Dr. Tiffani Bailey Lash- Innovate with Purpose

Dr. Lash is a national and international leader in biomedical technology innovation. Recently she was recognized by the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary for her leadership and distinguished service during the pandemic.
She has also been featured in Money magazine, Businessweek and was highlighted in Cosmopolitan as a “Fun and Fearless Female”


Dr. Tiffani Bailey Lash serves as a Health Scientist Administrator for the National Institutes of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Her research portfolio includes Point of Care Technologies and Digital Health, both with the goal of developing biomedical technologies through collaborative efforts that merge scientific and technological capabilities with clinical need. She also serves as co-coordinator for the NIH Common Fund's Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa. Dr. Lash has been selected as a science policy fellow for both the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Academy of Engineering. She also has a background in small business innovation and intellectual property. 

Dr. Lash earned her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from North Carolina State University via a collaboration between the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from Hampton University. She is a boy mom.

Transcript

00:05.82
wearabletakeover
Hello hello hello welcome back and guess what folks it is season 4 of wearable takeover. Yes, we are in season 4 and guess what we're so excited because this season also commemorates. Our big anniversary here at warable tech ventures. We are turning five years old and we got a lot of bang a lot of punch is coming for you in a very good way so that we all can reacharcoal of supporting 100 startups by the year twenty thirty now you don't want to miss any. Episodes in this series and hey if you haven't caught up with any episodes and seasons 1 2 or 3 hurry. Go back listen to those things you could also speed up the timeframe vo recording so you can listen to them kind of quickly because all of those seasons prepare you. For all of the mega talent that we're bringing to you right here in season 4 now. Are you ready for who I have today on the show. Let me just tell you I gotta provide a disclaimer. She comes with a lot of knowledge and she represents a lot of different people. But I must let you know. That whatever she shares today is from her own perspective not for any agency that she works with okay but let me tell you about Dr Tiffany bailey lash folks folks. Do you know what? it's like to get this woman on your podcast.

01:31.89
wearabletakeover
She is highly sought actor. She is a national and international leader in biomedical technology innovation and she was recently recognized by the Us department of health and human services secretary yes folks the leader ah for her leadership and distinguished service during the pandemic and. She's also been featured in money. Magazine Businessweek and she was highlighted in cosmopolitan as a fun and fearless female now you know I'm going to dig into that but let me tell you a little bit more about her day to-day work as well as her educational background and let me just tell you. If you love Hbc News you are going to love Dr Tiffany Bailey so Dr Tiffany Bailey Lash excuse me serves as a health scientist administrator for the national institutes of biomedical imaging and bioengineering. So if you were to see that in print. It would have the letters in ibib and that is at the national institutes of health which is also known as the and nih so folks get your spoons and get your bowls ready because we're going to have some alphabet soup but we'll make sure that we demystify what those letters and what those acronyms stand for. She's done research and her research portfolio includes point of care technologies and digital health which is a really big deal. A lot of buzzwords are going around now around digital health and in these areas she's been doing this research with the goal of developing biomedical technologies through collaborative efforts.

03:06.21
wearabletakeover
That merge scientific and technological capabilities with clinical need. We always talk about how you need to make sure that you're fulfilling the need. Well let me tell you this expert today with Dr Tiffany Bailey last she has had a significant history of doing that and that's why you want to make sure you continue to listen in. Now folks, she's not just here in the us but she also serves as a co-ordator for the nih common funds harnessing data science for health discovery and innovation in Africa we know there's a lot of attention going to the homeland there so we can't wait to hear about that and she's ah. So been selected as a science policy fellow for both the american association for the advancement of science which is also aaas I'm a happy board member there and the national academy of engineering. She also has a background in small business innovation and intellectual property. Dr. Lash earned her ph d in physical chemistry from North Carolina State University via a collaboration between the departments of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering and she has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from hampton university u oh is that the real h u. And she loves being a boy mom so wearable takeover wherever you are let's give our virtual applause for Dr Tiffany Bailey Lash Dr. Lash how are you today.

04:32.82
Tiffani Bailey Lash
I Am amazing and so happy to be here. This is a wonderful platform. So I'm excited to share whatever knowledge I can with the team.

04:42.78
wearabletakeover
So I thank you so much for being here. You know what? as a glam girl I got to take it back there. Please tell me about this Cosmo feature. What what? I mean how you were featured as a fun and a fearless female I need to know about that.

04:55.80
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well, it's pretty interesting. So um I had entrepreneurial venture with one of my best friends Dr Tashney Duboy and ah they liked what we were doing and saw that you know. At a young age. You can be 1 of those fun and fearless females with a ph d you know I think I I got my ph d around 27 so you know it's pretty been a long journey here and I was just exciting to be highlighted. Um I do consider myself as a fun and fearless female.

05:22.93
wearabletakeover
Okay.

05:33.23
Tiffani Bailey Lash
It.

05:34.14
wearabletakeover
I love it and and I love how you bring personality to your work as well as to those that you engage with because oftentimes. There's um, this this stigma if I can call it that with folks that are really technical those that are really. Brilliant like you right? You know some folks may say those that are deep in stem. Maybe they have challenges communicating with folks and I don't see that you have any challenges at all communicating with folks. Um, and especially I mean coming from this chemistry background I know you know Dr Iris Wagstaff um kudos to you ladies representing you know those doctorates in chemistry. What was that like like did you grow up thinking like hey I want to get a ph d or I want to be in chemistry or or extend that to another field or.

06:20.40
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well I tell you? um, ah my interest in science actually started with hair care. Ah as a high schooler I was interested if you were to ask me what I would be when I grew up it was to be a I would own my own hair product line.

06:26.56
wearabletakeover
Ow.

06:34.55
wearabletakeover
I Love it.

06:36.36
Tiffani Bailey Lash
So anyone from high school remembers that for me, Um, the interesting thing is my parents said well you need to go to college for something so you need to figure that piece out so I decided to then move into chemistry because I wanted to start my own hair product line and so from there. Um.

06:44.98
wearabletakeover
Um, it's.

06:54.53
Tiffani Bailey Lash
I decided to go to Hampton University and major in chemistry a interesting turn of events happened. Um I did a um study abroad ah program where it took me to Africa and it was really interesting. The research that I was doing. As a sophomore and then I continued research at at Hampton and I said you know I really want to keep going with this. You know so I said I'm still going to do that hair product line but um I want to learn more about physical chemistry and and how chemistry and chemical engineering. Can. Ah, support people I knew I didn't want to be a medical doctor. But I figure you know I can contribute in a way that develops technologies you know that can support people here in the United States as well as abroad. So that's what took me to go on to get my ph d.

07:49.52
wearabletakeover
And I love it and I love how you ah discussed that exposure because you were a sophomore in college at that time and it correlates with some of the things that we're doing here at the ecosystem at wearable tech ventures. We've been aligning ourselves with partners to provide research and internship opportunities for our middle and high schoolers. In the field of wearable technology and so do you mind sharing with us what countries you were in and Africa and and did you um, did you stay there or did you have experiences where you left and then came back to continue that research and.

08:23.34
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Awesome! Yes, so ah, there I was in Kenya for two and a half months ah there it was an interesting project so you may know flamingos as being pink. Beautiful flaminos ah, however, near the great rift valley ah they were experiencing. Ah, the flamingos were turning brown some of the teeth were brown and some of ah the the people who lived in the area and um it was really interesting because it was too much fluoride that was flowing from the water down into the Rift Valley

08:42.33
wearabletakeover
A wow.

08:57.64
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Ah, into the water that was um, you know that was exposed the flamingos were exposed to and those who lived in the area and so ah, what's interesting. You know here in America we say you know we want fluoride on our teeth but there was too much fluoride and so ah, the project involved.

09:10.68
wearabletakeover
Wow! yeah.

09:15.62
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Building a defluoridizer um with what you what you know materials you had there and the interesting thing is what they had there were um, almost looked like a um like a bucket that had charred bones animal bones in it.

09:31.52
wearabletakeover
And.

09:34.19
Tiffani Bailey Lash
And when you run the water through it. It would release the fluoride in the water and so it's almost like ah a defluorridizer that was made you know with materials that were right in the area and so that really excited me, you know sometimes you don't need such a big corporation and you don't have certain things to.

09:44.80
wearabletakeover
Oh my.

09:54.21
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Ah manufacturer so you know these different things but you have to be creative and see what you can use. You know what you have and so that really got me excited about like um biotech technology. It is a form of biotechnology you know in its in its raw form. So um, yeah.

10:12.30
wearabletakeover
I I love it and.

10:13.38
Tiffani Bailey Lash
So that's that's what in Kenya but you know one thing that I do want to point out ah in college I did a study abroad program and so now I actually um, have been to several countries um on the continent of Africa you know and i. Um, you know I feel great about going there because I did that experience in college. Um, so that's really important to just all any type of experiences you can have um, take it you know because you never know what you'll be doing later in life.

10:45.69
wearabletakeover
And I love your story and I love how you emphasize the notion of doing what you can with what you have and how that still can contribute to the whole scientific process often we hear from founders that may have some challenges with funding prototypes or.

10:52.41
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um, yeah.

11:04.50
wearabletakeover
Developing certain things and 1 of the things we've tried to emphasize especially in season 3 and I'm glad that we're continuing this into our discussion with you today is that notion of keep us simple. Do what you can with what you have and and it still can produce an amazing product and an amazing career. I also love that you've been on the continent in so many different areas I'm like we're going to be pinging you some more Dr Lash because we've gotten some requests to come to the motherland there. Okay so when you graduated from vhuhamptonuniversity tell us little bit about your career path and how that brought you to your doctoral program and then deciding you know to get to the position you are now and I know that's a ah ah beefy question if you will. But if you can highlight some of the.

11:56.45
wearabletakeover
Um, maybe some of those efforts are people that helped in those decision points to help you get to where you are now from Hampton University. So.

12:05.48
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Absolutely so from Hampton I did I was one of those people who apply for everything I apply for a job apply for graduate school. Um, one thing I did do I worked.

12:10.80
wearabletakeover
So.

12:19.33
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well after college I was able to do an internship and so with the internship I um have the opportunity to either stay on with the company or to continue on with my degree because I was accepted into other universities. And so it was interesting I kind of I was there working at a company um actually was ah dealing with hair product ah compounds ah different molecules that were compounded to actually put into hair products. So It goes back to one of my.

12:44.74
wearabletakeover
Wow! yeah.

12:53.71
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Original goals. Um, but I decided I wanted to learn a little bit more um I had a scholarship to attend ah Insie state and so there was a lot of great research that was happening again. I'm one of those people who apply for everything.

13:10.90
wearabletakeover
And so.

13:12.13
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um I was blessed with the opportunity to get a um it was caught a Nasa Harriet Jenkins Fellowship um to go to insie state. Um, and with that I was able to kind of this was before like. Ah, doing interdisciplinary research was like a big was a thing back in the day. Ah I actually did a chemistry I was getting a ph d in chemistry but I was so um in love with like ah chemical engineering like I felt like the chemists actually develop things but chemical engineers kind of.

13:33.60
wearabletakeover
So okay, okay.

13:49.94
Tiffani Bailey Lash
The engineers tweaked in and kind of made it better and so I felt yeah I kind of felt in between those 2 things and so um I literally kind of created my own path like back then interdisciplinary research like now you can major in all kinds of things together. But. This time I had to kind of create something ah for what was best for my path and I had great opportunity and experience at and Nc State Great mentors um ah you may know Dr Christine Grant she is um, a phenomenal chemical engineer. Um. In the field and so I was able to ah matriculate through with the ph d in chemistry but it also um, they don't do minors at the time. So ah, but a lot of the research was in chemical engineering too. Um, and so from there. It was interesting because in graduate school they I remember someone saying you know? Well, what do you see in 5 years Are you going to be continuing to do research and always say what kind of see myself walking around with a briefcase and ah people were like well what kind of Kimmist does that. you know and so um you know I had to think about what? Um, what was important to me and um, not only you know with my experience in Africa with um, just experiencing ah being a female african-american.

15:23.85
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Ah, going through ah getting the ph d you know I was really passionate about policy and so that's what led me to the Dc area. Um I did a policy fellowship with the Aaas um, as as well as the national academy of sciences. Um, so from there I did ah a I was a aaas fellow at the national institute of health so that's what brought me to and Nih and I've actually been there ever since and loved this It's amazing place to work with amazing research being done and supporting. Um. You know the move the movement of healthy people and um, contributing to the body of research and engineering.

16:08.90
wearabletakeover
Um, we love the and Nih and because it's the government agency we have to be careful. We can't say they're our partner but they are wonderful resources to us here at wearable tech ventureds and we work hand in hand with a number of things to. Ah work to achieve our mission and so we're so honored that you have continued to evolve and expand your career there so getting to wearle technology this is something you're you're very familiar with. You know you came from the chemistry background. Did some policy work came into the Nih and help us understand um in your own words because again, you're speaking on your own behalf and not on behalf of the agency. Whatever you could share as far as what's happening in the world of wearable technology from your eyes right now.

16:54.70
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um.

17:02.59
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well, um I would say you can kind of look at what's going on in the world. You know, um and ah or what has happened I can say you know even with ah the pandemic. It's been. A significant change in the way that um, ah you know Clinicians are doing um, clinical work. Um, how research is being done ah during the pandemic it kind of opened up different doors to um. Receiving information and so with that um, with wearable technologies that was something that could be done remote gathering information sending it back a full loop um system where you can ah get some ah a. Ah, some type of Diagnosis. You can be Treated. You can um you know, look at all types of different things with wearables and so it's actually a very exciting time in in all different areas I can say um, ah. In in really everything we do from diabetes management to um, maternal Health care. Um Cardiac Arrest I mean there are so many ways as long as you have some type of biomarker to you know to determine something you know.

18:34.20
Tiffani Bailey Lash
And it can read out data. We're in a very good space for wearables in digital Health right now.

18:38.76
wearabletakeover
I Love it because you mentioned some categories where we have founders that have developed have been developing technologies and they come up to meet they either call me culture or say hey Lookishia what's going on I need some help What's next? what's next and so you you laid it out really quickly here.

18:51.80
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Yeah.

18:56.30
wearabletakeover
Ah, expressed in the biomarker there needs to be some biomarker as the measure for those that may just be coming into our ecosystem and learning terminology. Can you explain what a biomarker is how can one develop a biomarker and a system of measuring that.

19:11.56
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um, which is.

19:13.28
wearabletakeover
Um, to get to the next step. So.

19:16.17
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Absolutely so I can speak so biomarkers can mean a plethora of things can be a Biomarker Um, but I'll give an example of ah, a test you can have that. Um. In its simplest Form. We can say like a pregnancy test. You know a pregnancy test. You know, ah women you know we use the bathroom on a stick from there. A result comes out. You know so um, in that specimen you know there are molecules and so that can detect if you are pregnant or not. So um in its its purest Form. You know that is what we can call a molecule if you notice like during ah ah the pandemic there. Um, you know now we have ah Covid tests you know that you do right at home. Ah so.

20:04.32
wearabletakeover
And.

20:08.61
Tiffani Bailey Lash
You know we're in a place where you can um as long as there's something you know it can be. We've seen you know it can I guess and come from different places. Um, you know? Ah, ah, but a sample of something that can.

20:21.91
wearabletakeover
Okay.

20:25.43
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Know ah that can give you a ah readout the good thing with the readout is um, that's information that's a data that's that's data that can be transmitted um, transmitted remotely. So then we get into digital Health and Telehealth and things like that.

20:27.60
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

20:33.36
wearabletakeover
Yes, yes.

20:41.75
wearabletakeover
And I love it and thank you for explaining that because we have some folks that may come in and they say hey I don't have a doctorate degree I don't know if I'm in the right place or or if I can even obtain funding from you know some of these other.

20:46.62
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um.

20:49.87
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Better.

20:59.12
wearabletakeover
Research organizations such as and Nih or whatnot consider when we have some folks in that place and then we have folks that do have doctors and they're doing post. Ah what advice would you give to our ecosystem of experience founders and budding founders as relates to having confidence in themselves and. And how to move forward so that they can maybe obtain some research funding or some backing. So.

21:26.48
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Absolutely you know what? I think ah the name of the game is collaboration. You know collaborating if there is a area that you're not familiar with you know, ah reach out to someone who is ah that um. You know, working together. Um with a stronger team. You know to fill in the gaps is ah is absolutely the way to go. Um I always say um, 1 thing that I notice with my engineers you know. Ah, just know that you know the clinical need is what should drive the technology development you know so make sure that what you're working on is something that you know that there is a clinical need for um, you know you can come from the if we make it they will buy it. You know but I was.

22:05.29
wearabletakeover
E.

22:17.25
wearabletakeover
And.

22:20.72
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Important is to um, make sure that there's a clinical need for whatever you're developing and then from there to um, then develop the technology. Um I would say you know definitely know the community in which you are developing this technology for.

22:36.54
wearabletakeover
2

22:38.66
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um I can give a really interesting example. Um, ah, there was ah the development of a technology. It was to be used overseas um in a remote area ah with ah a remote community. The technology ah had a readout and it was red and that means that that meant to stop but the problem is in that Community Red was not an acceptable color you know and so the the engineer was developing for.

23:06.31
wearabletakeover
Oh.

23:12.74
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Ah, this community but hasn't hadn't even done the research on the community. So you know we want to make sure that um you know your audience who you're targeting. You also need to like I said ah collaboration is big.

23:14.91
wearabletakeover
A.

23:25.42
wearabletakeover
I Love it you So you said the clinical need needs to drive the technological need and one of the things we've been doing is partnering with and nsfi core program to assist a lot of our researchers in that customer Discovery process so they can understand who it is that they are developing for.

23:32.69
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Dip.

23:45.30
wearabletakeover
1 of the things we have made a promise to as as it relates to wearable tech venture excuse me wearable tech ventures is developing with purpose not developing gimmicks because I believe for so many years that hindered the wearable technology industry because there were gimmicks and things that were made that were just flashy and nice. But they really didn't serve a need or a purpose and so often you'll hear from our board of advisors. What problem are you solving and so I'd like that we have that both from the clinical as well as the business side saying clinical and then develop the technology at the end of the day. What problem are you solving.

24:03.41
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Um, ah.

24:20.83
wearabletakeover
And so there's a lot of problems that need to be solved. Um, are you able to share with us. Um, and again because you're not speaking on behalf of the agency but share with us some of the resources and some of the things that you're seeing about problems that can be solved using wearable technology. So.

24:35.90
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Problems that can be solved using wearable technologies. Um, just going back to um, the comment. Um, it's really just kind of seeing what's happening in today's society I mean if you turn on the news. You can see you know so. Statistics of maternal care. You know in that space. Um, you know what's happening with ah mothers given birth even in the United States you know ah the numbers are low when it comes to um, like pre-clampsy of different things like that. Um, so what? I suggest is to ah like I said the clinical need would drive the technology so when you hear about these different things that are happening in the news. Um statistics that come out. Um, if that's the area that you're working in then um to. Ah, definitely pursue that 1 thing that I do like about wearable technologies is the ability ah to pivot you know, um, when you hear these things and the news like oh my goodness you know my technology could be developed. Not just for diabetes management. It could be done for something else as well. So um, just be creative. You know, um in what you're developing and and if there are multiple streams of areas that you could support then move that move forward in that as well.

25:50.51
wearabletakeover
And.

26:03.50
wearabletakeover
But I love it and I love how you say just really look and see what's out there right now there are so many things communicated in the news on a daily basis. There's lots of data. There's lots. We have more resources available to us at our fingertips today than we ever have before and oftentimes some people can get kind of overwhelmed and confused. Um, but I know one of the biggest pain points we hear from folks is hey where's the funding and and we had to pull back and say all right? Well have you validated what it is is you're doing first right and we've had um last year I'm so excited. We've had middle schoolers that won some of our development contests. Um, and they were able to share that with some of the folks at the and Nih they were. They were able to share that with under armor and there was interest and we were trying to encourage these youth to continue in that developmental process. So understanding. We may have folks as young as middle school and folks that may have been out of their careers or retire from their careers. Um, when they had the idea and they validated it. Um, and you know they're coming to us at wearable take ventures and we're working with with offices at the and Nih to develop programs and to help promote programs that are there to assist with that whole research. Ah, funding pipeline. Do you have any recommendations. Um or maybe even if if there are programs that you're able to highlight as far as ah, that developmental process and.

27:35.74
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well, the exciting thing is you know there are different agencies that certainly support stem development and Nih definitely being 1 of them including nsf. Um, even the department of energy. Um. Several agencies that support stem which is very important I mean even I myself started in a summer program in middle school you know and so kind of kept my interest all the way through. Um, so I certainly know the value of um, being engaged at a young age you know and being able to have these experiences. Ah so there you know opportunities at local universities again, we've talked about different agencies that support. Um, stem education. Um, so I definitely think that there certainly are resources out there and your federal agencies can be a source of of support.

28:34.91
wearabletakeover
So I'm so glad you said that because we will probably by the time this episode comes out. We would have publicly announced. Um, one of the initiatives we're working on with the Fda and with their payer program and so we're trying to introduce. Are budding wearable founders into that knowledge pool earlier so that as they're developing they say hey I want to I want this technology to go to this um, particular patient type. We're trying to help introduce them to that true customer that's going to pay for it right. Because that's important at the end of the day is great that you can develop somebody who's going to buy it and so hopefully we will be able to share um to with everyone and if not, we'll have it in the show notes or make sure that you're following us so that you can hear about programs and webinars that we will will be producing.

29:12.84
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Right.

29:28.57
wearabletakeover
And partnership or in collaboration with some of the offices that that you previously mentioned. Um, the only way that wearable tech ventures is going to work as this global ecosystem that currently has representation of founders and for continents is with continued collaboration and we're so honored and proud to. Know you to be able to tap and say hey we got questions here. How can we? How can we help our founders. You are an absolutely amazing resource and a role model for our entire ecosystem and so I totally just want to say? Thank you folks. This is just the beginning. We're so honored to be able to introduce to you the Dr Tiffany bailey lash and so I want to know is there anything that else that you would like to share with our ecosystem before we tap out until they can hopefully see you in person sometime this summer

30:24.46
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Well, you know 1 thing that I do want to share. Um that is of interest is a lot of people talk about low resource settings and and they immediately think overseas. But even here in the United States there are opportunities. Ah, for wearable technologies and digital health to support low resource settings even here in the United States so just keep that in mind you know that? um, that's anywhere where things can be done remotely. You know data is produced. Ah, you know is the opportunity. So I look forward to seeing new technologies that come through the pipeline. We talked about pipeline. It starts early. Um, and so I'm just excited. This is a great time. It really is.

31:10.90
wearabletakeover
I love it and thank you so much for reinforcing that because we are continuing with some additional workshops this summer focused on data and last year we had a portion of a challenge that was introducing the data concept into the wearable. Um, and we're going to continue that with some resources out of Pittsburgh without me saying too much so that's what you got to make sure folks that you go to our website and make sure that you sign up for the updates so that when we open the registration you will be 1 of the first people because I'm telling you look at this powerhouse that we're lining up here in season 4 and you know as we're celebrating our 5 year anniversary and then bringing all this stuff to you in person as well as virtually do not miss this Do not say I don't know what to do all, you have to do is listen to the horrible takeover podcast. We really lay it all out for you and we're so honored to have had you today with us folks give it up for Dr. Tiffany Bailey Lash thank you so much for joining us today and folks we'll see you soon.

32:08.15
Tiffani Bailey Lash
Thank you for having me.