Smart Biotech Scientist | Master Bioprocess CMC Development, Biologics Manufacturing & Scale-up, Cell Culture Innovation
The Go-to Podcast for Biotech Scientists Who Want to Master Biopharma CMC Development and Biomanufacturing.
**TOP 10 LIFE SCIENCES PODCAST**
Are you ready to simplify bioprocess development and scale with confidence to reduce time to market?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the complexity and guesswork of biologics development and biomanufacturing?
Do you wish you had more time to enjoy the beauty of science, without worrying about failing your cell culture process development and commercialization?
There's a way to simplify and streamline so you can remove complexity, skip trials and errors, deliver your groundbreaking therapy to clinics and market without delay, and still enjoy every single step.
I'm David Brühlmann, a biotech entrepreneur and strategic advisor who partners with C-level biopharma leaders to tackle one of our industry's biggest challenges: reducing manufacturing costs to make lifesaving therapies accessible to more patients worldwide.
Through engaging conversations with industry pioneers and practical insights from the trenches, this podcast tackles the critical challenges in bioprocess CMC development and manufacturing of recombinant proteins and cell and gene therapy products. We cut through the complexity so you can:
- Master bioprocess development with confidence and clarity
- Excel at scale-up and manufacturing of biologics
- Transform your innovative therapy and manufacturing technology into market-ready solutions faster
- Optimize manufacturing costs without compromising quality
- Make data-driven decisions that reduce the risk of failure
I can’t wait to help you do biotech the smart way.
Grab a cup of coffee and your favorite notebook and pen. Now is the time to take your bioprocessing game to the next level.
Ready to transform your biomanufacturing journey? Let's dive in!
Next Steps:
Book a free call to reduce biomanufacturing costs and make lifesaving therapies more accessible: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call
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Accelerate biologics development with expert guidance: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com
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Visit the Website: https://smartbiotechscientist.com
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Smart Biotech Scientist | Master Bioprocess CMC Development, Biologics Manufacturing & Scale-up, Cell Culture Innovation
207: Cryogenic Infrared Ion Spectroscopy: From Mass Spec Limitations to Molecular Precision with Tom Rizzo - Part 1
What if you could identify every structural variant in your biologics—without ambiguity, without massive sample requirements, and without the guesswork that plagues traditional mass spectrometry? Cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy (CIRIS) makes it possible, transforming molecular characterization from frustrating puzzle to precise science.
Today's guest, Professor Tom Rizzo, bridges the gap between academic innovation and industrial application. As former Dean of the School of Basic Sciences at EPFL in Lausanne and now Chief Scientific Officer at Isospec Analytics, Tom has spent over two decades developing analytical techniques that solve problems conventional methods can't touch.
His journey from a childhood fascination sparked by chemistry demonstrations at the 1964 New York World's Fair to pioneering a breakthrough technology reveals both the persistence required for true innovation and the pathway from laboratory curiosity to commercial reality. For bioprocess scientists struggling with glycan characterization, isomer identification, or any structural puzzle where mass spec alone falls short, this conversation offers both validation and solutions.
Episode Highlights:
- The fundamental limitations of current biomolecular analysis methods and why innovation is critical (02:51)
- From World's Fair chemistry demos to laser spectroscopy: Tom Rizzo's path to analytical innovation (03:31)
- The two-decade quest to combine mass spectrometry sensitivity with laser spectroscopy precision—and the machine that finally made it work (04:26)
- Why Tom transitioned from academic leadership to Isospec Analytics: bringing lab techniques to production environments (09:17)
- CIRIS fundamentals: how cooling ions to 10 Kelvin unlocks molecular fingerprints that room-temperature methods miss (11:14)
- CIRIS advantages for biologics: single-ion sensitivity, isomer discrimination, and unique molecular "fingerprints" for definitive identification (14:25)
- Integrating CIRIS into existing bioprocess workflows: LC-MS compatibility and the path to commercial instrumentation (17:29)
- Hard-won lessons from translating academic breakthroughs into industrial tools (17:43)
When mass spectrometry hits its limits—distinguishing isomers, characterizing glycans, identifying unknowns in complex mixtures—cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy provides the structural resolution you need. This isn't incremental improvement; it's a fundamental expansion of what's analytically possible.
If you're facing molecular identification challenges that conventional methods can't solve, or if you're curious how next-generation analytical techniques will transform bioprocess development, this episode delivers actionable insights from a scientist who's lived both the innovation and implementation journey.
Connect with Tom Rizzo:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-rizzo-4a0a6314/
Contact email: tom@isospec.ch
Isospec Analytics website: www.isospecanalytics.com
Next step:
Need fast CMC guidance? New on-demand CMC advisory: Get 20 expert answers/month in 1 day + monthly strategy call. → Learn more: https://stan.store/SmartBiotech/p/ondemand-cmc-expertise-for-biotech-founders
One bad CDMO decision can cost you two years and your Series A. If you're navigating tech transfer, CDMO selection, or IND prep, let's talk before it gets expensive. Two slots open this month.