The Long Run with Luke Timmerman
Timmerman Report
"The Long Run"
Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton would appreciate today's biotech. Scientific entrepreneurs of the 21st century must be ready for what Shackleton called the “hazardous journey, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.” Today, the men and women who strive to apply science for the betterment of human health have a historic opportunity. They need stamina and resilience to achieve something meaningful. Biotech’s relationship with the society that sustains it has never been more tenuous.
Join host Luke Timmerman for in-depth, thought-provoking conversations with biotech newsmakers pursuing these great opportunities of the 21st century.
Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton would appreciate today's biotech. Scientific entrepreneurs of the 21st century must be ready for what Shackleton called the “hazardous journey, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.” Today, the men and women who strive to apply science for the betterment of human health have a historic opportunity. They need stamina and resilience to achieve something meaningful. Biotech’s relationship with the society that sustains it has never been more tenuous.
Join host Luke Timmerman for in-depth, thought-provoking conversations with biotech newsmakers pursuing these great opportunities of the 21st century.
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 8min
Ep191: Emily Conley on Small Molecules to Correct a Rare Kidney Disease
Emily Conley, CEO of Renasant Bio, discusses groundbreaking approaches to autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). She shares her journey from caregiving and early scientific pursuits to executive roles at 23andMe and Federation Bio. Emily explains the potential of small molecules to correct genetic mutations in ADPKD and the hope for early interventions. She highlights the importance of targeting polycystins and the exciting developments on the horizon for kidney disease research.
10 snips
Nov 20, 2025 • 1h 13min
Ep190: Neil Kumar on Building a Rare Disease Drug Company
Neil Kumar, the visionary Founder and CEO of BridgeBio Pharma, dives into the complexities of developing drugs for rare diseases. He shares insights on the unique challenges of venture funding in this space and explains BridgeBio's innovative hub-and-spoke model that optimizes asset selection and team focus. Neil reflects on the lessons learned from his journey, including the significance of a patient-driven approach and adapting to setbacks. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of a diverse portfolio to balance risks while nurturing groundbreaking therapies.
9 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 13min
Ep189: Marc Tessier-Lavigne on Reinventing Drug Discovery with AI
Marc Tessier-Lavigne, a renowned neuroscientist and CEO of Xaira Therapeutics, shares insights on transforming drug discovery with AI. He discusses his journey from a military upbringing and academic career in neuroscience to leading innovative efforts at Zara. The conversation dives into the utilization of generative AI for protein design, tackling complex membrane targets, and creating models to understand disease drivers. Marc emphasizes the importance of collaboration in the biotech community and aims to revolutionize timelines and success rates in drug development.
9 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 9min
Ep188: Art Krieg on Innate Immune System Activators for Cancer
Art Krieg, a pioneering physician-scientist and CEO of Zola Therapeutics, discusses groundbreaking work in cancer immunotherapy. He shares how his early medical experiences shaped his interest in immunology and led to the discovery of immune-stimulatory CpG DNA. Art recounts his journey through clinical trials, exploring the balance between successes and setbacks. He explains Zola's innovative approach using synthetic retroviral particles to activate immune responses, all while emphasizing the importance of learning from veterinary studies to inform human applications.
11 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep187: Eric Fischer on Creating a New Class of Medicines
Eric Fischer, a structural biologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, dives into the innovative world of targeted protein degraders. He shares his early fascination with biology, recounts how thalidomide revealed new drug mechanisms, and contrasts PROTACs with molecular glues. Fischer discusses the importance of industry partnerships for translating academic discoveries into therapies and highlights the exciting potential of degraders in cancer treatment and beyond. Plus, he reflects on the collaborative environment in American research.
Sep 29, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep186: Bruce Levine & Mags McCarthy on a Song About Science and Hope
Bruce Levine, a CAR-T cell therapy researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, and Mags McCarthy, a country music star, discuss their new song about science and hope for cancer patients.
16 snips
Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep185: Dr. Lachelle Weeks on Predicting Leukemia Risk At Scale
Dr. Lachelle Weeks is a physician-scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, specializing in early detection and prevention of leukemia. She shares her journey from Newark to a pioneering career in medicine and research. Dr. Weeks delves into clonal hematopoiesis, a precursor to blood cancers, and discusses innovative methods like AI-driven blood smears for large-scale screening. With a focus on health equity, she emphasizes her vision for validated screening programs to help combat leukemia before it manifests. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of cancer prevention!
13 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 50min
Ep184: Jen Adair on Affordable, Accessible Gene & Cell Therapies
Jen Adair, a leading professor at the Horae Gene Therapy Center, dives into the world of affordable gene and cell therapies. She shares her inspiring journey of resilience, overcoming personal challenges to champion healthcare equity. The discussion highlights the innovative approaches needed to make therapies more accessible, especially for underserved communities. Adair also emphasizes the significance of regional manufacturing in enhancing healthcare access globally, and the importance of collaboration and transparency in the research process to address systemic disparities.
Aug 6, 2025 • 56min
Ep183: Sabah Oney on CAR-T Cells Against Solid Tumors
Sabah Oney, CEO of Dispatch Biotherapeutics, specializes in engineered CAR-T cell therapies targeting solid tumors. In the discussion, she highlights the challenges of identifying unique cancer antigens and the use of oncolytic viruses to improve treatment efficacy. Oney shares innovative strategies for reprogramming CAR-T cells and enhancing the tumor microenvironment. She also emphasizes the importance of mission-driven leadership and collaboration within biotech, showcasing how a values-driven team can make breakthroughs in cancer research.
Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ep182: Andy Rachleff & Yung Lie on Creative Ways to Back Science
Andy Rachleff and Yung Lie, board chair and CEO of Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, on creative ways to support science amid budget cuts.
