ABOUT THIS EPISODE
How can disease foundations combine the financial discipline of venture capital with a mission to accelerate treatments for patients?
In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Rusty Kelley, PhD, MBA, Managing Director of the Gund Vision Fund, the venture philanthropy arm of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Rusty explains how the fund invests in promising biotech companies developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration. From balancing financial returns with patient impact to supporting emerging approaches in gene therapy, neuroprotection, and vision restoration, he shares how venture philanthropy can help bridge funding gaps and accelerate innovation.
In this episode, you'll discover:
How venture philanthropy differs from traditional venture capital and how the Gund Vision Fund reinvests financial returns to support its mission.
What the Gund Vision Fund looks for in early-stage biotech investments and how its scientific, clinical, and financial resources help companies advance toward clinical proof of concept.
Why emerging technologies like genetic medicines, cell therapies, and optogenetics are creating new opportunities to address vision loss and potentially restore sight.
Tune in to discover how mission-driven investing can bring together capital, expertise, and collaboration to advance biotech innovation and create new possibilities for patients living with vision loss.
Links:
Connect with Rusty Kelley, PhD, MBA, and learn about the Gund Vision Fund.
Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.
Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.
Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.
Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.
