Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar
From research on cancer vaccines to why we feel pain, scientists are tackling some of the biggest challenges in human biology. Want to find out what they’re working on? Pull up a stool for "Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar." Subscribe below to catch each episode as it goes live.
Episodes
July 15, 2025 • 37 mins
Digital twins are virtual models of real-world systems that have been gaining momentum as a powerful tool in drug discovery and development. We touched on this concept last season when we covered computational advancements in drug discovery. Now, we’re taking a deeper dive into the power of digital twins. By leveraging genomics, physical health data, lab results, and other clinical datasets, digital twins allow researchers to model...
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June 17, 2025 • 36 mins
Each season we discuss new, exciting breakthroughs in cancer research. With evolving technologies enhancing how we understand and target the underlying drivers of cancer, the journey to developing more effective and safer therapies is advancing rapidly. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian speaks with first-time guest Jennifer Schutzman, Executive Group Medical Director, Early Clinical Development, and returning guest Fred d...
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May 13, 2025 • 36 mins
We published our first episode on the threat of antibiotic resistance in 2016, and nearly a decade later, it remains one of the world’s most pressing health crises. Today, with advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the race to develop new antibiotics is evolving. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with guests Tommaso Biancalani, Distinguished Scientist and Director of Biological Research and AI Development, a...
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April 8, 2025 • 39 mins
As we kick off season six, we’re diving deeper into one of our most popular topics from last season – our evolving understanding of obesity. In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson unpacks the latest in obesity biology and management with Manu Chakravarthy, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Product Development, who discusses the stigma associated with obesity and how thousands of years of h...
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March 25, 2025 • 2 mins
Join Danielle Mandikian and Maria Wilson as they kick off season six of Two Scientists Walk Into A Bar. Hear what they’ve been up to in the past few months and enjoy a sneak preview of the exciting topics ahead. This season, we’re focusing on unmet needs and will dive deeper into lung diseases, regenerative medicine, and cell therapies. We’ll also check in on the latest advances in obesity, antibiotic resistance, and AI in drug dis...
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November 16, 2024 • 40 mins
Machine learning and generative AI are transforming the ways we live and work, but how do these tools fit into the landscape of drug discovery? In our season 5 finale, co-host Danielle Mandikian is joined by Rich Bonneau, Vice President of Machine Learning, Drug Discovery, to break down the fast-paced, expansive – and sometimes perplexing – world of AI and biology. Together, they discuss the importance of integrating machine learni...
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October 30, 2024 • 31 mins
Small molecules, antibodies, gene therapies – there are so many types of medicines scientists can consider when developing a new treatment for a disease. In this episode, Karin Briner, Senior Vice President and Head of Drug Discovery, joins co-host Maria Wilson to break down different therapeutic modalities, or types of treatments. Together, they cover a wide range of modalities in our drug development toolbox – including RNA-based...
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September 25, 2024 • 39 mins
Did you know that scientists can grow three-dimensional, miniature versions of human organs in a dish? These tiny in vitro models, known as organoids, are helping scientists to better understand human disease and to test new treatments. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian sits down with Kim Homan, Senior Director and Distinguished Scientist, Complex in vitro Systems Lab, to discuss the fascinating world of organoids and org...
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August 27, 2024 • 29 mins
To defeat cancer, we need to understand it better. How does it grow? How do we detect it early? And most importantly, how do we treat it? In this episode, co-host Maria Wilson chats with oncology expert Louis Vermeulen, VP and Senior Fellow, Discovery Oncology, about what’s new and exciting in cancer research. Together, they explore the importance of early detection, explain concepts like the tumor microenvironment, discuss cancer ...
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July 31, 2024 • 38 mins
What drives metabolic conditions like obesity? In this special episode, co-host and cardiovascular disease expert Maria Wilson, gRED Executive Director and Cardiovascular and Metabolism Research Head, takes the hot seat with fellow host Danielle Mandikian, gRED Senior Principal Scientist, to discuss the complex world of obesity. Tune in to hear about the biological and environmental factors contributing to this chronic disease, its...
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June 26, 2024 • 29 mins
Antibodies are proteins produced by our immune system that neutralize or help destroy abnormal cells and foreign agents, like bacteria and viruses. However, their utility extends beyond our bodies’ defense system. Antibodies can also be engineered in the lab to be used as therapies. Today, over 170 antibodies have been approved as medicines to treat a wide range of diseases including cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious disease...
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May 29, 2024 • 35 mins
Many health conditions require medicines that can be delivered to specific parts of the body. For instance, someone with asthma requires medication that targets the lungs, while someone with a neurodegenerative disease needs therapeutics that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. But how do scientists create medicines that not only reach their intended targets but also produce the desired pharmacological effect while minimizing si...
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April 30, 2024 • 36 mins
Imagine the eyes as cameras, where the cornea acts as the lens and the retina as the film. As with a camera, if something goes wrong in the eye, it needs to be fixed to address the specific problem and restore function. While some visual impairments can be corrected with glasses or surgery, some conditions require medicines – like those that slow or stop blood vessel growth in the eye. In this episode, co-host Danielle Mandikian jo...
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March 25, 2024 • 36 mins
Computational approaches have revolutionized how we interpret data. With the advent of genomic sequencing, scientists can derive significant conclusions from sequence data. For example, through transcriptomics – the study of genes and their expression in different cells – researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries in fields like developmental and disease biology. More recently, computational approaches have expanded with the ...
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February 7, 2024 • 4 mins
Join Danielle Mandikian and Maria Wilson as they kick off season five of Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar. Hear about their recent lab adventures and enjoy a sneak preview of exciting topics for our new season. From demystifying the impact of AI and machine learning in drug development to exploring diverse modalities for treating diseases, we've got an exciting lineup in store. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!
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December 6, 2022 • 44 mins
When we consider how a vaccine works, we typically think about vaccines that prevent infectious disease like flu or measles. But another type, known as therapeutic vaccines, may be able to treat diseases even after they’ve taken hold in the body – including cancer and viral infections. Similar to preventative vaccines, these therapeutic cancer vaccines work by promoting an immune response. Cancer vaccines are an emerging approach t...
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August 16, 2022 • 39 mins
Because disease outcomes and responses to treatment can vary across populations, clinical research must include patients who are racially, ethnically and gender representative of those who experience health conditions. Scientists are pioneering new ways of achieving inclusive and diverse clinical trials to generate clear results and reveal insights when evaluating new medicines. Co-host Maria Wilson sits down with Nicole Richie, Gl...
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July 19, 2022 • 34 mins
Achieving the first complete sequence of a human genome via the Human Genome Project represents an incredible feat – but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unlocking the power of genomics for drug discovery and development. As the scientific community builds on our understanding of genomics, one of the most critical questions becomes, how can we thoughtfully collect and use genetic data to better understand and suppo...
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May 4, 2022 • 46 mins
Bacteria – and their constant ability to rapidly evolve and adapt – represent a scientific challenge that’s equal parts fascinating and disconcerting. The incredible innovations of the past century have not only prevented and treated infections that would otherwise be lethal, but also helped safeguard patients through critical surgeries and other treatments. However, challenges abound for the scientific community when it comes to d...
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March 22, 2022 • 42 mins
Understanding what happens in the brain is notoriously difficult, but scientists have made progress in the past few decades. For Alzheimer’s disease, scientists have expanded their knowledge of where and when certain proteins, cells and biologic processes can contribute to memory loss and the progression of the disease. Co-host Maria Wilson speaks to Jasi Atwal, Senior Scientist, Neuroscience, and Edmond Teng, Senior Medical Direct...
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