BioVenture VoiCes with Chris Garabedian
Aug 24, 2026 · 59 min · 10 segments
BT Slingsby describes his education and career abroad, which ultimately led him to found and manage the largest life sciences VC firm in Japan, Catalys Pacific. He describes the dual role of taking…
BT SlingsbyGuestChris GarabedianHost
Um, if you look back in terms of all the education that we went through, uh, you know, I was a student until 33.
... be in academia in terms of either being a student or a postdoc or a researcher or, um, you know, finally coming-
And then there are those who definitely don't know- don't think they wanna go into academia to be a professor, which you've done-
When you were going through these degrees, and we're gonna get to Eisai in a minute, but what, what were you...
Were you thinking you wanted to be a professor? Did you think you would practice medicine? Did you know industry was something? 'Cause Japan had a long, great history of pharmaceuticals-
So w- did you already have a design on e- exactly, not necessarily venture capital, but that you wanted to be-
I think the design that I, that I initially, the trajectory that I was initially going for, um, was looking to, one, is practice medicine both in the United States and Japan, but also to, uh, be a trialist in terms of conducting clinical trials and con- conducting clinical research in, in both countries as well.
Um, if you look back in terms of all the education that we went through, uh, you know, I was a student until 33.
... be in academia in terms of either being a student or a postdoc or a researcher or, um, you know, finally coming-
And then there are those who definitely don't know- don't think they wanna go into academia to be a professor, which you've done-
When you were going through these degrees, and we're gonna get to Eisai in a minute, but what, what were you...
Were you thinking you wanted to be a professor? Did you think you would practice medicine? Did you know industry was something? 'Cause Japan had a long, great history of pharmaceuticals-
So w- did you already have a design on e- exactly, not necessarily venture capital, but that you wanted to be-
I think the design that I, that I initially, the trajectory that I was initially going for, um, was looking to, one, is practice medicine both in the United States and Japan, but also to, uh, be a trialist in terms of conducting clinical trials and con- conducting clinical research in, in both countries as well.
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