Podcast Summary: Dr. Jun Zhang, Vice President of Oncology Research, OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Date: November 17, 2025
Guest: Dr. Jun Zhang
Host: Elizabeth Gregerson

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. Jun Zhang, Vice President of Oncology Research at the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute. Dr. Zhang shares his perspective on oncology research priorities, the pivotal role of clinical trials, how health system leaders can support and scale cancer research, and his optimism about the future of oncology. The conversation delivers actionable insights for healthcare executives while offering hope and clarity around cancer care innovation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Zhang’s Background and Philosophy ([00:29])

• Dr. Zhang is both a clinician (“thoracic oncologist” specializing in lung and related cancers) and a cancer biologist.
• He emphasizes translational research:
  “My passion is utilizing my experience to bring from the bench side, which is the laboratory, to the bedside... bringing new discoveries to our patients.” (B, [00:53])
• He addresses a cyclical approach, using clinical questions to drive further research.

2. Research Priorities at OSF HealthCare ([02:05])

• The oncology research efforts span “early stage preclinical laboratory research” through “clinical trials that benefit our patients directly.” (B, [02:10])
• OSF is focused on two major areas:
  • Prevention and Early Detection:
    “Prevention is in fact the best treatment for cancer. We want to get rid of cancer before it becomes out of control.” (B, [02:39])
  • Innovative Treatments for Advanced Cancer:
    OSF established a "Breakthrough Treatment Center" to offer patients early access to clinical trials for potentially life-saving therapies.

    “Breakthrough treatment center is really focusing on bringing innovative trials... so that our patient can have early access to those potentially life saving treatments.” (B, [03:34])

3. Role and Impact of Clinical Trials ([04:27])

• Clinical Trials as Standard-Bearers:
  All new “standard of care” cancer treatments are grounded in successful clinical trials.
• Accelerated Access:
  Clinical trials “offer our patients early access to those potentially life saving treatments.” (B, [05:33])
• Bench to Bedside:
  Scientific discoveries require trials to become real-world therapies for patients.

  “Clinical trial is in fact an essential and indispensable step before any treatment becomes standard of care.” (B, [06:05])

4. Advice for Health System Leaders: Building a Research Culture ([07:36])

Dr. Zhang outlines three essential principles for health systems:

• Patient-Centric Mission:
  “This mission must be patient centered... At a time when our patient, our beloved one, is diagnosed with cancer, every day matters and every hour matters.” (B, [07:47])
  OSF describes staff not as employees, but as “mission partners.”
• Innovation:
  “Everybody’s cancer is different... any treatment we give to cancer cells, they will adapt… We have to keep chasing innovative treatments.” (B, [09:16])
  Being willing to pursue “high risk, high rewarding research program[s].”
• Open-Mindedness & Collaboration:
  Partner with academic centers, other hospitals, and industry; leverage new technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

  “Keep open minded, this will help us to keep learning... those are called three pillars to ensure that we have a successful research program.” (B, [11:13])

5. The Future of Oncology: Reasons for Optimism ([12:20])

Dr. Zhang’s major sources of hope:

• Accelerated Drug Approval:
  “In old days... for any chemotherapy drug to be approved, we had to wait for 15 to 20 years... But now... the next generation, with our more in-depth understanding of molecular biology, only took about three years to get approved.” (B, [13:18])
  New regulatory pathways (e.g., accelerated approval) are expediting life-saving treatments.
• Cancer as a Manageable Illness:
  “We’re able to convert cancer really to a chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes.” (B, [14:14])
• Explosion of Knowledge:
  Advancements in cancer biology, immunotherapy (“sometimes I’m able to cure... metastatic lung cancer”), and AI-enabled drug design and trial simulation.

  • “Immunotherapy, sometimes I'm able to cure, I'm talking about not just treat, sometimes I can cure a patient with metastatic lung cancer.” (B, [15:10])

• Cross-Disciplinary Benefits:
  Understanding cancer leads to advances benefitting other areas of medicine and life sciences.
  “We actually gain lots of knowledge not only just to conquer cancer but also to apply those knowledge to other branches of medicine or other parts of life science.” (B, [16:01])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Translational Research:
  “Bringing from the bench side, which is the laboratory, to the bedside, which is a clinical setting, trying to really bring new discoveries to our patients.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([00:53])

• On Preventative Research:
  “Prevention is in fact the best treatment for cancer.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([02:39])

• On Clinical Trials as Essential:
  “Clinical trial is in fact an essential and indispensable step before any treatment becomes standard of care.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([06:05])

• On Mission-Driven Research:
  “This mission must be patient centered... every day matters and every hour matters.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([07:47])

• On Innovation and Collaboration:
  “We are dealing with a very challenging disease... any treatment we give to cancer cells, they will adapt... We want to collaborate with different mindsets.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([09:16], [10:13])

• On the Future of Oncology:
  “We are converting cancer to chronic disease. This is something that really exciting to me.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([14:14])

• On Immunotherapy’s Promise:
  “Sometimes I’m able to cure... metastatic lung cancer by immunotherapy. So it’s really amazing.” — Dr. Jun Zhang ([15:10])

Key Timestamps

• [00:29] – Dr. Zhang’s background and philosophy
• [02:05] – OSF’s dual research priorities: prevention/early detection and breakthrough treatments
• [04:27] – Role of clinical trials in standard of care and innovation
• [07:36] – Advice to health system leaders: mission, innovation, collaboration
• [12:20] – Why Dr. Zhang is optimistic about the future of oncology
• [13:18] – Changing timelines for drug approval
• [14:14] – Cancer as a chronic illness
• [15:10] – Successes with immunotherapy

Conclusion

Dr. Zhang’s vision for oncology research at OSF HealthCare—and for the field at large—is grounded in a deeply patient-centric ethos, a relentless commitment to research innovation, and an eagerness to collaborate across disciplines and sectors. His optimism is rooted in real progress: faster drug approvals, breakthroughs in immunotherapy, AI’s transformative capacities, and an expanding knowledge base that is redefining what’s possible for cancer care and beyond.