Leaders in Life Sciences: Dr. Ian White, President, Founder, and Chief Scientific Officer at Neobiosis

Our new Catalyst Q&A series aims to showcase innovators in life sciences and explore how these experts are uniquely approaching innovation and disruption - while also balancing the very real need for speed and quality when developing life-saving products for consumers. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Ian White, President, Founder, and Chief Scientific Officer at Neobiosis. Neobiosis is a clinical stage, biomedical contract development and manufacturing organization. Neobiosis produces innovative products from healthy, full-term births for client organizations who wish to take biomedical products though FDA-approved clinical trials for commercialization in a global market. Neobiosis is also committed to advancing an in-house pipeline of intellectual property and biologicals for use in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Read on for more insights from Dr. Ian White…

Robert Fenton: How many years have you been in the life sciences, and what are the three most notable changes that you’ve seen and experienced in your career??

Dr. Ian White: I have spent more than 20 years in the life sciences including graduate school, two post doctorates, and now my time in biotech. During that time, there are three notable changes that I have witnessed. Those changes are as follows:

• Graduate students and postdoctoral students continue to be way underpaid, taken advantage of, and typically don’t know their value.
• Less than 10% of post doctoral students ever make the transition into a faculty position and even those who do are under intense pressure to compete for small pools of grant funding. In turn, careers in academia typically go nowhere, unfortunately.
• Most academics still don’t know of the potential that awaits them in biotech. It’s not the “professional dead-end” many think it is. Private funds are available to finance their research. Their work and experience is valuable, and they can potentially translate their work into medical advancements much more rapidly than in academia.

Rob: In what specific ways do you see the life sciences evolving in the next decade?

Dr. White: Just like space travel and technology, medicine and life sciences will progress and innovate more rapidly as more and more private money floods into the field. Particularly in the field of longevity and healthspan.

Rob: What do you see as the biggest challenges to innovation and digital transformation in the life sciences?

Dr. White: As is often the case, it all comes down to money. The established scientific veterans tend to get the “lion’s share” of investment money, because the younger, newer scientists don’t have the track record and/or don’t know how to attract investor money.??

Rob: If you had to name two companies that have fundamentally changed the life sciences for the better in the last 5 years, who would they be and why?

Dr. White: The field is still pre-fundamental. We are at an inflection point, and we’re excited to see which companies lead the way and provide that fundamental change that is much needed.

Rob: How can the life sciences industry more broadly apply lessons learned from the pandemic to accelerate innovation?

Dr. White: What is clear is that money is what makes change possible. With enough resources, science can progress and scientists can innovate.

Rob: Where are you seeing the most innovation today in the life sciences ecosystem?

Dr. White: Where the money is currently going. In the field of longevity, anti-aging, and healthspan. Big advancements are coming. Just look at all the resources coming into the field through private funding - such as ALTOS labs and Hevolution Foundation, among others.

Rob: How do you stay on top of trends and innovations in the life sciences?

Dr. White: I attend and present at national and international conferences. I also spend a lot of energy networking with others in my field and outside. Collaboration is critical.

Rob: What advice or words of wisdom do you have for early stage life sciences companies that are looking to disrupt the status quo while accelerating innovation and safeguarding quality?

Dr. White: Hire post doctorate students out of academia. Pay them well, allow them to be creative, support their work - and do so by bringing in private capital. Also, find ways to build relationships with people who can introduce you to investors. Even if you don’t know what you need the money for yet, you’re going to need it. Networking is key. Make friends before you need them.

For more information, see Dr. Ian White, President, Founder, and Chief Scientific Officer at Neobiosis and Qualio.

#eqms #healthtech #qualityassurance #lifesciences #digitalhealth