#22 Stitching Science, Strategy, and Innovation in Cancer Care

In this episode, Ajay Mody and Asher Perzigian sit down with Sangeeta Bardhan Cook, Chief Innovation Officer at Fox Chase Cancer Center and SVP of Commercialization Strategy and Business Development at Temple Health. Together, they explore how to close the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world patient care, using scientific expertise and strategic leadership to drive innovation in oncology and diagnostics. The conversation dives into how hospitals and research institutions are collaborating with startups and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate new ideas. Topics include scalable therapies, precision diagnostics, and the thoughtful application of AI—from early-stage research to clinical use cases like MRI interpretation and protein folding. Listeners will also gain insight into the collaborative spirit of academic medicine, the complexities of commercialization, and the importance of nurturing early-stage innovation despite market pressures. This episode offers a compelling look at how curiosity, collaboration, and strategic thinking are reshaping the future of healthcare.