On May 13, we partnered with Life Science Washington to host our first DeviceConnect event of 2021. The panel of C-suite veterans from the life science tools industry shared lessons learned, pandemic perspectives, and what they see on the horizon for the industry.

Moderated by Sean MacLeod, CEO of FenoLogica Biosciences, the panel line-up included:

• MELISSA SHERMAN, PH.D., CEO, MOBILION SYSTEMS, INC.

• NICHOLAS GEISSE, PH.D., CSO, CURI BIO

• BRAD GRAY, PRESIDENT & CEO, NANOSTRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC

• JOE VICTOR, PRESIDENT & CEO, RARECYTE

Here are some highlights from the session, and the full recording can be accessed below.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Question: Over the horizon, what are 1-2 things that get you excited?

Melissa Sherman, MOBILion Systems:

As an industry, what’s been interesting to me is that I see and feel greater collaboration between companies… everyone jumping in to solve problems due to a focus human health. And maybe because we miss each other. It kind of feels like the industry is more ready and willing to collaborate. Regular people are now talking about biology which makes our industry compelling in a way it’s never been before. Today, not just one person has to win… the spaces are so big, and the problems are so complex. We can collaborate and each focus on our specific part of the workflow and the biological answer.

Nick Geiss, Curi Bio:

There’s a lot of depth to life sciences and we’re just scratching the surface. Mother nature has a lot more to offer us. What comes to mind as over the horizon is the merging of life sciences and data science — the way we’re analyzing the data now is beyond what was possible before. We’re getting away from human bias. We can really get some cool new insights into the general mechanisms of biology and disease.

Question: Do you have any advice/words of wisdom for the audience if they’re looking to get into the Life Science tools field?

Joe Victor, Rarecyte:

My experience has been in small start-ups and helping them cross the chasm into global commercialization. You have to be relentlessly passionate… and relentless in all areas. If someone wants to found/start a company, it’s optimum to obtain non-dilutive funding, enabling a platform or product that can be validated internally and by third party collaborators. This provides a foundation to launch into the next round (Series A). First and foremost, make the technology/product work with minimal dilution, then go to series A with a great platform underneath you.

Brad Gray, Nanostring Technologies:

Depending on where you are in your career, think hard about getting experience with an existing company. We’re hiring 100 people at Nanostring this year. Many companies are. You can get experience in a company that’s already farther along. Apprentice somewhere. Understand the risk/reward profile. In tools, if you can engineer something that meets an important need, you’ll find a place for it. Before you start your own thing, try to get some experience somewhere. If you’ve already started something, join a community, participate in networking and mind-sharing.