Translating Good Ideas into Products. Season 2 Episode 4

Translating Good Ideas into Products

In this episode of the Driving the Business of Science podcast, host Keith Parent, CEO of Court Square Group, speaks with Dr. Peter Reinhart, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at UMass Amherst. Dr. Reinhart shares his journey from academia to founding startups, including developing therapeutics for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. IALS, funded by a $95 million award from the Massachusetts Life Science Center, provides translational research facilities and supports startup companies. The institute offers unique resources like large lab spaces, advanced equipment, and a collaboration with the Isenberg School of Management to foster entrepreneurship. Reinhart emphasizes the cost advantages and growing capacity for startups in Western Massachusetts.

 

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Guest Profile – Dr. Peter Reinhart, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), UMass Amherst

The founding Director of the Institute for Applied Life Science (IALS), Dr. Peter Reinhart, has more than 25 years of R&D management experience in academia (Duke University Medical Center), biotechnology (Cogent Neuroscience, Proteostasis Therapeutics), and large pharma (Wyeth, Pfizer). As Director, IALS, he seeks to catalyze the translation of research and innovation into product candidates, technologies, and services for the common good. The Institute is a catalyst and resource for ‘translational’ research, provides venture mentoring, and enables Start-Up companies. Currently, a portfolio of 20-30 startups are being mentored and incubated in diverse areas such as Biotechnology & Life Sciences, the ‘future of food’, AI & ML, wearable devices, quantum, sustainability, and planning cities of the future. The institute also manages more than 30 industry-accessible Core Equipment Facilities and has created training programs for students to gain hands-on experiential training and the ability to interact with industry partners.

Dr. Reinhart came to the University from a Cambridge MA biotechnology company, Proteostasis Therapeutics (PTI), where he was President and CSO. At PTI he managed a portfolio of programs from target discovery to clinical trials for disease modifying treatment of protein misfolding, sorting, trafficking, and clearance-related diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Cystic Fibrosis, until the company’s IPO.

Prior to that, Peter served as the Therapeutic Area Head for Neurodegenerative Diseases at Wyeth/Pfizer. In this role, he was responsible for drug and device development strategies for a range of neurological and rare diseases such as AD, PD, stroke, ALS, HD, and cognitive impairment, as well as the in-licensing of emerging technology from academia.

His academic research was performed as a Professor of Neuroscience at Duke University Medical Center working on neurological diseases. He performed postdoctoral studies at Brandeis University, and at Tübingen University in Germany, and obtained his PhD from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

 

Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast

• Keith Parent introduces himself as the CEO of Court Square Group and explains the purpose of the podcast, which is to explore various aspects of the life science field, including pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device.
• Keith mentions the guest, Dr. Peter Reinhart, Ph.D., the director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst, and provides an overview of Court Square, a managed service firm that helps life science companies with infrastructure and regulatory compliance.
• Keith highlights Court Square’s services, including their Audit Ready, Compliant Cloud™ (ARCC) and a content repository called RegDocs365™, which hosts clinical and regulatory content.
• Keith introduces Peter Reinhart, who will share his background and experiences in academia, biotech, and large pharma.

Peter Reinhart’s Background and Career Journey

• Peter Reinhart shares his career journey, starting as a traditional researcher at Duke University Medical Center, working on neurological disorders like Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
• Peter discusses his transition to creating a startup, Cogent Neuroscience, and its growth before being sold. He then joined Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he developed therapeutics for Alzheimer’s, including the first antibody for Alzheimer’s disease – bapineuzumab.
• Peter talks about his time at Wyeth/Pfizer, where he continued developing therapeutics, and his subsequent move to Proteostasis Therapeutics, a startup focused on Parkinson’s disease and cystic fibrosis.
• Peter explains his current role at UMass Amherst, heading the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, which aims to facilitate the translation of good ideas into product candidates.

Establishment and Mission of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS)

• Keith and Peter discuss the establishment of IALS, which was largely due to a $95 million award from the Massachusetts Life Science Center to develop a translational capacity and economic development in Western Massachusetts.
• Peter highlights the significant contribution from UMass Amherst, including a modern, new building for translational activities.
• Keith praises the facilities at IALS, noting the impressive infrastructure and the opportunities for entrepreneurs on campus.
• Peter explains the unique aspects of the building, including large lab spaces shared by multiple investigators from many different departments to work on joint research themes, and state-of-the-art equipment facilities.

Collaboration with the Business School and Entrepreneurship Programs

• Peter describes the collaboration between IALS and the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, where MBA students work with startup founders to create virtual startup companies.
• This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business knowledge, creating a comprehensive approach to entrepreneurship.
• Peter mentions the success of this program, with 40 to 50 startup companies in their portfolio, driven by the combination of MBA students and inventors operating ‘virtual C-Suites’.
• Keith and Peter discuss the challenges of marketing the achievements in Western Massachusetts compared to the high-profile areas like Boston and Cambridge.

Infrastructure and Support for Startups

• Peter explains the unique infrastructure at IALS, which allows companies to launch and grow on an academic campus while retaining full ownership of their intellectual property.
• The building houses equipment facilities that support a wide range of research and development activities, making it easier for startups to test and develop new ideas.
• Peter highlights the cost advantages of growing companies in Western Massachusetts compared to more expensive locations like Cambridge, the Boston Seaport District, or even Waltham.
• Keith and Peter discuss the opportunities for students to get involved in entrepreneurship and innovation, including specific courses and internship programs.

Specialized Facilities and Research Projects

• Peter describes specialized facilities at IALS, such as the roll-to-roll fabrication facility for building flexible devices and the Center for Human Health & Performance – which contains an apartment complex for testing human performance and wearable device parameters.
• Examples of research projects include developing a stress sensor for operators in critical positions and measuring energy burn rates for apparel manufacturers.
• Peter emphasizes the importance of these facilities in supporting next-generation devices and technologies.
• Keith shares his experience of visiting IALS and being impressed by the innovative research and development activities.

Courses and Training Programs

• Peter outlines the various courses and training programs available at IALS, which teach students the skills needed to create and grow startup companies.
• These courses cover topics like developing wearable devices, navigating regulatory pathways, and registering and licensing startups.
• Peter mentions the broader infrastructure being built by the Provost’s Office to support entrepreneurship and innovation across the campus.
• Keith and Peter discuss the potential for collaboration between different schools and centers at UMass Amherst to enhance translational research and entrepreneurship.

Future Vision and Opportunities

• Peter expresses optimism about the growing capacity for startup companies in Western Massachusetts and the potential for regional growth.
• He highlights the advantages of growing companies in Western Massachusetts, including lower costs and a high quality of life.
• Keith and Peter discuss the importance of getting the word out about the achievements and opportunities at IALS and UMass Amherst. Peter offers to provide tours through IALS – by reaching out to ngrowhoski@umass.edu and setting up a date/time, to take a virtual tour at https://www.umass.edu/ials/virtual-tour.
• Keith concludes the podcast by encouraging listeners to visit IALS and learn more about the innovative research and entrepreneurship activities taking place on campus.