Transformative BioScience Innovations Shaping Southern Arizona E18
In this episode of AZTechCast, the official podcast of the Arizona Technology Council, accomplished bioscience leaders from the BIO5 Institute at The University of Arizona, Souvie BioDelivery and Critical Path Institute joined Council president and CEO, Steve Zylstra, to discuss the innovative bioscience innovations shaping Southern Arizona. These leaders included Dr. Jennifer Barton, director of the BIO5 Institute at The University of Arizona; Souvenir Tachado, president and founder of Souvie BioDelivery; and Kristen Swingle, interim president and chief operating officer at the Critical Path Institute.
Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of experts explained how Southern Arizona’s thriving bioscience industry is developing a wide range of solutions that are creating jobs, fostering economic growth, addressing public health challenges and training the next generation of bioscience problem solvers. By investing in workforce development, talent attraction and retention, world-class research facilities and business mentorship, Southern Arizona is well on its way to becoming a bioscience hotspot that growing companies want to call home.
Listeners should tune in to this episode to learn about the unique qualities that have transformed Southern Arizona into a hub of bioscience innovation, the resiliency and ingenuity the industry has demonstrated over the past year and a half in the face of COVID-19 and the promising future the industry is collectively working towards. Through continued collaboration, investments in education and research and a unified bioscience development strategy, Southern Arizona can certainly become a renowned world leader in the bioscience and biotechnology space.
The BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona connects and mobilizes hundreds of world-class plant, animal, and human bioscientists, engineers, physicians, and computational researchers to develop creative solutions for complex challenges such as disease, hunger, water and food safety, and other health issues facing Arizona.
BIO5 is commemorating 20 years of research, innovation, and impact. We are proud of the significant work behind this milestone, and all that it means for our university, state, and world.
Jennifer Barton received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and previously worked for McDonnell Douglas on the International Space Station program.
She is currently the Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and has additional appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Medical Imaging, Optical Sciences, and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona.
She has served as department head of Biomedical Engineering, Interim Vice President for Research, and is currently Director of the BIO5 Institute, a collaborative research institute dedicated to solving complex biology-based problems affecting humanity.
Barton develops miniature endoscopes that combine multiple optical imaging techniques, and evaluates the suitability of these endoscopes for detecting early cancer development. She has a particular interest in the early detection of ovarian cancer, the most deadly gynecological malignancy.
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A long standing goal in therapeutics development, that remains for the most part unmet, is the ability to deliver medicines to the tissues and cells where the therapeutic agent will produce a desired benefit. Medicines are often needed only in specific diseased organs, tissues, or even certain cells, but the vast majority of drugs are distributed throughout the body, and the bulk of the administered drug ends up in locations where it is not needed, often producing unwanted side effects.
Souvie BioDelivery is a biotech company developing a cell based novel drug delivery platform to deliver complex macromolecular payloads to specific target cells and tissues. The payload is delivered into target cells in a biologically active form that can induce phenotypic and /or genotypic changes and enable healing for the patient. This platform is scalable, multifaceted and non-immunogenic.
Souvenir Tachado, MD, is an accomplished immunologist and has 30 years of research experience. He directed research projects on HIV pathogenesis while he was at Harvard Medical School. He demonstrated that macrophages infected by HIV release exosomes that contain HIV miRNAs.
These exosomes account for how HIV delivers and spreads infection. This important observation forms the basis for his idea in developing a novel drug delivery platform using engineered exosomes as a delivery vehicle of drugs to poorly accessible sites underlying disease progression.
Following 30 years in academic medicine, Dr Tachado exited after having co-founded a drug discovery firm Capienda Biotech in 2017. In 2018, he founded Souvie Biodelivery to develop a novel exosome-based drug delivery platform.
Connect with Souvie on LinkedIn.
Critical Path Institute (C-Path) is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 2005 as a public and private partnership. C-Path’s mission is to catalyze the development of new approaches that advance medical innovation and regulatory science, accelerating the path to a healthier world.
An international leader in forming collaborations, C-Path has established numerous global consortia that currently include more than 1,600 scientists from government and regulatory agencies, academia, patient organizations, disease foundations, and dozens of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
C-Path US is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona and C-Path, Ltd. EU is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with additional staff in multiple other locations. For more information, visit c-path.org and c-path.eu.
Kristen Swingle is responsible for the daily operations of Critical Path Institute as well as developing and implementing C-Path’s strategy and goals. She manages the organization’s human resources, facilities, information technology and personnel.
Before joining C-Path, Mrs. Swingle served as Vice President of Operations for CBR, a part of Generate Life Sciences, where she oversaw stem cell manufacturing and quality operations and served as the site head for the Tucson facility which houses a stem cell laboratory, cryobank and call center operations. She brings nearly two decades’ worth of experience in the medical and molecular sciences industry to bear in her role as Interim President and Chief Operating Officer and currently serves as Chairwoman of AZBio Board of Directors.
Swingle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science, Medical Sciences from Texas A&M University.
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About AZ TechCast
AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.
Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.
About Your Hosts
Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.
Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.
Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.
Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.
Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.
In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.
Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.
About Our Sponsor
The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.
A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.
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