Biotech LifeStream: Flowing with the Innovators of Tomorrow

Ashley Kalinauskas - CEO of Torigen Pharmaceuticals: Personalized Cancer Vaccine and the Potential of Microbiome

Paeto Wangweera Season 1 Episode 14

Ashley is the CEO and founder of Torigen Pharmaceuticals, a company born out of her graduate thesis at the University of Notre Dame. She holds a degree in Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut (2012) and completed her Master’s at Notre Dame in 2013. Torigen focuses on an experimental autologous cancer vaccine developed from the research of Dr. Mark Suckow, one of her professors at Notre Dame.

Ashley has received several prestigious accolades, including being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020, the Animal Health Innovation USA Award in 2021, Notre Dame’s Domer Dozen in 2021, and the Hartford Business Journal’s 2023 Power 50 list.


EPISODE SUMMARY: 

She talked about how her passion for oncology developed, how she pursued that passion, and how she found opportunities in college.

How she transitions from a research environment to a business environment 

Taking a business path in personalized vaccines and finding the goal of Torigen Pharmaceuticals.

Torigen Pharmaceuticals and producing cancer vaccines for dogs

Personalized cancer vaccine.

Biggest problem with treating animals with cancer therapy vaccine 

How she connected with colleagues and professors

Advice to establishing connections  

The potential in microbiome for therapeutics  

Antigen T-cells binding epitopes as a potential research topic.  

Advice for future passionate students    

Visible software for connections 

email: ashley@torigen.com

Website: www.torigen.com