From the Front Lines to the Frontiers of Defeating Breast Cancer with Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD

In this episode of From Bench to Fireside, host John Connolly, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), interviews Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, MHCM, FASCO - Director of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Program and Co-Director of the PICI Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Robert and Karen Hale Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology and the Director of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the 2026-2027 incoming President for the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO). A leading expert in cancer immunotherapy, Dr. Mittendorf’s groundbreaking research has advanced the role of vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors in breast cancer treatment.

Together, they discuss how Dr. Mittendorf made the move from engineering to medicine, the impact of her military experience on her early medical career, her frontline studies of tumor microenvironments, how the rise of generative AI has impacted patients' knowledge base and clinical trial design, the benefits of mentorship and importance of "paying it forward," insights on the future of breast cancer immunotherapy, and more.

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From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.