How to Translate Biomedical Innovation into Social and Economic Progress

Message from Sachi

Happy end of 2024 🥳 

This is interview #55 (and #25 of 2024). This will be last interview of 2024, and second last post of 2024.

This December, I’ve been fortunate to have my stories shared on two platforms: First, I shared my journey as a Master’s student in Translational Health Sciences for the Oxford Department of Primary Care’s blog; Second, I highlighted my time as a Program Assistant at Shad Canada (one of the best jobs I’ve ever worked, and yes, it was paid).

Good luck to everyone pushing through final exams and assessments 🫶

This week, I invited one of my friends Aishwarya to share her story (Thanks Subaita for connecting us!). Aishwarya and I had a great convo where we both shared our love for education tech (edtech), innovation, startups, and being Canadians going abroad. I’m excited to share this interview with you all - Aishwarya has lots of inspiring stories to share!

What you’ll learn from Aishwarya:

• Her unconventional path to biotech: Cambridge, commercializing dissertations, viral tweets, building an edtech startup, and more

• Her time in the Cambridge MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise (MBE) programme & insights on the application process as a Canadian applicant

• “Writing has become my most powerful tool for connecting ideas with the right audiences” - the power of writing & examples of Aishwarya’s work

Enjoy today’s read,

Sachi 💌 

How to Translate Biomedical Innovation into Social and Economic Progress: Interview with Aishwarya Khanduja

Check out Aishwarya’s feature on the University of Calgary Website

First off, tell us about your journey so far. Where do you work, what inspired you to pursue this, and what’s next? What else do you like to do outside of work?

My name is Aishwarya (she/her).

I was born and raised in India until the age of 13, when we emigrated to Canada. I did my undergrad in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Calgary under the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hons.) I then went on to found and lead companies in biotech (x, y), ed-tech, and the future of work. I’ve come to see that every system—whether a human body, healthcare infrastructure, or economic framework—is fundamentally “living” in nature. This bio-inspired perspective has profoundly shaped how I identify and address interconnected challenges across disciplines.

I’m currently in stealth – building an R&D (research and development) firm of sorts that reimagines the way we think about complex problems. I hope this work will yield entirely new foundational questions. This work includes funding interesting, curious people, young and old, agnostic of discipline or defined objective. This also includes funding open source and access projects that allow for collaboration across the globe, including “living” literature reviews, “living” relational databases, a conversation series between people who might be doing parallel work in entirely different fields or parts of the world, and more.

Although my work at this very moment is leaning economic and social impact in its essence, I am able to do it because of my background in biomedical innovation.

—

Outside of work, I enjoy writing: https://www.aishwaryadoingthings.com/writing, swimming, pilates, reading, watching Real Housewives of New York.

 At the end of the day, ~I am Just A Girl™~

Your journey into biotech is unconventional - from commercializing your thesis, starting an edtech company in undergrad, and working with different startups around the US. Can you tell us more about your journey?

Totally! My journey into biotech has been anything but traditional. During undergrad, my thesis focused on identifying cytokines in two hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—preeclampsia and HELLP (hypertension, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome. While both conditions have similar physical symptoms, they differ significantly in their underlying biological mechanisms.

What started as identifying cytokines quickly revealed its potential as a diagnostic tool. That realization taught me an important lesson early on: how you frame and communicate your work can open doors to the world. I’ve written previously about the power of story.

I connected with someone on Twitter who was raising funds for a women’s health company focused on diagnostic tools for pregnancy disorders. A direct message led to a move to San Francisco, where I joined the founding team of that company.

On a similar note, I went mega viral on twitter for ‘rejecting a rejection’ and getting in. Writing a good email is an art that I think everyone should get good at.

A similar pattern emerged with my MPhil dissertation, which explored the pipeline between digital and computational pathology, emphasizing human-AI interaction models. My industry dissertation supervisor and I turned it into a more accessible piece, ‘Beyond Digital’ published in The Pathologist. I shared the piece in a Twitter thread, which caught the attention of an investor in Proscia, a later-stage pathology data company.

That connection led to a life-changing opportunity: they invited me to write my “dream job description,” offered me the role overnight, and I was on the next flight to Philadelphia with a TN visa (it is very easy for Canadians to work in the US under this visa) in hand.

Sidenote: the biomedical science degree has helped me gain three TN visas for three different roles under the ‘biologist’ category. Make sure to always work with an immigration lawyer (usually the company sponsoring you handles this). 

Tell us about your experience as a MPhil student at Cambridge. Can you talk about what the application process/timeline was like (especially as a Canadian student), the program format, and some highlights from the course? What was your dissertation research? Did you apply to any other grad schools?

At Cambridge I did the MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise. It is abbreviated as “MBE” to allude to the fact that it is sort of an MBA for biotech. 

My background at the time included founding an ed-tech startup and holding an undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences. In 2019-2020, I faced challenges scaling my edtech startup in Canada and realized I potentially needed more “formal” business knowledge. While building a company taught me more than any degree could (and I stand by that!), I knew the credential would be valuable, especially as a young entrepreneur.

What drew me to the MBE program was its uniqueness - it's one of only two programs globally focused on biotech commercialization (the other being in New Zealand). The program's alumni network was particularly compelling, with graduates working across consulting, startups, and VC. I didn't apply anywhere else - briefly considered health policy, but I was more drawn to creating immediate, tangible impact. And although I wrote the MCAT summer after my third year of undergrad, I always sort of knew it wasn’t in the cards for me. 

The application process was straightforward. I applied in early January to meet the funding deadline. Within a couple of weeks, I received an interview invitation for a panel interview. Rather than over-preparing, I spent about half a day getting ready, prioritizing authenticity. I received my acceptance 2-3 weeks later. While I didn't secure major scholarships like Gates or Cambridge Wellcome Trust (I later learned oxbridge college choice affects funding options), I was fortunate to receive financial support from an early investor in my ed-tech company.

A crucial note for Canadian applicants: Cambridge requires a "first class honours" degree (equivalent to summa cum laude). As a Canadian graduate in a program that requires an honours thesis and high grades, I had officially earned "first class honours," which proved invaluable for my application. Without an honours degree, proving this equivalency might have been challenging, as I think your degree is often named “with distinction” if done without an undergrad honours thesis. 

The program itself was fascinating, though my experience founding a startup meant I was already familiar with many business concepts. The real value came from exposure to various biotech sub-fields and exceptional lecturers (For example, we had someone who worked on the Pfizer vaccine lecture us the day after it was released to the world). A unique aspect was the dissertation requirement - you work with an actual industry partner. Instead of choosing from the program's list, I sought out my own opportunity.

Inspired by PathAI and PaigeAI's impressive Series C rounds in 2021, and recognizing AI's potential in healthcare, I connected with Cyted, a Cambridge-based company that had acquired a digital pathology company called Pathognomics. After cold-emailing the CEO, I secured a position working with their leadership team on my dissertation. The research was particularly relevant given that pathology is involved in 95% of clinical pathways and 70% of diagnostics.

I also collaborated with the PHG Foundation, a Cambridge think tank on the legal and ethical aspects of my research. My work ended up contributing to their workshop on GDPR Article 22. After completing my MPhil, I spent the summer working with Cyted part-time to finish my projects before relocating to San Francisco to work on a women's health venture full time, where we raised a sizable seed round. We eventually could not find product-market fit, and the company was dissolved. 

A part of my dissertation was published in The Pathologist, which caught the interest of an investor in Proscia, a Philly-based company where I ended up working after SF. 

My reflection on one year at Proscia.

Some pieces I wrote during my time in the world of computational pathology:

Digital Pathology 2.0

Volume rendering of Whole Slide Images is real spatial pathology 

Digital Pathology 3.0: Spatial Pathology

Light-sheet microscopy for slide-free non-destructive pathology 

Human-AI Interaction Models for Clinical Decision Support

Exploring human-machine collaboration pathways for clinical AI systems

A Primer on Preclinical Toxicologic Pathology

Notes on Investigative New Drug enabling studies

Has Pathology Followed In The Footsteps of Radiology?

Answering the question 10 years later

What advice do you have for students who are deciding if they want to pursue a PhD or not?

Don’t – just kidding! A PhD can be an incredible journey - but it needs to be for the right reasons. It's particularly valuable if you're passionate about academia or aspire to lead cutting-edge industry research. However, I firmly believe it should only be pursued with full funding - taking on substantial debt for a PhD rarely makes sense.

The most important advice I can offer is this: don't let fear or a scarcity mindset drive you toward graduate school. Many people choose this path because it feels safe or expected, rather than because it truly aligns with their goals. Instead, consider exploring different paths first - it's perfectly fine to try various career directions and even "fail" along the way. In fact, these experiences often lead to better-informed decisions about your future.

While some consider a PhD as an immigration pathway to certain countries, this strategy comes with significant variables. The success of transitioning from a PhD to permanent employment in your target country can be unpredictable and depends on numerous factors.

Location matters significantly - both the country and the institution where you pursue your PhD can dramatically impact your future opportunities. These choices influence everything from research opportunities to professional networks and post-graduation prospects.

Remember: choosing a PhD should come from a place of genuine interest and clear purpose, not from fear of the unknown or pressure to follow a conventional path.

What advice do you have for students (especially high school + undergrads) who want to pursue biotech, especially if they don’t have any experience yet?

my early career advice: 

You also are an avid writer - how did you start, and how has writing complemented / supported your journey?

My relationship with writing is kind of complicated - I've always felt drawn to it, but I never really felt I could or was "allowed" to write since English is my third, almost fourth language.

I had this feeling though that I might find "my people" through writing. So I started small - first co-writing a piece with a friend to build some confidence. Then I published a part of my MPhil dissertation and started looking for random, lesser-known places to write.

A few months later, I decided I wanted to really develop my writing voice and came across David Perell's Write of Passage course. When I saw it cost $4000, I noticed they had a scholarship option - but you needed to have a small body of work to even apply. So I thought, okay, I'll build that portfolio and apply next year. I challenged myself to write 50 essays in 50 days - an intensive project that unexpectedly led to growing a newsletter (subscribe!). What started as updates for friends and family organically evolved into a community of engaged readers interested in my perspective.

This year, I completed the Write of Passage course (with that scholarship I'd worked toward!), and it transformed my relationship with writing. Beyond improving my craft, writing has become my most powerful tool for connecting ideas with the right audiences. It's fascinating how what began as a personal challenge has become an essential part of my professional toolkit.

Where can students go if they want to learn more about your experiences?

aishwaryadoingthings.com 

https://x.com/aishdoingthings 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishwarya-khanduja/ 

Feel free to add me on linkedin, although I am more likely to respond to your email, which is listed on my website

Is there any final advice or resources that you would like to share with Invite Health readers?

here are some essays that have resonated with young people. from oldest to newest: 

How To Know What To Do

On the science of Noticing 

You’re Not Selling Your Soul to Pharma

On digital health being a stepping stone for data collection and distribution

Being a Young Founder

Interviewing my boss

How To Learn Things

On curiosity, building, failing, questioning, introspecting

Playing In The Biggest Leagues

On unconventional paths, exceptionality, and the power of story

Quarter Life Crisis

What’s next? Am I reaching my fullest potential?  

A Guide to US Biotech Investing

Betting on drug development phases

Early Career Advice 

What has worked for me, what I wish I knew, what I want to tell you

The Art of Solo Travel 

The ultimate form of self love

How To Think

Notes on inductive bias, proactive inference, first principles, and curiosity

Transcendence: An Emergent Career Life

Notes on uncertainty, freedom, and my life’s work

Jobs, Opportunities & Resources 💻️ 

Most of these resources are reposted on Invite Health’s LinkedIn page.

• Looking for a new SWE or ML Eng role in the healthtech space? Check out these YC startups

• Undergraduate Summer Research Internship Position - Black and Racial Equity (BARE) Research Program at the University of Calgary (paid)

• International Youth Fellow | Aga Khan Foundation Canada

• Canadian Social Impact & Impact Investing Jobs

• Summer 2025 Internships

• Crick Science Entrepreneur Network (CSEN) Startup Careers Fair

• Government of Canada: Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council

• Ontario Legislature Internship Programme 2025-2026

• BioTalent Canada: Student Work Placement Program

• Vector Institute Summer 2025 Internship Programme

• 2025 T-CAIREM Summer Research Program

• Amgen 2025 Scholars Program (read about Ana’s experience in Amgen 2022)

About Invite Health 💌 

I started Invite Health for my younger self who was trying to figure out what to do with my health sci degree that wasn’t a career in medicine.

Today, I’d say this quote is the primary reason I continue to build Invite Health:

The mission of Invite Health is to close this talent-opportunity gap for students in the life and health sciences.

Since 2022, we’re the leading resource for students figuring out what to do with a life sci / health sci degree. I interview students pursuing diverse careers in healthcare, and how they got there - no gatekeeping here. Every newsletter is rich with resources and insights.

Our main channel is this newsletter, and I occasionally share resources on social media (LinkedIn and Instagram).

You can read more about why I built Invite Health here

How to get the most out of Invite Health 🫶

1. Connect with the interviewees: At the end of every newsletter, the interviewees leave their contact information for you to contact them. In your message, mention that you learned about their journey through Invite Health, and that you’re curious to learn more!

2. Share the word: Share Invite Health with your friends and networks. Start a conversation about something you learned- an opportunity, a piece of advice, or a recommendation that an interviewee made.

3. Bet on yourself: Apply to the opportunities that are shared in the newsletters. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. Circling back to point #1 - always reach out to the interviewees if you want advice!

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How I Built Invite Health - BTS 🌼 

I’m building a series where I share insights on how I built Invite Health. In two years, I’ve grown Invite Health organically to 1,400+ subscribers (meaning, I’ve spent $0), building it sustainably as a solo student founder throughout undergrad and my Master’s.

Post about your project from your personal page, not the company page

There’s a few reasons I make all Invite Health posts from my personal LinkedIn page, and not the company page:

1. I have more followers on my personal LinkedIn (3k) than on Invite Health’s LinkedIn (1.2k). I’ve had LinkedIn for longer than I’ve had Invite Health, so this makes sense. This also means I have an existing network that I can convert into Invite Health subscribers. If I only promoted from my Invite Health page, I would have to start from zero.

2. Readers know who to message when they have questions or positive praise! It makes it easier for both readers and for me to contact me directly on my personal page, rather than have to go back and forth through the company page. Plus, it’s more personal.

3. People buy from people. On my personal page, yes, I post about Invite Health. However, I also post stories about who I am, and how my story ties into why I built Invite Health. As Aishwarya mentioned, telling a story is such a valuable skill and also a great way to find your people. Many of you told me you subscribed because you resonated with my story of building Invite Health!

Free Links & Resources 🫰 

• Applying to Grad Schools Notion Guide by Sachi

• 15 Paid Summer Research Programs in Canada

• Paid Summer Programs in Research, Policy, Tech, etc.

• 25 Paid Summer Programs for Life Science & Health Science Students in Canada

Made with 💝 & 🍵 by Sachi

Invite Health’s Impact 💌