Catalysts in Science

Oncology leaders Jackson Egen of Gilead Sciences and Priti Hegde of Kite, a Gilead company, discuss how unmet patient needs are shaping the next phase of cancer research. They explore how Gilead and Kite are approaching oncology across multiple fronts, drawing on advances in blood cancers and applying those lessons to solid tumors such as glioblastoma, alongside continued progress in cell therapy and other biology‑driven therapeutic approaches. Moderated by Jesse McQuarters. Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2026/04/16/how-unmet-patient-needs-are-shaping-the-next-phase-of-cancer-research/ Image credit: Radhika Patnala/Endosymbiont GmBH

Drug pricing reforms were meant to protect patients — but they may also be reshaping where innovation happens. In this interview, John Stanford of Incubate explains how MFN price controls and regulatory uncertainty ripple through the biotech ecosystem, squeezing small innovators and pushing investment abroad. Moderated by Terzel Vasquez, Producer, STAT Brand Studio. Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2026/03/04/could-u-s-policy-clinch-chinas-grip-on-biotech/

At the 2026 JPM Conference in San Francisco, Astellas President and CEO Naoki Okamura spoke with STAT Brand Studio Editor Jesse McQuarters about the company’s strategy and long-term vision as it enters an important phase in the company’s evolution. Astellas is taking a patient-centered approach and investing in four key areas within R&D — targeted protein degradation, immuno-oncology, blindness and regeneration, and genetic regulation — as it prepares for the loss of exclusivity of its leading prostate cancer therapy. Read more here: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2026/02/23/astellas-ceo-talks-transformative-medicines-driving-growth/

People living with asthma understand that their environment affects their health, but they’re often left without the tools, guidance, or support to fully act on that knowledge. In this virtual event, Chiesi unveils findings from its recent Asthma Community Survey, which looks at this fundamental gap and potential solutions. In particular, this conversation explores how embedding Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) into clinical, community, and digital systems can help individuals navigate air quality improvements with greater confidence, and panelists lay out a roadmap for building more responsive, patient-centered asthma care. • Anju T. Peters, M.D. M.SCI, Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Research, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Director, Center for Clinical Research, Northwestern University Clinical and Translational, Sciences Institute (NUCATS), Medical Director, Northwestern Medicine Clinical Research Unit, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine • Cindy Trubisky, M.Ed., AE-C, Senior Director, Nationwide Health Promotions, Asthma Programs, American Lung Association • Jesse McQuarters, Editor, STAT Brand Studio Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2025/12/01/do-enough-allergists-and-pcps-know-about-environmental-health-literacy/

In this collaborative episode of The Nucleus, Dr. John Overton, vice president and chief sequencing officer at Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC), joins STAT Brand Studio’s Jesse McQuarters to explore how integrating proteomics and multi-omics can deliver deeper insight into how diseases develop — and how science can better predict and prevent them.

What does it take to transform the outlook for patients facing some of the most difficult cancers? Dr. Dietmar Berger, Chief Medical Officer at Gilead Sciences, shares how the company is tackling urgent needs in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pioneering the next generation of CAR-T therapies to reshape what’s possible in oncology. Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2025/10/09/taking-possibility-back-across-oncologys-toughest-frontiers/ Photo: Radhika Patnala/Endosymbiont GmBH

Biosimilars are driving down drug costs, expanding access to critical treatments, and creating space for future innovation. In this episode, Linda Choi MacDonald, EVP and Global Head of Commercial at Samsung Bioepis, discusses the challenges slowing biosimilar development — and how policy reforms, stronger incentives, and provider education can help close the gap. Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2025/09/18/can-provider-education-and-smarter-policy-close-the-biosimilars-gap/

The sudden passing of Dr. Stephen Harrison in 2024 marked the loss of a visionary liver disease researcher and compassionate advocate. His legacy lives on through a new fellowship program that aims to educate and empower patient advocates in MASH. Led by the Fatty Liver Foundation with support from Madrigal Pharmaceuticals as a founding sponsor, the program reflects Dr. Harrison’s belief that centering patients in research can elevate liver disease care for generations to come.   Read more: https://www.statnews.com/sponsor/2025/08/25/empowering-patients-to-shape-the-future-of-mash-care/↗ Guests: Wayne Eskridge — Founder and CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation Dr. Maru Rinella — Professor of Medicine and Director, Metabolic and Fatty Liver Disease program, University of Chicago Dr. Becky Taub — Founder and Senior Scientific & Medical Advisor, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Moderator: Jesse McQuarters — Editor, STAT Brand Studio

What does it take to bring a new therapy from concept to commercialization? In this episode, STAT Brand Studio editor Jesse McQuarters speaks with Jerry Keybl, SVP for Biopharma Products and Strategy at Avantor, about how the company partners across the biotech and biopharma ecosystem to solve scientific and operational challenges. From hands-on support in research environments to advanced materials and digital tools, the conversation explores how Avantor helps organizations scale smarter and operate more efficiently. With 14 global innovation centers and deep technical collaboration, the company is focused on helping researchers and manufacturers navigate complexity across the scientific lifecycle.

New York City is investing over $1 billion to become a global leader in the life sciences — and at the heart of that mission is a commitment to infrastructure, innovation, and equity. In this episode, STAT Brand Studio editor Jesse McQuarters speaks with Viq Pervaaz, senior vice president at NYCEDC, about how the LifeSci NYC initiative is transforming the city’s health and science ecosystem. From modern lab spaces and AI-driven research to workforce programs reaching thousands of students, the conversation explores how New York is merging economic and social impact to build the future of medicine.

Puerto Rico is emerging as a key biopharma hub, offering advanced manufacturing capabilities, a highly skilled workforce, and significant cost advantages. In this conversation, OcyonBio CEO Robert Salcedo discusses how his company is leveraging AI-driven manufacturing, modular wet labs, and strategic infrastructure to support biotech and gene therapy companies.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with disparities in screening and care access posing major challenges. At the 2024 STAT Summit, Dr. Angie Nicholas and Dr. Fola May discussed how real-world data and collaboration among diverse stakeholders is driving efforts to close these gaps and achieve ambitious goals like 80% screening rates by 2030.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine is transforming medical education with an innovative three-year medical degree and tuition-free enrollment. Senior Associate Dean Joan Cangiarella, M.D., highlights the school's commitment to curriculum reform and personalized learning pathways designed to equip students for their preferred specialties while eliminating financial barriers to entry.

Molecular testing tools, including tumor sequencing and increasingly sensitive diagnostics, are leveling up oncology by enabling precise, personalized cancer treatment. Clinicians can now detect circulating tumor DNA, assess patients' cancer risk, monitor for resistance mutations, and adjust treatments in real time. Dr. Alec Kimmelman, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center, discusses how NYU Langone’s integrated infrastructure enhances data-driven clinical decisions and contributes to groundbreaking cancer research.

As CEO of NYU Langone Health and dean of the Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Robert Grossman leads a health system that excels in patient-oriented metrics, with a strategic eye toward the future. In this STAT Brand Studio podcast, he details the organization's landmark accomplishments over the last 17 years and singular culture rooted in respect for employees and patients.