Thane Kreiner, PhD

A nice overview of Alzheimer's One question-- should trials be large just because diseases are large? I think Peter Kolchinsky's philosophy (? hopefully I am not stating it wrong) which seemed quite intriguing is that there are subsets of rare disease within the common disease. Maybe in an AI/ML sense defining some of the most severe populations and then rolling it back to less severe populations if it seems to work there. (Not sure if there is a path forward for that). (Note that I say this--but it doesn't necessarily seem easy). Since Alzheimer's, for instance, seems to have such diverse behavior across different genetic populations, then populations selected may influence the trial outcomes and make signals hard to decipher. Anyway Alzheimer's is so challenging because trials are likely to take a long time. And many other factors.

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A new venture group strategy for impact! Re-evaluating for-profit and not-for profit collaborations! Problem: Non-profits spend significant time trying to find contributors. Problem: Venture groups that want to focus on areas that align with their values and grow capital, while impacting similarly minded non-profits without making donations, need a solution. Solution: Venture firm founder gives ALL of their personal venture stock to selected non-profits which then become stockholders of the venture firm along with other venture shareholders with a forever opportunity of long-term sustainability for all. Many delicate, important pieces involved here, but when done right, growth in the firm yields financial benefits for non-profits and for-profits stockholders while creating multiple levels of impact. #venture #wealthcreation #nonprofits #sustainability

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Water is a vital resource for California farms, ranches, and vineyards. As scarcity grows, so does the need for innovation. Efficient use of water and resources isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about yield, produce quality, resilience, and profitability. Today, our U.S. Desert Control team demonstrates the versatility of Liquid Natural Clay #LNC in action, applying it through the drip irrigation system of a California vineyard. The mineral liquid seeps into the ground, creating soil structure around the root system that retains water and nutrients like a sponge. This maximizes every drop for healthier vines, improved grape quality, and thriving, future-ready farming operations. 💡 Implementing soil and water conservation solutions in established fields as seamlessly as applying water makes it accessible, scalable, and affordable—good for the bottom line and our planet! #WaterConservation #SustainableViticulture #AgriTech #CaliforniaFarming

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This is a must-read for anyone considering operating a Natural Medicine Business, or becoming a Facilitator, in Colorado's state-regulated psychedelics program. As the first round of rulemaking for Colorado’s regulated Natural Medicine program comes to a close, Vicente LLP provides an overview of the first set of final rules which give a good picture of how the state will regulate facilitators, their training programs, and other Natural Medicine Businesses. While there are many similarities to Oregon's program, there are some significant differences, too. For example, this first set of final rules include provisions that allow for ‘micro’ healing centres in existing mental and behavioural health practices, as well as ‘micro’ cultivator licenses that would allow a centre to grow and provide psilocybin mushrooms at the same site. They also allow for the provision of psilocybin outside of healing centres, such as in private residences or other authorised locations, which was touted by advocates as a substantial improvement over Oregon's requirement that psilocybin only be delivered in service centres. The rulemaking process continues, however, with things like license fees for Natural medicine Businesses still being decided. Link in the comments.

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Call to Action - If you are looking for ways to help the communities and individuals impacted by the LA Fires, here is a list of resources - https://lnkd.in/g69X3HRR #bettertogether #helponeanother

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The art of the impossible. This was the focus of Bill Rastetter's keynote address last week to San Diego biotech leaders. Bill told the story of how IDEC grew during the buzz of monoclonal antibodies in the early 1990s. IDECs big growth moment happened just after Lilly acquired Hybritech. The $400M acquisition was for the monoclonal antibody developed to diagnose prostate cancer. After the acquisition, many of Hybritech's employees left, and joined IDEC to work on the next big thing in monoclonals. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟰 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘁. Another company that was working on therapeutic monoclonals for sepsis, hit a major roadblock when clinical trials failed. The entire monoclonal market took a hit. IDEC stock tanked to a low of just over $2/share, and even Bill Gates decided to sell all of his shares at that time. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿. Using monoclonal antibodies to treat disease was "impossible"...or so it seemed. Bill and his team weren't deterred, because they saw the enormous potential. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. They pressed on against the market, and within 3 years, received the first-ever FDA approval for a therapeutic monoclonal antibody. 𝗜𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟳, 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘅𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗛𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻'𝘀 𝗟𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗔 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲. Since then, 30+ additional monoclonal antibodies have been approved for therapeutic use. 5 MILLION patients have been treated with Rituxan. All because the team was not deterred by the prospect of the impossible. ---------- The key message? Never let impossible deter you. What impossible things are you working on? #biotechnology, #innovation, #scientist

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Recently, I was asked to do a little podcast called Think Big. The decision was easy and required very little thought. Don't think, just watch it! After talking to Dan Melnick I came to the conclusion that the man is a total boss. Quietly and steadily he records 2 podcasts a day! Anyway, what a great show to be on, and great to tell the story of Mushrooms to the world. Watch Now - https://lnkd.in/gVyCRiFr #fungi #mushrooms #podcast #newbusiness #b2b #b2c #cpg

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An update on my views about the future of coal in general and Peabody Energy in particular

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#cultivatedmeat bans raise even more hidden issues. Many others have commented constructively that these bans are rank protectionism (they are), anti-free market principles (ditto), and overall a giant middle finger to climate change solutions as well consumer autonomy (Darwin help us). I also believe these bans are gonna be destroyed by federal law and the state groups know this. Sadly then, it's a token gesture to the producer community and a new bogeyman issue, unfortunately. First, the good news: The largest meat processors are largely against these bans. They see that this only hurts them down the road. It's producers that really push these bans, and they are a very loud minority with very deep pockets. USDA federal preemption protections will ultimately unlock sales again as USDA asserts its authority over CM, but my worry continues to be cultivated seafood products and all forms of research. FDA regulates seafood and weaker federal preemption protections, so can more easily challenged in court. Myself and others worked incredibly hard to set up a system that would as fair and level as could be for all types of cultivated meat, and an upheld ban on seafood and not meat would set up a two-tiered system in CM, which can further fracture a nascent market's ability to advocate for itself if the interests are vastly different. Second, the bans hurt research no matter what. If the bans include research provisions, a USDA rescue wouldn't apply to them. This again further discourages needed 'shots on goal' to try to improve the way meat gets to the table, and discourages research in states that already have amazing conventional meat science expertise that could pair with the new knowledge CM is generating. At worst, it discourages all forms of CM research, leaving it yet again to industry to try to figure it out. We need a robust academic, private, and public system around CM to accelerate market maturity. Last, it's just...shoddy policy. It's blunt, nakedly biased (even for politics), and oddly bullying. So, I'll keep saying it: Let's get these folks back to the table to actually negotiate some policy to feed people rather than bully consumers.

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If you want a glimpse into new ways to commercialize science and solve health challenges, specifically as it relates to women's health, this episode is for you. There is so much I learned from speaking with the brilliant Laura Minquini!

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The brutality of occupation… long before 2023… and only made worse by this shocking inhumanity “Perhaps we should stop indulging in easy chitchat about dayafterism as if it will be a new moment in time. There will be no postwar for Gaza. The children of Gaza will forever be marked by the duration of time they spent in “hunger-time,” when their growth was arrested by starvation, their minds marred by trauma. Their lifespans will most likely be foreshortened. And because hunger-time reshapes politics, this time in hunger-time is ticking away, too, on the clocks where I am writing now, in West Jerusalem. ¤ The International Criminal Court declared in mid-May that it has reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu holds criminal responsibility for a variety of war crimes, first and foremost the “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.” But an honest consideration of hunger-time in Gaza requires that we reflect not only on the past six months but also on nearly two decades of calculated food control. For the vast majority of Israel’s history, the disastrous reality of the Gaza Strip was created in accordance with—not in contrast to—humanitarian parameters of famine and malnutrition. When Hamas took over the strip in 2007, Israel imposed a siege that weaponized food. They did it not against but through international humanitarian language. The Israeli NGO Gisha exposed the scientific exactness of this strategy, according to which healthcare professionals calculated a “humanitarian minimum” that would keep Gaza’s population above the caloric threshold of starvation while also keeping it alarmingly close to it. Calories were converted into other numbers—like the number of aid trucks and kilos of food that would keep Gaza afloat. For years, Israel dictated every aspect of culinary life in Gaza, from the ability of its people to sweeten their food to their obtaining particular condiments for the holidays. Sari Bashi of Human Rights Watch described the awkwardly intimate connection between Israeli officials and the public in Gaza that was forged by the siege: “Should hummus with or without mushroom toppings be banned from Gaza?” “Should butter be available for purchase, or just margarine?” https://lnkd.in/gmQi3r_Z

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Grant revenue is not revenue. I'm all for non-dilutive funding, if and only if the SBIR/STTR-funded project accelerates your strategy with development of a product that will be sold (so science fair projects). However... *grant revenue is not validation dollars on the top line.* What you have shown is an ability to write grants, the basis for the research that led to the startup (in the case of academic spin-outs) in the first place. What you have not shown is 💸 the desire for customers to purchase your product(s) ➡ an ability to articulate a go-to-market plan, or 🔐 a down in the trenches understanding of product-market fit. Startups are a game of the quick and dead -- take the time and money you would spend writing these grants early in the life of your company and hit the road, listen to your customers, learn where and how your products fit, and start selling. Your P&L shows me your real progress there -- As an investor and advisor, I would rather see $10,000 in revenue from sales from a handful of customers in 2 quarters than a X% chance you get a $1M grant in 9 months.

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Each month, America's Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation shares exciting news stories from NSF-funded startups. Below find August 2024 news highlights from a few companies formerly and currently funded by the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program: Nth Cycle Recycling company Nth Cycle (NSF-2112301) develops a low-cost process to recycle and refine lithium-ion batteries from out of service electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The company recently opened a new cobalt and nickel recycling refinery in Fairfield, Ohio. Article via WCBD News 2 JuneBrain To improve remote monitoring of neurological and retinal diseases, JuneBrain (NSF-2053315) develops medical imaging devices and artificial intelligence-powered software. Its automated, high-speed retinal imaging system helps monitor patients at home or in clinical settings. Article via BioBuzz HeroWear HeroWear (NSF-2139480) designs lift-assist exosuits to reduce back strain by helping workers lift heavy objects. Recent data collected over 280,000 hours of work found that individuals wearing the exosuits reported zero bank injuries, a 25% percent decrease in work-related bodily discomfort, and a 20% reduction in work-related fatigue, according to HeroWear. Article via Modern Materials Handling Grain Weevil On a mission to reduce grain bin accidents and entrapments, Nebraska-based and family-owned company Grain Weevil (NSF-2321441) uses robots with augers that can level grain, break up crusts, perform inspections, and conduct other tasks to keep farmers safe. Article via Rural Radio Network Electroninks Texas-based Electroninks (NSF-1534755) manufactures cost-effective, highly conductive, and sustainable metal complex inks for printed electronics, including medical devices and semiconductors. The company recently launched new copper ink for advanced packaging for semiconductor manufacturing and other use cases. Article via AZoMaterials Bloomlife To ease anxiety during pregnancy, Bloomlife (NSF-1843361) develops a wearable that remotely monitors both maternal and fetal heart rates in home and clinical settings. The wearable device can also track contractions in real time to improve maternal health outcomes. Bloomlife recently raised $12.2M. Article via Femtech Insider Aventusoft Aventusoft (NSF-1456401) develops medical devices to improve early detection and monitoring of heart disease. The company’s product “Hemotag” is designed to help doctors avoid invasive procedures when evaluating a patient. The device provides non-invasive, 30-second measurements to assess structural heart health. Article via Refresh Miami Atom Computing Atom Computing (NSF-1951188) is partnering with Microsoft to build a new generation of quantum hardware. Atom Computing’s neutral atom technology will integrate with Microsoft’s Azure Quantum platform to develop fault-tolerant quantum supercomputers. Article via The Quantum Insider

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European Investment Fund (EIF) VC Survey 2023: Market sentiment, scale-up financing and human capital by Helmut Kraemer-Eis, Antonia Botsari, Frank Lang, Clarissa Hahn, and Annalisa Croce. Access the 73 page report at: https://lnkd.in/dsT4deVQ. Highlights: 1) Almost 9 in 10 venture capital-VC respondents are male. Nearly half of the VC respondents are middle-aged, between 45 and 54 years of age. Only about 7% are younger VCs, below 35 years old. 2) Gloomy VC perceptions of the current fundraising environment were shared by 70% of respondents. In addition, two out of the three biggest challenges in the VC business in 2023 are related to fundraising 3) Finding co-investors has become even more difficult; Divergent investment goals and approaches are the most frequently cited barriers in finding co-investors

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Fun fact: there is no way to get a group picture when you are also frantically writing notes. But that's what happens when you get to moderate a conversation with three of the smartest women in the #climate and beauty space. Yesterday I moderated a panel on technology tools for sustainability with the incredible Jessi Baker (Provenance), Cara Eaton (Croda), and Jasmina Aganovic (Arcaea / Future Society). We dug in to #AI, product LCAs, and #biotechnology. Some of the key takeaways - 🤝 Collaborate and find strategic partners. One of the biggest hurdles many of my brand clients face is not knowing what technology to explore to further their #sustainability goals or how to upskill in order to effectively deploy it. Don't be afraid to explore, ask questions (even the "dumb" ones), and learn. 🚶‍♀️Progress on sustainability isn't made through making one step or using one new technology. It's 10,000 small steps that slowly and continuously push the industry forward. 🍎 Quantifying impact is nuanced and there's very little way to make an apples-to-apples comparison with tools like LCAs. It's imperative that you understand the behind-the-scenes of how different methodologies work to assess what is right for you and how to quantify progress. A big thank you to the Personal Care Products Council for hosting this conversation. If there are any new technology tools that you're interested in exploring more (digital product passports, AI, you name it!) drop a comment so we can keep the conversation going.

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If you saw my pitch yesterday in San Diego, you understand why we have the scientific team to understand the mechanisms involved in central sensitization of pain and why we're developing targeted medicine to address the intersection of chronic pain and mental health. Some day, our holistic approach will get patients off of multiple medications that are treating these conditions separately. https://lnkd.in/e_EUTqXE

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We're so excited to welcome Caladan Bio to Wireframe Ventures' portfolio and celebrate the launch of their first product, The Caladan 250! As biotech and life sciences investors, we've witnessed an explosion of companies building with novel gene sequencing and editing toolsets and the impact they've had on drug discovery and drug development over the last couple of decades. It's been clear that these same tools would transform the way we manufacture a wide range of products from materials to fuel to chemicals and even food. However, the scale up of synbio companies outside of life sciences has been limited by the available infrastructure -- built for companies with entirely different cost structures. Industrial biotech companies creating animal-free food and materials, next-gen specialty chemicals, and fossil fuel alternatives can only break out if they can meet cost parity with incumbent products. Caladan offers the tools to increase experimentation throughput while enhancing data availability and quality, allowing these companies to leverage modern AI and ML tools, all at half the cost of the industry standard. We're thrilled to partner with Michael Kobida and Rob Jauquet on this seed round, and invest alongside Twelve Below, Collaborative Fund, and Lerer Hippeau!

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🌟 Embracing Asian American Heritage & Diversity in Clinical Trials 🌟 As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let's recognize the invaluable contributions of this community in healthcare and beyond. Diversity in clinical trials is not just about representation; it's about ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all. By embracing diversity among patients and staff, we foster a culture of inclusivity and understanding that leads to more effective treatments and outcomes. Let's continue to champion diversity and inclusion in every aspect of healthcare, ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and everyone's needs are met. Together, we can build a healthier, more equitable future for all. #AAPIHeritageMonth #DiversityinClinicalTrials

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