Episodios

  • Ep 30 - Dr Vickie Shim - Personalized Treatment Plans after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

    Ep 30 - Dr Vickie Shim - Personalized Treatment Plans after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
    Jul 29 2024
    Good Clinical has teamed up with Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator, to bring you the Te Titoki Mataora Podcast Series.

    In this epsiode, Dr. Vickie Shim, a Senior Research Fellow at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, discusses her work in neuromechanics and its application to injury and degenerative diseases, specifically mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). She explains that neuromechanics focuses on how brain tissue responds to external mechanical stimuli, such as impacts, and the potential damage that can occur.

    Dr. Shim's research involves studying the brains of high school rugby players throughout a season to track brain changes and correlate them with head impacts. The goal is to develop an AI-based tool that can predict recovery trajectories and inform personalized treatment plans for individuals with TBI.

    Podcast Takeaways:
    1. Neuromechanics focuses on how brain tissue responds to external mechanical stimuli, such as impacts.
    2. Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common form of TBI, with about 80% of all TBIs falling into the mild range.
    3. Repetitive head impacts, such as those experienced in contact sports or by combat soldiers, can lead to long-term brain degenerative changes and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
    4. Dr. Shim's research involves studying the brains of high school rugby players to track brain changes over a season and correlate them with head impacts.
    5. The goal is to develop an AI-based tool that can predict recovery trajectories and inform personalized treatment plans for individuals with TBI.

    Timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction to Neuromechanics and Dr. Vickie Shim's Research
    01:22 Understanding Brain Tissue Response to Mechanical Impact
    06:22 The Prevalence and Impact of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
    10:06 Tracking Brain Changes in High School Rugby Players
    19:04 Developing an AI-Based Tool for Predicting Recovery Trajectories 2
    6:40 Personalized Treatment Plans for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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    35 m
  • Ep 29 - Dr Maddie White - The Role of Translational Scientists in Creating Real-World Impact

    Ep 29 - Dr Maddie White - The Role of Translational Scientists in Creating Real-World Impact
    Jul 15 2024
    Today’s guest is Dr Maddie White, Translational Scientist and Strategic Partnerships Manager at the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute in Wellington, New Zealand.

    This episode is brought to you by SAPRO Consulting.

    Dr. Maddie White, a translational scientist and strategic partnerships manager at Gillies-McIndoe Institute, discusses the role of translational scientists in moving research from the lab to real-world impact. She emphasizes the importance of translating academic ideas into commercially viable products or services.

    Dr. White shares her personal journey into translational science and highlights the need for more awareness and education about career opportunities in this field. She also discusses a specific project she is involved in, developing a topical cream for the treatment of vascular birthmarks in infants.

    Dr. White emphasizes the need for talent, infrastructure, and funding to drive the success of translational science in New Zealand.

    You can find out more about Dr White and The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute here:
    LinkedIn - Maddie White
    Website - Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

    Podcast Takeaways:
    1. Academic ideas need to be translated into commercially viable products or services to have a meaningful impact.
    2. A "translational scientist" is someone who takes scientific ideas from the lab and translates them into real-world products or services.
    3. Translational scientists play a crucial role in moving research from the lab to real-world impact.
    4. There is a need for more awareness and education about career opportunities in translational science.
    5. Talent, infrastructure, and funding are essential for the success of translational science.
    6. Partnerships between academia and industry are key in driving the translation of research into practical applications.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Translational Science
    01:00 Translating Academic Ideas into Real-World Impact
    08:04 Overcoming Stigma and Misconceptions
    13:18 The Importance of Money in Translational Science
    19:49 Creating Collaborative Networks for Impactful Research
    23:58 Developing a Topical Cream for Vascular Birthmarks
    26:21 Partnerships for Bringing Research to Market

    Keywords:
    Translational science, research, lab, real-world impact, commercialization, academic, funding, talent, infrastructure, money, partnerships, topical cream, vascular birthmarks


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    40 m
  • Ep 28 - Dr Victor Dieriks - Early Detection of Parkinson's Diseases

    Ep 28 - Dr Victor Dieriks - Early Detection of Parkinson's Diseases
    Jul 7 2024
    Good Clinical has teamed up with Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator, to bring you the Te Titoki Mataora Podcast Series.

    Today’s guest is Dr Victor Dieriks, the Head of the Apha Synuclein Lab at the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. Dr Dieriks studies the role of alpha synuclein in the development of Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

    Parkinson’s disease (PD) is currently the fastest-growing chronic neurological disorder globally. An estimated 12 million people are living with PD, with around 12,000 of those residing in New Zealand.

    Unfortunately, no treatments presently target the underlying mechanisms of PD, and clinical studies aimed at discovering disease-modifying medications are limited. This means that a truly effective, curative treatment remains years away. However, numerous interventions are available today that can significantly improve the quality of life for those with PD.

    Dr Victor Dieriks has two active projects with Te Titoki Matora, MedTech Research Translator
    1. Project #1: Developing a more New Zealand-centric approach to the management and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Dr Dieriks emphasizes the importance of actively involving patients and understanding their priorities, rather than solely relying on the perspectives of healthcare professionals and researchers.Patients1 with PD often express their desire for improved dignity and quality of life, rather than just a focus on a cure or restoring mobility.
    2. Project #2: involves the use of tears (eye fluid) as a potential biofluid source for detecting Parkinson's disease biomarkes. Tears are a relatively pure and stable biological fluid, making them a promising target for developing a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be easily obtained. A core aspect of this project is reducing the burden on the healthcare system, particularly the long wait times to see a neurologist for diagnosis. By developing a simple, tear-based test, patients can potentially bypass the need for more invasive procedures and receive earlier prognosis and treatment.
    Podcast Takeaways:
    1. Parkinson's disease is not a single disease, but rather a collection of diseases with multiple causes
    2. The normal function of alpha-synuclein is not fully understood, but it is known to play a role in neuronal communication and potentially in the gut and microbiome
    3. Current treatments for Parkinson's, like levodopa and deep brain stimulation, only address the symptoms and cannot stop the underlying disease progression
    4. A major challenge is that current therapies are tested too late, only after 70% of the relevant neurons have already died.
    5. Early detection is key, and recent breakthroughs have shown that alpha-synuclein clumps can be detected in spinal fluid or even potentially in less invasive samples like skin or nasal swabs, years before symptom onset
    6. While genetic risk factors can be screened for, they only account for a small percentage of Parkinson's cases. Other risk factors include environmental exposures like metals, pesticides, and viral/bacterial infections that cause inflammation
    7. In the absence of a cure, lifestyle interventions like exercise, healthy eating, and moderate coffee consumption can help delay the onset and progression of Parkinson's. Exercise, in particular, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects mediated by the hormone irisin.
    8. The gut-brain axis is also implicated in Parkinson's, with constipation and other gut symptoms often preceding the motor symptoms.
    Chapters
    0:00 Introduction
    01:10 "Parkinson's Disease" is a misnomer
    02:50 Dieriks Lab Focus
    06:00 Peculiarities of Neurodegenerative Diseases
    09:00 Role of alpha synuclein
    14:00 Treatment's available for Parkinson's Disease
    19:00 Risk factors for Parkinson's Disease
    24:00 Alternative sampling methods for determining risk of
    PD 27:20 Interventions for slowing development
    31:00 Coffee
    32:12 Gut-brain Axis
    35:25 New Zealand-centric approach to management and treatment of PD 39:00 Importance of having all stakeholders engaged
    44:30 Tears can predict risk of Parkinson's Disease?

    Keywords: Parkinson's Disease, TTM, Te Titoki Mataora, biomedical science, research, research translation, medtech, medical technologies, university research, intellectual property, commercialization.

    Early Detection of Parkinson's Diseases | Dr Victor Dieriks | TTM Ep02
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    49 m
  • Ep 27 - Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr - Using light to elucidate the secrets of the Inner Ear

    Ep 27 - Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr - Using light to elucidate the secrets of the Inner Ear
    Jun 24 2024
    Today’s guest is Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, Research Fellow at the University of Auckland in the Auditory & Vestibular Translational Neuroscience Cluster.

    This episode is part of the Te Titoki Mataora Podcast Series, in collaboration with Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator.

    Hearing loss is a common problem, in fact 1 in 6 people experience some form of hearing loss. Broadly speaking, hearing loss can be broken down into conductive hearing loss - think glue ear or damage to the ear drum - or sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL is the most common type of hearing loss, and is caused by a pathology of the cochlea, auditory nerve, or central nervous system.

    The problem - the inner ear apparatus is embedded deep within the skull, is very small, and thus is very difficult to study.

    Enter Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr. Haruna and her team, with seed funding fro m Te Titoki Mataori, are developing a novel, non-invasive, light-based, medical technology and device for the investigation of the 1) structure and 2) chemistry of the inner ear.

    To date Haruna and her team have assembled a multi-disciplinary team to inform the design of their medical device and increase the likelihood of commercial success. The initial proof of concept will be tested in sheep tissue, before moving into live sheep model, and then into man!

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Background
    02:00 The Different Types of Hearing Loss
    04:50 Architecture of the Inner Ear
    07:00 Studying Sensorineural Hearing Loss
    11:00 Haruna's previous research experience and Holy Grail of this project
    14:30 Inception of the Idea and Design
    18:00 Why use light-based techniques?
    22:30 Current Status of the Project
    28:00 Commercialization Journey and TTM support
    36:00 Next Steps for the Project and the ultimate goal

    Keywords: hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, medical device, TTM, Te Titoki Mataora, biomedical science, research, research translation, medtech, medical technologies, university research, intellectual property, commercialization.

    Using Light to Elucidate the Secrets of the Inner Ear | Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr | TTM Ep02
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    45 m
  • Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Hunter - Introduction to Te Titoki Mataora

    Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Hunter - Introduction to Te Titoki Mataora
    Jun 24 2024
    Good Clinical has teamed up with Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator, to bring you the Te Titoki Mataora Podcast Series.

    Te Titoki Mataora (TTM) is a New Zealand-based organization focused on translating basic science into real outcomes in healthcare.

    Here to provide an background to Te Titoki Mataora, the current framework to support research translation and some forward thinking perspectives is Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Hunter.

    After identifying a need to translate basic science into real outcomes in healthcare Sir Peter Hunter and Di Siew founded the Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT). Over years this resulted in the spin out of a number of companies, as well as a bid for a MedTech Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), and more recently Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator.

    Te Titoki Mataora aims to develop a New Zealand-wide approach to medical technology translation by collaborating with universities, Callaghan Innovation, and the healthcare system. Supported by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the University of Auckland, the organization provides funding and support through programs like the Research Acceleration Program (RAP) to help researchers and spin-out companies progress from ideation to commercialization. TTM has already funded 69 projects and aims to create more high-paying jobs and successful medtech companies in New Zealand.

    In Sir Peter's Words, "I don't see any reason why we can't be creating, over the next 10 years, another ten Fisher and Paykel Heathcares".

    Keywords
    Te Titoki Mataora, TTM, Consortium for Medical Device Technologies, CMDT, medical technology, translation, New Zealand, research acceleration program, RAP, spin-out companies, funding, high-paying jobs, medtech ecosystem

    Sound Bites
    "Te Taitoki Mataora is focused on translating basic science into real outcomes in healthcare."
    "TTM aims to create more high-paying jobs and successful medtech companies in New Zealand."
    "The Research Acceleration Program (RAP) provides funding and support for researchers and spin-out companies."

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Background of Te Titoki Mataora (TTM)
    03:46 Collaboration for Medical Technology Translation
    09:06 The Research Acceleration Program (RAP)
    12:15 Future Aspirations for TTM
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    15 m
  • Ep 26 - Charlotte Bradshaw - Developing Technology to Streamline Clinical Trial Recruitment

    Ep 26 - Charlotte Bradshaw - Developing Technology to Streamline Clinical Trial Recruitment
    Jun 16 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:
    1. Raising awareness about clinical trials is crucial for the advancement of medicine and human health.
    2. Evrima aims to make it easier for healthcare providers to access trial information and provide it to their patients.
    3. Integrating clinical trial data into existing systems can help identify eligible patients and streamline the recruitment process.
    4. 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.
    5. The clinical trial industry needs to adopt and embrace technology to overcome challenges and improve processes.
    6. Starting and growing a business requires making pivotal decisions, learning quickly, and seeking support from mentors and advisors.
    7. 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


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    50 m
  • Ep 25 - John Robson - True Venture Capital vs. Vulture Capital

    Ep 25 - John Robson - True Venture Capital vs. Vulture Capital
    May 26 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:
    1. The idiosyncrasies of the New Zealand start-up ecosystem
    2. Venture Capital's role to play in the ecosystem
    3. 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:
    LinkedIn - John Robson (JR)
    LinkedIn - Bridgewest Ventures
    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
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    57 m
  • Ep 24 - Cameron Quilter - How to get CRA job and how to make the most of it

    Ep 24 - Cameron Quilter - How to get CRA job and how to make the most of it
    May 12 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:
    1. The "Sponsor" - the entity that is funding the research and could be a pharmaceutical company, insitute or other non-profit entity;
    2. The "Site" - hospital or private research clinical that is carrying out the research and administering the treatments and other procedures to the patients, and
    3. 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:
    1. How to get land a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) job
    2. The different careers paths that one can take after a CRA career
    3. 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:
    LinkedIn - Cameron Quilter
    LinkedIn - Novotech

    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
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    55 m