The MedTech Podcast

• #88 Hydrogel Tech and Lab Automation with Sinan Golhan: Hydrogel Robotics, Startup Fundraising and Battlefield Medicine

  Sinan Gölhan, Founder and CEO of GelTech is helping scientists develop life-saving hydrogel treatments faster through automation. From cancer-fighting gels to battlefield-ready biomaterials, Sinan’s journey fuses deep technical insight with an intensely personal mission.In this episode, we talk about why hydrogels, the “Jell-O of medicine”, are so important in modern biotech, and how Sinan’s frustration with repetitive lab work led him to build robotic systems to accelerate testing. He shares hard-won lessons from early fundraising, what labs get wrong about automation, and how he turned rejection into resilience. We also dive into the world of battlefield bleeding control, nanotech-based drug delivery, and the future of AI-driven materials science.Timestamps:[00:00:18] What Are Hydrogels and Why They Matter[00:02:30] A Personal Mission: Cancer, Family and Science[00:04:45] From Lab Frustration to Robotic Innovation[00:06:33] Fundraising Real Talk: Angels, Grants, and Grit[00:10:42] How GelTech’s Platform Actually Works[00:13:33] Hydrogels in Your Fridge and in the OR[00:14:54] Why Lab Automation Isn’t a Luxury[00:16:23] The Coming Wave of Smart Materials[00:20:11] Battlefield Nanotech: Bleeding Control with Gels[00:27:25] Advice to Founders: Obsession, Vision and PersistenceGet in touch with Sinan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinan-g%C3%B6lhan-a49691b6/ Learn more about Exagen - https://www.geltechlabs.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast

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• #87 Diagnosing the Undiagnosable with Dr. Brittany Partain: T-Cell Biomarkers, Clinical Trust and Women in Biotech

  Dr. Brittany Partain, Associate Director of Clinical Affairs and Physician Education at Exagen has a background in biomedical engineering and a passion for problem-solving, Brittany has carved out a unique role at the intersection of diagnostics, clinical education and biotech innovationIn this episode, we explore why autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are so difficult to diagnose, and how Brittany is helping close that gap through physician education and the use of novel T-cell biomarkers. We also talk about building trust with clinicians, misconceptions around diagnostic tools, and the real challenges of advancing innovation in a field that’s historically lagging behind specialities like oncology. Finally, Brittany reflects on her journey as a female leader in MedTech, the importance of collaboration, and why passion matters when navigating a fast-paced, highly regulated industryTimestamps:[00:00:45] Why Autoimmune Diseases Are So Difficult to Diagnose[00:01:55] From Biomedical Engineering to Clinical Affairs[00:04:34] Why Rheumatology Has Lagged Behind[00:07:07] How T-Cell Biomarkers Work and What They Solve[00:09:18] What Autoimmune Diseases Are and How They Present[00:11:05] Common Misconceptions Among Clinicians[00:13:00] How Hospitals and Private Clinics React to New Tools[00:15:07] Building Clinical Trust Through Science[00:18:05] What Most People Don’t Know About Autoimmune Disease[00:21:58] Women in Biotech: Breaking Stereotypes and Leading ChangeGet in touch with Brittany - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-d-partain Learn more about Exagen - https://exagen.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast

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• #86 Sepsis, Speed and Saving Lives with Dr. Rolland Carlson: Gene Signatures, Clinical Trials, and the Future of Infection Detection

  Dr. Rolland “Rollie” Carlson, CEO of Immunexpress is a veteran of the molecular diagnostics space. With over 25 years of leadership across Abbott, WaferGen, Asuragen, and more, Rollie is now focused on solving one of healthcare’s most urgent crises: Sepsis.In this episode, we explore why sepsis, despite causing more than 48 million deaths annually remains so poorly understood and misdiagnosed. Rollie breaks down why early detection is so difficult, how gene expression profiling can finally distinguish between infectious and non-infectious inflammation and the real-world barriers to clinical trial design, FDA approval and physician adoption. We also cover military use cases, the lack of gold standards in sepsis diagnostics and what needs to change in how hospitals are incentivised to tackle this conditionTimestamps:[00:00:26] Why Sepsis Remains Underdiagnosed Globally[00:01:42] What Sepsis Actually Is and Why It's So Deadly[00:03:14] Who’s Most at Risk: Age, Immunity, and Beyond[00:04:25] Detecting Sepsis Through Gene Expression[00:05:39] Why Blood Cultures Aren’t Enough Anymore[00:09:14] FDA Approval Without a Gold Standard: The Regulatory Maze[00:12:39] Sepsis Isn’t Always Bacterial and Why That Matters[00:15:20] How Physicians Are Reacting to New Molecular Tools[00:17:35] Beyond Sepsis: Expansion Into Infectious Diseases[00:18:57] From Marine Biologist to Diagnostics PioneerGet in touch with Rollie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rollie-carlson-ph-d-059074a/ Learn more about Immunexpress - https://immunexpress.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast

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• #85 Under the Skin with Martin Burns: Bedsores, Biology-Based Prevention & The Hidden Cost of Inaction

  Martin Burns, CEO of Bruin Biometrics is a former management consultant who worked with Deloitte and PwC and has also served as a guest lecturer at UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he taught entrepreneurship in biotechnologyAt Bruin, Martin is leading the charge to bring pressure injury (bedsore) prevention into the 21st century. Bedsores are entirely preventable yet remain one of the most under-discussed threats in hospitals today, especially among patients with darker skin tones who are often overlooked by traditional visual assessmentsIn this episode, Martin explains why a biology-first approach is needed to tackle these “silent killers,” the major cultural and systemic hurdles to adoption, and why he believes sensor technology should become as routine as checking blood oxygen levels. We also explore investor skepticism, the importance of diverse clinical validation and the operational realities of implementing new technologies in hospitals without disrupting workflowsTimestamps:[00:00:18] What Are Pressure Injuries and Why They’re Deadly[00:02:12] The Moment Martin Saw the Real Problem[00:03:58] The Biology of Subepidermal Moisture[00:06:53] Turning a Science Project into a Scalable Product[00:10:06] Why Traditional Risk Assessments Fail[00:12:41] Addressing Skin Tone Bias in Wound Care[00:17:14] From Skepticism to Adoption: Changing Clinical Culture[00:21:55] Beyond Bedsores: Future Sensor Applications[00:24:17] The Nurse Assistant That Frees Up Hours[00:26:52] Mountains, Gym Days & Recharging Outside WorkGet in touch with Martin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-burns-9391a57/ Learn more about Bruin - https://sem-scanner.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast

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• #84 Fast-Tracking Clinical Trials with Julio G. Martinez-Clark: LATAM Strategy, FIH Studies & MedTech Market Access

  Julio G. Martinez-Clark CEO of Bioaccess and President of IAOCR/GCSA Americas is a MedTech trailblazer helping startups accelerate First-in-Human (FIH) clinical trials across Latin America, with over 20 years of experience spanning healthcare, telecom and venture capitalIn this episode, we unpack why more MedTech companies are turning to LATAM for faster, more cost-effective trial execution. Julio shares how his Miami-based CRO helps deliver 58-day CE mark approvals, his experience supporting 100+ device startups and why time, not money, is the most precious currency for early-stage founders. We also touch on trial quality, regulatory strategy and why he believes Latin America will play a defining role in the next era of global MedTech innovationTimestamps:[00:00:47] Why LATAM Is the Next MedTech Trial Hub[00:02:21] The Problem with FIH Trials in the U.S.[00:04:42] How bioaccess® Reduces Approval Timelines by 70%[00:06:01] Strategic Sites, Patient Retention & CRO Infrastructure[00:08:17] Do LATAM Trials Hold Up to FDA & EU Scrutiny?[00:10:43] The Fundraising Pressure Behind Faster Clinical Results[00:12:22] Founder Mistakes in In-House Trial Management[00:14:11] Why LATAM May Overtake Eastern Europe in FIH Volume[00:17:26] Regulatory Standards, UNESCO, and Regional Quality[00:20:10] Julio Outside the Office: Family, Fitness & PodcastingGet in touch with Julio - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliomartinezclark/Learn more about Bioaccess - https://www.bioaccessla.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast

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