Meet: David Probst
How are you?
I am doing well, thank you! Lately, I have been focusing on various things, including lab work, and teaching! I am excited for the opportunity to discuss my work!
Please introduce yourself. What should the world know about David Probst?
I am currently a post-doctoral researcher under the guidance of Professor Koji Sode, in the Lampe Joint Biomedical Engineering Department. I graduated just last year in BME working with Dr. Sode, and prior to that, I spent several years working at Medtronic, in Tempea, AZ on various projects and technology. Outside of the lab my life involves spending time with my wife and 3 puppers (we have 1 little and 2 big dogs). We enjoy hanging out in our backyard, taking the pups on walks, and occasionally playing video games together with some friends. I myself am a Type 1 Diabetic, which was a major drive for my focus in the biotechnology field.
In simple terms, can you tell us about your research area, what inspired you to pursue this field, and what projects you are working on right now?
My research area is in electrochemical biosensors to help quantify both endogenous and exogenous substrates. My goal is to help develop biosensors that can be integrated with therapy, enabling what is commonly called “Closed – loop” or “Automated Therapy”. I was inspired to work in this field through my own life. Being a type 1 diabetic for the last 2 decades, I have been able to experience firsthand how the innovation of technology (continuous glucose monitors and closed loop insulin therapy) can greatly impact patients ‘ and their families’ lives. For example, before the continuous glucose monitor, my parents would get up 2-3 times with me every night to prick my finger and test my blood. This burden to both them and I was greatly relieved with the advent of the continuous glucose monitor. Giving both of us (my family and I) the ability to have more freedom in our lives while also improving my overall health. Currently, I am focusing on several projects; one in particular is the development of disposable and continuous levodopa monitors for Parkinson’s disease patients. Beyond this, I am interested in developing new reference electrodes that maintain stable signals using biologic materials, continuous ketone and insulin monitoring for diabetes, and the development of new electrochemical sensing architectures. All these projects tie into the same high-level goal of advancing the field of biosensors which may be used to better the management of chronic or acute disease.
You are hoping to start your own company and commercialize your research. Can you talk about your motivations behind this move, and how the transition is going?
Thank you. Yes, Dr. Sode and I are currently working on commercializing technology that was developed at UNC over the past few years. This is something that both of us have wanted to be part of since I joined the program, and it was a major driver for why I focused on Dr. Sode, as he has experience in both developing commercial technology in our field of biosensing and working closely with industry partners. The transition has been incredibly exciting. I would describe the last year or so as trying to drink from a fire hydrant and learn/retain as much as I can related to commercialization.
Do you have any advice, or resources, for postdocs looking to follow a similar path?
I would suggest finding support and help for the process. There are so many moving parts that, as a scientist, we don’t normally think about, ranging from budgets to administrative processes for submitting your grants (outside the university). As far as resources, I would recommend, more than anything, getting in touch with UNC Kickstat Venture services. This team helped us move forward and supported our team in more ways than I could count, ranging from funding, mentorship, practical insight, networking, grant support, regulatory… literally every aspect of this process that I did not understand, or know where to look, they provided a guiding compass. Another great resource is the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). This group also provides mentorship and has vast resources to help support the progress of the technology, especially during periods when you are waiting for grants or may have other responsibilities that require your attention. Finally, I would recommend NSF-Icorp, which is a program that Kickstart introduced us too. This program is focused on customer discovery to give early start up’s the chance to actively investigate if their solution/technology solves the problem which we think.
Where do you hope to see yourself in the next 5 years?
Ideally, I will be working for a growing start-up, but in reality, I am not sure. I hope to remain involved in the translation of technology of technology development in some capacity, whether that is entrepreneurial, at a university, or at a large company.
Can you share a book, movie, or podcast that has had a meaningful impact on you?
As far as books, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the galaxy is my all-time favorite, and still sits in my bedside table to open and re-read from time to time. In terms of podcasts, “Stuff you should know” is also a fantastic listen.