Dominique Verhelle, NextRNA Therapeutics

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Tom sits down with Dominique Verhelle, Co-Founder, President and CEO of NextRNA Therapeutics, a company pioneering the use of long non-coding RNAs in drug discovery. Dominique takes us through her unconventional journey - from aspiring flight attendant to Biotech entrepreneur - sharing the pivotal moments that shaped her career. She talks about the challenges of leading a startup through uncertainty, balancing science and business as both CSO and CEO, and why strategic timing is key in career growth. We also discuss the evolution of the dark genome field, NextRNA’s recent partnership with Bayer, and what’s next for this exciting company as it moves towards the clinic. A fascinating conversation on leadership, resilience, and pushing the boundaries of biology.