Brains & Guts: The GI Innovation Podcast

In this first episode of Brains & Guts, our hosts – Drs. Vivek Kaul, Toufic Kachaamy, and Vladimir Kushnir – explain why the practicing gastroenterologist should care about innovation. The conversation also defines the innovator’s mindset, the role of industry companies, and what topics the show will cover in Season 1.(17:08)

In this episode, we are joined by Virender Sharma, MD, FACG, a entrepreneur and founder of several med-tech companies. Dr. Sharma walks us through the key steps that come at the beginning of the innovation journey: identifying a need, evaluating novelty, establishing legal protection, and most importantly, understanding your why as an innovator.(31:07)

In this episode, Steven Edmundowicz, MD helps aspiring GI innovators gut check their potential financial questions. Dr. Edmundowicz walks through the risk-benefit calculation for a product development journey, evaluating market size, the 'code / no-code' question, starting a company versus prototyping & licensing, and more. (23:34)

In this episode, Robert Takara, JD from City of Hope answers all of the questions that aspiring GI innovators are afraid to ask but need to know. The conversation covers the different types of patents and how they apply to gastroenterology, why provisional patents are important, when to engage a patent attorney or an institution's technology transfer program, and the top legal mist

In this two-part episode, the entrepreneurs behind Monarc Partners - Jason Ylizarde, Jeremy Starkweather, and John Wynne - share the secrets behind the conducting a market analysis, fundraising, and the commercialization process. The conversation includes how to assess your innovation's market size, the factors to consider in your risk evaluation, and what an inventor should do bef

In part two of this episode, the entrepreneurs behind Monarc Partners - Jason Ylizarde, Jeremy Starkweather, and John Wynne - share more secrets about fundraising and market analyses. The conversation includes whether physicians should invest their own money, how to build a team, and the top mistakes innovators make during the fundraising and licensing process. (27:28)

In this episode, we are joined by Christen Springs, the Managing Partner of EndoRx and a 20 year veteran of the medical device industry. Christen walks us through the importance of prototyping, including how to identify builders, key benchmarks for budget and timelines. We also explore how prototypes can be more important than patents in securing investments.(27:36)

In this episode, we are joined by Steven Fallon, JD, a shareholder at Greer, Burns & Crain in Chicago and an intellectual property expert. Steven explains why freedom to operate analyses are crucial before manufacturing and sales. The conversation also covers: how FTO differs from patentability, how to conduct an analysis and mitigate risks, and why intellectual property law can ac

In this final episode of season 1, Dr. Vladimir Kushnir takes a look back at all the great advice from our guests. We cover the beginning of the innovation journey, fundraising, patenting, prototyping, building a team, and more. New episodes coming in 2025! (13:45)

In season 2 of Brains & Guts, we're focusing on the AI landscape in GI. For this first episode, we are joined by Dr. Aasma Shaukat, professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a member of ACG's Board of Trustees, and a thought leader on effective and ethical use of AI tools. In the conversation, she offers her insights on how AI might accelerate precision medicine ini