Leonardo DaVinci once said, “To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science” - to him, the two were intricately intertwined and informed and enhanced the other. Two disciplines that are normally treated as the antithesis of each other, we at ‘Inside Biotech’ were ready to take a deep dive into this matter - we had the great pleasure to sit down with Rita Blaik, Director of Education at CNSI at UCLA, to learn about how she is taking taking Da Vinci’s words to heart. Come along with us on a colorful journey on the second episode of BCLA’s Inside Biotech, Series 3: the A in STEAM, Art and Design in Biotech.

Named #2 Most Innovative Company in North America, Cannon Design is a pioneer in transforming places, spaces, and creating buildings that are the epitome of innovative. From the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine to the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge Campus, Cannon Design has created some of the most accessible and successful environments to allow medicine, scientific research, and biotech to flourish. To learn how much the “space makes or breaks a place”, especially in laboratories, science, and biotechnology, we virtually sat down with Alicia Pandimos Maurer, AIA, LEED AP, a laboratory designer who helps create these architectural masterpieces.

According to a study done by Michigan State University, the per capita farmable land worldwide was 0.42 hectares in 1960. It will be 0.19 hectares in 2050. We, however, are dependent on seed crops and farming. We need a superhero seed that can grow faster, bigger, better, and all with less space. To get to this seed, we need to learn about the building blocks - the DNA - that enable the building of a seed and in turn, a plant. Join us in hearing about the future of food from Dr. Robert Goldberg, a professor at UCLA, in our final episode of our second series of ‘The Dish on Biotech In Food'' on BCLA’s podcast, Inside Biotech.

The frozen isle in the grocery store is transforming; While there used to be a variety of chicken nuggets and french fries, there is now an even larger assortment of plant-based meat products including a “chicken” from a company with daring mission - changing the chicken industry one package of frozen meatless chicken at a time. We spoke with the Founder and CEO of Daring, Ross Mackay, to learn more about how the company aims to take on “big chicken” in our 3rd episode of this series, the Dish on Food in Biotech, of the BCLA podcast, 'Inside Biotech' this month.

Have you ever walked around the supermarket and noticed a new product such as a plant-based egg, a new plant-based milk, or a bean-based chip? Chances are you have come across a company or product in PowerPlant Partner’s extensive portfolio! A Los Angeles based growth equity firm, PowerPlant Partners is on the hunt for the next consumer wellness companies or products. With the goal of creating a sustainable future in mind, PowerPlant Partners invests in plant-based products, new ways to keep produce clean, and so much more. Excited about the prospect of a delicious and sustainable future, we sat down with the Vice President of the Investment Team, Julianne Hummelberg, to learn more. Join us on a delicious journey from concept to shelf in the 2nd episode of our second series, ‘The Dish on Biotech in Food’ today!

As we aim to fill ourselves with the highest quality, most nutritious, and best food, we love to do the same for our unwavering companies: our pups! “You are what you eat” is as relevant to them as it is for us. Again, like us, dogs are omnivores that definitely benefit from a diet varied in sources of nutrients including plant-based protein and other non-meat foods. Dog food, however, often does not cater to this nuance. Wild Earth, a CA Startup, is trying to change that one delivery at a time. To learn more, we virtually sat down with the CEO of Wild Earth, Ryan Bethencourt, on our first episode of our second series: The Dish on Biotech in Food.

Blue-green, grown in freshwater and saltwater, and potentially the biggest new source of energy? It might sound too good to be true, but microalgae has all these possibilities and one more: it can be a food source! A vital energy source in all ecosystems, microalgae can be cultivated, dried, and manipulated to extract nutrients and compounds that can be used as nutritional supplements. One SoCal company, Lyxia, is taking advantage of this amazing substance by partnering with researchers in Shenzhen, China to extract a compound that is key for cardiovascular health. We sat down with Lyxia’s Former R&D Senior Process Designer Peter Mponzi to find out more about it on the last episode of our first series, Alternative Careers in Biotech.

Drawn by the pitter patter of their little paws, the sweet purrs, and the source of unconditional companionship and friendship, cats or felis cactus have been interacting with and companions of humans for the last 8,000 years. Despite our long history with cats, however, little is known about their health and ideal lifestyle, especially when compared to dogs. One LA-based startup, however, is attempting to change this gap: Basepaws. Basepaws works to create a genomic database that enables the company to learn more about cat breeds, traits, and their health. This goal is built on the idea that understanding cats genetically will enable us to better serve cats and improve their lives. Interested in learning how exactly they do it? We virtually sat down with Basepaw’s founder, Anna Skaya, to find out more about Basepaws. Join Dr. Yewande Pearse, PhD on our 3rd episode of ‘Inside Biotech’ to find out more.

The bottom line is science news is important. Being well-versed in scientific findings enables a person to keep up with the latest issues and the newest riveting discoveries, making topics like COVID-19 less daunting. Science news, however, is often hard to read or full of misinformation. Enter Massive Science: a unique scientific content and media company which is working to address these issues. Interested in learning how Massive Science is helping make science news more exciting and accessible? To find out, join Dr. Yewande Pearse, PhD in BCLA’s 2nd episode of Alternative Careers in Biotech as she chats with the founders of Massive Science, Nadja Ortelt and Allan Lasser!

Cannabis use has skyrocketed in Los Angeles (LA). From March 2018 to March 2019, the percent increase of the use of this substance in LA was a whopping 62%. Interested in learning more about how this Los Angeles staple goes from the plant to your pocket safely? Join Dr. Yewande Pearse PhD, Social Media Associate at Biotech Connection Los Angeles, as she speaks with Kayleen (Leong) Sabino, Vice President of Operations at Cannalysis - an LA based company that focuses on efficiently testing new cannabis products so that they meet state guidelines. Sabino virtually sat down to discuss how Cannalysis does it and what the future of the cannabis industry in LA might look like moving forward.