not been due to the settings, but rather in spite of them.  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2zKFT444A8FhtpnWlJx2Ci?si=6d1621a6b10e41ba You can find out more about Shamubeel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eaqub/ #newzealand #incentives #innovation #country #commercialization #government #economy #productivity #universities #biotech #risk #shorttermism #choices #geography