From Bench to Fireside

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Latest Episodes:

From CAR T-Cell Therapy to the Impact of Mentorship with Dr. Carl June Jan 27, 2025

In this episode of From Bench to Fireside, host John Connolly, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), interviews Carl June, MD, Director of the PICI Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Known as "the Father of CAR T-cell therapy," Dr. June's groundbreaking work led to the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy in 2017, revolutionizing precision medicine. Together, they explore the impact of the PICI Network in breaking barriers to accelerate patient-focused progress, the latest advances in CRISPR and CAR T-cell delivery shaping cellular therapy's future, and Dr. June’s reflections on his legacy, the next generation of scientists, and the importance of collaborative research.

From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

From Personalized Medicine to Cancer Informatics with Katie Campbell, PhD Apr 24, 2024

2022 Parker Bridge Fellow at UCLA, Katie Campbell, PhD, is a rising star in cancer informatics. In this episode, Katie talks with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, about her journey into personalized medicine and the pivotal role of advanced spatial profiling techniques in unraveling the intricacies of the tumor microenvironment.

She shares insights on integrating genomics with immunology, investigating antigen presentation, and advancing beyond single-cell analysis to comprehend regional biology within tissues. Additionally, she provides her perspective on how AI can discern crucial features and streamline the complexity of cancer into actionable insights for clinical settings.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Katie Campbell, PhD.

From Pediatric Cancer Challenges to CAR T Cell Signaling with Robbie Majzner, MD Mar 27, 2024

In this episode, Robbie Majzner, MD, a PICI Investigator at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, sits down with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, to discuss efforts to engineer next-generation CAR T cells using synthetic biology to enhance the therapeutic potential for fatal pediatric cancers. Formerly a researcher at Stanford University, where he was mentored by Crystal Mackall, MD, Center Director for the PICI Center at Stanford Medicine, Robbie is among the founding members of Cargo Therapeutics, a PICI investment company.

Listen as Robbie covers collaboration in the pediatric oncology field, the distinct characteristics of pediatric cancers and their immuno-biology versus adult cancers, and drug development obstacles for children.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Robbie Majzner, MD.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases.

From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

From Cellular Metabolism to the Tumor Microenvironment with Evanna Mills, PhD Mar 06, 2024

In this episode, PICI Member Researcher Evanna Mills, PhD, a distinguished professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, joins PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, to discuss her groundbreaking research in immuno-metabolism. Evanna explores how cellular metabolism and metabolites can influence critical immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, potentially advancing cancer immunotherapies.

Listen as she explains the urgent need to decode immune cell behavior within tumors, the technological advances required for this cutting-edge endeavor, and her advice for young scientists interested in the field.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Evanna Mills, PhD.

From Synthetic Biology to Emerging Technologies with Justin Eyquem, PhD Feb 22, 2024

In this episode, Justin Eyquem, PhD, Parker Senior Fellow and PICI Member Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, talks about his visionary work pioneering CAR-T cell therapies and synthetic biology with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD.

Listen as Justin provides an inside look at the CAR-T revolution, from next-generation therapies to cutting-edge advancements like in vivo delivery and AI-powered design. Hear him discuss his journey from bioengineering student to gene-editing innovator with support from PICI’s collaborative network of experts and resources.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Justin Eyquem, PhD.

From Cell Biology to Creating Cancer Vaccines with Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD Feb 08, 2024

In this episode, Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD, a PICI Network Investigator and the Director of Immunotherapy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, sits down with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, for an in-depth conversation about her journey from rheumatology to cancer immunology.

Listen to Dr. Bhardwaj, who also holds the position of Ward-Coleman Chair in Cancer Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discuss her groundbreaking research in modulating the immune system, the evolution of treatment methods, personalized vaccines using tumor-encoded mutant antigens and the role of mentorship in conquering cancer.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Dr. Bhardwaj.

From T-Cell Research to Clinical Impact with Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD Jan 24, 2024

In this episode, physician-scientist Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD, a PICI Network Investigator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, provides an inside look at his groundbreaking research on optimizing T-cell activation for cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Klebanoff discusses his work on targeting mutated driver oncogenes, expanding cell therapies beyond blood cancers, and using CD4+ T cells to improve cancer outcomes. Tracing the evolution of the field from pioneers like Dr. William Coley to current leaders such as Nobel laureate Jim Allison, PhD, Center Director for the PICI Center at MD Anderson, Dr. Klebanoff explains why multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to driving progress in cancer immunotherapy.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Dr. Klebanoff.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases.

From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit https://www.parkerici.org/.

From the Origins of Immunotherapy to Curing Pediatric Cancers with Crystal Mackall, MD Jan 10, 2024

In this episode, pioneering researcher Crystal Mackall, MD, Center Director for the PICI Center at Stanford Medicine, talks through what led to her contributions to cancer immunotherapy, including her point of view on tackling challenging problems like pediatric cancers. Dr. Mackall has dedicated her career to harnessing the immune system to treat cancer and was among a notable handful that helped conduct some of the first cancer immunotherapy clinical trials in the early 90s. She and PICI CSO John Connolly, PhD, explore what engineered “serial killer” T cells have to do with future treatments, the challenges of toxicity and partnering with the FDA to gain confidence in academia, all while getting into the crucial role that mentorship plays in fostering the next generation of scientific innovators.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with an eye-opening look at the past, present and future of cancer immunotherapy, as informed by Dr. Mackall’s cutting-edge scientific experiences.

From Cancer Care in New York City to Next-Gen Immunotherapies with Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD Dec 12, 2023

This episode of “From Bench to Fireside” is a special one for PICI that marks a network expansion with Weill Cornell Medicine joining as our newest PICI Center. The partnership will build upon PICI’s work to accelerate research efforts in cancer immunotherapy and represents an expansion for PICI on the East Coast. Dr. Jedd D. Wolchok, the Meyer Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and newly appointed Center Director for the PICI Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, talks with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, to discuss the new cancer immuno-oncology research center in NYC. Dr. Wolchok, who previously served as PICI Center Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), shares his vision for the PICI Center at Weill Cornell, ideas for integrating clinical research and cancer care to improve access for diverse populations, ambitions to accelerate cancer immunotherapy research, and a two-decade exploration of the immune system’s interaction with cancer. He also dives into challenges targeting checkpoint inhibitors, advancements in manufacturing cell therapies, personalized cancer vaccines, and the potential of engineered cytokines in next-gen immunotherapies.

Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Dr. Jedd Wolchok as he shares his bold vision for the future of the field.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases.

From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

From NK Cell Biology to a Career in Breakthrough Science with Lewis Lanier, PhD Dec 06, 2023

For more than three decades, Dr. Lewis Lanier has researched natural killer (NK) cells and their innate and adaptive responses to pathogens and cancer. The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy’s Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, kicks off the first season of From Bench to Fireside™ in conversation with Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of California, San Francisco and former Center Director for the PICI Center at UCSF. Together, they share insights on the progress of NK cell biology, reflect on Dr. Lanier’s role in helping to shape PICI's mission, and the impact of cultivating collaborations in both academia and industry.

Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases.

From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

Introducing: From Bench to Fireside Nov 28, 2023

Introducing From Bench to Fireside™, a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Hosted by PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and opportunities ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal to turn all cancers into curable diseases.

From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow us on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

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