Jim Allison's groundbreaking work led to the discovery of T cell receptors and how the immune system interacts with cancer cells. By blocking receptors used by cancer to evade the immune system, Allison developed a drug that revolutionized cancer treatment. Subsequent advancements have enabled the customization of immune responses to target specific cancer cells, although effectiveness varies across different types of cancer. Ongoing efforts focus on optimizing treatments to benefit a larger proportion of patients, which involves developing next-generation cell therapies and modifying the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the integration of digital health technologies plays a key role in remote care delivery and data-driven decision-making.
In high school, Reed Jobs was a summer intern in oncology labs while his dad, the late Apple co-founder and tech icon Steve Jobs, was battling pancreatic cancer. In his biography, Steve is quoted as calling his son’s interest in biotech the “silver lining” of his illness – and making cancer “non-lethal” has become Reed’s life mission. In 2023, he spun off the venture capital firm Yosemite from Emerson Collective (the philanthropy and family office founded by his mother, Laurene Powell Jobs) to focus on cancer research and biotech. Kara and Reed talk about the research-to-start up pipeline, how he’s been influenced by both of his parents, and whether AI, mRNA or CRISPR will be game changers for cancer patients.
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