Lab Rats to Unicorns

Hosted by John Flavin

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Lab Rats to Unicorns is a podcast that aims to demystify the process of creating a great company in life sciences. Under the guidance of our host, John Flavin, you will hear personal stories of creation, be able to understand how great companies are created, and get insights into the many ways that you as an individual can engage in the creation of tomorrow’s life science companies. From the lab rat, signifying the process of invention and discovery, to the unicorn, signifying market success, there are a thousand players and ways in which people can contribute to the creation of great companies.

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60 recent

August 6, 202639 min

The Beehive State’s Biotech Boom with Andy Robertson_e.089

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Andy Robertson, executive director of BioHive Utah and a longtime leader in medical devices, diagnostics, commercialization, and life sciences ecosystem development. Over nearly three decades, Andy has worked across major healthcare companies, private organizations, and startups, helping bring new technologies to market while keeping patient impact at the center of his work. Andy reflects on the internship that unexpectedly launched his medtech career and the mentors, teams, and experiences that shaped his approach to leadership. He shares lessons from working across companies of different sizes, why the best answers are often found outside the office, and how multidisciplinary collaboration, strong culture, and long-term thinking are essential to building successful healthcare companies. Throughout the conversation, Andy and John explore Utah’s evolution from its deep roots in medical devices into a growing ecosystem spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, imaging, digital health, and personalized medicine. Andy discusses how BioHive connects founders, universities, experienced industry leaders, and service providers to support the next generation of companies. He also shares his vision for Utah to earn greater recognition as a national and global destination for life sciences innovation.

July 22, 202656 min

Headlines to New Heights with Luke Timmerman_e.088

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Luke Timmerman, founder of the Timmerman Report and one of biotechnology’s most respected journalists and storytellers. For more than 25 years, Luke has chronicled the scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and companies shaping the industry, giving him a unique perspective on how scientific discoveries become breakthrough medicines and how biotechnology has evolved over time. Luke reflects on his unlikely path into biotech, from growing up on a farm in Wisconsin and studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to landing at The Seattle Times just as the Human Genome Project and Seattle’s biotech ecosystem were gaining momentum. He shares lessons from covering the industry through decades of scientific breakthroughs and business cycles, writing his biography of genomics pioneer Leroy Hood, and ultimately taking an entrepreneurial leap of his own by launching the independent Timmerman Report . Throughout the conversation, Luke discusses why people, resilience, and continuous learning are at the heart of biotech innovation, as well as why he believes the industry is experiencing a golden period of scientific progress. He also shares the story behind the Timmerman Traverse, which grew from his passion for mountaineering into a philanthropic movement that has raised more than $15 million for cancer research, sickle cell disease, and other causes. Luke closes with his perspective on the importance of independent journalism, strong innovation ecosystems, and staying curious throughout a career.

July 9, 202657 min

The FDA's Cancer Revolution with Richard Pazdur_e.087

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, John Flavin sits down with Dr. Richard Pazdur, one of the most influential figures in modern oncology and cancer drug development. As the founding director of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence and former director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products, Richard has helped shape the regulatory pathways behind many of today's breakthrough cancer therapies while leading initiatives that have accelerated patient access to lifesaving medicines around the world. Richard reflects on his journey from growing up on Chicago's South Side to becoming a physician, researcher, and ultimately one of the most impactful leaders in the FDA's history. He shares how an unexpected career change led him into oncology, why basic science remains the foundation of every medical breakthrough, and how cancer treatment has evolved from toxic chemotherapy to targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Throughout the conversation, Richard discusses the challenges of driving innovation within government, the leadership principles that helped him establish the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, and the global impact of initiatives like Project Orbis and Project Facilitate. He also offers his perspective on the future of oncology, including AI, early cancer detection, international collaboration, and why continued investment in science is essential to improving patient outcomes.

July 2, 202652 min

Where Engineering Meets Medicine with Tejal Desai_e.086

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, John Flavin sits down with Dr. Tejal Desai, Sorensen Family Dean of Engineering at Brown University and a nationally recognized leader in biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, and translational medicine. A member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, Tejal has spent her career developing technologies that improve drug delivery while helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. Tejal shares how an early introduction to biomedical engineering shaped her career and reflects on advances in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cell-based therapies that have transformed once-impossible ideas into clinical reality. She also discusses why successful innovation depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and designing research with real-world impact in mind. Throughout the conversation, Tejal explores what it takes to build thriving innovation ecosystems, drawing on her experience leading initiatives at UCSF and now Brown University. From educating entrepreneurial scientists to advancing partnerships like Ocean State Labs, she offers insights on creating environments where breakthrough ideas can flourish. She closes by sharing her vision for the future of biotechnology, highlighting the convergence of AI, engineering, and biology, and the importance of investing in the next generation of scientific leaders.

June 10, 202650 min

The CEO Playbook for Biotech Growth with Heather Turner_e.085

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Heather Turner, CEO of LB Pharmaceuticals, a late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing differentiated therapies for patients with serious psychiatric and neurological disorders. Heather’s path into biotech was anything but traditional. Trained as an attorney, she began her career advising startup companies at Cooley before spending more than two decades helping build and scale life sciences companies through financings, strategic partnerships, and major transactions. Along the way, she developed a unique perspective on leadership, risk management, and company building—eventually transitioning from legal leadership roles into the CEO seat. The conversation explores Heather’s journey from lawyer to biotech executive, the lessons learned leading Carmot Therapeutics through a $3.1 billion acquisition by Roche, and the challenges of raising capital in one of biotech’s most difficult financing environments. She also shares how LB Pharmaceuticals successfully completed a public offering to advance its lead program, LB-102, a potential new treatment for schizophrenia, bipolar depression, and major depressive disorder. At its core, this episode is about leadership in uncertainty—how great companies are built through preparation, resilience, humility, and a relentless focus on patients. Heather offers valuable insights on scaling organizations, building high-performing teams, navigating risk, and creating opportunities for the next generation of biotech leaders.

June 3, 202651 min

Powering the Quantum Revolution with David Gunnarsson_e.084

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Dr. David Gunnarsson, Chief Business Development Officer at Bluefors, the global leader in cryogenic measurement systems powering the future of quantum technology. With a background spanning quantum physics, low-temperature research, and commercialization, David has spent his career helping transform quantum computing from a theoretical concept into an emerging industry. David reflects on his early fascination with physics and space, his introduction to quantum computing during university, and the realization that quantum mechanics could evolve from pure theory into a practical technology. He explains the fundamentals of quantum computing, why cryogenic environments are essential for quantum systems, and how companies like Bluefors are building the infrastructure required to scale the field. The conversation also explores David’s transition from academia into industry, the importance of timing and commercialization in deep tech, and how collaboration between startups, universities, and major companies is shaping the quantum ecosystem. Along the way, he shares his perspective on the relationship between AI and quantum computing, and why the next decade could unlock major breakthroughs in chemistry, drug discovery, and computational science. At its core, this episode is about curiosity, persistence, and the challenge of turning frontier scientific ideas into technologies capable of reshaping the world.

May 7, 202650 min

CRISPR Discovery & Curative Medicine with Trevor Martin_e.083

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Dr. Trevor Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Mammoth Biosciences, a company at the forefront of next-generation CRISPR technologies. Co-founded alongside Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, Mammoth is building a platform to both detect and cure disease by harnessing the natural diversity of CRISPR systems. Trevor’s journey into biology was anything but conventional—initially drawn to physics and chemistry, he discovered biology through an interdisciplinary lens that revealed its true complexity and potential for engineering. That shift ultimately led him to Stanford, where he began exploring the intersection of genetics, computation, and real-world impact. From there, this conversation traces the founding of Mammoth, the decision to pursue entrepreneurship over academia, and the ambition to build a generational biotech company—not just a single-asset success. Trevor shares how CRISPR is evolving from a breakthrough technology into a scalable platform capable of addressing a wide range of genetic diseases, with the potential to fundamentally reshape human health. At its core, this episode explores the convergence of science, entrepreneurship, and persistence—highlighting what it takes to translate cutting-edge research into real therapies, and why the next decade of biology may redefine what it means for genetics to determine our future.

April 15, 202637 min

From Honeybees to Human Behavior with Gene Robinson_e.082

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Dr. Gene Robinson, a pioneering scientist in the biology of social behavior and a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in genomics and neuroscience, Dr. Robinson has spent decades uncovering how genes influence behavior—using the complex societies of honeybees as his model system. From leading the sequencing of the honeybee genome to advancing our understanding of how environment and biology interact, Dr. Robinson’s work has reshaped how scientists think about the relationship between genes and behavior. Now stepping into his role as Executive Director and CEO of the Discovery Partners Institute, he is focused on applying artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary collaboration to real-world challenges across industry and society. This conversation explores the evolution of genomics, the surprising plasticity of behavior at the molecular level, and the implications of this work for fields ranging from medicine to AI. At its core, this episode is about curiosity, persistence, and the power of following a question—from a beekeeping hobby at age 17 to discoveries that challenge how we understand human potential.

March 11, 202656 min

Science, Policy & the FDA with Robert Califf_e.081

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin sits down with Dr. Robert Califf, physician-scientist and two-time Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. A cardiologist by training and longtime leader in clinical research, Dr. Califf has spent his career at the intersection of medicine, technology, regulation, and public service. From founding the Duke Clinical Research Institute to guiding the FDA through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Califf brings a rare perspective on how science becomes medicine—and how policy, politics, and evidence shape what ultimately reaches patients. He reflects on the early days of cardiology breakthroughs, the birth of large-scale clinical trials, and the responsibility regulators carry in balancing innovation with safety. The conversation explores translational medicine, the realities of uncertainty in public health, the evolving role of AI in healthcare, and the global competition shaping the future of biomedical innovation. At its core, this episode is about decision-making under pressure—and the systems required to ensure that groundbreaking ideas translate into measurable benefit for patients.

February 19, 202643 min

Building Life From Scratch with Kate Adamala_e.080

In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns , John Flavin speaks with Dr. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist and University of Minnesota professor whose work explores one of science’s biggest questions: what is life — and can we build it from scratch? As a leader in the International Build-a-Cell Collaboration, Kate is helping drive global efforts to construct synthetic living systems from nonliving components while advancing research across minimal cells, origins-of-life science, and biocomputing. Kate shares how a childhood love of science fiction shaped her path into synthetic biology and explains the idea of “life but not alive,” highlighting how synthetic cells differ from traditional genetic engineering. She also discusses the shift from academic discovery to entrepreneurship through Synlife, the challenges of scaling entirely new biological platforms, and the regulatory questions ahead. The conversation explores how programmable synthetic cells could transform medicine, manufacturing, sustainability, and even space exploration — while raising profound scientific and ethical questions about humanity’s growing ability to design life itself.