The Long Run with Luke Timmerman

Abe Ceesay, CEO of Boston-based Rapport Therapeutics, on a precision medicine approach to neuroscience drug discovery.

Jimi Olaghere is one of the first patients to have been functionally cured of sickle cell disease with a CRISPR gene-edited cell therapy.

David Younger and Randolph Lopez, co-founders of A-Alpha Bio, discuss using synthetic biology and AI for drug discovery. They explore yeast as a platform, business representation challenges, and innovative approaches to developing antibodies. The podcast dives into how AI revolutionizes drug discovery and optimization, impacting human health through unique biological understanding.

Vineeta Agarwala, a general partner at A16Z's Bio & Health fund, discusses AI's impact on drug discovery. Topics include AI automating tasks, learning from negative data, and the hype around AI in healthcare. She emphasizes the importance of small startups in curating data for AI, the necessity of patience in biotech investments, and the future of collaborative learning in drug discovery.

Professor David Liu, co-founder of biotech companies, discusses cutting-edge gene editing technologies like CRISPR Cas9 and prime editing. He shares insights on his journey from childhood curiosity to revolutionizing the biotech industry, highlighting the potential of CRISPR technology in treating diseases like sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia.

Valerie Daggett, Founder and CEO of AltPep, discusses early detection of Alzheimer's through blood tests and therapeutic interventions. She shares her academic journey in protein studies, relocation for collaboration, and innovative approaches in detecting and treating Alzheimer's. The podcast highlights the importance of targeting toxic oligomers in pathology and the potential of blood-based diagnostics for amyloid diseases.

Robert Ang, CEO of Vor Bio, discusses using CRISPR gene editing to alter bone marrow transplants and improve treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Topics include personal background, challenges of personalized medicine in cancer treatment, potential applications of CRISPR technology, and financial challenges in biotechnology.

Rick Young, a professor at MIT and co-founder of several pharmaceutical companies, discusses studying gene expression for drug discovery. Topics include his journey through academic institutions, the value of diverse talents in success, innovative approaches in cancer treatment, and revolutionizing cell biology with biomolecular condensates.

Jens Eckstein, investment partner at Hevolution Foundation, shares insights on investing in healthy aging, discussing the challenges in longevity research, personalized interventions for healthy living, and the importance of promoting longer, healthier lives. The conversation also touches on the significance of genetic approaches, funding strategies for young scientists, and the economic benefits of extending healthy aging for society.

Shelley Force Alderd and Nathan Trinklein talk about developing bispecific antibodies for cancer, discussing their journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the mechanism of action of T-cell engagers, challenges in developing therapies for solid tumors, and the importance of strategic company structuring for new drug candidates.