Biotech Startups, Policy, and the Law: A Conversation with Dr. Hans Sauer

Biotech Startups, Policy, and the Law: A Conversation with Dr. Hans Sauer

What’s really at stake when a biotech startup tries to bring something new into the world? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Hans Sauer, Deputy General Counsel and Vice President for Intellectual Property at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law School. With a legal and scientific career spanning biotech patents, policy, and entrepreneurship, Dr. Sauer shares a big-picture view of what’s working—and what’s still unfolding—in today’s biotech landscape. We talk about the key legal and ethical questions facing biotech startups, how intellectual property influences innovation, and how the biotech sector is pushing law and policy to evolve. It’s a wide-ranging and grounded conversation about the real frameworks that shape biotech outcomes.

From Idea to Innovation: Real-World Bioethics and IP with Lawrence Lycke

What does it take to turn a life-saving idea into a real product? In this episode, I speak with Lawrence Lycke, Patent Counsel at Kestra Medical Technologies, a company developing next-generation wearable defibrillators. We dive into what happens inside a medical device company as a product moves from concept to clinic—unpacking the practical, legal, and ethical decisions that happen along the way. Lawrence shares what it’s like to navigate real-world intellectual property challenges, the role of patents in innovation, and how companies balance risk, regulation, and responsibility. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation process—what’s exciting, what’s messy, and what matters.

From the Genome Project to the Next Generation – with Dr. Bob Cook-Deegan

In this episode of The Intersection of Biotechnology, Ethics & the Law, I’m joined by Dr. Bob Cook-Deegan—a pioneer in genomics, bioethics, and science policy. We talk about his role in the early days of the Human Genome Project, the ethical questions that have followed us since, and how challenges around gene ownership, public trust, and innovation are more relevant than ever. He also shares powerful advice for students like me who want to engage with science and its broader impact. It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation—and I’m excited to share it with you.

Leading with Ethics: A Conversation with Dr. John Raymond

In this episode of The Intersection of Biotechnology, Ethics & the Law, I’m joined by Dr. John Raymond, President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin. We talk about the role of ethics in research, the responsibility that comes with medical education, and how institutions like MCW are leading the way in shaping thoughtful, ethical scientists and clinicians. If you’ve ever wondered how science stays grounded in values—this is a great place to start.