Sylke Poehling didn’t set out to lead one of the world’s most advanced gene therapy companies - but a love for drug discovery and a career built on curiosity, courage and conviction brought her there.

Now CEO of Spark Therapeutics and SVP at Roche, Sylke joins us on Careers in Discovery to share her journey from academia into Biotech, how Spark pioneered the world’s first FDA-approved directly administered gene therapy, and what it means to build the next generation of treatments - and the company culture to deliver them.

She reflects on what it takes to lead through risk and uncertainty, how to balance scientific ambition with operational focus, and why authenticity and clarity are at the heart of impactful leadership.

An inspiring conversation with a scientist-turned-CEO who’s still pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible in genetic medicine.

What does it take to build a Biotech from scratch - with no data, no academic spinout, and nothing but two founders and two laptops?

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Federico Paoletti, CEO & Co-founder of Exogene, to find out.

Federico shares the story of how he went from a PhD in cancer biology to co-founding an Oxford-based immuno-oncology Biotech, working at the intersection of AI and protein engineering to develop personalised T-cell engager therapies. He talks about why he left academia despite loving science, what “high agency” really means in a Biotech startup, how to win partnerships, funding, and talent with no track record, and how curiosity - and trust - shaped Exogene’s culture from the very beginning.

If you're thinking about the leap into Biotech entrepreneurship, or flexing your leadership muscle in a startup setting, Federico’s journey will inspire you to go after the bold ideas - and find the people who will build them with you.

We're bringing you something a little bit different this week...

After 6 years and almost 200 episodes of Careers in Discovery, Singular CEO Tom Froggatt is passing the torch to a new host - and we're delighted to introduce Tyler Olding.

In this episode, the tables have turned, and the transition begins with - for the first time - an interview with Tom himself. Listen in to learn more about the brilliant career that has been behind Careers in Discovery, and the exciting times ahead for Tom.

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From the moment he walked out of a cinema showing Jurassic Park aged 10, Samir Ounzain knew he wanted to work with DNA. That early obsession turned into a career dedicated to understanding the 98% of our genome that doesn’t code for proteins - what’s often referred to as the “dark genome.”

In this episode, Samir shares the personal and scientific journey that led to founding HAYA Therapeutics, a Biotech trailblazing an entirely new approach to treating common and chronic diseases. He explains how HAYA builds backwards from unmet patient needs, and forwards with a first-principles view of biology - putting the cell, not the target, at the centre of drug discovery.

This is a story about biology, yes - but it’s also about clarity, courage, and commitment to a new model of Biotech.

When it comes to brain health, few people have dedicated more of their career to pushing the field forward than Rafal Kaminski, Chief Scientific Officer at Angelini Pharma.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Rafal shares the journey that’s taken him from medical school in Poland to leading R&D efforts across UCB, Roche, and now Angelini. Along the way, we explore his deep commitment to neuroscience, the lessons of building research teams across academia, biotech, and pharma, and the transformation taking place at Angelini - from a 100-year-old company into a focused innovator in brain health.

We dive into why Angelini is investing in both cutting-edge science and public awareness, how Rafal made the leap from academia to industry, and what he looks for in people when building high-performing teams. He also reflects on the value of ambition, cultural perspective, and scientific humility when navigating a career in life sciences.

This week on Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio and one of Biotech’s most experienced R&D leaders.

Martin shares his journey from pharmacologist to global R&D executive, with leadership roles at Pfenex, Recursion, AstraZeneca, and Stoke Therapeutics. Now at iBio, he leads a company developing gene therapies for rare diseases - while applying lessons from decades of drug development to a new generation of science.

We talk about the power of simplicity in communication, why leaders need to create space for science to breathe, and how to build R&D teams that are lean, smart, and focused on what matters most.

This week on Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Erica Barnell, Chief Medical Officer and Co-founder of Geneoscopy.

Erica shares how Geneoscopy is transforming gastrointestinal health with a platform that uses RNA biomarkers from stool samples to diagnose, monitor, and help prevent colorectal cancer and other GI diseases. She talks about the inspiration behind the company, building a patient-friendly alternative to colonoscopy, and why early detection is key to changing outcomes in colorectal cancer.

We also dive into Erica’s journey from MD-PhD student to entrepreneur, the challenges of shifting from product development to commercialization, and how she navigates the balance of leadership, family, and growth in a dynamic start-up environment.

This week’s guest on Careers in Discovery is Michael Lutz, CEO of Iota Sciences and Osteolabs.

Michael leads two innovative companies - one pioneering single-cell and stem cell handling technologies, the other developing early diagnostics for osteoporosis and bone metastasis. He shares his journey from chemist to Biotech entrepreneur, what he learns building capital-efficient businesses, and why staying close to the science keeps leadership challenging and rewarding.

We talk about the realities of being a hands-on CEO in small companies, the importance of speed and execution in a crowded market, and how Michael uses communication to build trust and alignment within his teams. He also reflects on the evolving Biotech funding landscape, lessons from scaling multiple ventures, and why embracing the unknown is key to turning breakthrough ideas into successful products.