🧬 Embracing Identity & Curiosity: Being Different Fuels Innovation | Aaron Edwards (Part 1/4)

The Biotech Startups Podcast

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"There was something else there that I needed to keep searching for... and that's a theme in my life."

In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we explore the formative journey of Aaron Edwards, Co-founder and CEO of KiraGen Bio, as he shares how curiosity, conviction, and challenging convention led him from a small town in Kentucky to the forefront of biotech innovation in Boston. Aaron reflects on his upbringing with pharmacist parents, the impact of early mentors, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership style and scientific vision.

Listeners will hear how Aaron’s path was shaped by balancing competitive athletics with academic pursuits, navigating personal identity in a close-knit community, and seizing opportunities that broadened his perspective beyond traditional career paths. From his first wet lab experience with butterfly genetics to transformative internships in cancer research, Aaron’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and a relentless drive to make a difference in oncology.

Key topics covered:

• Early Curiosity & Upbringing: Sparked a passion for science in rural Kentucky with pharmacist parents and inspiring teachers.
• Visibility & Identity: Navigated being a gay student in a small town, seeking authentic environments.
• Academic & Athletic Balance: Learned discipline and leadership by balancing competitive swimming with rigorous academics.
• Formative Research Experiences: Gained direction from hands-on internships in cancer research and translational science.
• Leadership & Company Building: Drew lessons from biotech roles and business school to shape a people-first, adaptable leadership style.

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Find our guest, Aaron Edwards, at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/

Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/

Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee

Learn more about Excedr:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/

Website: https://www.excedr.com

Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:

Website: https://flow.page/kyojin

Resources & Articles:

The Velvet Rage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Rage

Psychological Safety https://amycedmondson.com/psychological-safety/

Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity https://www.phikappatau.org/

Governor’s Scholars Program https://gsp.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx

Emerging Technologies Attracting VC Investment in Life Sciences https://www.excedr.com/blog/emerging-technologies-attracting-vc-investment-in-life-sciences

Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:

Bluebird Bio https://www.bluebirdbio.com/

Beam Therapeutics https://beamtx.com/

Moffitt Cancer Center https://www.moffitt.org/

Matthew Klooster https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-klooster-87498510/

Amy Edmondson https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:50 Aaron's Background and Early Curiosity in Science

07:15 Growing Up with Pharmacist Parents and Asking Questions

11:55 Kentucky Science and Math Academy Experience

15:11 Visibility, Identity, and College Choices

19:01 Balancing Athletics and Academics

21:21 Summer Research Internships at Moffitt Cancer Center

25:15 First Wet Lab Experience and Western Blots

28:36 Connecting Research to Patient Impact

33:20 Early Biotech Experience at Bluebird Bio

43:43 Harvard Business School and Case Method Learning

48:04 Outro

The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.