Podcast
Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar
Hosted by Genentech · EN
From research on cancer vaccines to why we feel pain, scientists are tackling some of the biggest challenges in human biology. Want to find out what they’re working on? Pull up a stool for "Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar." Subscribe below to catch each episode as it goes live.
12episodes
Episodes
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S7E03: The ABCs of IBD
1w ago00:38:55Tap to summarizeInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating, lifelong condition that changes how people plan their entire lives. In this episode, KT Park, Global Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Seppi Lin, Head of OMNI Early Clinical Development, explore the complex biology behind IBD. They discuss the role of genetics, the gut microbiome, and an individual’s environment, as well as the exciting future of "immune reset" therapies that could offer hope for people with IBD. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/the-abcs-of-ibd
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S7E02: Breakthroughs in MS
Apr 1500:39:29Tap to summarizeBreakthroughs in the last decade have transformed how we understand and treat multiple sclerosis (MS), but what will it take to stop the disease in its tracks? Pull up a stool with co-host Maria Wilson and our guest Sherman Jia, Group Medical Director, gRED Translational Medicine, for a discussion on the breakthrough research into B cells that has made a "night and day" difference for people living with the disease. In this episode, they tackle the next frontiers in MS research: from the surprising link between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS, to the ambitious goal of repairing the brain’s myelin, and the potential of “immune reset” therapies, including work in cell therapies, that could offer lasting remission. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/breakthroughs-in-ms
Transcribe →S7E01: The Wild World of Eyeballs
Mar 1700:36:37Tap to summarizeWe’re kicking off season seven with an in-depth look at the wild world of ophthalmology, where scientists are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for vision treatments. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian is joined by guests Deepak Lamba, Director and Distinguished Scientist, Ophthalmology, and Susie Crowell, Senior Director, Project Team Leader, to explore the latest in the field of ophthalmology since our season five episode on eye diseases. Together, they dive into the bizarre biology of how our eyes actually work, unpack how and why eye diseases develop, and discuss how transformative new therapies could one day restore sight. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/the-wild-world-of-eyeballs
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Season Seven Teaser
Mar 400:03:02Tap to summarizeYour favorite science podcast is back! To kick off season seven of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar, hosts Maria Wilson and Danielle Mandikian sit down to celebrate a decade of the podcast and look back at our previous season on unmet medical needs. But what’s next? Get ready for a season that’s going bigger than ever before. To mark the 50th anniversary of Genentech, Maria and Danielle will draw a thread from the seminal breakthroughs of the last 50 years in biotechnology to the incredible innovations that will shape the next decade and beyond. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/season-seven-teaser
Transcribe →S6E07: Foundation Models and Agents
Dec 1000:45:55Tap to summarizeIn our season six finale, we dive deeper into how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the future of drug discovery and scientific research. With remarkable scale and speed, AI models parse through complex datasets and confirm or generate hypotheses, which can help scientists accelerate R&D. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian welcomes Aviv Regev, Head of gRED, and Jure Leskovec, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, to talk about foundation models and autonomous agents. Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges of applying AI in drug discovery, including balancing innovation with scientific rigor and the evolving role of scientists. They also discuss how AI is reshaping the future of research — from building more biologically meaningful models to advancing agent-based systems and lab automation. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/foundation-models-and-agents
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S6E06: Decoding Lung Disease
Oct 2200:39:54Tap to summarizeFrom our first breath, the air we breathe and our genes shape how our lungs function. It’s a complex interplay we began exploring in our season four episode “Take A Deep Breath: Treating Asthma.” Today, we’re branching out to discuss lung biology and the diseases that make it difficult to breathe. In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson speaks with Dorothy Cheung, Executive Group Medical Director, and Daniel Lafkas, Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Discovery Research, Roche, to understand how conditions with unmet need like chronic bronchitis and emphysema disrupt lung function. They discuss the challenges to treating lung diseases and explore promising approaches, from cutting-edge imaging technologies that help researchers uncover early drivers of disease, to treatments aimed at stopping the loss of lung function and restoring it. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/decoding-lung-disease
Transcribe →S6E05: Cells at Work
Sep 1000:40:39Tap to summarizeCell therapy holds immense potential to transform the way we treat conditions in oncology, ophthalmology, autoimmune disorders, and a wide range of other therapeutic areas. But how do these engineered cells work, and how do scientists ensure they are safe and function as intended? In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with Todd McDevitt, Head of Cell Therapy, to discuss how cell therapies operate within the body, the challenges researchers face in this field, and the advancements needed to unlock their full potential for patients. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/cells-at-work
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S6E04: The Power of Digital Twins
Jul 1600:37:45Tap to summarizeDigital twins are virtual models of real-world systems that have been gaining momentum as a powerful tool in drug discovery and development. We touched on this concept last season when we covered computational advancements in drug discovery. Now, we’re taking a deeper dive into the power of digital twins. By leveraging genomics, physical health data, lab results, and other clinical datasets, digital twins allow researchers to model certain diseases, help predict treatment outcomes, and more efficiently optimize dosing strategies for clinical studies. In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson is joined by Iraj Hosseini, Distinguished Scientist and Director, gRED Development Sciences, to explore how digital twins could simulate thousands of "what if" scenarios, paving the way for faster and more patient-centric therapeutic strategies. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/the-power-of-digital-twins
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S6E03: New Frontiers in Cancer
Jun 1800:36:49Tap to summarizeEach season we discuss new, exciting breakthroughs in cancer research. With evolving technologies enhancing how we understand and target the underlying drivers of cancer, the journey to developing more effective and safer therapies is advancing rapidly. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian speaks with first-time guest Jennifer Schutzman, Executive Group Medical Director, Early Clinical Development, and returning guest Fred de Sauvage, Vice President of Research Oncology, about the innovative approaches scientists are taking to redefine cancer care. They discuss the promise of earlier detection and intervention, patient-centered treatment strategies, persistent challenges in the field, and how scientists are working to close the gap on unmet needs in cancer care. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/new-frontiers-in-cancer
Transcribe →S6E02: AI and the Quest for New Antibiotics
May 14, 202500:36:02Tap to summarizeWe published our first episode on the threat of antibiotic resistance in 2016, and nearly a decade later, it remains one of the world’s most pressing health crises. Today, with advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the race to develop new antibiotics is evolving. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with guests Tommaso Biancalani, Distinguished Scientist and Director of Biological Research and AI Development, and Steven Rutherford, Senior Principal Scientist and Director of Infectious Diseases in Research Biology, to share the latest in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Together, they discuss the challenges of antibiotic discovery and development, and how AI could streamline the process of identifying novel antibiotics within the vast, uncharted chemical universe. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/ai-and-the-quest-for-new-antibiotics
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