Dr Kenneth Savin, Redwire | Groundbreaking ISS Biotech Discoveries
Release Date: 08/04/2025
Medical Resilience in Space | Dana Levin, MD, MPH
ReGEN Podcast
Dana Levin, MD, MPH, serves as the medical director and chief flight surgeon for Vast Space. As the International Space Station plans for decommission in 2030, Vast Space is an industry pioneer with developing the first commercial space station, Haven-1, for long-term human habitation of low Earth orbit. We discuss the implications of humans inhabiting space in this new frontier of opportunities, challenges, questions and implications for human health and medicine. Dana’s background before his role at Vast includes working for NASA as a clinical scientist for the human research program,...
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The Intersection of AI and Medicine | Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation this week is with Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA, a digital health and AI expert whose research focuses on AI systems modeling and other computer-aided approaches within the healthcare industry. Bruce has founded, built, and led multiple initiatives in systems science, AI, mathematical and computer modeling, digital health, operations research and science/health communications, including research consortia, centers at universities and independent companies. Hosted by Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA This episode was recorded on Oct. 15, 2025, and information presented herein is current at the...
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Regenerative Medicine: From the Amazon Rainforest to Space | Alysson Muotri, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Alysson Muotri, PhD, covers a broad scope of topics including his innovative work and discoveries in space-based research, Neanderthal DNA, and groundbreaking breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and indigenous plants found in the Amazon Rainforest. Muotri serves as the director of the Sanford Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research Center (ISSCOR) at UC San Diego’s Sanford Stem Cell Institute, leading numerous research missions in sustained microgravity and low-Earth orbit. His work includes a focus on generating human disease models to determine the...
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Stem Cell Biology Industry Trends | Tiffani Manolis
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Tiffani Manolis, vice president and general manager of the cell biology business at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Our discussion highlights her passion for cell biology and innovative trends in the gene and cell therapy industry, with a focus on advancing technologies that support the development of life-changing therapeutics. Tiffani is an experienced leader in the life sciences industry in her current role and joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2022 to lead the cell culture and cell therapy business. Prior to this role, Tiffani held various leadership...
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RNA and Stem Cell Innovations | Gene Yeo, PhD, MBA
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Gene Yeo, PhD, MBA, features a deep dive into his innovative work with RNA, gene editing and intersection of stem cells and regenerative medicine. We discuss what’s on the horizon for discoveries and industry-based opportunities. Yeo serves as the director of the Sanford Stem Cell Innovation Center with the goal to facilitate industry growth by leveraging research findings and developed technologies to support the commercialization of applications through strategic collaboration with industry partners. Yeo’s work focuses on high-throughput genomics, systems biology...
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Stem Cell Clinical Trials: Behind the Scenes with Julissa Gonzalez at UC San Diego
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Julissa Gonzalez, MS, who serves as the clinical research data manager at the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center. Her work helps frame and prepare insights into stem cell-related clinical trials. Our discussion explores information the public may not readily know about preparing for and administering therapeutics via clinical trials, including unique perspectives on validation, analyses, and patient care outcomes. This episode was recorded on June 2, 2025, and information is current as of the date of this recording. Hosted by Bobby...
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Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | Marisa Korody, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
Marisa Korody, PhD, serves San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a scientist in conservation genetics, working on the northern white rhino rescue project. She works closely with collaborators at The Scripps Research Institute to optimize the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from banked rhino fibroblast cells in the Frozen Zoo® for potential use in assisted reproductive technologies. This episode was recorded on Aug. 13, 2025, and information is current as of the date of recording. Hosted by Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA.
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The Evolution of DNA Editing and Stem Cells | Alexis Komor, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Alexis Komor, PhD, who serves as deputy director of the Sanford Stem Cell Innovation Center and assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego. Not long after the discovery of CRISPR technology, Komor Identified how to edit DNA in a new, more precise way, down to a single base unit in the DNA sequence. Komor’s contributions in teaching, mentoring, and research have been recognized with many awards, including the Cottrell Scholar Award, the “Talented 12” recognition by C&EN News, an NSF Faculty...
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Dan Kaufman, MD, PhD | Manufacturing Stem Cell-Based Therapies at UC San Diego
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features a conversation Dan Kaufman, PhD, Director of the Sanford Advanced Therapy Center at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, and his extensive background in the field of regenerative medicine. At UC San Diego, Dr. Kaufman performs clinical work in hematology and blood and marrow transplantation. He also oversees the Advanced Cell Therapy Laboratory (ACTL), a cGLP/cGMP-compliant facility which provides good manufacturing practice and cell manufacturing to translate new cell-based therapies to clinical trials; to help investigators advance cell therapy products from research...
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Alex Khalessi, MD, MBA | Stem Cell Therapy and Neurological Disorders
ReGEN Podcast
Our discussion in this episode features Alex Khalessi, MD, MBA, and his innovative work on the intersection between stem cell therapies, regenerative medicine, and neurological disorders. He serves as co-director of the Brain Tumor and Neurorestoration Program at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. Khalessi is the former president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), and is chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurosciences and the inaugural Don and Karen Cohn Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery at UC San...
info_outlineThis episode features our conversation with Dr Kenneth A. Savin, Chief Scientist at Redwire. Dr. Savin was named to TIME’s “2025 TIME100 Health List of the 100 Most Influential People in Global Health.” We discuss his 20-plus year career and expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and his pioneering work accelerating cutting-edge space biotech research capabilities, leveraging microgravity to improve human health on Earth. At Redwire, Dr. Savin has overseen trailblazing investigations onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in partnership with NASA and the ISS National Laboratory. Redwire successfully bioprinted the first human knee meniscus and first live human cardiac tissue using its BioFabrication Facility on the ISS. These breakthroughs address challenges faced by millions of people worldwide through the application of organ transplantation and tissue therapy and advance the next generation of pharmaceutical therapies. Dr. Savin has coordinated groundbreaking protein crystallization investigations onboard the ISS with pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) and Bristol Myers Squibb using Redwire’s in-space pharmaceutical lab, PIL-BOX, for improved drug development. These investigations have focused on various applications to address the world’s most prevalent conditions, including antiviral, antifungal, and antiseizure applications, heart disease, and bone loss.
Hosted by Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA.
This episode was recorded on December 2, 2024, and information presented in this episode is current as of this date.