In this episode of Vistatec Life Sciences – In Focus podcast, Host María Mateos talks with Bre Grignano, a leader who brings her experience from the life sciences, sports, and philanthropic sectors to the forefront of the conversation. As the Associate Director of Business Development at HiRO (Harvest Integrated Research Organization), Bre helps advance clinical research while making an impact through her nonprofit, Greater Than Me, and her work with the Philadelphia Eagles‘ PR department.
This episode explores Bre’s diverse career and the lessons she has learned along the way, blending insight from the life sciences, sports, and her philanthropic mindset.
HiRO: Accelerating Innovation in Clinical Trials
Bre joined HiRO, an innovative clinical research organization (CRO), for a number of compelling reasons, but the strength of the company’s leadership team was a significant factor. As she explains, HiRO’s executives bring deep industry experience, having worked with large pharmaceutical companies and biotech organizations before coming together to form this powerhouse in the clinical research space.
One of HiRO’s standout aspects is its full-service offering. This end-to-end support helps streamline the clinical trial process, reducing sponsors‘ need to juggle multiple vendors. Bre highlighted that this saves time and money and ensures higher-quality outcomes.
„We want to offer that white-glove service… a high-quality vendor that can be trusted, making the process easier for sponsors so they can focus on getting life-saving therapies to patients.“
Bre’s admiration for HiRO’s commitment to its clients is clear, and her passion for the company’s global outreach efforts, especially in the APAC region, was evident throughout the discussion. HiRO is making a tangible difference by bringing innovative clinical research solutions to undeveloped and emerging markets, ensuring patients everywhere have access to cutting-edge treatments.
Building Brands in Emerging Markets
Bre’s extensive background in business development has taught her some valuable lessons, particularly when it comes to growing brands in undeveloped markets. Whether in the life sciences or other industries, Bre stresses the importance of research, relationship-building, and persistence.
She shared how the process of establishing a brand in a new market is challenging but incredibly rewarding: „It takes a lot of patience, thick skin, and tenacity. You’re going to hear ’no‘ a lot, but building relationships is key. It’s all about learning, listening, and understanding what excites your partners.“
Bre’s philosophy centers on empathy and authenticity. Rather than bombarding potential clients with generic sales pitches, she advocates for tailored messaging and thoughtful outreach. By focusing on genuine human connections and offering real solutions to client challenges, she has built long-lasting relationships in every industry she’s worked in.
Greater Than Me: Using Sports to Drive Change
Beyond her impressive work in life sciences, Bre is also the founder and president of Greater Than Me, a nonprofit organization that leverages athletes‘ influence to create positive change in their communities. After years of working with professional sports teams like the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, Bre saw firsthand the incredible platform that athletes have to inspire and lead.
„I wanted to challenge athletes to use their amazing global platform to cultivate change in their communities,“ Bre explained. „That’s what drove me to start Greater Than Me.“
This conviction to make a meaningful impact is woven through all aspects of her life—from her work with HiRO to her nonprofit efforts. Whether it’s fostering leadership in sports or driving innovation in clinical trials, Bre’s mission is clear: to create change that goes beyond the surface.
Advocacy for Women’s Health
Bre’s passion for women’s health is personal. Having faced her own health challenges, she’s become an advocate for advancing research and care in this area. She spoke in depth about the need for more awareness and better solutions, especially for conditions like endometriosis, which affects millions of women worldwide.
Bre highlighted Hera Biotech, a company developing a non-surgical, non-invasive test for endometriosis. For women like Bre, who was only diagnosed after undergoing abdominal surgery, this breakthrough could be life-changing.
„Currently, the only way to diagnose endometriosis definitively is through surgery,“ Bre said. „Hera’s new test will give women an accurate diagnosis in a matter of minutes, without needing invasive procedures.“
She also expressed excitement about innovations in early breast cancer detection, particularly the use of AI to improve mammography accuracy. These advances could help generations of women receive earlier, more effective treatment and improve survival rates.
A Relational Approach to Success
Throughout the episode, Bre’s emphasis on relationships shone through. Whether in business development, philanthropy, or personal advocacy, her approach remains the same: build genuine connections, understand the needs of others, and lead with empathy.
„We’re all human. We all have complex lives. I try to see people where they are on a human level—not as a target or a sale. It’s about relationships, and those relationships are what drive success.“
Bre Grignano’s work is a testament to the power of empathy, resilience, and vision. Whether she’s helping biotech companies bring life-saving therapies to market, working with athletes to drive community change, or advocating for better women’s health care, Bre’s impact is undeniable.
About Life Sciences – In Focus
Life Sciences – In Focus Podcast by Visatatec, a fascinating conversation with global life sciences experts. The show has multiple hosts and topics. Follow Life Sciences – In Focus on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on YouTube and Apple podcasts. Life Sciences – In Focus is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about the podcast, please visit https://vistatec.com/life-sciences-division.
About Vistatec
We have been helping some of the world’s most iconic brands to optimize their global commercial potential since 1997. Vistatec is one of the world’s leading global content solutions providers. HQ in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Mountain View, California, USA. To learn more about Vistatec, please visit https://www.vistatec.com