Dr. Vivek Lal remembers the moment he realized most medical research never reaches the people who need it most. He was working in the neonatal ICU, caring for tiny patients one at a time, when a troubling thought struck him: over 90% of research funding never translates into real benefits for patients.
Join Bora Celik as he chats with Dr. C. Vivek Lal, the Founder & CEO of resbiotic.
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"Most of it is lost in just publications or promotions or just trying to please your bosses in the academic system," he says, reflecting on his early days as an NIH-funded researcher.
That realization sparked a journey that would transform him from a double board-certified physician into an unlikely entrepreneur. His first step into business came through starting an urgent care group, diving headfirst into a world completely different from medicine and research.
"Fifteen years ago, I did not even know what EBITDA meant. I was purely a physician and a scientist," Vivek recalls with a laugh. He found himself sitting in boardrooms with MBAs from Harvard and Wharton, soaking up business knowledge while bringing something they couldn't match – deep medical and scientific expertise.
This unique combination led him to spot a massive opportunity in an unexpected place: the supplement industry. More than 60% of Americans take supplements, yet many products lack scientific backing. "Ten years ago, if you would have asked me as a physician, I would have never recommended a supplement," he admits. "Many of these supplements are not scientifically validated or tested."
Instead of dismissing the industry, Vivek saw a chance to transform it. His research had uncovered something fascinating: a connection between gut health and lung function, known as the gut-lung axis. This discovery would become the foundation of resB, the world's first respiratory probiotic.
But launching a scientifically validated supplement isn't cheap or quick. Before the first product hit the market, Vivek's team spent four to six years on background research, raised $3 million in seed funding, and conducted clinical trials – something almost unheard of in the supplement world.
"We wanted to base our brand on quality," he explains. "Unless you have some clinical data to prove that the product does this, you don't know if the product does that."
The real test came three to four months after launch, when unsolicited calls started coming in from customers. Some had been on oxygen for years due to conditions like COPD or asthma. They wanted to speak directly with Vivek to share their experiences.
"That is probably the most satisfying thing," he says, remembering those early calls. "That made me feel we have something good on our hands. We need to propagate it."
Today, resbiotic has expanded beyond its initial lung support product to include prebiotics and postbiotics. The company is preparing to enter mass market retail and expand internationally. But for Vivek, the mission remains the same: bringing scientifically-validated supplements to people who need them.
When asked why he chose such a challenging path instead of something easier, his response captures the essence of true entrepreneurship: "If it was that easy, anyone would do it. You know, why should I do it?"
His drive comes from an unexpected source – not the technical work he was trained for, but the thrill of constant learning. "More than technical things, what I like is learning new things," he reflects. "Whether it is marketing, whether it is SEO... learning new things and getting smarter every day with smarter people around you is what drives me and I love it."
It's a reminder that sometimes the most impactful innovations come not from staying in our comfort zones, but from daring to venture far beyond them.
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