Best Biotech Podcasts (2025)

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Revolutionizing the Production of Biologics with Algae 37:52

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23h ago37:52

37:52

Spirulina, also known as blue-green algae, is edible. It can be engineered to cost-effectively produce biologics that can be taken orally. Though people have long sought to do this, Lumen has developed platform technology that solved the various challenges is engineering spirulina to produce medicines. We spoke to Brian Finrow, co-founder and CEO o…

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Behind the Breakthroughs: Rethinking Animal Research with the 3Rs 44:25

2d ago44:25

44:25

What happens when cutting-edge science meets compassion? In this episode of Sounds of Science, host Mary Parker sits down with two pioneers reshaping the future of research: Elizabeth Nunamaker, Executive Director of Global Animal Welfare and Training at Charles River, and Dr. Megan LaFollette, Executive Director of the 3Rs Collaborative. From digi…

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Where Did The Bird Flu Go? - Dr. Kevin Folta 37:04

5d ago37:04

37:04

In this episode of the Talking Biotech podcast, Dr. Kevin Folta discusses the current state of avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain, its history, zoonotic potential, and the implications for both poultry and human health. Into 2025 it was being detected in wild birds,domestic flocks, cattle and humans. Where did it go? He highlights the im…

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Where Did The Bird Flu Go? - Dr. Kevin Folta 37:04

5d ago37:04

37:04

In this episode of the Talking Biotech podcast, Dr. Kevin Folta discusses the current state of avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain, its history, zoonotic potential, and the implications for both poultry and human health. Into 2025 it was being detected in wild birds,domestic flocks, cattle and humans. Where did it go? He highlights the im…

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The future of learning to read 38:31

6d ago38:31

38:31

Jason Yeatman is an expert in the neurobiology of literacy whose lab is fostering a virtuous research cycle between academia and school communities, aligning scientific inquiry with real-world needs of students, parents, and educators. His lab has developed ROAR – the Rapid Online Assessment of Reading—a gamified, web-based dyslexia screening tool.…

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Ep179: Ethan Weiss & Josh Lehrer on a New Idea for Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes 1:03:25

8d ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Marea Therapeutics CEO Josh Lehrer and CSO Ethan Weiss on a new angle of attack against cardiovascular disease and diabetes.By Timmerman Report

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Making Medicines for a World of People with Cancer 42:59

8d ago42:59

42:59

Cancer is a global disease, and BeOne Medicines believes it should develop its cancer therapies for global markets. To do so, it’s taking innovative approaches to clinical trials, pricing, and manufacturing to enable it to support patients not only in high-income countries but also in low- and middle-income countries. We spoke to Matt Shaulis, gene…

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The future of sleep 38:13

13d ago38:13

38:13

Neurobiologist Jamie Zeitzer is an expert on sleep – or, more accurately, an expert on why so many can’t sleep. He notes that, ironically, it’s often anxiety about sleep that prevents good sleep. In short, we lose sleep over lost sleep. Wearables and other tools can help but only to a point, and medications do not induce natural sleep. Instead, he …

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Harnessing Myeloid Cells to Attack Cancer 37:00

15d ago37:00

37:00

The advent of immunotherapies is transforming cancer care. While early efforts have focused on enabling T cells to attack cancers, Myeloid Therapeutics is developing next-generation immunotherapies that use mRNA to train myeloid cells to attack cancer. We spoke to Daniel Getts, founder and CEO of Myeloid Therapeutics, about the limitations of exist…

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What Makes a Virus Contagious? 38:19

17d ago38:19

38:19

Join Charles River experts Sandy Kimber, Charlotte Cumper, and Claire Richards from our Portishead site for a discussion on what makes some viruses more contagious than others, how viruses can trick your immune system, and how vaccines can affect viral spread.By Charles River

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The Origin of Critical Maize Traits - Regina Fairbanks and Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra 31:25

19d ago31:25

31:25

This episode of the Talking Biotech podcast delves into the evolutionary significance and domestication history of corn (maize). Dr. Kevin Folta hosts a discussion with Regina Fairbanks and Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra from UC Davis, exploring the traits that enabled maize's domestication, the role of the TGA gene, and the implications for modern breedi…

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The Origin of Critical Maize Traits - Regina Fairbanks and Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra 31:25

19d ago31:25

31:25

This episode of the Talking Biotech podcast delves into the evolutionary significance and domestication history of corn (maize). Dr. Kevin Folta hosts a discussion with Regina Fairbanks and Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra from UC Davis, exploring the traits that enabled maize's domestication, the role of the TGA gene, and the implications for modern breedi…

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The future of geriatric care 34:49

20d ago34:49

34:49

Deborah Kado is a geriatrician who believes her field is misunderstood. Her interest in the science of aging began with a childhood encounter in a nursing home but recently resulted in intriguing work in which Kado linked microbes in the gut to vitamin D metabolism and poor sleep. Kado refuses to blame aging alone for health problems, advocating fo…

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Drawing Lessons from the COVID Pandemic 32:05

22d ago32:05

32:05

Despite having taken steps to prepare for a possible pandemic, the United States fared poorly during the COVID outbreak relative to other developed nations. It also sharpened political divides as conspiracy theories and misinformation spread on social media. In “COVID Wars: America’s Struggle Over Public Health and Personal Freedom,” tech entrepren…

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Ep178: Peyton Greenside on ML-Guided Biologics Discovery 1:02:56

23d ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Peyton Greenside, co-founder and CEO of BigHat Biosciences, on machine-learning guided biologic drug discovery.By Timmerman Report

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The GE Corn Ban in Mexico - Luis Ventura 32:41

26d ago32:41

32:41

In this episode of the Talking Biotech podcast, Kevin Folta and Luis Ventura discuss the recent constitutional ban on genetically engineered corn in Mexico. They explore the implications of this regulation, the disinformation surrounding it, and the challenges faced by Mexican farmers. The conversation also touches on the broader impact of this ban…

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The GE Corn Ban in Mexico - Luis Ventura 32:41

26d ago32:41

32:41

In this episode of the Talking Biotech podcast, Kevin Folta and Luis Ventura discuss the recent constitutional ban on genetically engineered corn in Mexico. They explore the implications of this regulation, the disinformation surrounding it, and the challenges faced by Mexican farmers. The conversation also touches on the broader impact of this ban…

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Best of: The future of educational technology 29:44

27d ago29:44

29:44

It's teacher appreciation week and along with schools across the country, we here at The Future of Everything want to send out a heartfelt thank you to the teachers who make a difference every day in the lives of our children and in society as a whole. In light of this, we’re re-running an education related episode, and more specifically one on the…

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A Bet that Myostatins Can Muscle Out Obesity 29:51

29d ago29:51

29:51

GLP-1 agonists have been a breakthrough for the treatment of obesity, a global problem with serious health risks. While the benefits of these therapies are seen as outweighing the risks, there have been some concerns about the loss of muscle mass, particularly in older people using these drugs. iBio is developing next-generation obesity therapies t…

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The Journey of Susannah’s Personalized ASO 46:04

1M ago46:04

46:04

When Luke Rosen's daughter was diagnosed with KIF1A—a rare, progressive neurological disorder—he didn't wait for answers. He and his wife built a community, launched a nonprofit, and became a driving force in rare disease research. In this episode, Luke shares how patient-led science accelerates treatments and reshapes what’s possible for families …

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The future of children’s health 31:47

1M ago31:47

31:47

Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an expert in environmental health who says that pollution is taking an increasing toll on children’s health. Pollution from wildfires, fossil fuels, and plastics can cause asthma, pneumonia, and risks dementia in the long-term. But, she says, all hope is not lost. Solutions range from DIY air filters to choosing ind…

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Making Whole-Eye Transplantation a Reality 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

At the end of 2024, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health awarded a team led by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and including the Foundation Fighting Blindness and six other research groups, up to $46 million to advance research to enable human eye transplants to restore vision in people who are blind. The goal of the…

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The future of wildfire management 33:44

1M ago33:44

33:44

Michael Wara is a lawyer and an expert in wildfire policy who says that solutions are out there, but face financial, political, and cultural resistance. What’s needed, he says, are “whole-of-society” approaches that raise wildfire risk to the community level. In this regard, the devastation in Los Angeles in 2025 could provide the spark needed for …

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Synbio Companies Come to Grips with the One “Omic” that Matters 34:38

1M ago34:38

34:38

Synthetic biology companies have faced a difficult few years as share prices have been battered and investment in the sector has waned. As investors and companies are readying to gather for the annual SynBioBeta conference in San Jose May 5 through 8, a new report from the bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology warns that…

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The future of pediatric development and disability 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

Physician and psychologist Heidi Feldman is a pioneer in the field of developmental behavioral pediatrics who says that the world’s understanding of childhood disability is changing and so too are the ways we approach it. Where once institutionalization was common, today we find integrative, family-centered approaches, charting a more humane, hopef…

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Searching for Safer Pain Medications 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

Until recently, treatments for both chronic and acute pain had been an area that went for decades without the development of innovative new treatments. South Rampart Pharma is seeking to develop safer and more effective pain management therapies that avoid the liver toxicity of acetaminophen, the kidney toxicity of NSAIDs, and the abuse potential o…

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Evolving Animal Welfare: Science, Ethics, and Innovation 30:03

2M ago30:03

30:03

Are we on the brink of a major shift in research? In this episode of Sounds of Science, Charles River experts challenge traditional approaches, exploring cutting-edge innovations that enhance animal welfare while driving scientific breakthroughs. From revolutionary non-animal testing methods to advanced behavioral management strategies, we uncover …

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Ep177: Kevin Parker on Finding Cancer Drug Targets 58:13

2M ago58:13

58:13

Kevin Parker, CEO of Cartography Biosciences, on finding new cancer drug targets.By Timmerman Report

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Best of: The future of female athletic health 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

The world of women’s sports is experiencing unprecedented growth, attention, recognition, and investment. Elite athletes including Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Serena Williams, and many others are having a significant impact on culture, and more women than ever are participating in both professional and recreational sports. Earlier this year, Russ …

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Bridging the Translational Divide in Healthcare AI 27:45

2M ago27:45

27:45

The Zimin Institute for AI Solutions in Healthcare, a joint initiative between the Zimin Foundation and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, is seeking to accelerate the integration of AI into the life sciences. Although it is pursuing a wide range of opportunities from precision medicine to therapeutic discovery, its primary focus is on …

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The future of legal representation 36:44

2M ago36:44

36:44

Nora Freeman Engstrom is a professor of law who says that in three-quarters of cases one or more of the parties lacks legal representation. Worse yet, often the litigants are involved in high-consequence civil cases where there is no right to a lawyer and costs are prohibitive. Some states are looking at alternatives including non-lawyer representa…

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Seeking Long-Term Pain Relief from a Drug-Free Injection 29:10

2M ago29:10

29:10

The search for non-opioid pain relievers opioids has focused on pharmaceutical alternatives including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. Brixton Biosciences is developing Neural Ice, an injectable frozen slurry that can degenerate nerves in targeted areas and provide pain relief for extended periods. The discov…

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Cancer Vaccines, Then and Now 34:34

2M ago34:34

34:34

Did you know that the first attempt at a cancer vaccine was all the way back in the 1800s? I am joined by Charles River experts Louise Brackenbury, Dan Rocca, and Mike Templin to discuss the fascinating science behind therapeutic cancer vaccines. Clarification: Coley’s Toxin is not a vaccine in the traditional sense, but a compound developed by Wil…

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Ep176: David Roblin on Building a TechBio Company 1:19:28

2M ago1:19:28

1:19:28

David Roblin, CEO of London-based Relation Therapeutics, on building a techbio discovery company.By Timmerman Report

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The future of hearing loss 34:05

2M ago34:05

34:05

Physician Tina Stankovic is an ear, nose, and throat specialist and a lover of music whose seemingly disparate pursuits — medicine and music — have led her to a groundbreaking career in hearing research. She recently worked with music legend Paul Simon during his well-publicized battle with hearing loss and he has become a vocal advocate for hearin…

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Engaging Hard-to-Target Receptors with Antibodies that Activate 39:43

2M ago39:43

39:43

Antibodies have been powerful tools for inhibiting a targeted protein. Abalone Bio is pursuing a new class of antibody therapies called activating antibodies that can regulate cellular processes and restore their balance. One aspect that makes these rare antibodies attractive is that they can target previously undruggable G protein-coupled receptor…

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The future of live performance 36:13

3M ago36:13

36:13

Michael Rau is a professor, theater director, and tech innovator in one. He says that today’s technologies – AI, gaming, interactive storytelling, and even email – are reshaping what performers can do on stage and how audiences experience those performances. The best of the stage has always been about reflecting life, and technology is part of how …

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An Insider’s View of the Patent Fights that Shaped the Biotech Industry 1:11:18

3M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

Jorge Goldstein trained for a career in molecular biology and biochemistry before becoming a patent attorney, a background that positioned him to help shape patent law for the biotech industry throughout his 40-year career. In his new book Patenting Life: Tales from the Front Lines of Intellectual Property and the New Biology, Goldstein offers a hi…

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All About Spheroids 26:54

3M ago26:54

26:54

Spheroids are three dimensional cell models that can mimic some organs, tumors, and other biological systems for drug testing. Like organoids and organs-on-a-chip, spheroids are breaking in to drug development as a promising alternative to animal models. I am joined by Madhu Lal Nag, MBS PhD from the 3D in vitro model company InSphero, to discuss t…

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Ep175: Andy Scharenberg on in vivo CAR-T cell therapies 1:10:46

3M ago1:10:46

1:10:46

Andy Scharenberg, CEO of Seattle-based Umoja Biopharma, on developing in vivo CAR-T cell therapies.By Timmerman Report

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Best of: The future of culture 31:53

3M ago31:53

31:53

We've been thinking a lot about culture recently, and reflecting on how–whether or not we’re aware of it–culture is a force that’s always exerting influence on us. It’s typically only when we get outside of our daily routine, our city or even our country, and are confronted with new ways of doing things that we can clearly see the values, norms, an…

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Restoring Balance to the Immune System in Allergic Diseases 28:36

3M ago28:36

28:36

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a progressive allergic disease characterized by difficulty swallowing and gastric reflux. It results from an elevated number of inflammatory immune cells in the walls of the esophagus. If left untreated, it can cause long-term complications, including scarring and difficulty swallowing. Revolo Biotherapeutics is developi…

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The future of electronic materials 35:42

3M ago35:42

35:42

We are on the cusp of a materials revolution – in electronics, health care, and avionics – says guest engineer-scientist Eric Pop. For instance, silicon and copper have served electronics admirably for decades, he says, but at the nanoscale, better materials will be needed. Atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors (like molybdenum disulfide) …

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Turning Natural Killers into Off-the-Shelf Therapies for Autoimmune Disease 32:09

3M ago32:09

32:09

NK cells, part of the innate immune system, serve as the body’s first line of defense. These cells can recognize and kill abnormal or infected cells. As therapies, they have the advantage over CAR-T and other cell therapies because they can be used off-the-shelf without undergoing gene editing or other genetic modifications. They also don’t trigger…

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Ep. 89: Rethinking Toxicology: The Future of NAMs in Agrochemicals 27:46

3M ago27:46

27:46

The agrochemical field has long relied on animal models to evaluate the safety and efficacy of substances, but there’s a growing demand to adopt new alternative methods (NAMs) that can further the industry while reducing the need for animal testing. However, questions remain as to their long-term viability. Join Robert Landsiedel, Vice President of…

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Ep174: Najat Khan on the TechBio Movement 1:07:16

3M ago1:07:16

1:07:16

Najat Khan, chief R&D and chief commercial officer of Recursion, on using technology to improve drug discovery.By Timmerman Report

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The future of liquid biopsy 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

Physician Ash Alizadeh has seen the future of disease diagnosis and monitoring. It is coursing through every patient’s veins. Traditionally, biopsies have required invasively gathering tissue – from a lung, a liver, or a fetus. Now it’s possible to look for disease without surgery. The DNA is sitting there in the bloodstream, Alizadeh tells host Ru…

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Combining an Antibody and siRNA to Treat Hepatitis B 29:28

3M ago29:28

29:28

More than a decade after the approval of a curative therapy for hepatitis C, hepatitis B has proven more challenging to tackle. Vir Biotechnology, in collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, is developing a promising combination approach that marries Vir’s monoclonal antibody tobivibart with Alnylam’s siRNA elebsiran. We spoke to Mark Eisner, ch…

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The Mexico GMO Corn Controversy - Luis Ventura 34:37

3M ago34:37

34:37

This conversation explores the complex relationship between corn and Mexico, focusing on its cultural, economic, and agricultural significance. The discussion highlights the moratorium on genetically engineered (GM; GMO) corn, the public perception of biotechnology, and the impact of environmental NGOs on policy decisions. The conversation also del…

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The Mexico GMO Corn Controversy - Luis Ventura 34:37

3M ago34:37

34:37

This conversation explores the complex relationship between corn and Mexico, focusing on its cultural, economic, and agricultural significance. The discussion highlights the moratorium on genetically engineered (GM; GMO) corn, the public perception of biotechnology, and the impact of environmental NGOs on policy decisions. The conversation also del…