The Genetics Podcast

Sano Genetics
  • 4.8 (50)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Exploring all things genetics. Dr Patrick Short, University of Cambridge alumnus and CEO of Sano Genetics, analyses the science, interviews the experts, and discusses the latest findings and breakthroughs in genetic research. To find out more about Sano Genetics and its mission to accelerate the future of precision medicine visit: www.sanogenetics.com

  1. EP 226: Scaling AAV gene therapy: Engineering delivery, safety, and cost with David Dismuke of Forge Biologics and Steven Gray of UT Southwestern

    2D AGO

    EP 226: Scaling AAV gene therapy: Engineering delivery, safety, and cost with David Dismuke of Forge Biologics and Steven Gray of UT Southwestern

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. David Dismuke, Chief Technical Officer at Forge Biologics, and Dr. Steven Gray, Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. They discuss the evolution of AAV gene therapy from academic labs to industrial-scale manufacturing, how vector design and capsid engineering are improving CNS delivery, and what manufacturing innovation and next-generation delivery technologies mean for safety, cost, and the future of gene therapy. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 00:59 Welcome to David and Steven 01:47 David and Steven’s overlapping academic paths and long-term collaboration 03:39 Steven’s research on AAV engineering for central nervous system (CNS) gene therapy 04:50 Forge Biologics’ platform approach to scalable AAV manufacturing 06:28 How AAV vectors are manufactured 08:24 How CNS AAV vectors are designed, tested, and refined across programs 10:58 How manufacturing quality and trial outcomes can shape AAV development decisions 15:13 Factors that impact the ratio of full versus empty AAV capsids 17:21 Manufacturing scale, capsid efficiency, and the future cost curve of AAV gene therapy 24:19 Scaling AAV manufacturing for common diseases and the shift toward industrialized production models 27:07 Engineered AAV capsids for CNS delivery and the tradeoffs between innovation and platform stability 30:31 Next-generation AAV delivery and gene editing technologies 34:41 Lessons from Jude Samulski on translating AAV science into real-world therapies 37:21 Closing remarks Find out more: Forge Biologics

    39 min
  2. EP 225: Lessons from 20 years of building ocular gene therapies with Daniel Chung of Beacon Therapeutics

    FEB 5

    EP 225: Lessons from 20 years of building ocular gene therapies with Daniel Chung of Beacon Therapeutics

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Daniel Chung, Chief Medical Officer of Beacon Therapeutics. They discuss lessons from developing the first ocular gene therapy (Luxturna), the complexities of designing and executing pivotal trials in inherited retinal disease, and how endpoint selection, delivery, and immunogenicity shape clinical and commercial success. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 00:59 Welcome to Daniel 01:57 Daniel’s firsthand experience with the development and approval of Luxturna for inherited retinal dystrophy 06:13 Factors contributing to delays in approval for gene therapies in recent years  08:13 Overview of ocular diseases and their suitability for gene therapy 11:40 Why Daniel joined Beacon Therapeutics and current priorities for the lead program 13:22 Key challenges in designing and executing a pivotal gene therapy trial for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) 15:49 Lessons from prior inherited retinal disease trials and selecting the right clinical endpoints 21:03 Expanding beyond the lead program into earlier patients and additional ocular indications 23:43 AAV packaging constraints and managing immunogenicity in ocular gene therapy 26:29 Lessons from academia–industry collaboration in developing gene therapies 28:23 Access to genetic testing in inherited retinal diseases and remaining gaps 32:10 Key scientific, regulatory, and commercial challenges facing gene therapy today 35:39 Closing remarks Find out more: Beacon Therapeutics Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

    37 min
  3. EP 224: Genomic newborn screening in Australia: From pilot studies to population-scale programs with Zornitza Stark of the University of Melbourne

    JAN 29

    EP 224: Genomic newborn screening in Australia: From pilot studies to population-scale programs with Zornitza Stark of the University of Melbourne

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Zornitza Stark, Professor at the University of Melbourne and Co-Group Leader at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Using early findings from the BabyScreen+ genomic newborn screening study, they examine feasibility, clinical impact, and family-wide implications beyond standard screening, and consider what these insights mean for infrastructure, policy, and equitable implementation at scale. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 01:00 Welcome to Zornitza 01:55 Methods and findings of the BabyScreen+ study  04:35 Scaling the BabyScreen+ study from pilot to population screening 07:46 Balancing benefits, risks, and downstream implications in genomic newborn screening 15:55 How the genes tested in BabyScreen+ were selected 19:00 Cascade testing and the family-wide implications of genomic newborn screening 22:05 What large-scale genomic newborn screening could reveal about penetrance  23:57 Expanding genomic newborn screening over time and addressing equity, scale, and long-term value 27:47 Rapid genomic sequencing in critically ill newborns from pilot studies to national implementation 34:32 Building evidence infrastructure to interpret variants and support reimbursement decisions 37:25 Why global data sharing in genomics requires policy alignment and sustained infrastructure investment 39:55 Current priorities and the future direction of genomics in Australia 42:14 Closing remarks Find out more: BabyScreen+ study Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

    44 min
  4. EP 223: Live at JPM: Rewriting disease with next-generation genetic medicines with Michelle Werner of Alltrna and Mike Severino of Tessera Therapeutics

    JAN 22

    EP 223: Live at JPM: Rewriting disease with next-generation genetic medicines with Michelle Werner of Alltrna and Mike Severino of Tessera Therapeutics

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined for a special recording at the Flagship Pioneering studio during JPM 2026 by Michelle Werner, CEO of Alltrna, and Mike Severino, CEO of Tessera Therapeutics. They discuss the molecular mechanisms behind Alltrna’s engineered tRNA and Tessera’s gene-writing platforms, why 2026 marks a major inflection point as both programs enter the clinic, and considerations around trial design, patient needs, and delivering therapies at scale. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 00:59 Welcome to Michelle and Mike 01:26 Overview of Alltrna’s therapeutic approach to rare genetic diseases using engineered tRNAs 03:19 Overview of Tessera Therapeutics’ gene writing approach 04:51 Preclinical evidence supporting first-in-human testing of Alltrna’s lead candidate 07:50 Why Tessera’s preclinical models are predictive of clinical success 10:40 Key features that differentiate Tessera’s RNA-based gene writing 14:02 Advantages of using basket trials for engineered tRNAs 18:00 Clinical trial design and early efficacy signals for gene writing in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency 21:59 Genetic testing, patient identification, and patient advocacy in Alltrna trials 24:18 Differentiating Tessera’s gene writing approach for patients and investigators 26:35 Site readiness and expertise required for genetic medicine trials 28:32 Scaling Alltrna’s platform across mutations, tissues, and diseases 32:34 Expanding Tessera’s gene writing platform beyond alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency 35:57 Perspectives on biotech funding, pharma partnerships, and rare disease investment 39:08 The data pharma looks for when partnering on novel genetic therapies 42:49 Emerging technologies Michelle and Mike are watching beyond their own platforms  47:19 Closing remarks Find out more: Alltrna (https://www.alltrna.com/) Tessera Therapeutics (https://www.tesseratherapeutics.com/) Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link

    49 min
  5. EP 222: From genetic risk to gene editing in heart failure with Travis Hinson of the Jackson Laboratory and University of Connecticut

    JAN 15

    EP 222: From genetic risk to gene editing in heart failure with Travis Hinson of the Jackson Laboratory and University of Connecticut

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Travis Hinson, Professor and physician at the University of Connecticut and investigator at the Jackson Laboratory. They discuss how genetics is reshaping the understanding of heart failure, why sarcomere biology has become a central target for new gene-based therapies, and how advances in genome editing and preventive genetics could redefine cardiovascular care. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 01:00 Welcome to Travis 01:44 Overview of gene editing for inherited cardiovascular disease 05:01 Delivery methods and viral capsid engineering to target heart tissue 07:29 Role of the titin gene in dilated cardiomyopathy and treatment opportunities 10:32 Genetic variants in titin and differences in phenotype 13:51 Promising therapeutic approaches for targeting titin  16:21 Possibility of using a mini titin gene for replacement 17:31 Sarcomere proteins and their role in cardiomyopathy 20:28 Limits of current understanding in heart failure, including cardiac regeneration and congenital heart disease 24:50 Predicting drug-induced cardiotoxicity using stem cell models, animal studies, and digital twins 30:02 How Travis balances clinical genetics at the University of Connecticut with translational research at the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) 32:03 Where genetic testing is used in cardiology today and what’s limiting broader access 35:19 Understanding polygenic risk and unexplained heritability in cardiovascular disease 37:07 Managing inherited cardiomyopathy risk in families after a pathogenic variant is identified 40:36 Genetic testing as a prevention strategy and the public health case for earlier intervention 43:03 Balancing early genetic screening with penetrance, uncertainty, and patient anxiety 45:51 Closing remarks Find out more: Review on cardiovascular gene editing approaches Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

    47 min
  6. EP 221: How to build a woolly mammoth: Ancient DNA and de-extinction with Beth Shapiro of Colossal Biosciences

    JAN 8

    EP 221: How to build a woolly mammoth: Ancient DNA and de-extinction with Beth Shapiro of Colossal Biosciences

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences. They discuss her path into ancient DNA and evolutionary genetics, how advances in genome engineering are reshaping de-extinction and conservation science, and why restoring lost ecological functions could transform the future of biodiversity. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 00:59 Welcome to Beth 01:43 Beth’s path from journalism to ancient DNA research 04:46 Beth’s first project on American bison and near extinction 08:26 How Beth worked on a dodo sample at Oxford and what ancient DNA could reveal 11:09 How de-extinction entered the field and why resurrecting species became a scientific goal 14:54 Why de-extinction efforts could strengthen ecosystems and accelerate species conservation 18:33 How cloning a mammoth works and why genome engineering replaces traditional cloning 25:05 Understanding the genome of a woolly mammoth 28:06 What functional de-extinction means in practice 30:55 Genetic clues behind the woolly mammoth’s coat 33:25 The technical hurdles behind de-extinction 38:23 Building a stepwise path to de-extinction through near-term conservation tools 39:36 Ethics risk management and working with local and Indigenous communities in de-extinction projects 44:59 Scientific and technological breakthroughs needed over the next decade to make de-extinction and biodiversity preservation viable 49:20 Closing remarks Find out more: Colossal Biosciences (https://colossal.com/) Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link

    51 min
  7. EP 220: Turning human brain physiology into RNA medicines with Graham Dempsey of Quiver Bioscience

    12/30/2025

    EP 220: Turning human brain physiology into RNA medicines with Graham Dempsey of Quiver Bioscience

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Graham Dempsey, CEO and co-founder of Quiver Bioscience. They discuss Graham’s path into neuroscience and biotech, how Quiver is building genetically validated programs in pain and neurodevelopmental disorders, and what recent advances in RNA-based therapies could mean for the future of neurological disease. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 00:59 Welcome to Graham 01:29 The motivations and mission driving Quiver Bioscience 04:34 Quiver’s approach to targeting the brain for neurological disease 06:58 Nav1.7 as a lead pain program and the mechanisms of pain signaling 12:11 Patient population and unmet need in chronic pain  13:37 The Dup15q neurodevelopmental program and recent clinical progress 17:29 How the company chooses which diseases to pursue and why genetically validated pain and epilepsy programs lead the pipeline 20:10 Modeling pain in a dish and how cellular electrophysiology reveals disease and drug effects 27:42 Lessons from building a biotech company 29:53 Today’s biotech climate and why Graham is optimistic  31:56 Emerging delivery technologies that could unlock the next wave of oligonucleotide therapies 33:51 How molecular shuttles cross the blood–brain barrier and the advantage of a dual target approach 37:05 Graham’s path from aspiring sports medicine doctor to building light-based platforms in neuroscience 40:15 Graham’s early exposure to biotech leadership and a formative encounter with Roy Vagelos 42:09 Closing remarks Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!  Find out more: Quiver Bioscience (https://www.quiverbioscience.com/)

    43 min
  8. EP 219: A global effort to decode frontotemporal dementia with Arabella Bouzigues of GENFI

    12/23/2025

    EP 219: A global effort to decode frontotemporal dementia with Arabella Bouzigues of GENFI

    This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Arabella Bouzigues, Coordinator of the Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative (GENFI) and postdoctoral researcher. They discuss the scale and structure of GENFI as a global collaboration and what longitudinal data is revealing about genetics and biomarkers in frontotemporal dementia. Show Notes:  0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast 01:00 Welcome to Arabella  01:30 Background and structure of the Genetic Frontotemporal Initiative (GENFI) consortium 02:48 Scale of the GENFI cohort and the breadth of longitudinal data collected 06:06 Clinical signs and progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD)  10:08 How genetic variants map onto different clinical forms of frontotemporal dementia 12:11 Biomarkers in genetic FTD and the challenge of separating neurodegeneration from lifelong brain differences 19:36 Mutation-specific cortical microstructure patterns in FTD and what MRI reveals at the earliest stages 23:04 Why combining genetics imaging fluid and digital biomarkers is essential for early detection and trials in FTD 25:39 How the GENFI consortium is run across more than 50 sites worldwide 30:42 How urgency and unmet need drive strong collaboration in the FTD community 33:11 Promising developments in FTD therapeutics 36:39 Closing remarks Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link Find out more:  GENFI (https://www.genfi.org/)

    38 min
See All (226)

4.8
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

Exploring all things genetics. Dr Patrick Short, University of Cambridge alumnus and CEO of Sano Genetics, analyses the science, interviews the experts, and discusses the latest findings and breakthroughs in genetic research. To find out more about Sano Genetics and its mission to accelerate the future of precision medicine visit: www.sanogenetics.com

Information

  • Creator
    Sano Genetics
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    226
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sano Genetics
  • Show Website
    The Genetics Podcast

You Might Also Like