Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Dr. Neela Patel, CBO at Bonum Therapeutics who leads strategy and partnerships. Dr. Diane Hollenbaugh, CSO at Bonum focused on cytokine biology and therapeutic design. They explore conditionally active biologics, reversible on/off antibody systems, mechanisms to avoid systemic toxicity, tumor microenvironment challenges, and Bonum’s stroma-targeted interferon alpha program and commercial strategy.

Dr. Alexander Schneider, founder and CEO of CureLab and developer of Elanogen, a plasmid therapy targeting P62. He discusses plasmid delivery and why P62 makes cancer cells vulnerable. Short takes on how some chemotherapies work through immune effects, how drugs like gemcitabine can trigger chronic inflammation, and promising clinical signals combining Elanogen with standard treatments.

This conversation explores the intersection of biotechnology and the beauty industry, highlighting how biotech is revolutionizing the production of cosmetic ingredients. The discussion covers the slow pace of innovation in beauty, the debate between natural and synthetic ingredients, and the role of AI in discovering new active compounds. The conversation also delves into specific examples like carmine production, the business model of Debut Biotech, and the regulatory challenges faced in bringing new products to market.

2025 saw some of the giants in molecular biology leave us.  Those that made seminal discoveries in DNA science to those that put it to work in describing the underpinnings of life left an indelible mark on history, and it is fitting that we commemorate their discoveries and contributions. 

This is a throwback to episode 484, a very important correction of their episode on glyphosate. With so much controversy around this compound it is critical to keep the information correct and consistent with a 50 year body of evidence when discussing risk and benefit. Veritassium made some mistakes, so here they are corrected so that you can participate effectively in these discussions. 

This episode originally aired on December 18, 2021.  Cindy Graham was diagnosed with glioblastoma in her late 40s. She fought the disease, and ultimately donated her tissues to research to study the nature of glioblastoma and identify potential vulnerabilities that could underlie a cure. This episode first features Dr. Shiela Singh, glioblastoma expert who has performed analysis of Cindy's cells in search of a cure.  The second part is an interview with her husband, Dr. Thomas Graham. He speaks of the power of her gift, Cindy's legacy, and the hope that cures may come because of her contribution. The fund supports glioblastoma research and student scholarships to enhance the best research in search of a cure.  You can support the fund at www.cindysgift.com

In today's throwback to 2022, Dr. Avindra Nath of the NIH reviews research efforts in proteins expressed from human endogenous retroviruses. It is a fascinating discussion of how genome relics may be contributing to insidious human disease. 

This throwback episode to 2018 is an interview with plant breeding pioneer Dr. Maxine Thompson. 

Dr. Zack Abbott, CEO of ZBiotics and microbiologist, dives into the fascinating world of engineered probiotics designed to enhance gut health. They tackle the staggering fiber deficiency affecting 95% of Americans and explain how innovative probiotics can convert sugars into dietary fiber right in your gut. Zack shares insights on the science of levansucrase and its benefits for microbial diversity and gut integrity. With future possibilities for probiotics, they discuss addressing modern health challenges from dietary gaps to toxin detoxification.

Dr. Liza Lockwood, an expert on peer review and scientific integrity, joins Cameron English and Kevin Folta to discuss the frailties of academic publishing. They dive into the nuances of peer review, addressing concerns over low-quality studies and the pressure of 'publish or perish' culture. The trio explores how misinformation spreads and the challenges in correcting it, particularly during the COVID era. They also tackle the fallout from fraudulent research, emphasizing the critical need for transparency and accountability in science.