Careers in Discovery

Søren Melsing, EXOCURE

Søren Melsing is the CEO of EXOCURE, a company harnessing the therapeutic and delivery potential of exosomes across oncology, inflammation, and beyond.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Søren shares his journey from chemical engineer to Biotech CEO, including leadership roles in R&D, commercial strategy, and company-building across Europe. He talks about learning by doing, transitioning from large pharma to start-up environments, and what it really takes to turn a scientific platform into a viable business.

We also explore the promise of exosomes as a new therapeutic modality, the realities of raising investment in a tough market, and why surrounding yourself with the right people - and staying curious - makes all the difference.

Remi-Martin Laberge, Arda Therapeutics

This week on Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Remi-Martin Laberge, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arda Therapeutics.

Remi shares his journey from academic research to building companies, the lessons he learned at Unity Biotechnology, and how Arda is using single-cell sequencing and targeted antibodies to eliminate disease-driving cells in chronic conditions.

We talked about the leap from scientist to founder, applying oncology tools beyond cancer, and why curiosity and risk-taking go hand in hand in Biotech.

 

Markus Gruell, Autolus Therapeutics

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Markus Gruell, Senior Vice President of Corporate Quality at Autolus, one of the UK’s leading CAR-T therapy pioneers.

Markus takes us behind the scenes of Autolus’ journey from a UCL spinout to a commercial-stage Biopharma company, offering a rare look at how quality underpins every part of the drug development lifecycle. From working across GMP and GCP to collaborating with regulators on novel therapies, Markus shares what it means to lead quality in a fast-moving, high-growth Biotech business.

We also explore Markus’ personal journey - from pharmacist to QP, and from the NHS to senior leadership - guided by a passion for learning, a commitment to patient safety, and a belief in empowering his team through empathy and integrity.

If you're curious about CAR-T, what quality looks like in a next-gen therapy company, or how to build a meaningful leadership career without a traditional plan, this episode is not to be missed.

 

Lara Campana, Resolution Therapeutics

Our guest this week, Lara Campana is SVP of Research & Translational Science and a co-founder of Resolution Therapeutics, a company developing regenerative macrophage therapies for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Lara shares her journey from medical Biotechnology student in Milan to Biotech executive in the UK, and why she’s been fascinated by macrophages ever since a single line in a university lecture hinted at their regenerative potential.

We talk about the origins of Resolution, how the company grew from a trio of postdocs in a university lab to a clinical-stage Biotech, and the challenges of leading teams, building culture, and letting go as a founder. Lara also reflects on the mindset shift from academic research to pragmatic, patient-focused drug development - and the lessons she’s learned along the way about influence, resilience, and finding space to think.

Pascal Lestrate, Vicebio

After nearly two decades at GSK, Pascal Lestrate took a leap into Biotech, joining Vicebio as Chief Preclinical Science Officer. In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Pascal shares how the shift from big pharma to early-stage Biotech gave him a chance to return to hands-on science - and start with a blank page.

We explore the pioneering work Vicebio is doing on multi-pathogen respiratory vaccines using molecular clamp technology, including how their approach could reduce the number of injections needed while improving vaccine stability and access in low-resource settings.

Pascal also reflects on his rich and varied career, from molecular biology and immunology to regulatory affairs, quality systems, and digital transformation. Along the way, he shares lessons on navigating major career transitions, leading without deep technical expertise, and how curiosity, values, and a willingness to take up space have shaped his path.

Lalit Sharma, Stealth Mode Biotech

From New Delhi to Kentucky to Biotech founder, Lalit Sharma’s journey into drug discovery has been one of relentless learning and ambition.

In this episode, Lalit shares how his love for chemistry led him from a PhD in organic synthesis to leading cutting-edge drug discovery programs that reached clinical trials. Now the founder and CEO of a stealth-mode company tackling the data gap in AI-driven drug design, he reflects on the lessons of building small, high-impact teams, the importance of lifelong learning, and why good storytelling is as essential as good science.

We also dive into the realities of building a Biotech from scratch, the role of luck (and preparation), and the power of collaboration across disciplines.

 

Jelena Aleksic, SparkBio

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Jelena Aleksic, a serial entrepreneur, business coach, and director at SparkBio.

Jelena shares her fascinating journey from genetics researcher to founder and start-up builder, including the lessons she learned from creating seven businesses across life sciences, tech, and even live entertainment. She opens up about her transition from academia to entrepreneurship, the importance of testing ideas early with customers, and why stepping away from a company can sometimes be the right choice.

We also talk about embracing curiosity, building businesses that align with your passions and strengths, and how finding the right personal fit is key to both success and happiness.

Lars van der Veen, iOnctura

After nearly two decades in big pharma, Lars van der Veen made the leap to entrepreneurship, co-founding iOnctura, a clinical-stage Biotech developing low-disruption therapies that target the tumour-stroma crosstalk to improve patient outcomes in cancer.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Lars shares his journey from medicinal chemist to Biotech CSO, the lessons he learned building a company from scratch, and why taking the leap into Biotech offered him the chance to have real impact. He also talks about the science behind iOnctura’s approach, how focusing on quality of life - not just survival - is shaping the future of oncology, and why every founder needs a plan B.