How AI and Female Leadership Are Driving a More Ethical Biotech Industry
Leen Kawas
The biotechnology industry stands at a pivotal intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and healthcare innovation. As these technologies transform medical research and patient care, a growing cohort of female leaders is helping ensure that this revolution unfolds with ethical considerations at its core. Among them is Dr. Leen Kawas, Managing General Partner at Propel Bio Partners, who brings unique insights to the conversation about precision medicine’s future.
“Technology can lead to better tools for individualized and precision medicine. It allows us to make sense of the different factors that can make each individual or patient unique,” explains Leen Kawas, whose venture capital firm supports early-stage biotechnology companies developing breakthrough medical treatments.
The AI-Driven Transformation of Precision Medicine
The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into healthcare is fundamentally changing how researchers approach drug discovery, clinical trials, and patient treatment. These technologies enable the processing of vast datasets that were previously impossible to analyze effectively.
“AI enables us to bring a number of different data (like omics, metabolomics, proteomics, epigenetics, and clinical presentation) to empower more accurate and comprehensive decision-making,” Leen Kawas notes. This expanded analytical capability is driving rapid advances in understanding cellular processes and accelerating health-related discoveries.
Biotechnology companies increasingly rely on AI to achieve their product development objectives. Traditional drug discovery and optimization, including animal testing, typically takes three to five years before human trials can begin. AI-based approaches promise to identify and design new drug candidates more efficiently and effectively, potentially reducing timelines while improving predictions on clinical efficacy and safety.
The impact extends beyond pharmaceutical development. “Using AI to have a holistic view of patients and individuals can lead to the discovery of new therapies or technologies that can help humans live healthier and better,” Leen Kawas explains. AI technology can analyze biological samples obtained during clinical trials, capture large volumes of information, and potentially correlate it to efficacy or safety endpoints.
This technological advancement is particularly valuable in developing treatments for rare diseases, where identifying suitable patients for research and treatment has traditionally been difficult. Biomarkers, working alongside AI systems, can help identify which patient populations might benefit most from specific therapies, model responses, and effects that increase the success rate of potential treatments.
The Ethical Dimension of Technology in Healthcare
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to healthcare innovation, ethical considerations gain paramount importance. Female leaders often bring a distinctive approach to navigating these complex issues, balancing technological capabilities with human impact.
“When leaders lack all relevant information, they may postpone a decision until they have a clearer grasp of the situation,” Leen Kawas observes. This measured approach, characteristic of many female leaders, helps ensure that technological implementations serve their intended purposes while minimizing unintended consequences.
Data privacy and security present particular challenges in healthcare technology. Patient databases typically contain personal identifiers, medical records, wearable-generated information, and even genetic sequences. Protecting this sensitive information requires robust security measures and ethical frameworks.
“In 2024, regulatory bodies have responded by implementing strict data protection measures,” notes Leen Kawas. “Each applicable biotech must maintain secure servers and stringent access controls. Sensitive data encryption is also required.”
The consequences of failing to protect patient data extend beyond regulatory penalties. Data breaches can destroy patient trust and make recruiting participants for future clinical trials significantly more difficult. Leen Kawas emphasizes that biotechs must proactively protect patients’ data to maintain ethical standards and operational viability.
Female Leadership: Bridging Technology and Humanity
Female executives often demonstrate particular skills in maintaining focus on human impact while pursuing technological advancement. This proves especially valuable in biotechnology, where innovations directly affect patient lives and well-being.
“Women in executive positions tend to cultivate more inclusive cultures, generate higher returns, and bring unique perspectives to innovation,” explains Leen Kawas. Research consistently shows that diversity in leadership correlates with stronger business outcomes and more thoughtful approaches to complex problems.
Female leaders frequently excel at creating collaborative environments where ethical considerations receive proper attention. “Clear, effective communication and emphasis on collaboration characterize many women’s leadership styles,” Kawas observes. “This creates environments where team members feel comfortable expressing concerns about potential negative implications of technological applications.”
This leadership approach often emphasizes transparency, which builds trust with team members, patients, regulatory bodies, and broader stakeholder communities. “Companies that focus on cultivating team members’ trust reap multiple benefits,” Leen Kawas says. “Employees in trust-focused organizations feel comfortable expressing their opinions and taking risks. More effective communication and collaboration promote innovation and optimal outcomes.”
Building More Inclusive Research and Development
Inclusive leadership styles frequently prioritize building diverse teams that bring varied perspectives to technological development. This approach helps ensure that innovations address needs across different demographic groups and cultural contexts.
“Using AI to maintain a holistic view of patients and individuals can lead to discovering new therapies or technologies that help humans live healthier and better lives,” notes Leen Kawas, emphasizing how diverse perspectives enhance technological advancement in healthcare applications.
Clinical trial design represents a critical area where inclusive approaches yield better outcomes. Historically, trial managers have found it difficult to convince diverse patients to participate. Many minority and otherwise underserved patients report they’ve never been asked to participate, while others decline because trial management teams don’t reflect real-life patient demographics.
“By harnessing digital platforms and tools, trial sponsors are often able to target a wider patient range (including those in underserved groups),” Leen Kawas explains. This inclusive approach helps ensure that medical innovations benefit all populations, not just those traditionally represented in clinical research.
Mentorship: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
Professional mentorship plays a vital role in developing future biotechnology leaders who can balance technological innovation with ethical considerations. Through structured guidance and support, experienced leaders can transform both individuals and industries.
“Forward-thinking leaders can benefit from interactions with external partners,” Leen Kawas explains. She emphasizes that creating internships and scholarships for qualified candidates helps build valuable talent pipelines. Some of these professionals may become future team members or company leaders.
The impact of mentorship extends beyond individual career development. When organizations prioritize mentoring junior professionals, they create more collaborative environments that promote innovation and facilitate problem-solving. Women in leadership positions often excel at networking and creating cooperative groups designed to benefit all participants.
Leen Kawas maintains that mentorship will play an increasingly crucial role in industry growth and innovation. As companies face mounting pressure to develop breakthrough therapies while managing costs and regulatory requirements, the guidance of experienced leaders becomes invaluable for the next generation of biotechnology innovators.
The Road Ahead: Sustainable Innovation
As precision medicine advances, female leaders frequently demonstrate commitment to ensuring that technological advances create sustainable, long-term benefits rather than short-term gains. This approach proves particularly valuable in healthcare, where innovations must prove both effective and sustainable over time.
“Smart resource allocation and efficient operations become essential components of sustainable growth,” notes Leen Kawas. “Leaders must ensure they’re maximizing available resources while maintaining team engagement and productivity.”
The emphasis many women executives place on collaborative approaches and inclusive decision-making helps ensure technological implementations receive thorough evaluation from multiple perspectives. This comprehensive assessment helps identify potential challenges early, enabling more effective solutions.
Through their unique leadership approaches, women executives continue demonstrating how maintaining focus on human needs and ethical considerations while pursuing technological innovation creates more sustainable and beneficial advances. Their success provides valuable lessons for ensuring that technology serves humanity’s best interests while maintaining ethical standards.
Leen Kawas summarizes this vision for the future: “Technology can lead to better tools for individualized and precision medicine. It allows us to make sense of the different factors that can make each individual or patient unique.” As biotechnology continues its rapid advancement, the integration of diverse leadership perspectives promises to guide the industry toward innovations that balance technological capabilities with human needs and ethical considerations.