AUTM on the Air

• CRISPR Breakthroughs in Tuberculosis and Tech Transfer with Dr. Valwynne Faulkner

  This episode will illustrate how scientific research and tech commercialization can create a powerful impact. I'm excited to have Dr. Valwynne Faulkner on the show today. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the Francis Crick Institute and a LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovations Fellow. Her fascinating work spans cutting-edge molecular biology research and technology transfer.Val walked me through the work her team is doing with CRISPR to expose new ways of tackling tuberculosis, even the stubborn drug‑resistant strains. She also opened up about how the LifeArc fellowship is pulling her deeper into tech transfer, what she is learning about patents and partnerships, and why she thinks regulators need a seat at the table from day one.Whether you spend your days at the bench or in an office turning ideas into products, Val’s story shows how a curious mind and a collaborative spirit can move discoveries out of the lab and into the world.In This Episode:[01:12] We learn about Dr. Faulkner's current research at the Francis Crick Institute studying mycobacterium tuberculosis. [01:50] At the systems chemical biology lab they are developing CRISPR-based molecular tools that we can use to precisely control and silence genes.[02:13] This helps them understand the functional roles of genes in TB and response to antimicrobial drugs.[03:05] The hope is that the research will uncover new drug targets and help combat antimicrobial drug resistance.[03:46] Dr. Faulkner talks about the LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovations Fellowship. It helps teach scientists how to transition into careers within tech transfer. They get formal training and all aspects.[05:14] She learned about the program by chance. LifeArc was at the Francis Crick for a career event. [06:15] Her diverse experience across academia, industry and regulatory labs has given her a holistic perspective on research translation.[07:38] AUTM is a partner with the fellowship and gives them access to all of the online tools and learning centers. Along with excellent mentors and experienced professionals.[08:40] Insights gained from the AUTM 50th event. It's amazing how many stakeholders are involved.[09:37] Bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialization. The AUTM  Annual meeting has been crucial in facilitating knowledge exchange and networking.[10:49] A key challenge is navigating the complicated IP landscape. [11:57] Dr. Faulkner is excited about advancements in antimicrobial drug discovery.[13:04] Advice includes reaching out and asking questions and seeking things like fellowships. Be open to interdisciplinary collaborations.[13:53] The future of research innovation will be shaped by strong academic and commercial partnerships.Resources: Dr. Valwynne Faulkner - Francis Crick InstituteLifeArc

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• How TTOs Can Lead the Way on Inclusion and Neurodiverse Innovation with Andy Williamson

  Building inclusive workplaces is not just good ethics, it is a major catalyst for innovation, creativity, and long term success. In this episode we take a closer look at how tech transfer offices can harness the untapped potential of neurodivergent talent and why doing so could transform not just individual careers but entire organizations.My guest is Andy Williamson, founder of Welcome Brain Consulting a UK-based consultancy pioneering neurodiversity inclusion in workplaces worldwide. Andy has spent over a decade helping organizations rethink how they hire, train, and support neurodivergent individuals from private companies to public institutions. His work includes developing the UK Industry Standard Neurodiversity in Events Checklist and advising on strategies that make workplaces more welcoming and effective for all kinds of thinkers. Andy shares how TTOs can create hiring practices that break down barriers, design workspaces that support focus and creativity, and foster cultures where every mind is valued. He explains why adapting communication styles, offering small workplace adjustments, and tracking the right metrics can make a huge difference, and why the business case for neuro inclusion is just as strong as the moral one. This is a thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone serious about building innovation ecosystems leaving no talent behind. In This Episode:[02:07] Andy shares why he founded Welcome Brain and some services they provide.[02:42] Andy talks about getting incredible results when tailoring learning for neurodivergent young people.[03:52] They help organizations support neurodiverse individuals within that organization.[04:25] They are currently working with the government with recruitment and hiring.[05:10] As many children are getting diagnosed, so are their parents. There are many neurodivergent adults.[07:37] Neurodiversity means thinking differently. This is what has made America great.[08:53] TTOs are hubs for translating research into real world impact. There are certain skills inherent in neurodivergent people that can be really helpful with systems thinking and seeing things that others miss.[10:23] Innovation is thinking differently. That's what neurodivergent people do. Incredible ideas and tremendous creativity.[11:25] Neurodiverse teams can be more productive. Andy talks about roles that neurodivergent people would excel at.[13:30] We talk about hiring and the recruitment process for neurodivergent people. The job description language, the screening process, and the interview process can filter out neurodivergent people.[15:59] Interview skills aren't the same as the skills required for the job.[16:24] Send interview questions in advance so people can prepare.[18:10] Being neuro inclusive will make you more money. Retention rates are also higher.[21:14] Office space and redesigning workspaces to increase focus. Things that can be done include creating acoustics around each zone.[23:41] Fostering psychological safety for neurodivergent individuals to share their needs and avoid stigma. Seeing other neurodivergent people creates a sense of safety.[27:28] Modeling inclusive behavior to shift team culture.[28:17] Managers need to be involved and communication is key[30:03] We learn about Welcome Brain's Certification Program. The initiatives need to be evaluated and measured.[33:12] We discuss the Neurodiversity In Events Checklist.[38:25] What TTOs should do to start creating neurodivergent inclusive environments. Resources:Welcome Brain Neurodiversity ConsultingAndy Williamson - Welcome Brain Neurodiversity ConsultingWelcome Brain - LinkedInAndy Williamson - LinkedInNeurodiversity In Events Checklist

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  42:52
• The Future of Tech Transfer: Navigating Chaotic Innovation with Nick Webb

  Innovation isn’t just evolving—it’s accelerating, fragmenting, and reshaping everything in its path. In this episode, we dive into what that means for the world of technology transfer, where traditional systems are being pushed to adapt or risk falling behind. If you’ve ever wondered how Tech Transfer Offices can keep up with the chaos of rapid innovation, this conversation will give you both clarity and direction.Our guest is Nick Webb, a bestselling author, futurist, and innovation strategist who has worked with some of the world’s top brands and holds more than 40 patents. He’s written influential books like The Innovation Mandate and What Customers Crave and leads consulting work that helps organizations future-proof their approach to innovation. In this episode, he brings that expertise to the challenges and opportunities facing universities and research institutions today.Nick talks about how TTOs can streamline operations, embrace smart automation, and build internal communication strategies that actually work. He shares how commercialization can be both profitable and socially impactful, how to better engage inventors in the process, and why building strong industry partnerships is no longer optional. It’s a fast-paced, eye-opening discussion for anyone working at the intersection of research and real-world impact.In This Episode:[01:44] His book, Chaotic Change was a look back at his 44 years in the innovation space. Things we're slow and small. When the internet came out everything was connected and digitized. Things became fast and big.[02:37] TTOs need to develop best practices and technologies to handle the amount and volume of a super complicated landscape.[03:02] With the AI shift and the next wave of chaos we'll see rapid adoption of new best practices, technologies, and systems.[03:41] One of the biggest inefficiencies is bureaucracy.[04:24] The importance of communicating to leaders and selling value as TTOs. The technology to accelerate is also important.[05:09] Commercialization is the ultimate force of impact. [06:06] Nick runs an AI lab and talks about the impact of AI Tech Transfer. We also need to keep our real intelligence in the process.[08:30] Nick talks about protecting IP for commercial success. Great strategic partners are a big help.[09:53] This would be a good time to reevaluate policies to see if it's a document that will increase technology licensing.[10:49] The importance of internal communication strategies for TTO offices.[11:34] Innovation Superstar Bootcamp has a master's and a startup program. It's about making the complexity of innovation management fun and understandable.[14:02] Striking the right balance between licensing startups and open Innovation models.[15:43] Collaborations and making the best partnerships work.[18:02] Practical steps to optimize operations without sacrificing impact. It starts with having a strategic plan.[19:26] Getting researchers interested in the commercialization process and thinking beyond their labs.[20:52] Lessons from Innovation Mandate that can be applied to TTOs to modernize their operations.[21:43] Taking a triage approach towards everything.[22:35] Don't waste time on technologies that don't stand a chance. Fast track methodologies. Sell your value proposition to get permission to move.[24:05] Monetizing non-traditional IP assets.[25:48] Trends to pay attention to. The experience ecosystem, the creation of AI artifacts, and business model innovations.[27:52] The Importance of being able to sell your value.[30:10] ESN an Enterprise Social Network.[31:05] Predictions for the future include automation, being hyper technical, and hyper human.Resources: Nick WebbWebb LogicNicholas Webb - LinkedInNicholas J. Webb - FacebookThe Innovation MandateWhat Customers CraveOther BooksLeaderLogic, LLCInnovation Superstar BootcampThe Healthcare Cure

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  32:16
• Turning Worms Into Medicine: Dr. Andrea Choe on Innovation, Impact, and Tech Transfer

  Could worms be the missing piece to treating allergies and autoimmune diseases? That’s the exciting idea that’s driving today’s guest, Dr. Andrea Choe, a scientist, doctor and biotech founder on a mission to change the way we think about human health.Dr. Andrea Choa is the CEO and co-founder of Holoclara, a biotech company that’s changing how we treat allergies and autoimmune disorders. While working on her PhD at Caltech, Andrea discovered a unique pheromone language shared by roundworms which led to insights in evolutionary biology and immunology. Today her research is the foundation of Holoclara’s mission to help millions suffering from allergies and autoimmune disorders.Today we’ll talk about how regions of the world where people live alongside worms have much lower rates of these conditions — and how Holoclara is working to tap into that evolutionary relationship in the form of safe, orally administered treatments. We’ll discuss the challenges of translating lab science into real world medicine, the regulatory hurdles of building a new class of drugs and why Andrea believes innovation should feel unconventional. And throughout it all she’s driven by one clear North Star: helping patients and families get relief.In This Episode:[01:52] Andrea shares how she made the roundworm discovery. Her thesis was on understanding the evolution of molecularcommunication between worms. She ended up discovering the shared unique pheromone language.[03:20] There were no allergies or autoimmune diseases before the 1900s.[04:29] Holoclara reflects the idea of completeness. This is Andrea's driving philosophy in life.[05:17] She believes that having a multidisciplinary approach to anything is always the best.[06:23] We learn about some of the many challenges that Andrea and her company has gone through.[09:43] They're trying to bring forward an entirely new class of medicine.[13:06] We learn about Andrea's experience with tech transfer and collaboration between Caltech and industry.[14:35] Approaching the regulatory path and listening to FDA guidance.[17:14] We learn about the team at Holoclara from R&D to clinical development.[18:25] The unconventional use of worms and innovation.[20:33] The treatment possibilities are far reaching. [21:06] Andrea shares how she's always motivated. She's really interested in figuring out how to change lives and get rid of chronic debilitating diseases. Resources: HoloclaraAndrea Choe - HoloclaraAndrea Choe - LinkedIn

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  23:40
• STEM in Action: How Project Lead The Way Is Changing Lives

  What if STEM education wasn’t just about formulas and lab reports—but about solving real problems, transforming lives, and reshaping entire communities?In this episode, we’re talking about how hands-on, project-based STEM education is making that vision a reality through Project Lead The Way, a nonprofit that’s helping millions of students across the U.S. become tomorrow’s changemakers.From building bionic arms to redesigning city infrastructure, PLTW students and educators are showing us what’s possible when curiosity meets opportunity.We’re joined by four awesome guests:Dr. David Dimmett is the President and CEO of Project Lead The Way. With a background in education leadership and a love of lifelong learning, David shares how PLTW is giving students not just technical knowledge but real-world skills in problem-solving, communication and ethics.Dr. Albert Manero is a PLTW alumnus and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions, a company that designs and delivers expressive, low-cost bionic arms for kids. Albert talks about how his early exposure to engineering through PLTW led him to a career focused on social impact and innovation.Jason Huber is a PLTW instructor at Woodstock High School in Illinois where he teaches multiple engineering courses and advises a thriving robotics club. Jason gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how STEM education is changing the classroom experience—and helping students realize they can be inventors of their own future.Liam Hansen is a PLTW graduate and current mechanical engineering student at the University of Tennessee. Along with his classmates, Liam led a community-changing project to improve walkability in his hometown and won the first-ever PLTW Community Impact Award. He shares what it’s like to turn classroom learning into real-world action.Together we talk about mentorship, project-based learning and the kind of education that doesn’t just prepare students for jobs—but prepares them for life.In This Episode:[03:12] Project Lead the Way is a 501(c)(3), we're a nonprofit started over 25 years ago by one teacher in one high school in upstate New York, now working with over two and a half million students all across the country. The goal is to help young people get excited about and prepare for great careers through project-based hands-on learning.[04:10] The focus is primarily on engineering, biomedical science, and computer science.[05:01] They work with companies and global leaders to ensure the curriculum prepares students for great careers and lives.[06:21] David was a high school English teacher. He worked his way into school administration and then got involved in Project Lead the Way. He loved the power of bringing relevance to the classroom.[07:50] It's so powerful to see students get excited about learning.[09:03] Albert has taken his Project Lead the Way experience and built something extraordinary with Limbitless Solutions.[09:58] Why Albert chose to focus on prosthetics.[12:13] Students with engineering backgrounds and Project Lead the Way experience have early exposure to 3D design, 3D modeling, and critical thinking skills.[13:03] How Project Lead The Way helps prepare students for a collaborative environment.[14:00] Jason and his class won the Project Lead The Way inaugural community impact award.[14:51] Jason talks about the Walkability Project and why it was a real eye-opener for the kids. The students dedicated a whole year working on this capstone project.[17:58] They faced many challenges and had to figure out how to recover and what to do. [18:26] It was also a challenge for the students to balance the demands of the project with their personal commitments.[19:37] They had to investigate where the crosswalks and sidewalks were in the city and they made their own maps.[20:09] The project also drew the attention of the International Design Shop.[21:11] Jason was nervous during the presentation. He reminded the students that they were the experts in the room.[23:04] The most rewarding part about teaching for Jason is the "aha" moments when he sees the lights go on for the kids.[24:24] Liam shares his experience and how the Walkability Project became one of his top priorities.[25:38] How projects like Project Lead The Way help students see a connection between their studies and real world applications. The students use real world technology. It's a hands-on project.[27:36] Liam talks about the impact this program has had on his life. Now he's studying mechanical engineering at the University of Tennessee.[29:04] Project Lead The Way helps take some of the mysteriousness out of things like engineering.[30:37] How Project Lead The Way was able to make STEM more accessible and exciting for students. It makes learning fun and revolves around the process.[32:03] Learning is the focus of growth. It's okay to fail.[34:36] The teachers are working together to create a challenging and engaging experience for young people in their communities.[35:46] Advice includes staying curious about how projects come together.[36:10] Enjoy the unique hands-on aspect of the class.[36:44] They focus on STEM, but there's also elements of art and design in the work. [37:47] There's no shortage of challenges for students to address.[38:07] Technology is changing so fast that education needs to stay on top of it.[38:59] Liam wants STEM education to be at the forefront so other kids can have the experience he had.Resources: Project Lead The Way (PLTW)Limbitless SolutionsDavid L. Dimmett - LinkedInDr. Albert Manero - LinkedInJason Huber - Woodstock High School team wins national PLTW AwardLiam Hanson - LinkedIn

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  40:21

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