This week we welcome Jacob Oppenheim, Entrepreneur in Residence at Digitalis Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in solutions to complex problems in human and animal health.

Jacob sat down with Ross to discuss the importance of building strong data foundations in biotech companies and how to approach this task. We explore the challenges biotech organizations face with existing tools. What are the limitations, and why are current data tools and systems not yet aimed at helping scientists gain meaningful insights from the data themselves?

We also get Jacob's take on AI in the biotech space and what it will take to reach its full potential, plus some of the possibilities that new modeling capabilities will allow scientists to explore.

Finally, we looked at the topic of team building, how to approach this within a start-up and what role consultancies play in providing expertise and guidance to early-stage biotech companies.

Data in Biotech is a biweekly podcast that explores how companies are leveraging data innovation in life sciences.

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Chapter Marks:

[1:08] Jacob provides a brief overview of his career to date, explaining how he ended up in his current role at Digitalis Venture and what sets it apart as a venture capital fund.

[07:42] Ross asks Jacob about the biggest challenges and opportunities facing data scientists, data teams, and startups more broadly.

[9:56] Jacob talks about the limitations of existing data management tools within biotech companies.

[13:55] Jacob discusses what is needed as a foundation for AI tools to reach their potential.

[17:12] Jacob argues for the need for a unified data ecosystem and the benefits of a modular approach to tooling.

[23:42] Jacob explains that biology is more focused on technology and how data can therefore drive drug development.

[26:14] Ross and Jacob discuss the challenges of integrating data science and biotech teams, including cultural clashes and tool conflicts.

[32:52] Jacob emphasizes the importance of consultancies in the biotech sector, especially for start-ups.

[36:21] Ross asks what the new modeling capabilities he's most excited about and how they will move the industry forward.

[38:45] Jacob shares his advice for scientists and entrepreneurs looking to start a biotech venture and recommends resources.

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Download our latest whitepaper on “Using Machine Learning to Implement Quality Control in the Biotech Industry.”

Visit this link: https://connect.corrdyn.com/biotech-ml

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