From Scientist to Biotech: How Industry Feedback from Biotech Experts Changes Your Drug Development Roadmap -

What happens when scientists stop presenting their research to other scientists and put it in front of biotech and drug development experts instead? The questions change. Suddenly it isn’t only, “Does the science work?” It’s also: Who is the patient? What is the indication? What evidence do you need next? What could stop this programme? Who needs to partner with you? And what would a credible path to the clinic actually look like?

In this episode, Professor Greg Neely and Dr Jean Bertoldo share what happened when they pitched their research to industry experts at the 2026 Drug Discovery Forum ( ARCS conference 2026) Their projects are at very different stages. Prof Greg Neely is combining established biology and delivery technologies to explore new neurological applications. Dr. Jean Bertoldo is working much earlier, building evidence around new biology in childhood brain cancer.

Both walked away with questions that changed how they thought about their drug development roadmap. We also speak with Dr Gorjana Mitic about technology transfer and the role tech transfer professionals can play in helping scientists move promising academic research towards licensing, partnering or a biotech spin-out. Gorjana takes us behind the scenes of a tech transfer office, including why promising projects can get stuck, what technology transfer teams actually assess, and what scientists can do to make their research easier to champion.

You’ll hear about:

How industry feedback can expose blind spots in a drug development plan Moving from an interesting scientific project to a credible path towards the clinic How scientists can think about indication selection and development strategy Why biotech development requires partners and capabilities beyond the academic lab What technology transfer offices actually do Why academics and tech transfer teams sometimes clash What makes academic research easier for a tech transfer team to champion How scientists can prepare for commercialisation, licensing or a biotech spin-out

This episode is Part 2 of a six-part series exploring the path from academic research to biotech and drug development, based on conversations from the 2026 Drug Discovery Forum in Sydney.

Across the series, we hear from scientists, biotech entrepreneurs, technology transfer professionals and industry experts about the decisions, evidence and people needed to give promising research its best chance of reaching patients.

Want to craft a career story that opens doors? I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you. 📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn

⭐️ Help More People Reinvent Their Careers If you enjoyed this episode, please: ✅ Leave a quick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🙏 ♻️ Share it with a friend who's questioning their path in STEM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.