Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar Genentech

Many health conditions require medicines that can be delivered to specific parts of the body. For instance, someone with asthma requires medication that targets the lungs, while someone with a neurodegenerative disease needs therapeutics that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. But how do scientists create medicines that not only reach their intended targets but also produce the desired pharmacological effect while minimizing side effects and ensuring convenience for the patient? In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian chats with Karthik Nagapudi, Executive Director of Pharmaceutics, to explore the pivotal role of drug delivery strategies, highlighting how incorporating drug delivery considerations from the initial stages of drug development is crucial for creating next-generation medications.

Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/no-delivery-no-drug

Imagine the eyes as cameras, where the cornea acts as the lens and the retina as the film. As with a camera, if something goes wrong in the eye, it needs to be fixed to address the specific problem and restore function. While some visual impairments can be corrected with glasses or surgery, some conditions require medicines – like those that slow or stop blood vessel growth in the eye. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian joins guests Chris Brittain, Vice President and Global Head of Ophthalmology Product Development, and Dolly Chang, Group Medical Director, gRED Early Clinical Development, to explore the evolution of eye treatments, advancements in current solutions for vision loss, and their insights into the future of treating ocular diseases.

Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/seeing-clearly-the-past-present-and-future-of-eye-treatment

Computational approaches have revolutionized how we interpret data. With the advent of genomic sequencing, scientists can derive significant conclusions from sequence data. For example, through transcriptomics – the study of genes and their expression in different cells – researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries in fields like developmental and disease biology. More recently, computational approaches have expanded with the introduction of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to generate new insights from massive datasets, diverse in scope, which can be validated in the lab. In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson sits down with John Marioni, Senior Vice President and Head of Computational Sciences, to discuss how computational methods can complement other research techniques to expedite drug discovery, enhance clinical trials, and prevent biases, ensuring the development of medicines that can treat people of diverse backgrounds.

Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/merging-minds-and-machines-the-future-of-drug-discovery

Join Danielle Mandikian and Maria Wilson as they kick off season five of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar. Hear about their recent lab adventures and enjoy a sneak preview of exciting topics for our new season. From demystifying the impact of AI and machine learning in drug development to exploring diverse modalities for treating diseases, we've got an exciting lineup in store. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Read the full text transcript at: www.gene.com/stories/season-five-teaser

When we consider how a vaccine works, we typically think about vaccines that prevent infectious disease like flu or measles. But another type, known as therapeutic vaccines, may be able to treat diseases even after they’ve taken hold in the body – including cancer and viral infections. Similar to preventative vaccines, these therapeutic cancer vaccines work by promoting an immune response. Cancer vaccines are an emerging approach that have the potential to train the immune system to better seek out and destroy cancer cells. Co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with Lélia Delamarre, Director and Distinguished Scientist, Cancer Immunology, and Ina Rhee, Executive Group Medical Director, Oncology Early Clinical Development, to discuss the fascinating science behind cancer vaccines as well as current challenges and opportunities.

Read the full text transcript at https://www.gene.com/stories/learning-from-vaccines-training-our-immune-system-to-fight-cancer

Because disease outcomes and responses to treatment can vary across populations, clinical research must include patients who are racially, ethnically and gender representative of those who experience health conditions. Scientists are pioneering new ways of achieving inclusive and diverse clinical trials to generate clear results and reveal insights when evaluating new medicines. Co-host Maria Wilson sits down with Nicole Richie, Global Head of Health Equity and Population Science, and Jenn Pangilinan, Vice President, Genentech Research and Early Development (gRED) Clinical Operations, to discuss the nuances of human biological difference and how we can take a more thoughtful approach to diversity in clinical trials. This episode is the second in a two-part series dedicated to inclusivity and diversity in research.

Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/representation-matters-inclusivity-in-clinical-trials