INTERVIEWS

Steve H. discusses his experience being diagnosed with HIV in 2015 and the impact a first-of-its-kind long-acting regimen has had on his life and what his treatment schedule looks like today.

Dr. Mari Kurahashi, MD, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford Children’s Health discusses helping kids/teens cope with anxiety while returning back to school after a year of online learning, managing mask requirements, catching up on lessons, and reengaging w/friends (or making new friends) while staying safe. She offers tips for parents, guardians, and teachers.

Dr. Natalie Nunez Gomez, Head of Global Medical Affairs, Psoriasis at UCB, discusses new, interim long-term results from the bimekizumab BE BRIGHT open-label extension study presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, as well as additional findings from the Phase 3/3b clinical program for bimekizumab in psoriasis.

Heidi Hinrichs, M.S., Divisional Vice President, Global Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Abbott Cardiac Rhythm Management discusses finding her career path while studying biomedical engineering and learning how innovative medical technology can transform lives for the better.  She rose through the ranks over 25 years from a clinical project leader to an executive, ensuring safety is first and foremost in developing Abbott’s life-changing products (i.e. implantable heart devices).  She is passionate about fostering youth interest, particularly among young girls, in STEM careers by partnering with Project Scientist to raise awareness about the types of science fields and tour labs, and ensure young girls are seeing women in science roles.  

Karen Zaderej, Chairman, CEO, and President at Axogen Inc. discusses the development and commercialization of technologies for peripheral nerve regeneration and repair that can restore nerve function and quality of life to patients using innovative, clinically proven, and economically effective solutions. This allows clinicians to repair damaged nerves more efficiently than current standard-of-care procedures, with fewer potential complications and similar or better outcomes. The company has dedicated significant resources to increasing patient awareness and education by amplifying the voices of patients through its Patient Ambassador program and it is also committed to educating clinicians about emerging best practices in peripheral nerve repair, organizing training programs for surgeons each year.​ 

James Rolke, Director and CEO of Revelation Biosciences discusses how they are developing innate immune system therapeutics and diagnostics for the identification, prevention and treatment of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Their lead product candidate, REVTx-99 has the potential to broadly prevent or treat various respiratory infections including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, rhinovirus, RSV and pneumonia.

Dr. Matthew Klein, MD, Chief Development Officer at PTC Therapeutics discusses Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a very rare genetic disorder, and the results of a study published in “EMBO Molecular Medicine” from experts at leading children’s hospitals around the world, including Boston Children’s Hospital, that describes multiple clinical trials in which a novel gene therapy, AAV2-hAADC, was infused into the putamen of 20 children with AADC deficiency via brain surgery. Following the therapy all showed significant improvements. He also talks about PTC’s rapidly advancing gene therapy pipeline, which includes AAV2-hAADC. 

Hanan Ben-Asher, COO and Business Development at PixCell Medical discusses the development of a novel miniaturized portable hematology analyzer called HemoScreen™, which provides diagnostic results in minutes instead of days. With just one drop of blood and within six minutes, HemoScreen delivers accurate readings of 20 standard blood count parameters, saving patients, clinicians and health systems time and money.​ He also talks about the benefits of using AI in diagnostics, how diagnostic technologies played a major role in battling COVID-19, and how point of care testing is the future of disease maintenance. 

Dr. Christopher Gilmore, MD, of the Carolinas Pain Institute and lead author on the multi-center trial of the largest base of patients thus far evaluating SPR Therapeutics‘​ ​​percutaneous ​peripheral ​nerve ​stimulation​ called SPRINT ® PNS for low back pain​ discusses this drug free, minimally invasive ​option​.​ ​​ The treatment is up to 60 days but offers long-term pain relief for many patients dealing with back pain, pain in the extremities, and for chronic and acute applications. 

Beth Wathen, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) President and frontline nurse at Children’s Hospital Colorado discusses AACN and what they are doing to make sure nurses’ voices are heard. She talks about a recent survey on the Delta variant’s impact on frontline nurses, and with ERs and ICUs flooded with COVID patients, how it impacts the rest of us. She shares the truth about life and death of the unvaccinated in ICUs and how both the unvaccinated and vaccinated people can help support nurses.