BioTalk with Rich Bendis

In this episode of BioTalk, Lara Mangravite, PhD, Executive Director of Digitalis Commons, joins the conversation to explore how scientific research is shifting in the U.S.—from centralized, institutional models to a more decentralized, innovation-driven landscape. She shares the mission of Digitalis Commons and explains how the organization is working at the intersection of technology, research, and public good to address systemic barriers in health and healthcare. Drawing from her recent article, "Notes on Catalyzing Health," Lara discusses the growing role of independent research institutions, the challenges of fragmentation, and why this moment calls for new leadership models and public-interest partnerships that can drive coordinated, high-impact solutions. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. Lara Mangravite, PhD, is Executive Director at Digitalis Commons, a nonprofit organization developing scalable, frontier-advancing solutions to critical problems in health. She previously served as President of Sage Bionetworks, where she led initiatives to build and share multi-modal human data for biomedical research. Lara earned her BS in Physics from Pennsylvania State University, her PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular pharmacogenomics at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute.

In this episode of BioTalk, Amy C. Hay, Chief Business and Strategy Officer at the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Center (CTMC), joins the conversation to explore the evolving landscape of cell and gene therapy. Amy shares insights from her extensive career in oncology care and innovation, highlighting the role CTMC—a joint venture between National Resilience and MD Anderson Cancer Center—is playing in accelerating the transition from discovery to commercialization. She discusses the current state of the industry, what disruption really means in this context, and how new business models can drive stability and impact for early-stage biotech companies. Amy also offers her perspective on how manufacturing must evolve to meet clinical demand, and how CTMC is positioned to lead in this next era of therapeutic development.   Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/].   Amy C. Hay is the Chief Business and Strategy Officer at the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Center (CTMC), a joint venture between National Resilience and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She brings decades of experience in oncology care, strategic growth, and healthcare innovation to her role, where she leads business strategy, partnerships, and long-term growth initiatives. Prior to CTMC, Amy held leadership roles at Varian (a Siemens Healthineers company), MD Anderson Cancer Center, and several global consulting efforts focused on advancing cancer care. Her career spans work across the U.S. and internationally, with a focus on driving innovation, commercialization, and patient access in complex health systems.

In this episode of BioTalk, Sam Tetlow, Founder and CEO of Grant Engine, joins the conversation to unpack how companies can successfully navigate the rapidly changing world of non-dilutive funding. With continued resolutions, shifting agency priorities, and evolving leadership at HHS and beyond, 2025 presents both new hurdles and new opportunities for biotech and health innovators. Sam shares actionable insights on what’s changed under the current administration, where funding gaps exist, and how early-stage companies can align proposals with both individual program officers and federal leadership. He also offers proven strategies for building champions, writing competitive applications, and thinking differently about the grant process in today's environment.   Sam Tetlow is the Founder and CEO of Grant Engine, where he leads a team focused on securing funding for leading life science companies through SBIR, BARDA, ARPA-H, NIH, DoD, and NSF opportunities. A serial entrepreneur and experienced investor, Sam has contributed to the success of companies like EpiCypher, Gentris Corporation, and Tranzyme Pharma (IPO in 2011). With over two decades of experience and a 6.2x return on invested capital, he brings deep knowledge of the strategic, financial, and technical aspects of life science commercialization. Sam holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/].

In this episode of BioTalk, we welcome Rick Wieczorek, President and CEO of the NIH Federal Credit Union (NIHFCU), to discuss how credit unions like NIHFCU are uniquely positioned to support the biohealth and healthcare communities. With over 40 years of industry experience, Rick shares his journey from teller to CEO and reflects on NIHFCU’s 85-year history, its mission-driven approach to service, and the importance of tailoring financial solutions to meet the needs of life science professionals. He also explains the benefits of membership, the value of the NIHFCU "At Work" program for employers, and how the credit union’s “Banking with Heart” philosophy is making a difference across the BioHealth Capital Region. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Rick Wieczorek has been in the credit union industry for over 40 years and currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the NIH Federal Credit Union. Since taking the helm in 2013, he has focused on making NIHFCU the preferred provider of financial services for the healthcare and biomedical communities. His previous roles include President and CEO of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union and CFO of NRL Federal Credit Union, where he became recognized as an expert in asset liability management and wealth strategy. Rick has also served as Chairman of the MD|DC Credit Union Association Board of Directors. A graduate of George Mason University with an MBA from George Washington University, Rick began his career as a teller and brings deep expertise and passion to his leadership in mission-driven financial services.

In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis welcomes Sona Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Neopenda, for an inspiring conversation on innovation, impact, and scaling medical technology in underserved markets. Sona shares how a formative experience teaching in rural Kenya ignited her passion for global health, leading to the creation of neoGuard, a wearable vital signs monitor tailored for low-resource settings. They discuss the engineering challenges of building clinical-grade hardware for hospitals with limited infrastructure, the company’s growth from Maryland’s Relevant Health accelerator, and the deployment of over 350 devices across East and West Africa. Sona also talks about Neopenda’s next wave of products, lessons in balancing cost and quality, and the importance of community, resilience, and mission-driven entrepreneurship. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]. Sona Shah is the CEO and Co-founder of Neopenda, a company dedicated to improving healthcare access in emerging markets. Neopenda develops innovative medical technologies—such as the neoGuard system—designed to help healthcare providers deliver high-quality care in low-resource settings. The company's mission is to make life-saving technology available where it’s needed most. Sona’s path into global health innovation began during a semester teaching primary school in Kenya, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by under-resourced healthcare systems. That experience, paired with her background in biomedical engineering, inspired her to co-found Neopenda in 2015. Since then, the company has focused on delivering scalable, impactful solutions to countries including Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana, with a long-term goal of reaching the next billion people who could benefit from better access to care. She remains committed to advancing tech-driven healthcare solutions that make a meaningful difference in the world’s most underserved communities.