Lex Fridman Podcast

#105 – Robert Langer: Edison of Medicine

Jun 30, 2020

Robert Langer, a renowned MIT professor and a towering figure in biotechnology, shares insights into his groundbreaking work in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. He discusses the thrilling journey of drug discovery and its emotional highs and lows. Langer reveals his secrets for innovative thinking, the complexities of launching successful biotech startups, and the critical role of mentorship in shaping the next generation of scientists. He also touches on the intersection of science and magic, highlighting creativity in both fields.

01:02:42

Creator website

Episode guests

Robert Langer

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Magic of Discovery

11min

Navigating Drug Discovery and Angiogenesis

6min

Navigating the Landscape of Cancer Research

3min

Advancements in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

17min

The Cost of Drug Development: Human Clinical Trials Explained

2min

Navigating Patents and Startups in Medical Research

19min

The Legacy of Mentorship and Student Success

2min

Robert Langer is a professor at MIT and one of the most cited researchers in history, specializing in biotechnology fields of drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. He has bridged theory and practice by being a key member and driving force in launching many successful biotech companies out of MIT.

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Here’s the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

OUTLINE:
00:00 – Introduction
03:07 – Magic and science
05:34 – Memorable rejection
08:35 – How to come up with big ideas in science
13:27 – How to make a new drug
22:38 – Drug delivery
28:22 – Tissue engineering
35:22 – Beautiful idea in bioengineering
38:16 – Patenting process
42:21 – What does it take to build a successful startup?
46:18 – Mentoring students
50:54 – Funding
58:08 – Cookies
59:41 – What are you most proud of?

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