Podcast
New Wave
Hosted by Snack Labs · EN
Come along as we explore some of the world's most fundamental problems, and how a New Wave of innovative companies are dead set on solving them. New Wave weaves storytelling with fascinating science that is accessible to everyone, giving you insights into your health, the struggles of others, and the pioneering entrepreneurs behind it all.
You might be surprised to find out which tucked-away place is shaping the future of Life Sciences. Find out on New Wave.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Quiet Rebellion
Dec 1000:25:07Tap to summarizeWalk down the supplement aisle and you're faced with rows of promises, but who is proving them? This episode follows Nature's Way Canada's quiet rebellion: swapping hype for evidence, marketing for education, and fishy burps for something people actually want to take.Guest bios & credentials:- Tsege Gebreyohannes - Director of Brand & Digital, Nature's Way Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Key and the Lock
Dec 300:34:40Tap to summarizeOne in two of us will face cancer. This episode follows a Nova Scotian scientist who discovered ALDH1A3 and risked everything to try to turn it into a therapy. Episode breakdown & timestamps:00:00 — Cold statistic and the stakes: why every cancer discovery matters. We open with the brutal reality: despite promising lab results, only ~10% of discoveries become human therapies.02:00 — The enemy explained. Dr. Paola Marcato breaks down what cancer and metastasis really are and why targeting spread is critical.06:00 — The scientist’s path. Paola’s pivot from bacterial research to oncology, mentorship at Dalhousie, and the moment the lab “whispered” a secret.12:00 — The discovery: ALDH1A3 — a supercharger enzyme linked to aggressive, treatment‑resistant tumours and why it matters for precision medicine.14:30 — The choice: translate to a drug or stay in the lab. The moral, financial and scientific risks of starting Theranib in Nova Scotia.Guest bio & credentials:Dr. Paola Marcato — cancer biologist at Dalhousie University and co‑founder of Theranib. Her work identified ALDH1A3 as a driver of aggressive, metastatic cancer phenotypes and sparked a translational effort to develop targeted therapies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Koi & Cannabis
Nov 2600:30:28Tap to summarizeWhat if the next medical cannabis breakthrough wasn't in a lab but in a basement with 3,000 koi? In this episode we trace how Aqualitas created an aquaponic ecosystem that caught the eye of a global cannabis distributer and helped them transform their business.Episode breakdown & timestamps:00:00 — Opening: The unlikely origins of big medical innovation (intro to the central mystery and stakes).02:20 — From hockey rinks to hedge funds to cannabis: Josh Roberts' journey and why Wellford pursued Aqualitas (founder & investor perspective).06:30 — Meet the scientist: Danielle Maitland explains aquaponics vs hydroponics and the living ecosystem that fuels plants.10:15 — Inside Aqualitas: the basement system, 3,000 koi, recirculating aquaculture, and the water chemistry that changes product quality.13:30 — Business & science meet: why aquaponics creates a defensible moat, R&D hurdles, and the global response.16:30 — Takeaways, implications for sustainable cultivation, and what's next for Nova Scotia's life sciences scene.Guest bios & credentials:- Danielle Maitland — Director of Science & Cultivation Technology, Aqualitas. Background: chemical engineering, MSc in sustainable aquaculture, PhD candidate in agricultural sciences; expert in aquaponics and plant–microbe interactions.- Josh Roberts — Chief Business Officer, Wellford Group. Former hedge fund trader and co-founder of Cannaray/WellfordWhat you'll learn:- How aquaponics works and why it can outperform hydroponics for cannabis: closed-loop water, nutrient cycling, and beneficial microbes.- The sustainability gains: 90–95% water recirculation, reduced synthetic fertilizers, and lower energy/resource footprint.- Commercial and regulatory implications: why unique cultivation methods create supply-chain advantages and differentiation for medical cannabis.- Lessons for founders and investors: the power of deep R&D, place-based innovation (Nova Scotia), and vertical integration strategies.Resources & links mentioned:- Aqualitas: https://aqualitas.ca- Wellford Group / Cannaray: https://wellford.com- Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca- Snack Labs: https://wearesnack.io- Intro reading on aquaponics vs hydroponics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Delivery Dilemma
Nov 1900:40:06Tap to summarizeIn this episode of New Wave, we trace Dr. Abdullah "Dr. K" Kirumira's extraordinary path from 1970s Uganda to Windsor, Nova Scotia — and how his decades of cross-disciplinary biotech work produced Bioteem 40, a probiotic supplement designed to meet real-world nutrition and gut-health challenges. We explore the science behind the microbiome, the social and medical drivers of a global gut-health crisis, and why a simple, durable design matters for healthcare everywhere.Episode timestamps & highlights:00:00 — Opening hook: Gut as the "second brain" and the stakes for modern health02:20 — Teaser: What Bioteem 40 promises that other probiotics don’t03:30 — Introducing Therapy Bios Pharma and Dr. Abdullah Kirumira ("Dr. K")05:30 — Origin story: escaping Idi Amin’s Uganda and the pivot from dentistry to food tech11:00 — Science deep-dive: fermentation, dry-reagent chemistry, and medical diagnostics15:30 — The innovation: how Bioteem 40 works differently (stability, strains, delivery)20:00 — Real-world impact: malnutrition, elderly care, mental health connections25:00 — What’s next: commercialization, clinical trials, and global distribution28:30 — Key takeaways, final thoughts, and calls-to-actionGuest bio & credentials:Dr. Abdullah Kirumira (Dr. K) — President & CEO, Therapy Bios Pharma (Windsor, NS). Trained in dentistry and food processing technology; postgraduate work in the U.S. (University of Maryland) and Australia; decades of work in fermentation, industrial and medical biotechnology, and dry-reagent diagnostics. A survivor of political violence in Uganda whose career spans diagnostics, probiotics, and practical healthcare solutions for low-resource settings.Links & resources mentioned:- Bioteem 40 product page: https://bioteem40.ca- Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca- Read more on microbiome basics: https://www.nature.com/subjects/microbiome (reference) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Frozen Diagnostics
Nov 1200:33:45Tap to summarizeA frozen vial, a lifesaving diagnosis: how a Nova Scotia company reimagined bleeding tests and changed outcomes worldwide. In this episode of New Wave we unpack how Precision Biologic turned a simple customer insight - freeze the reagent - into a global shift in hemostasis diagnostics.Episode breakdown & timestamps- 00:00 Hook & scene: the everyday miracle of blood clotting and why it matters. (00:00)- 01:48 Show intro & mission: New Wave, Life Sciences Nova Scotia & Snack Labs. (01:48)- 02:07 The clotting cascade explained: Dr. John Geske walks us through the 13-step process and why each factor matters for diagnosis. (02:07)- 06:55 Athlete story: Alex Dowsett on living with severe hemophilia A and the stakes of timely testing. (06:55)- 12:10 Diagnostic delays and family stories: why unreliable tests cost years of life and peace of mind. (12:10)- 13:48 The breakthrough: Precision Biologic’s frozen (cryopreserved) reagent strategy and product story. (13:48)- 17:31 Cold chain & scale: liquid nitrogen, dry ice, logistics and global distribution challenges. (17:31)- 19:31 Systems impact: how accurate diagnostics reduce costly treatment errors and protect health budgets. (19:31)- 22:00 Closing: regulation, persistence, and what comes next for diagnostics innovation. (22:00)Guests & bios- Dr. John Geske — Chief Scientific Officer, Precision Biologic. He explains the science behind hemostasis, the technical hurdles for reagents, and why frozen plasma-based controls changed lab workflows.- Paul Empy — CEO, Precision Biologic. Describes customer discovery, product strategy, and the company’s operational choices.- Alex Dowsett — Professional cyclist and person living with severe hemophilia A. His story humanizes diagnostic urgency.Key takeaways & memorable quotes- "A frozen vial of plasma" became the phrase that reminded the company of the lives their work touches.- Frozen liquid reagents eliminate a high-risk, error-prone reconstitution step in labs—improving accuracy, speed, and patient safety.- Accurate diagnostics lower system-wide costs (avoiding unnecessary $10,000 drug switches) and speed correct treatments.- Quote: "If you do this work once under perfect conditions and ship it frozen, you remove human error at the bench."Why this mattersThis episode explores diagnostic innovation, frozen reagents, hemostasis labs, hemophilia diagnostics, cold-chain logistics, and patient-centered product design. Target keywords include frozen diagnostics, hemophilia testing, precision biologic, cryo reagents, and Nova Scotia life sciences.Call-to-actionIf you found this episode illuminating, subscribe to New Wave, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share with colleagues in lab medicine.Links & resources mentioned- Precision Biologic: https://precisionbiologic.com- Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca/- Snack Labs podcast production: https://wearesnack.io- World Federation of Hemophilia (patient resources): https://www.wfh.orgShow branding & social handlesNew Wave — stories about life sciences and health tech from Nova Scotia.Follow: Life Sciences Nova Scotia (LinkedIn) | @snackpodcasts (instagram | Precision BioLogic (LinkedIn)This episode blends investigative reporting with scientific explanation and patient stories to reveal how a small operational change—freezing reagents—reduced diagnostic risk and improved outcomes worldwide. Perfect for clinicians, lab directors, biotech founders, and anyone interested in relatable science and systems-level healthcare impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Surgical Precision of Sound
Jun 1100:32:25Tap to summarizeWe've all heard of ultrasound, but what you likely haven't heard of is the mind bending sci-fi future of an established technology that's been in the works for decades. On this episode of New Wave, we're speaking with Jeff Leadbetter from Daxsonics Ultrasound about how his company helps top medical minds bring revolutionary ultrasound research to life in a way that will blow you away. From burning lesions in the brain to wipe out neurological disorders, to scalpels that don't have to cut through skin, welcome to the world of ultrasound you didn't know existed. New Wave is produced by Snack Labs. It is written & narrated by Taylor MacGillivary. New Wave is edited by, Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever and Taylor MacGillivary from Snack Labs. Music and sound design is by Donovan Morgan. Find out more about Snack Labs at www.wearesnack.ioThis series is brought to you by Life Sciences Nova Scotia. LSNS is fueling innovation and commercial success of the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia by amplifying the ambition of founders and visionaries who aim to change the world through the commercialization of game-changing ideas. Learn more about them at www.lifesciencesnovascotia.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Why Patient Outcomes Matter More Than Ever
Jun 400:25:37Tap to summarizeStandardization reigns supreme in the world of science, but when it comes to drug development, a Nova Scotian company is challenging the status quo. Patient centred outcomes have been identified by the FDA as a clinical trials tool that needs more attention, and Ardea Outcomes is doing just that. Building off of the foundation of Goal Attainment Scaling, a method pioneered in the 1960s to help treat patients struggling with mental health challenges, Ardea Outcomes is helping create objective data from subjective experience and putting patients at the centre of their own treatment. New Wave is produced by Snack Labs. It is written & narrated by Taylor MacGillivary. New Wave is edited by, Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever and Taylor MacGillivary from Snack Labs. Music and sound design is by Donovan Morgan. Find out more about Snack Labs at www.wearesnack.ioThis series is brought to you by Life Sciences Nova Scotia. LSNS is fuelling innovation and commercial success of the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia by amplifying the ambition of founders and visionaries who aim to change the world through the commercialization of game-changing ideas. Learn more about them at www.lifesciencesnovascotia.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Quiet Leaders in Muscular Dystrophy
May 2800:44:48Tap to summarizeEric Hoffman's academic career began in the artistic arena of music, and ended at the bleeding edge of the genetic revolution. in 1987, he discovered the very first disease causing gene...the gene responsible for Muscular Dystrophy. With grit and determination, Eric dedicated his professional life to turning a scientific discovery into treatments that can actually change lives, and he is tireless in that pursuit. Join us as we learn how AGADA Biosciences has become the silent partner in the global fight against Musular Dystrophy, and how Alexei, who has lived with MD since childhood, has struggled, and defied the odds, with a disease that doesn't quit. New Wave is produced by Snack Labs. It is written & narrated by Taylor MacGillivary. New Wave is edited by, Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever and Taylor MacGillivary from Snack Labs. Music and sound design is by Donovan Morgan. Find out more about Snack Labs at www.wearesnack.ioThis series is brought to you by Life Sciences Nova Scotia. LSNS is fueling innovation and commercial success of the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia by amplifying the ambition of founders and visionaries who aim to change the world through the commercialization of game-changing ideas. Learn more about them at www.lifesciencesnovascotia.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Vision Crisis Hiding Right Before Our Eyes
May 21, 202500:37:18Tap to summarizeOur eyes evolved in sunlight, and sunlight is something we are exposed to less and less as our technological world puts us indoors and in front of screens more and more each day. Enter Coloursmith, a Nova Scotian company that has broken through a barrier of innovation in contact lense technology, enabling a level of colour filtration that has been virtually impossible to achieve, until now. Join us as we dive into the Myopia epidemic that is spreading across the globe at an alarming rate, and how colour filtration could lend a hand in curbing a vision crisis that has been lurking right before our eyes. New Wave is produced by Snack Labs. It is written & narrated by Taylor MacGillivary. New Wave is edited by, Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever and Taylor MacGillivary from Snack Labs. Music and sound design is by Donovan Morgan. Find out more about Snack Labs at www.wearesnack.ioThis series is brought to you by Life Sciences Nova Scotia. LSNS is fueling innovation and commercial success of the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia by amplifying the ambition of founders and visionaries who aim to change the world through the commercialization of game-changing ideas. Learn more about them at www.lifesciencesnovascotia.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Are We Close To Creating Organs From Scratch?
Nov 6, 202400:31:54Tap to summarizeEvery day, 17 people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant. We're a great distance away from creating funtioning, complex organs from scratch, but it's a sci-fi future that we're convinced is coming. An integral part of bringing that future to life, is collagen. Collagen is like the scaffolding on which this future will be built, literally AND figuratively, and there's a company in Nova Scotia that has unlocked the door, for the first time, to scalable and affordable collagen production. The company, is 3D BioFibr. New Wave is produced by Snack Labs. It is narrated Taylor MacGillivary and written by Haeley DiRisio and Taylor MacGillivary. New Wave is edited by, Jeremie Saunders and Taylor MacGillivary from Snack Labs. Music and sound design is by Donovan Morgan. Find out more about Snack Labs at www.wearesnack.ioThis series is brought to you by Life Sciences Nova Scotia. LSNS is fuelling innovation and commercial success of the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia by amplifying the ambition of founders and visionaries who aim to change the world through the commercialization of game-changing ideas. Learn more about them at www.lifesciencesnovascotia.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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