Life Sciences In Focus podcast takes a reflective turn. Instead of welcoming a new guest, hosts Karen Tkaczyk and María Mateos sit down for a holiday special to look back at the conversations that shaped 2025 and to share what they see on the horizon for 2026. Their discussion offers a warm, candid look at the themes, people, and ideas that defined an eventful year in life sciences.
A Year That Started Strong
The hosts began by revisiting one of the year’s standout early moments: a webinar that explored how to amplify patient voices in clinical research. Eloise, Julie, and Harsha opened the season with an engaging look at strategies for supporting non-English speakers in clinical studies. Their shared commitment to global patient outcomes became an early signal of the themes that would echo across the year. As Karen noted, sales professionals in life sciences would also appreciate Episode 16, which touches on approaches to partnership building in this space.
María recorded Episode 19 with Jonathan Gardo of Format Medical Research. Jonathan joined from an in-person industry event and brought forward a thoughtful discussion on how trust shapes clinical participation in diverse communities across the United States and Latin America. His insights offered a grounded look at how engagement can change outcomes for entire populations.
Regulatory Shifts and Their Ripple Effects
Regulatory changes often drive demand for language services, and 2025 delivered plenty of activity. Karen highlighted the ongoing influence of the European Union Medical Device Regulation, which continues to shape global translation demand for medical device companies. The year also included deep dives with several regulatory experts.
One early guest was Amma Racich, who returned later in the year for an in-person conversation at RAPS Convergence, a conference both hosts look forward to each year. Another significant moment was the webinar on laboratory-developed tests. As US policy shifts around LDTs moved through debates and court challenges, experts Sean McCarthy of ECI, along with Curtis McBerry and Tristan Wolf Cope of Biodesix, helped listeners understand what such changes mean for clinical labs in different regions of the world.
Regulatory conversations continued with Angelina Lisa of Neuros Medical, a mentor whose energy and clarity left a strong impression on the hosts. María described her episode as empowering, and it is easy to see why. Angelina’s approach to leadership and education reflects the type of mentorship that shapes careers.
Artificial intelligence also took center stage. Andre Ninu of DQS joined the podcast to break down how AI-driven medical technologies can align with MDR and the EU AI Act. His discussion paired naturally with a broader conversation about how Vistatec integrates AI into workflows while keeping human expertise at the core. Both hosts emphasized the importance of transparency, flexibility, and respect for client preferences in shaping the right approach for each project.
A Spotlight on Ophthalmology
Therapeutic areas come and go in waves, and 2025 was a strong year for ophthalmology. A webinar featuring Amanda Weber, Adam Merola, and Eric Nyer offered a close look at ophthalmic trials. Their discussion showed how the right partnerships can shape patient experience and trial outcomes. According to María, this session also highlighted the impressive momentum the field has gained, something echoed by the number of ophthalmology programs Vistatec supported throughout the year.
Dermatology also made an unexpected appearance through the work of Victoria Donovan and her team at Clinical Media. While dermatology has long been their focus, Victoria used her episode to discuss new ventures into controlled psychedelic research. For many listeners, it was an introduction to an emerging area of clinical development.
Product Launches, Patient Safety, and Personal Journeys
Some episodes stepped beyond clinical and regulatory themes to explore broader perspectives on product development and patient impact. One of the most popular episodes of the year came from Karen’s conversation with Michael Young of BiomedWorks. His experience in global product launches led to a wide-ranging discussion that covered the patient journey, risk management, and the practical use of AI. The episode quickly became the most-streamed of 2025.
Another standout was the spring episode featuring Dr Juan Dakash, a leader in pharmacovigilance with a remarkable career path that includes orthopedic surgery and health coaching. His conversation blended professional insight with personal reflection, resonating with listeners seeking inspiration and perspective.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Both hosts then shared their hopes for the year ahead. Karen expressed optimism for a more stable environment in life sciences. She looks forward to deeper conversations with subject-matter experts and to meaningful engagement with both clients and prospects.
For María, the excitement comes from the collaboration behind every episode. She noted that many of the most memorable podcast moments started as informal conversations at events, over coffee, or during Vistatec’s VIP dinners. She emphasized the strength of the partnerships formed throughout 2025, the launch of new programs, and the successful introduction of AI-enabled services that are already driving measurable value. If 2025 was about growth, she said, 2026 will be about acceleration.
A Final Word of Thanks
The hosts closed their holiday special with gratitude for their guests, their listeners, and for each other. Their enthusiasm for the conversations that shape this industry shines through every episode, and this wrap-up made clear just how much work goes on behind the scenes to bring global experts together for thoughtful dialogue.
About Life Sciences – In Focus
Life Sciences – In Focus Podcast by Visatatec, a fascinating conversation with global life sciences experts. The show has multiple hosts and topics. Follow Life Sciences – In Focus on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on YouTube and Apple podcasts. Life Sciences – In Focus is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about the podcast, please visit https://vistatec.com/life-sciences-division.
About Vistatec
We have been helping some of the world’s most iconic brands to optimize their global commercial potential since 1997. Vistatec is one of the world’s leading global content solutions providers. HQ in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Mountain View, California, USA. To learn more about Vistatec, please visit https://www.vistatec.com
