Fractals: Life Science Conversations

Hosted by The Bracken Group

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Insightful, informative, and warmly good-humored, Fractals features life sciences leaders sharing wisdom, career highs and lows, and compelling stories from the intersections of clinical development, health care, and technology. Presented by The Bracken Group.

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40 recent

October 28, 202639 min

Operation TrialBlazer: Turning Policy into Progress with Guest Rob King

A roadmap can set the direction. What actually gets a clinical trial moving? In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Rob King of Pivotal CRO joins Colin Miller to unpack Operation TrialBlazer—and ask whether its ambitions address the practical barriers slowing U.S. clinical research. With more than 30 years of experience across CROs, biotech, government, and academia, Rob brings a global perspective to the discussion: Why sponsors look beyond the U.S. for early-phase trials How site contracting can undermine efforts to accelerate development Why eligibility criteria deserve scrutiny before a protocol is finalized Where CROs need to challenge sponsors and contribute earlier How sponsors can distinguish actionable changes from proposals still taking shape A candid conversation about what it takes to turn policy ambitions into progress for sponsors, sites, and patients.

September 11, 202635 min

Decoding the Real-World Language of Healthcare with Guest Jo Halliday

Life sciences doesn’t have a data problem. It has a making-sense-of-the-data problem. In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Jo Halliday, CEO and Founder of Talking Medicines, joins host Colin Miller to explore how AI, natural language processing, and real-world signals can help life science organizations better understand what patients and healthcare professionals are actually saying—and turn those insights into better decisions. From the episode: Why unstructured healthcare conversations can reveal insights traditional datasets miss How Talking Medicines evolved from collecting first-party patient data to analyzing signals across multiple sources What rapidly changing GLP-1 conversations tell us about increasingly informed and empowered patients How message resonance and behavioral trends can help pharma determine whether its communications are actually moving the needle Why the future of AI in life sciences will be less about the technology itself—and more about the questions it can help answer

August 12, 202631 min

Beyond the Snapshot: Imaging Biology in Motion with Roughan Sheedy & Beth Fisher

Imaging has traditionally been used to document what (already) happened. What if it could help determine what happens next? On the newest episode of Fractals, Colin Miller is joined by Fidēs Imaging CEO Roughan Sheedy and Head of Women’s Health Beth Fisher to discuss how advanced imaging can support earlier, sharper development decisions. They explore: Why early-phase programs need more than standardized endpoints How imaging biology in motion can uncover previously invisible phenomena Where dynamic imaging may add value across GI disease, women’s health, fibrosis, inflammation, and solid tumors What it will take for emerging imaging endpoints to earn regulatory credibility

July 8, 202633 min

Beyond Pain Management: A One Medicine Approach to Osteoarthritis with Guests Graham Lumsden and Jonathan Larkin

What happens when human health, animal health, and entrepreneurial drug development intersect? In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Bracken CEO Colin Miller is joined by Senior Partners Graham Lumsden, BVM&S, Dip.M., MRCVS, and Jonathan Larkin, PhD, to discuss osteoarthritis innovation, One Medicine, and the collaborative pathways that can move novel therapies forward. Together, they discuss: Why osteoarthritis remains a major unmet need in both human and animal health How disease-modifying approaches could shift treatment beyond pain management The promise of bispecific antibody development in addressing both pain and cartilage degeneration How animal health studies can help inform human development programs, and vice versa Why human expertise, networks, and scientific judgment remain essential in the age of AI Tune in to Fractals on your preferred podcast platform, and reach out to Bracken to learn how we help life science teams connect strategy, science, and execution across development.

April 7, 202633 min

From Simulation to Scale: Rethinking Pharmaceutical Coating with Guest Dr. Michael Choi

Pharmaceutical manufacturing still struggles with a fundamental challenge: turning complex science into reliable, scalable, real-world processes. Dr. Michael Choi has spent his career solving exactly that. As Founder of PCTS and a pioneer in tablet coating simulation, Michael has developed tools that bring clarity to one of the most complex—and often misunderstood—steps in drug production. In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Michael and host Colin Miller discuss: The hidden variability behind coating uniformity, and why probability sits at the core of the process How small, overlooked variables (like minor temperature shifts) can drive major manufacturing failures Why “more advanced” technology doesn’t always mean better outcomes without grounding in fundamentals The growing gap between sophisticated modelling tools and the teams who need them most How digital twins, continuous manufacturing, and AI could converge to transform production over the next decade At its core, this episode is about making science usable: bridging theory and execution to deliver better outcomes across the product lifecycle. Listen now on your preferred platform—and connect with Bracken to learn how we help translate complex science into actionable strategy.

February 4, 202621 min

From Baby Feeding to Better Outcomes: Building Virtual, Preventive Maternal Care with Guest Cory Wyman

What if maternal care was a proactive partner in your baby’s development, not just stepping in at a point of crisis? On this episode of Fractals , Cory Wyman, Director of Marketing at SimpliFed, joins Colin Miller to unpack how virtual lactation and baby-feeding support can reshape maternal health: clinically, emotionally, and economically. From the episode: Why baby feeding is often the first point of contact in postpartum care How virtual care creates deeper honesty and stronger provider-patient trust The link between feeding challenges and maternal mental health Why screening at every appointment changes outcomes How SimpliFed aligns value-based outcomes for payers, employers, and families What tech-enabled provider services get right that standalone apps miss Cory also shares a compelling vision for the future of maternal health—where digital tools are directly connected to real providers, not left to parents to interpret alone. Listen to Fractals on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Bracken to learn how we support life science and digital health organizations.

January 7, 202629 min

Imaging, Trust, and the Real-World: The Current State of Radiopharmaceuticals with Dr. Deepak Behera

With more than two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, translational research, and global industry leadership, Bracken Senior Partner Dr. Deepak Behera has actively shaped how radiopharmaceuticals are developed, evaluated, and delivered to patients. As President and CEO of Adaptive Research and Senior Partner at Bracken, Deepak is an expert in connecting science, strategy, and real-world execution. In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Deepak and host Colin Miller discuss: Why imaging is more than visualization, and how it functions as a powerful biomarker in theranostics When diagnostics should stand on their own, rather than being treated as a secondary companion to therapy How imaging-only studies can uncover unexpected biology and sharpen indication strategy early The operational, economic, and educational realities that determine whether radiopharmaceuticals succeed post-approval Why multidisciplinary skill sets—not linear career paths—are essential for the next generation of radiopharma leaders Tune in to Fractals on your preferred podcast platform, and reach out to Bracken to learn how we help sponsors navigate imaging-driven development and radiopharmaceutical strategy with confidence.

November 19, 202533 min

Beyond Baby Steps: Transforming Maternal Health with Guest Mary Hardy

Mary Hardy, Chief Commercial Officer at SimpliFed, is helping reshape maternal health care with a virtual platform that supports families before birth and well beyond the baby’s first milestones. By combining lactation guidance, postpartum care, maternal mental health screening, and remote monitoring, SimpliFed is setting a new standard for holistic, accessible maternal care. In this episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , Mary joins host Colin Miller to explore: How SimpliFed’s virtual care model bridges gaps in maternal health, particularly in underserved areas and for mobile families. The integration of prenatal planning, postpartum support, and behavioral health referrals to improve both outcomes and patient experience. Leveraging technology and human relationships together to deliver personalized care at scale. Insights from Mary’s journey in healthcare, and her vision for embedding community and connection into maternal care. Tune into Fractals on your preferred podcast platform, and contact Bracken to discover how our cross-functional teams support life science and digital health solutions.

October 29, 202536 min

Nose to Neurons: The Future of Acute Neuropsychiatric Therapy with Guest Shawn Singh

What if a nasal spray could switch off acute social anxiety in minutes—without systemic side effects? Shawn Singh, CEO of Vistagen, joins Fractals to explain how pherines work: odorless intranasal molecules that tap the olfactory pathway to flip specific brain circuits on and off. Highlights from the episode: How pherines activate the nose → olfactory bulb → targeted brain regions in milliseconds. Why fasadienol could be the first acute pharmacologic option for social anxiety disorder. The practical benefits of nasal-delivered treatment: on-demand use, fewer systemic risks, and new opportunities for people to engage in life (work, school, medical care). Real CEO lessons on resilience, trial design, and building teams that span science, regulatory, and operations. Tune into the full episode on your preferred podcast platform and contact Bracken to learn how we can support you from development through regulatory and commercial planning.

October 1, 202542 min

Beyond the Scan: How Radioligands, Ultrasound, and AI Are Redefining Nuclear Medicine with Guest Dr. François Tranquart

With more than four decades of experience in oncology, cardiovascular imaging, ultrasound, and radioligand therapy, Dr. François Tranquart has helped shape the field of molecular imaging from both sides of the table—first as an academic physician and researcher, and later as an industry leader driving global clinical development. In this French-language episode of Fractals: Life Science Conversations , François joins host Paul Martinetti to share: Why the transition from academia to industry brought new opportunities for innovation. The critical role of collaboration and patient-centered thinking in clinical research. How emerging tools like AI, FAP tracers, and therapeutic ultrasound are transforming nuclear medicine. The biggest lessons he’s learned across 40+ years of advancing imaging and therapeutic solutions. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Bracken to learn how our cross-functional expertise can support your development strategy.