Leap Together Podcast

What does it take to protect the research that could one day save your sight? On this episode of Leap Together, Zach Gobst is joined by Dan Igniewski, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) and the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR). With over 20 years in government affairs and patient advocacy, Dan has become one of Washington's most persistent voices for vision research funding, and today's conversation shows exactly why that work matters.Dan traces his path from early healthcare policy work to championing the National Eye Institute's independence on Capitol Hill, sharing how vision science is quietly leading some of medicine's most exciting frontiers, from the first FDA-approved gene therapy to AI-powered diagnostics and stem cell breakthroughs. He also unpacks NAEVR's “See What Matters” campaign, the mechanics of effective coalition building, and what it really takes to align patients, providers, researchers, and industry around a single message when federal funding is on the line.Timestamps00:00 Episode start01:45 Dan's background and path to advocacy03:55 What makes vision research unique05:45 Parallels between policy and clinical research06:55 Bipartisan support for NIH and the National Eye Institute08:00 Career inflection points and advocacy wins11:00 The See What Matters campaign14:50 Shared challenges in patient engagement16:55 What makes advocacy most effective19:40 Mentorship and career guidance23:15 The power of persistence and confidence25:30 Closing thoughtsKey TakeawaysCoalition is everything. When patients, providers, researchers, and industry align around a shared message, Congress listens. No single organization can move policy alone.Vision research punches above its weight. From the first FDA-approved gene therapy to stem cell and AI advances, vision scientists have quietly been leading the broader medical research field for decades.Don't wait to be taken seriously. As Dan once heard from a colleague: "You've been in the decision-making rooms for years, why do you think suddenly at 30 it's gonna change?" Show up, know your value, and make your point.Vigilance is ongoing. Even with recent wins protecting NIH funding, Dan reminds us that staying engaged and vocal is a continuous responsibility, not a one-time effort.ResourcesConnect with Dan Igniewski on LinkedInCheck out the See What Matters CampaignCheck out the National Alliance for Eye and Vision ResearchConnect with Zach Gobst on LinkedInCheck out Leapcure

What does it actually take for a high-performing clinical practice to step into research for the first time? In this episode, Zach Gobst sits down with Dr. John Mandeville, a leading oculoplastic surgeon at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, to trace his unexpected path from bench science and surgical practice back to clinical research and what he's learned in his first year running studies.Dr. Mandeville shares how a career spent treating Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) led him to seek out new treatment options when surgical approaches alone weren't enough, and how that curiosity brought him from enrolling a single patient to running eight or nine clinical trials in just twelve months. He reflects honestly on the steep regulatory learning curve, the importance of building the right team, the challenge of managing patient expectations and motivations, and what it really costs, financially and personally, to build a research program inside a busy private practice.His perspective on patient recruitment is especially candid: from understanding why some patients are eager to enroll, to knowing when to talk someone out of a trial entirely, Dr. Mandeville brings a grounded, empathetic lens to what is often treated as a purely logistical problem.

Why do so many rare disease families, especially families of color, still feel unseen in research, and what would it take to build clinical trials that truly meet them where they are? In this episode, Laura Brencher, Leapcure’s VP of Advocacy, sits down with Dini Rao, co-founder of Colors of Hope and a Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) advocate, to explore what equitable research looks like when day-to-day caregiving is already a full-time job.Dini shares how Colors of Hope was born from a simple but powerful goal; helping families feel less alone. Dini discusses how that community lens translates directly into better research participation: clearer education, trusted messengers, and study experiences designed around real constraints. Dini points to evidence that physician workforce diversity can have measurable health impacts, specifically, findings related to racial gaps in cardiovascular mortality (ref 1). Together, Laura and Dini unpack why representation isn’t just a “nice to have,” how sponsors and sites can reduce friction without sacrificing quality, and why listening to caregivers is essential to ethical, patient-centered progress in rare disease research.In this episode, we cover:How community-building can remove barriers to research participation and reduce isolation for familiesWhat “patient-centered” means when caregivers are balancing complex, round-the-clock needsWhy diversity in rare disease research requires trust, cultural humility, and sustained outreachPractical ways to make trials more accessible (communication, logistics, support) while protecting qualityTo learn more about Colors of Hope, check out https://www.pwscolorsofhope.org/Subscribe for more conversations on clinical research innovation that keeps patient needs at the center.Reference:Alsan, Marcella; Garrick, Owen; Graziani, Grant. “Does Diversity Matter for Health? Experimental Evidence from Oakland.” American Economic Review, 109(12), Dec 2019. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20181446

Why are pregnant and breastfeeding women still so often excluded from clinical research, and what does that mean for real-world decision-making? In this episode, Laura Brencher, Leapcure's VP of Advocacy, sits down with Marie Teil, UCB's Global Head of Special Patient Populations, to unpack the long-standing evidence gap for women of childbearing age and what it takes to close it responsibly.Marie shares why inclusion has to be intentional from the start, how earlier data generation supports more informed conversations between patients and clinicians, and what “ethical” truly looks like when patients are left without evidence. The conversation touches on growing global momentum, including evolving ICH guidance aimed at supporting the inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in clinical trials and what leaders across the ecosystem can do today to move the field forward.In this episode, we cover:Why excluding pregnant/breastfeeding populations creates real-world risk and uncertaintyDesigning inclusive studies as a default, not an afterthoughtBuilding trust-driven, evidence-based approaches that support patients and physiciansProgress in the field and why upcoming global guidelines matterA principle to carry forward: protect women through research, not from researchSubscribe for more conversations on clinical research innovation that keeps patient needs at the center.

In this episode of Leap Together, host Zach Gobst sits down with Vish Srivastava, Co-Founder and CEO of Century Health, to explore how AI and real-world clinical data can accelerate breakthrough treatments and create more inclusive research.Vish shares his journey into healthcare technology, shaped by both professional experience and deeply personal motivation, and explains why so much of today’s most valuable clinical insight lives outside academic medical centers. Together, they discuss the challenges of unlocking fragmented community-based data, the limitations of traditional registries, and why underrepresented patient populations hold the key to answering some of medicine’s most important unanswered questions.The conversation also dives into Century Health’s thoughtful approach to applying AI in healthcare: why trust, transparency, and validation matter, how models are evaluated against human clinicians, and what it really takes to build AI systems that can be relied on for research and patient impact.From founding a company in a complex healthcare ecosystem to designing AI that earns clinical trust, this episode is a candid look at what it means to take the harder path in order to make a meaningful difference for patients.

In this epsiode of Leap Together, Tris Pharma’s Head of Clinical Operations, Liza Micioni, distills 25+ years of end-to-end study leadership. She discusses how durable physician relationships speed decisions and drive site follow-through, and how steady cross-functional rhythms keep “your delay becomes my delay” from taking root. Liza unpacks the real trade-offs of the clin-ops triangle: time, budget, and quality. She explains that quality is non-negotiable, while timelines and budgets need to flex to meet reality. She shares practical stories of creative, “figure-it-out” logistics, when extending a timeline is the right call, and a grounded take on where AI truly helps (and where it doesn’t) in today’s trials.Above all, her north star never wavers: improving individual lives, one patient at a time.

In this episode of Leap Together, Zachary Gobst talks with Dr. Michele Reynolds, a family medicine physician turned ACRP-certified principal investigator who has led more than 400 clinical trials over three decades. What began as a “lucky accident” became a career defined by precision, patient education, and strong sponsor partnerships.Dr. Reynolds shares how mentorship shaped her approach, why building trust with monitors and recruitment teams leads to better outcomes. She discusses how she’s navigated changes in the industry, from recruiting “right-fit” participants to contributing to pivotal vaccine research during COVID-19.From lessons learned in the field to insights on maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle in research, this conversation is a masterclass in running studies that make a difference for both science and patients.

In this episode of Leap Together, host Zach Gobst sits down with Joel Stanley, founder and former CEO of Charlotte’s Web, and now CEO of AJNA Biosciences, to explore the pioneering path from supplement to FDA-approved botanical drug. Joel shares the powerful origin story of Charlotte’s Web, the lessons learned from navigating the unregulated CBD market, and how those insights now fuel his mission to bring safe, standardized plant-based therapeutics to patients through AJNA Biosciences.Learn how Joel and his team are working to bridge the gap between natural medicine and clinical science, what it takes to build physician advocacy, and why access, not just efficacy, is the next frontier in healthcare innovation.Whether you're a clinical leader, researcher, or founder, tune into this episode for a blueprint for building science-backed solutions that start with compassion.

In this special episode of Leap Together, we flip the mic and put our very own CEO, Zach Gobst, in the guest seat. Interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25, Zach shares the personal story that led him to launch Leapcure and the values that continue to guide the company nearly a decade later.Zach dives into:How a family health scare sparked his commitment to clinical researchThe evolution of Leapcure from a tech startup to a purpose-driven services companyThe power of true partnerships with sponsors, sites, and advocacy groupsWhy empathy, equity, and patient understanding are the future of clinical trialsLessons in leadership, company culture, and building a team that leads with impactThis episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the heart and mission of Leapcure and why we believe clinical trials work best when everyone’s voice is heard.

In the first Leap Together episode, host Zach Gobst talks with Christine Gustafson, founder and CEO of the Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Community Organization. Christine shares her journey from isolated patient to global advocate, emphasizing the power of community in overcoming fear and isolation. They discuss parallels between entrepreneurship and advocacy, highlighting the importance of flexibility, curiosity, and authenticity. Christine’s insights underscore the vital role patient advocacy plays in clinical research and treatment advancements for TED.