Behind the Breakthroughs
Inside Precision Medicine
Join host Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD, North American Editor for Inside Precision Medicine, as he uncovers the stories behind the pioneers driving the precision medicine revolution. Behind the Breakthroughs features candid interviews with seasoned veterans and rising stars, exploring their origin stories and groundbreaking contributions advancing the frontiers of patient diagnosis, treatment, and care.In every episode, Jonathan goes beyond the science, diving deep into the personal and professional journeys of those striving to make these incredible new therapies more equitable and accessible globally. You'll discover how emerging technologies in molecular diagnostics, next-generation sequencing, genetic medicines (e.g., cell and gene therapies), and AI/ML are transforming treatment and bringing precision medicine closer to the forefront of healthcare. Whether you’re a researcher at a large pharma company or small biotech startup, a clinician at a major health system or community setting, a laboratory technician in the clinic or academia, an investor at a premier or venture capital firm, or just interested in the latest in medicine and healthcare, these interviews will inspire and inform you about personalized medicine's future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 25, 2026 • 52min
Mike Curtis: Pig Organs as a Bridge to Human Transplants
Mike Curtis, President and CEO of eGenesis and leader in translating genome-edited pig organs to clinical care, discusses xenotransplantation breakthroughs. He covers CRISPR-enabled genome edits, safety screening and regulatory collaboration. He explains using pig organs as temporary bridges to human transplants, manufacturing and donor design, and which organs come next.
Mar 11, 2026 • 48min
Markus Warmuth: Eliminating Pathogenic Proteins with Molecular Glue Degraders
Traditional drugs usually inhibit specific protein sites, but many disease-causing proteins lack accessible or unique motifs, leaving them “undruggable.” Targeted Small-molecule drugs have long been the quiet workhorses of modern medicine, slipping inside cells to target disease-driving proteins, even as biologics, immunotherapies, and genetic medicines have taken center stage in recent years. Yet thousands of disease-related proteins remain “undruggable” because they lack the structural pockets needed for traditional inhibitors to bind. In this episode, Markus Warmuth, MD, CEO of Monte Rosa Therapeutics, explains how molecular glue degraders harness the cell’s protein-disposal machinery to eliminate harmful proteins entirely, and how the company’s QUEEN discovery platform is advancing new therapies in cancer and autoimmune disease.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 25, 2026 • 57min
Alicia Zhou: The Dark Matter for Cancer Immunotherapy Translation
Alicia Zhou, CEO of the Cancer Research Institute and trained cancer biologist from MIT and Dana‑Farber, discusses using advanced genomics and multimodal datasets to map tumor–immune interactions. She highlights building open infrastructure like the CRI Discovery Engine, standardization and data harmonization, and how nonprofits catalyze collaboration, reproducibility, and trial access to accelerate immunotherapy translation.
Feb 11, 2026 • 58min
Brad Ringeisen: CRISPR for Disease Elimination and Humanitarian Solutions
CRISPR has crossed a turning point, evolving from an experimental tool into a platform delivering FDA-approved therapies and on-demand patient treatments that correct disease at its source. Brad Ringeisen, a former DARPA office director and leader at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), has been at the center of that transition, helping guide CRISPR from early promise toward scalable clinical impact. Ringeisen discusses in this episode how he is collaborating with CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, PhD, at the IGI to address rare, complex, and underserved diseases, going beyond isolated successes. Accessibility, durability, and worldwide benefit, Ringeisen believes, will be the real indicators of CRISPR's success.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 28, 2026 • 56min
Zachary Roberts: Building a Viable Off-the-Shelf CAR T
Cancer immunotherapy evolved through decades of research, with watershed moments like checkpoint inhibitor approvals and the first CAR T trial results reshaping expectations. For Zachary Roberts, MD, PhD, witnessing CAR T-induced remissions as a Mass General resident convinced him of the field’s future and drew him from academia into drug development. Now as CMO and EVP of R&D at Allogene Therapeutics, he’s focused on the next inflection point: transforming CAR T into scalable, off-the-shelf therapies that could broaden access and extend impact beyond cancer to autoimmune disease.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 7, 2026 • 54min
Boyang Wang: Organ Swaps and Mass Preventative Gene Therapy to Extend Lifespan
Geroscience sits between hype and skepticism, with headlines swinging from dubious mouse-life supplements to ethically distant fantasies like organ or head transplants. Yet precision medicine has been turning science fiction into reality. Today’s guest, Boyang Wang, thinks lifespan extension is next. Founder of Singapore-based Immortal Dragons, he backs longevity companies—from organ printing to preventive gene therapies. A former computer scientist and tech entrepreneur, Wang now runs a $40M fund supporting underfunded bets on healthspan and aging.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 17, 2025 • 42min
Year In Review: My Personal Genomics Journey Redux
In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Davies, PhD, Director of Professional Media Content Development at Sage Publications and acclaimed author of Editing Humanity, one of Jennifer Doudna’s favorite books on CRISPR. We explore key themes in precision medicine in 2025, including personal genomics, gene editing, and clinical impact. The discussion centers on my personal genomic testing series, major gene-editing advances, and emerging debates around embryo selection and IVF-based genomics heading into 2026.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 3, 2025 • 59min
David Fischel: Surgical Robotics for Superhuman and Remote Operations
Precision medicine isn’t just molecular—it’s anatomical. Even as gene editing advances, many conditions still demand exquisitely targeted surgical care. That’s the world envisioned by Stereotaxis CEO David Fischel, where operations become remote, cockpit-guided missions. Using magnetic “invisible fingers,” surgeons steer ultra-soft catheters with sub-millimeter precision through fragile vessels. After two decades and 170,000 patients, Stereotaxis has reshaped cardiac procedures into robotic navigation—bridging genomics, anatomy, and the future of intervention.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 19, 2025 • 54min
Katherine Stueland: The Diagnostic Odyssey Era Ends with Early Genomics
Katherine Stueland, CEO of GeneDx and a dedicated patient advocate, shares her journey from raising funds for cystic fibrosis as a child to revolutionizing genomic testing. She highlights the innovative Infinity database that enhances diagnostic accuracy and the importance of newborn screening, revealing a 70% enrollment rate in their Guardian study with promising results. Katherine emphasizes empowering parents as advocates, her turnaround strategy at GeneDx, and the critical need for equitable genomic access for all families.
Nov 12, 2025 • 55min
Rahul Gupta: Can Biotech Fix U.S. Healthcare Faster than Policy?
When Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, stepped down in January 2025 as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, he closed a historic chapter as the first physician and first immigrant to serve as America’s “drug czar.” He steered national drug policy toward a public-health approach, advancing harm reduction, expanding naloxone access, and reframing addiction as a treatable condition amid the deadliest years of the fentanyl crisis. Now, as President of GATC Health, Gupta is channeling his experience into biotechnology and AI, seeking to accelerate drug discovery and use data-driven tools to outpace the slow machinery of government.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by Erick ZieglerBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
