What does it really take to study dangerous viruses, engineer next generation vaccines, and build biotech companies in Alabama?

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Bioscience Innovation, Dr. Rayner shares how breakthroughs really happen inside research labs and why the Gulf Coast is becoming a place where meaningful bioscience work can take root.

From his early career at the CDC and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute to launching startups like iSeq-Biotechnology, Rayner has spent decades studying some of the most dangerous pathogens on earth. He explains why scientific progress unfolds slowly, how vaccine platforms are developed long before the public hears about them, and what it takes to turn university research into solutions that reach the real world.

You’ll hear candid insights on the challenges of funding, the realities of public perception, and the importance of building the right talent and facilities — especially wet lab space — to keep biotech companies in Alabama. Rayner also shares a lighter side of his story: launching an indoor dog park with his son, a project rooted in family and community.

“Ultimately, I think people get into science because they love science. They enjoy the process of discovery. We're investigators. We do research because we have to kind of do it over and again, and it's different every single day.”
— Dr. Jonathan Rayner

💡 In This Episode

• How emerging viruses are isolated, studied, and understood
• Why “fast” vaccines are built on decades of foundational research
• What broad spectrum antivirals could make possible
• The role of early stage biotech companies in turning discoveries into products
• Why intellectual property and timing matter for university researchers
• How Alabama is building the infrastructure needed for bioscience growth
• The importance of wet lab space for startups across the Gulf Coast
• A look at Rayner’s new venture: an indoor dog park built with his son

🔗 Learn more about iSeq-Biotechnology: https://i-seq.com

About The Hatch Podcast

At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

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🔗 Learn more: hatchfairhope.com

📩 Contact: [email protected]

Produced by Tim Scott for The Hatch Podcast Network.