Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar

Latest Episodes:

S7E06: State of the Heart Sep 16, 2026

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Is the human heart an evolutionary miracle or a single point of failure? In this episode, host Maria Wilson is joined by Saptarsi Haldar, Senior Vice President, Head of Research Biology, to dive into the central engine of the human body. Together they explore how the heart functions, what happens when it fails, and the evolution of treatment, up to the latest breakthroughs. From the future of cardiac repair and precision medicine to the game-changing role of AI, this episode is a front-row seat to the next frontier of cardiovascular science. Join us to learn about the muscle that powers billions of lives. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/state-of-the-heart

S7E05: AI in Oncology Aug 12, 2026

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How can artificial intelligence help our scientists find the hidden patterns in cancer's complex biology? In this episode, host Danielle Mandikian is joined by Anwesha Dey, Distinguished Scientist and Executive Director of AI - Oncology and Cancer Biology, to talk about the new reality of the oncology lab. They explore how teaming up with artificial intelligence allows researchers to challenge long-held assumptions, generate bold hypotheses and design novel molecules at speed. Join us to hear how working alongside AI is accelerating the path to new cancer therapies. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/ai-in-oncology

S7E04: Lab of the Future Jul 15, 2026

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Are we on the cusp of a new era in scientific research? This episode delves into the transformative potential of the "lab of the future." Host Danielle Mandikian and guests Margaret Porter Scott, VP, Biochemical Cellular Pharmacology, and Andy Lash, Head of Engineering, Lab Automation, discuss how AI and automation are set to tackle major bottlenecks in science, from fragmented systems to the physical and time-intensive toll of repetitive lab work. Discover how these advancements will lower the activation energy for groundbreaking research and empower scientists to better tackle some of humanity’s most pressing medical needs. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/lab-of-the-future

S7E03: The ABCs of IBD May 27, 2026

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating, lifelong condition that changes how people plan their entire lives. In this episode, KT Park, Global Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Seppi Lin, Head of OMNI Early Clinical Development, explore the complex biology behind IBD. They discuss the role of genetics, the gut microbiome, and an individual’s environment, as well as the exciting future of "immune reset" therapies that could offer hope for people with IBD. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/the-abcs-of-ibd

S7E02: Breakthroughs in MS Apr 15, 2026

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Breakthroughs in the last decade have transformed how we understand and treat multiple sclerosis (MS), but what will it take to stop the disease in its tracks? Pull up a stool with co-host Maria Wilson and our guest Sherman Jia, Group Medical Director, gRED Translational Medicine, for a discussion on the breakthrough research into B cells that has made a "night and day" difference for people living with the disease. In this episode, they tackle the next frontiers in MS research: from the surprising link between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS, to the ambitious goal of repairing the brain’s myelin, and the potential of “immune reset” therapies, including work in cell therapies, that could offer lasting remission. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/breakthroughs-in-ms

S7E01: The Wild World of Eyeballs Mar 17, 2026

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We’re kicking off season seven with an in-depth look at the wild world of ophthalmology, where scientists are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for vision treatments. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian is joined by guests Deepak Lamba, Director and Distinguished Scientist, Ophthalmology, and Susie Crowell, Senior Director, Project Team Leader, to explore the latest in the field of ophthalmology since our season five episode on eye diseases. Together, they dive into the bizarre biology of how our eyes actually work, unpack how and why eye diseases develop, and discuss how transformative new therapies could one day restore sight. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/the-wild-world-of-eyeballs

Season Seven Teaser Mar 04, 2026

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Your favorite science podcast is back! To kick off season seven of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar, hosts Maria Wilson and Danielle Mandikian sit down to celebrate a decade of the podcast and look back at our previous season on unmet medical needs. But what’s next? Get ready for a season that’s going bigger than ever before. To mark the 50th anniversary of Genentech, Maria and Danielle will draw a thread from the seminal breakthroughs of the last 50 years in biotechnology to the incredible innovations that will shape the next decade and beyond. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/season-seven-teaser

S6E07: Foundation Models and Agents Dec 10, 2025

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In our season six finale, we dive deeper into how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the future of drug discovery and scientific research. With remarkable scale and speed, AI models parse through complex datasets and confirm or generate hypotheses, which can help scientists accelerate R&D. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian welcomes Aviv Regev, Head of gRED, and Jure Leskovec, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, to talk about foundation models and autonomous agents. Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges of applying AI in drug discovery, including balancing innovation with scientific rigor and the evolving role of scientists. They also discuss how AI is reshaping the future of research — from building more biologically meaningful models to advancing agent-based systems and lab automation. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/foundation-models-and-agents

S6E06: Decoding Lung Disease Oct 22, 2025

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From our first breath, the air we breathe and our genes shape how our lungs function. It’s a complex interplay we began exploring in our season four episode “Take A Deep Breath: Treating Asthma.” Today, we’re branching out to discuss lung biology and the diseases that make it difficult to breathe. In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson speaks with Dorothy Cheung, Executive Group Medical Director, and Daniel Lafkas, Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Discovery Research, Roche, to understand how conditions with unmet need like chronic bronchitis and emphysema disrupt lung function. They discuss the challenges to treating lung diseases and explore promising approaches, from cutting-edge imaging technologies that help researchers uncover early drivers of disease, to treatments aimed at stopping the loss of lung function and restoring it. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/decoding-lung-disease

S6E05: Cells at Work Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Cell therapy holds immense potential to transform the way we treat conditions in oncology, ophthalmology, autoimmune disorders, and a wide range of other therapeutic areas. But how do these engineered cells work, and how do scientists ensure they are safe and function as intended? In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with Todd McDevitt, Head of Cell Therapy, to discuss how cell therapies operate within the body, the challenges researchers face in this field, and the advancements needed to unlock their full potential for patients. Read the full text transcript at www.gene.com/stories/cells-at-work

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