Dr. Ned Swanson walked away from surgery residency to commercialize technology that regenerates human tissue. What started with mouse studies is now helping real patients heal wounds that traditional medicine couldn't solve.
But here's the twist: the science wasn't the hardest part.
In this episode, Dr. Ned Swanson (President & CMO at Polarity Bio) sits down with Ayush Mishra to reveal the brutal truths about building biotech, navigating healthcare's broken reimbursement systems, and separating AI signal from noise in wound care.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The Career Gamble
Why he left surgery residency mid-training
The moment he realized biotech could help patients faster than academia
Grant money vs VC funding: which path offers more creative freedom
Taking a company public while still thinking like a resident
Building Biotech: The Brutal Reality
The #1 challenge that blindsided him (it's not what you think)
Moving technology from mouse studies to human patients
Navigating FDA approval processes
Why hiring the right people is harder than everything else
Patient stories that made the risk worth it
Healthcare's Uncomfortable Truths
How cost and reimbursement drive medical decisions more than evidence
The "pure medicine" illusion every resident experiences
Why the same products are priced $100 vs $5,000 per square centimeter
What breaks when you step outside the hospital walls
AI in Healthcare: Reality Check
Where AI genuinely helps in wound care: imaging, monitoring, real-world evidence
Smart boots tracking diabetic ulcers and patient compliance
How platforms like Open Evidence are changing clinical decisions
Why AI won't replace RCTs but will expand their impact
The future of wound care in 5-10 years
Regenerative Medicine Explained
How SkinTE technology actually works
Why 95% of traditional skin grafts fail
From lab bench to patient bedside: the real timeline
Expanded access programs and their impact
If you work in pharma, clinical operations, wound care, or research strategy, this conversation offers a clear view of where the future of healthcare is heading.
Dr. Ned Swanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ned-swanson-md-9612b120/
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