Healthcare analytics, AI solutions for biological big data, providing an AI platform for the biotech, life sciences, medical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as for related technological approaches, i.e., curation and text analysis with machine learning and other activities related to AI applications to these industries.
The Heart Failure Collaboratory is deeply saddened to share the passing of our esteemed member, Michael R. Bristow, MD, PhD.
Dr. Bristow was a pioneering leader in
heart failure,
pharmacogenomics, and
cardiovascular therapeutics.
His groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and decades of scientific contributions shaped modern heart failure care and inspired countless clinicians, investigators, and innovators across the field.
He authored hundreds of publications, founded multiple biotechnology companies built on transformative discoveries, and helped advance therapies that continue to benefit patients today. His impact on science and medicine is immeasurable.
Dr. Bristow’s insight, generosity, and dedication enriched the Heart Failure Collaboratory from its earliest days.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who were touched by his remarkable life and legacy. His contributions will continue to guide and elevate our field for years to come.
Michael R. Bristow, MD, PhD, is a distinguished cardiologist, researcher, and pioneer in heart failure therapy, renowned for his contributions to cardiovascular pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, and clinical trials. With over 50 years in the field, he has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications and played a pivotal role in advancing treatments that have transformed heart failure management. Bristow’s career exemplifies the “bench-to-bedside” approach, bridging molecular research with practical clinical innovations.
Early Life and Education
Born around 1946, Bristow earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1966. He pursued advanced training through the University of Illinois Chicago MD/PhD Program, receiving his MD in 1970 and PhD in pharmacology in 1971. Following this, he completed an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in pharmacology at the University of Illinois.
Medical Training and Early Career
Bristow’s clinical training took place at Stanford University, where he completed an internship in 1972, a residency in internal medicine in 1977, and a fellowship in cardiology in 1978. He also pursued postdoctoral work in molecular pharmacology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Duke University. In 1979, he joined the cardiology faculty at Stanford, quickly establishing himself as a rising expert in cardiovascular disease.Academic and Professional MilestonesIn 1984, Bristow relocated to the University of Utah, where he co-founded the Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals (U.T.A.H.) Cardiac Transplant Program in 1985—the first multi-hospital heart transplant program in the United States. This initiative fostered unprecedented collaboration among institutions and remains operational today. In 1991, he was recruited to the University of Colorado in Denver (now the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) as Head of the Division of Cardiology, a position he held until 2004. There, he co-founded the University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute, a joint venture between the Boulder and Medical campuses, and now directs the Section of Pharmacogenomics. As a tenured Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology, Bristow continues to lead research on heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and personalized medicine. He is licensed to practice in Colorado, Utah, and California, and maintains an active clinical presence at UC Health facilities in Aurora, Colorado.Scientific Contributions and Innovations.
Bristow is best known for spearheading the “beta-blocker revolution” in heart failure therapy during the 1980s and 1990s, demonstrating through rigorous trials that these drugs could improve survival and reverse cardiac remodeling—a paradigm shift that saved countless lives. His work extends to pharmacogenomics, exploring genetic factors influencing drug responses in heart failure patients. Recent studies under his leadership, such as a 2024 trial on ivabradine for rate reduction in dilated cardiomyopathy, highlight ongoing efforts to link heart rate modulation with molecular phenotypes like fibrosis and autophagy dysregulation. An entrepreneur at heart, Bristow has founded or co-founded three biotechnology companies based on university-licensed intellectual property:
Myogen: Developed ambrisentan (Letairis), approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
ARCA biopharma: Focuses on bucindolol (Gencaro) for pharmacogenetic prevention of atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients.
A third unnamed venture underscores his commitment to translating research into therapies.
His prolific output includes seminal papers on topics from histone deacetylase export in failing hearts to transcriptome signatures of ventricular arrhythmias.
Awards and Honors
Bristow’s impact is reflected in numerous accolades:
Therapeutics Frontiers Award, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (1993)
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Clinical Trial Exceptional Service Award (2008)
Lifetime Achievement Award, Heart Failure Society of America (2008)
Scientist of the Year, Colorado Chapter of the ARCS Foundation (2008)
University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award (2009)
Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Illinois College of Medicine (2025)
Distinguished Scientist Award (Translational Domain), American College of Cardiology (2014)
In 2025, he served as the keynote speaker at the University of Utah’s Cardiac Recovery Symposium, further cementing his influence.Personal and Professional LegacyBased in Denver, Colorado, Bristow remains deeply engaged in academia and patient care, with contact through the University of Colorado (michael.bristow@cuanschutz.edu). His career not only advanced heart failure treatments but also inspired collaborative models in transplantation and pharmacogenomics, reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease. As of 2025, at age 79, he continues to publish and mentor, embodying a lifelong dedication to innovation in cardiology.
The Cardiology field has paid special attention to the anatomical and physiological aspect leading to Heart Failure. We covered these topics in six volumes in our BioMed e-Series in the English and in the SPanish Editions;
Details on each e-Book in each e-Series by e-Series: Spanish-language Edition and English-language Edition
ENGLISH-language EDITION
Series A
English-language Text Edition is found on Amazon.com ($515)
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X: +300 Audio Podcasts Library: Interviews with Scientific Leaders
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
We had researched the topic of AI Initiatives in Big Pharma in the following article:
Authentic Relevance of LPBI Group’s Portfolio of IP as Proprietary Training Data Corpus for AI Initiatives at Big Pharma
We are publishing a Series of Five articles that demonstrate the Authentic Relevance of Five of the Ten Digital IP Asset Classes in LPBI Group’s Portfolio of IP for AI Initiatives at Big Pharma.
For the Ten IP Asset Classes in LPBI Group’s Portfolio, See
This Corpus comprises of Live Repository of Domain Knowledge Expert-Written Clinical Interpretationsof Scientific Findings codified in the following five Digital IP ASSETS CLASSES:
• IP Asset Class V: 7,500 Biological Images in our Digital Art Media Gallery, as prior art. The Media Gallery resides in WordPress.com Cloud of LPBI Group’s Web site
BECAUSE THE ABOVE ASSETS ARE DIGITAL ASSETS they are ready for use as Proprietary TRAINING DATA and INFERENCE for AI Foundation Models in HealthCare.
Expert‑curated healthcare corpus mapped to a living ontology, already packaged for immediate model ingestion and suitable for safe pre-training, evals, fine‑tuning and inference. If healthcare domain data is on your roadmap, this is a rare, defensible asset.
The article TITLE of each of the five Digital IP Asset Classes matched to AI Initiatives in Big Pharma, an article per IP Asset Class are:
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class I: PharmaceuticalIntelligence.com Journal, 2.5MM Views, 6,250 Scientific articles and Live Ontology
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class II: 48 e-Books: English Edition & Spanish Edition. 152,000 pages downloaded under pay-per-view
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class III: 100 e-Proceedings and 50 Tweet Collections of Top Biotech and Medical Global Conferences, 2013-2025
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class V: 7,500 Biological Images in LPBI Group’s Digital Art Media Gallery, as prior art
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X: +300 Audio Podcasts Library: Interviews with Scientific Leaders
LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X: A Library of Podcasts are a “live repository” primed for Big Pharma AI, fueling from R&D reviews to global equity. Technical Implications: Enables auditory-multimodal models for diagnostics/education. Business Implications: Accelerates $500M ROI; licensing for partnerships. Unique Insight: As unscripted leader interviews, they provide a “verbal moat” in AI—completing series’ holistic pharma data ecosystem.Promotional with links to podcast library/IP portfolio. Synthesizes series by emphasizing auditory human-AI synergy.
In the series of five articles, as above, we are presenting the key AI Initiatives in Big Pharma as it was created by our prompt to @Grok on 11/18/2025:
Generative AI tools that save scientists up to 16,000 hours annually in literature searches and data analysis.
Drug Discovery and Development Acceleration Pfizer uses AI, supercomputing, and ML to streamline R&D timelines
Clinical Trials and Regulatory Efficiency AI:
-Predictive Regulatory Tools
-Decentralize Trials
-inventory management
Disease Detection and Diagnostics:
– ATTR-CM Initiative
– Rare diseases
Generative AI and Operational Tools:
– Charlie Platform
– Scientific Data Cloud AWS powered ML on centralized data
– Amazon’s SageMaker /Bedrock for Manufacturing efficiency
– Global Health Grants:
Pfizer Foundation’s AI Learning Lab for equitable access to care and tools for community care
Partnerships and Education
– Collaborations: IMI Big Picture for 3M – sample disease database
– AI in Pharma AIPM Symposium: Drug discovery and Precision Medicine
– Webinars of AI for biomedical data integration
– Webinar on AI in Manufacturing
Strategic Focus:
– $500M R&D reinvestment by 2026 targets AI for Productivity
– Part of $7.7B cost savings
– Ethical AI, diverse DBs
– Global biotech advances: China’s AI in CRISPR
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X: +300 Audio Podcasts Library: Interviews with Scientific Leaders
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma @Grok prompt & Proprietary Training Data and Inference by LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X: +300 Audio Podcasts Library: Interviews with Scientific Leaders
Overview: Final (fifth) in LPBI Group’s five-article series on AI-ready digital IP assets for pharma. This installment highlights IP Asset Class X—+300 audio podcasts of interviews with scientific leaders—as a proprietary, expert-curated auditory corpus for training and inference in healthcare AI models. Using a November 18, 2025, Grok prompt on Pfizer’s AI efforts, it maps the library to pharma applications, emphasizing audio ingestion for breakthroughs review, education, and platform integration. Unlike visual/text prior classes, this focuses on verbal expert insights for multimodal/hybrid AI, positioning them as a “rare, defensible” resource for ethical, diverse foundation models.Main Thesis and Key Arguments
Core Idea: LPBI’s +300 podcasts capture unscripted scientific discourse from leaders, forming a live repository of domain knowledge ideal for AI ingestion—enhancing Big Pharma’s shift from generic to human-curated models for R&D acceleration and equitable care.
Value Proposition: Part of ten IP classes (five AI-ready: I, II, III, V, X); podcasts equivalent to $50MM value in series benchmarks, with living ontology for semantic mapping. Unique for hybrid uses (e.g., education starters) and safe pre-training/fine-tuning, contrasting open-source data with proprietary, ethical inputs.
Broader Context: Caps series by adding auditory depth to text/visual assets; supports Pfizer’s $500M AI reinvestment via productivity gains (e.g., 16,000 hours saved).
AI Initiatives in Big Pharma (Focus on Pfizer) Reuses Grok prompt highlights, presented in an integrated mapping table (verbatim):
AI Initiative at Big Pharma i.e., Pfizer
Description
Generative AI tools
Save scientists up to 16,000 hours annually in literature searches and data analysis.
Drug Discovery and Development Acceleration
Pfizer uses AI, supercomputing, and ML to streamline R&D timelines.
Charlie Platform; Scientific Data Cloud AWS powered ML on centralized data; Amazon’s SageMaker/Bedrock for Manufacturing efficiency; Global Health Grants: Pfizer Foundation’s AI Learning Lab for equitable access to care and tools for community care.
Partnerships and Education
Collaborations: IMI Big Picture for 3M-sample disease database; AI in Pharma AIPM Symposium: Drug discovery and Precision Medicine; Webinars of AI for biomedical data integration; Webinar on AI in Manufacturing.
Strategic Focus
$500M R&D reinvestment by 2026 targets AI for Productivity; Part of $7.7B cost savings; Ethical AI, diverse DBs; Global biotech advances: China’s AI in CRISPR.
Mapping to LPBI’s Proprietary DataCore alignment table (verbatim extraction, linking Pfizer initiatives to Class X podcasts):
AI Initiative at Big Pharma i.e., Pfizer
Library of Audio and Video Podcasts N = +300
Generative AI tools (16,000 hours saved)
(No specific mapping provided.)
Drug Discovery and Development Acceleration
Review ALL SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS.
Clinical Trials and Regulatory Efficiency
(No specific mapping provided.)
Disease Detection and Diagnostics (ATTR-CM, rare diseases)
(No specific mapping provided.)
Generative AI and Operational Tools (Charlie, AWS, etc.)
Ingest to Charlie Platform all +300 Podcasts.
Partnerships and Education (IMI, AIPM, webinars)
Use Podcast for Education; Use Podcast as Hybrid: Start presentation with a Podcast continue with a life interview.
Strategic Focus ($500M reinvestment, ethics)
(No specific mapping provided.)
Methodologies and Frameworks
AI Training Pipeline: Ingest audio into Charlie/AWS for pre-training (expert discourse corpus), fine-tuning (e.g., breakthrough reviews), and inference (e.g., educational hybrids). Use ontology for thematic mapping; Grok prompt for sourcing initiatives.
Productivity Model: Boosts Pfizer’s $7.7B savings via auditory data for diverse, ethical AI (e.g., Learning Lab grants); hybrid formats for webinars/symposia.
Insights: Quote from Dr. Stephen J. Williams, PhD: Assets as “codified digital treasures” for safe healthcare AI. Predicts revolution in verbal inference for precision medicine.
Conclusions and Implications
LPBI Group’s IP Asset Class X:
A Library of Podcasts are a “live repository” primed for Big Pharma AI, fueling from R&D reviews to global equity. Technical Implications: Enables auditory-multimodal models for diagnostics/education. Business Implications: Accelerates $500M ROI; licensing for partnerships. Unique Insight: As unscripted leader interviews, they provide a “verbal moat” in AI—completing series’ holistic pharma data ecosystem.Promotional with links to podcast library/IP portfolio. Synthesizes series by emphasizing auditory human-AI synergy.
@Grok was prompted to summarize the Table of Contents of the e-Book that present the Library of Podcast INDEX.
Overview of IP Asset Class X: +300 Audio Podcasts – Interviews with Scientific LeadersThe BioMed Audio Podcast Library from LPBI Group is a valuable intellectual property asset in the biomedical field, featuring over 301 audio podcasts created from interviews, curations, and discussions with prominent scientific leaders. This collection highlights breakthroughs in areas like genomics, cancer research, immunology, precision medicine, and public health policy. Curated by experts such as Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN (197 podcasts), Larry H. Bernstein, MD, FCAP (48 podcasts), and Stephen J. Williams, PhD (38 podcasts), the library is organized into 21 thematic chapters for easy navigation.Key features include:
Search and Accessibility: Filter by chapter, curator, subject, or podcast ID. Each entry includes text-to-speech conversion and NLP-generated WordClouds for topic visualization.
Content Focus: Emphasizes Nobel laureates, key opinion leaders, and innovators discussing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, mRNA vaccines, immunotherapy, and biotechnology ventures.
Format and Updates: Derived from articles on real-time events (e.g., COVID-19 impacts, award announcements). The library continues to expand, with no direct audio embeds—access via linked articles for full transcripts and playback.
Themes Covered: Public health policy, cardiovascular science, neuroscience, academic institutions, and more, with a strong emphasis on translational research and personalized medicine.
This asset represents a rich repository for researchers, students, and professionals seeking insights from leaders like Francis Collins, Jennifer Doudna, and Siddhartha Mukherjee.Selected Highlights by ChapterBelow are curated examples from key chapters, showcasing interviews with scientific leaders. For the full library (301+ entries), visit the source page.
Chapter 1: Public Health
Podcast ID
Curator
Title
Scientific Leader(s)
Brief Description
Link
17
Aviva Lev-Ari
LEADERS in Genome Sequencing of Genetic Mutations for Therapeutic Drug Selection in Cancer Personalized Treatment: Part 2
Leaders in genome sequencing
Explores genetic mutations’ role in personalized cancer therapies.
This selection captures the library’s depth, blending historical perspectives (e.g., Watson) with cutting-edge topics (e.g., CRISPR, immunotherapy). For deeper dives, use the site’s search tools to explore chapters like Cardiovascular Science (36 podcasts) or Immunology.
In Memoriam: Nobel Laureate James D. Watson, Ph.D. (1928-2025)
Curator: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.
On Thursday November 6, 2025, Nobel Laureate Dr. James D. Watson passed away after a reported brief illness. Although well known for his discovery of the DNA double helix with Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkens using the crystallographic data of Rosalind Franklin, Dr. Watson had contributed other seminal findings to the fields of biology and cancer, as well as his mentoring of young scientists. Therefore it is only fitting to curate some of the commentary on his life and passing in the words of the institutions and the renowned scientists he had mentored.
The world of science bids farewell to one of its most brilliant and controversial figures, Dr. James Dewey Watson, who passed away on 6th November 2025 at the age of 97. Best known as one of the co-discoverers of the double-helix structure of DNA, Watson’s name became synonymous with a new era in genetics and molecular biology. His life, filled with intellectual daring, unyielding curiosity, and deep contributions to science and education, forever altered humanity’s understanding of the genetic code that defines life itself.
James Watson and Francis Crick with model of DNA double helix. The model was based on data from Rosalind Franklin and x ray diffraction analysis of Maurice Wilkins.
From Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where Dr. Watson spent most of his scientific career:
Jim Watson made many contributions to science, education, public service, and especially Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
As a scientist, his and Francis Crick’s determination of the structure of DNA, based on data from Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins and their colleagues at King’s College London, was a pivotal moment in the life sciences. Watson, along with Crick and Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Watson also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald Ford and the National Medal of Science from President Bill Clinton, among many other awards and prizes. While at Cambridge, Watson also carried out pioneering research on the structure of small viruses. At Harvard, Watson’s laboratory demonstrated the existence of mRNA, in parallel with a group at Cambridge, UK, led by Sydney Brenner. His laboratory also discovered important bacterial proteins that control gene expression and contributed to understanding how mRNA is translated into proteins.
As an author, Watson wrote two books at Harvard that were and remain best sellers. The textbook Molecular Biology of the Gene, published in 1965 (7th edition, 2020), changed the nature of science textbooks, and its style was widely emulated. The Double Helix (1968) was a sensation at the time of publication. Watson’s account of the events that resulted in the elucidation of the structure of DNA remains controversial, but still widely read.
As a public servant, Watson successfully guided the first years of the Human Genome Project, persuading scientists to take part and politicians to provide funding. He created the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) program because of his concerns about misuse of the fruits of the project.
Watson’s association with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory began in 1947 when he came as a graduate student with his supervisor, Salvador Luria. Luria, with Max Delbruck, was teaching the legendary Phage Course. Watson returned repeatedly to CSHL, most notably in 1953 when he gave the first public presentation of the DNA double helix at that year’s annual Symposium. He became a CSHL trustee in 1965.
CSHL was created in 1964 by the merger of two institutes that existed in Cold Spring Harbor since 1890 and 1902, respectively. In 1968, Watson became the second director when he was 40 years old. John Cairns, the first director, had begun to revive the institute but it was still not far short of being destitute when Watson took charge. He immediately showed his great skills in choosing important topics for research, selecting scientists and raising funds.
Also in 1968, Watson married Elizabeth (Liz) Lewis, and they have lived on the CSHL campus their entire lives together. Jim and Liz have two sons, Rufus and Duncan. As with the former Directors, they fostered close relationships with the local Cold Spring Harbor community.
In 1969, Watson focused research at CSHL on cancer, specifically on DNA viruses that cause cancer. The study of these viruses resulted in many fundamental discoveries of important biological processes, including the Nobel prize-winning discovery of RNA splicing. Watson was the first Director of CSHL’s National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, which remains today.
Watson was passionate about science education and promoting research through meetings and courses. Meetings began at CSHL in 1933 with the Symposium series, and the modern advanced courses started with the Phage course in 1945. Watson greatly expanded both programs, making CSHL the leading venue for learning the latest research in the life sciences. Publishing also increased, notably of laboratory manuals, epitomized by Molecular Cloning, and several journals began, led by Genes & Development and later Genome Research. He encouraged the creation of the DNA Learning Center, unique in providing hands-on genetic education for high-school students. There are now DNA Learning Centers throughout the world.
Through a substantial gift to CSHL in 1973 by Charles Robertson, Watson started the Banbury Center on the Robertsons’ 54-acre estate in nearby Lloyd Harbor. Today, this center functions as an important “think tank” for advancing research and policies on many issues related to life and medical sciences.
From the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and contributions to cancer research
James D. Watson, PhD
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, New York
Class of 2013
A renowned molecular biologist, teacher, and author, Dr. Watson is best known as the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, for which he won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. First announced in early April 1953 by the director of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, the discovery went largely unnoticed until a paper reporting it appeared in the April 25, 1953, issue of Nature. Prominent biologists later described the finding as the most important scientific discovery of the 20th century.
Dr. Watson headed the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health from 1990 to 1992. In 2007, he became the second person to publish his personal fully sequenced genome online. Ahead of his time as usual, he said he did so to “encourage the development of an era of personalized medicine”, in which information contained in our genomes can be used to identify and prevent disease and to create individualized medical therapies. – He has written several highly regarded molecular biology textbooks and in 1968 published a personal account in The Double Helix, which became one of Modern Library ‘s 100 Best Nonfiction Books.
Career Highlights
2001 Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences
2000 The Liberty Medal, National Constitution Center
1999 Honorary Member, AACR
1997 National Medal of Science, National Science Foundation
1994-2004 President, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1993 Copley Medal of the Royal Society of London
1988-1992 Director, Human Genome Project, NIH
1971 John J. Carty Award in Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences
1975 Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2002 Gairdner Foundation International Award
1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1960 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
1959 Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry
1959 John Collins Warren Prize, Massachusetts General Hospital
1950 PhD, Indiana University, Bloomington
In the Words of Colleagues who Worked With Dr. James Watson
Philip Sharp
Molecular biologist Phillip Allen Sharp received the 1993 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for his discovery of splicing of introns and exons or “split genes.” He found that these genes are the most common type of gene structure in higher organisms, including humans. He shared the prize with Richard John Roberts, who discovered split genes independently of Sharp. The discovery of split genes has been of fundamental importance to basic research in biology as well as medical research on the development of cancer and other diseases. The discovery of split genes led to the prediction of the genetic process of splicing.
Here is a great interview with Nobel Laureate Dr. Philip Sharp and working with Jim Watson at Cold Spring Harbor Labs
Watch Video
These are the parts of the transcript he talk about working with Jim Watson. Note he also seeked out David Baltimore to do a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT on viruses.
Transcript:
Sharp: So I also wanted to begin to work with human cells. And I wanted to work with viruses that infected human cells, because, again, I could isolate their DNA. And I could understand that DNA. And I got that experience from working with Jerry Vinograd at Caltech, who was also a professor there. And I collaborated with him and Norman once while I was there. So I wanted to learn virology. And I contacted three labs to do a second postdoc for a period of time. Dave Baltimore, who was here at MIT, Howard Temin up at Wisconsin, and Jim Watson at Cold Spring Harbor. And Jim invited me to come to Cold Spring Harbor. I moved there to start working with animal viruses. He had just come down from Harvard to take over Cold Spring Harbor and was expanding the tumor virus program there.So I joined that program and started to work with mammalian cells and DNA tumor viruses that cause tumors in animals. But to me they were a tool as well to begin to look at gene structure and function in the human cells.
INTERVIEWER: So as a humanist, for lack of a better word, you were interested on some level in the potential for the curative powers of biology by studying viruses; but as a chemist you saw viruses as this platform, a window, into the structure of DNA.
SHARP: That’s right, and the structure of cells. How the complex human cell worked. Because in the early 1970s, we really didn’t have the tools to begin to understand the biology, molecular biology, or cell biology of human cells. It was really a totally unexplored at the level of a gene and how it functioned. And I saw this as a chemist as a tool that I could move into that question. And I knew that question was central to human biology. I mean, you can’t understand the biology of an organism without understanding the gene. So it seemed pretty apparent to me. It’s sort of written on the wall, understand what the gene is. And so I, you know, had multiple reasons to begin these studies. Some was, you know, how cancer developed. Others were fundamental. What was a gene.
INTERVIEWER: Most people who’ve understood James Watson by reputation at the time that you went to study with him viewed him as a towering pillar of science who had answered an enormously important question in biology for all time. But when you went to study with him, you were, in fact, seeing it from the other side, that, in fact, Watson’s work was just the beginning of an extremely long journey that we’re still on. How did he understand that we were at the beginning of something, versus how you understood it. And how did that work in your relationship?
SHARP: Jim at that stage, you know, he had done so much. He had discovered the structure of DNA. He’d built the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Harvard, the most outstanding department in the country focused on that. Written his text book, The Molecular Biology of the Gene, which was the introduction to students of this fascinating field. And took over Cold Spring Harbor and resurrected from a lab that was not going to survive much longer. He constructed, he understood that DNA was a critical tool in understanding complex biology. And that this subject would lead to increasing insights. He obviously had a much greater vision of all the relationships of, you know, different parts of biology to these questions than I did. And he gathered around him very bright, energetic, interesting people. And he’s sort of chit chatted at the top, left him alone. And when he found something that was interesting that happened in that mix, he would sort of pluck it out and say, “nice work”, you know. “Write that up. Tell other people about that.” And so he played that sort of, you know, very senior mentor and creator of a community. And in that community, I found some really wonderful people, very talented people. Joe Sambrook who I collaborated with. And Ulf Pettersson and Mike Botchan and a whole host of others who are now all leaders around the world. So it was just a very stimulating environment.
INTERVIEWER: Again, this sense of a team of people working at the top of their game, focused in any way they can, using all the disciplines of knowledge at their disposal on the problems that excite them.
SHARP: That’s true, and a team in which there are different disciplines. Jim understood this, that he needed someone with more physical chemistry; and he needed someone with chemistry. And he needed a biologist. And he needed this biochemist. And he sort of, you know, mixed people that would complement one another. And I was the individual who came in with a broad interest in biology, new and physical chemistry, new electron microscopy. And there was a lot of people in the environment that were virologists and cell biologists who needed this sort of tools to do their science. So we complemented each other and stimulated each other.
Sir Richard John Roberts, Ph.D.
Sir Richard John Roberts was co-awarded with Philip Sharp the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of RNA splicing. They both worked at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. Dr. Roberts also discovered numerous restriction enzymes which he used to develop DNA sequencing of complex genomes. He also co-founded New England BioLabs. Below is an interesting interview of his quick hiring interview with Jim Watson and his time at Cold Spring Harbor Labs.
Other Notable Scientists Who Have been Mentored and interacted with Dr. Watson
Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph,D.
Dr. Giordano is the President and Founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization and Professor in Biology at Temple University and ‘chiara fama’ Professor of Anatomic Pathology in the Department of Medical Biotechnology at the University of Siena, in Siena, Italy. He discovered the tumor suppressor RBL2/p130 and showed its alteration in multiple tumor types, showing the first molecular evidence that causually linked proliferation and cancer. In addition he has discovered cyclin dependent kinases CDK9 and CDK10, as well as other regulators and development of new classes of inhibitors of the cell cycle.
Dr. Antonio Giordano with his mentor and colleague Dr. James Watson. Dr. James Dewey Watson discovered the structure of the DNA molecule with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkens, whom he also received the Nobel Prize for. On the left is a signed copy to Dr. Giordano of Watson’s book the Double Helix.
Other articles of relevance on James Watson and the DNA Helix on this Open Access Journal include:
David Baltimore, PhD, FAACR, a Fellow of the AACR Academy and a towering figure in modern biology whose insights reshaped cancer research and biomedical science, died on September 6, 2025, at the age of 87.
Baltimore’s career was defined by transformative discoveries. In 1975, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, alongside Renato Dulbecco and Howard Temin, for elucidating how tumor viruses interact with the genetic material of the cell. His discovery of reverse transcriptase overturned one of the central dogmas of molecular biology by showing that genetic information could flow from RNA back to DNA. This single revelation opened countless new frontiers in virology, immunology, oncology, and genetics, laying the foundation for decades of scientific advances influencing the fundamental understanding of retroviruses such as HIV, and driving the development of modern gene therapies and mRNA-based technologies.
Following his groundbreaking work in virology, Baltimore expanded his focus to the immune system, pioneering research on how mammalian immunity can be harnessed to combat cancer. His quintessential vision and curiosity fueled entire fields of inquiry, and his scholarship bridged basic science with clinical potential.
Born in New York City in 1938, Baltimore earned his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and a doctorate from Rockefeller University in 1964. His early independent research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Salk Institute quickly established him as one of the most original scientific thinkers of his generation. At just 30 years old, he became an associate professor at MIT, where he would spend much of his career shaping both science and the careers of a plethora of researchers who would subsequently establish themselves as leaders in the global cancer research community.
Baltimore served in distinguished leadership roles throughout his storied career, including as president of Rockefeller University and later of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he guided the institution through a decade of growth and scientific excellence. At Caltech, he held the Robert Andrews Millikan Professorship of Biology, and later the Judge Shirley Hufstedler Professorship of Biology, titles that underscored his standing as both a scientist and mentor with an enduring legacy.
Beyond the laboratory and university walls, Baltimore’s voice carried weight in national and international science policy forums. He was a leading advocate for federal investment in AIDS research, co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences Committee on a National Strategy for AIDS in 1986, and led the NIH AIDS Vaccine Research Committee a decade later. He also played an active role in shaping consensus guidelines on genetic engineering, thereby ensuring that scientific innovation proceeded with ethical responsibility.
Throughout his lifetime, Baltimore received innumerable honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was recognized with the National Medal of Science, the AMA Scientific Achievement Award, and the Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science. He also served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was elected to the inaugural class of Fellows of the AACR Academy in 2013.
Perhaps as significant as his discoveries, was Baltimore’s role as a mentor. He trained and inspired generations of scientists who themselves went on to make landmark contributions in cancer biology, immunology, and virology. Many of his mentees later achieved the highest levels of recognition in the field, including election as Fellows of the AACR Academy. His intellectual generosity and willingness to champion young investigators created a legacy of discovery that continues to reverberate to this day and will help to advance future researchers in the years to come.
David Baltimore’s life was one of restless inquiry, bold imagination, and unwavering dedication to science. His revolutionary discoveries continue to transform cancer medicine and deepen our understanding of life itself. The cancer research community—and indeed, all of biomedical science—mourns the loss of one of its most visionary and impactful leaders.
Dr. El-Diery welcomes all to this joint symposium with Advancing Precision Medicine and the Win Consortium, which he is currently the head of. More in the WIN Consortium: (Worldwide Innovation Network Consortium in Precision Oncology). The WIN Network is involved in setting up internationalclinical tumor board collaboration
WIN was formed on the premise that we can accomplish more together than each organization can achieve working alone. We aim to improve cancer patients’ survival and quality of life. View WIN’s history and unique attributes:
WIN members collaboratively design and carry out global studies designed to achieve breakthroughs for patients worldwide. Our distinguished Scientific Advisory Board oversees WIN studies. Current trials include:
They guide WIN’s strategic, operational, and scientific direction.
OrganizationThe WIN Consortium is organized in the following groups who collectively work together to achieve WIN’s common goals
Nigel Russell, Founder and CEO, Advancing Precision Medicine
Christopher P. Molineaux, President & Chief Executive Officer, Life Science Pennsylvania
Life Sciences Pennsylvania (LSPA) is the statewide trade association for the commonwealth’s life sciences industry. Founded in 1989, LSPA works to ensure Pennsylvania has a business and public policy climate that makes the commonwealth the most attractive location to open and operate a life sciences company. Our membership is comprised of organizations statewide, representing the entire ecosystem of the life sciences: research institutions, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and investment entities, along with service providers who support the industry. Together, we unify Pennsylvania’s innovators to make the Commonwealth a global life sciences leader.
As president & CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania, Christopher Molineaux serves as the chief advocate and spokesman for the life sciences industry that calls Pennsylvania home. Molineaux oversees the strategic direction for the association, assuring Life Sciences Pennsylvania continues to be the catalyst that makes Pennsylvania the top location for life sciences companies.
Molineaux brings to Life Sciences Pennsylvania more than 25 years of experience in the bio-pharmaceutical and health care industries, with front-line experience in developing and executing strategies to navigate a shifting economic and political environment.
9:00-9:40
Keynote Lecture – WIN Consortium
Targeting the Achilles’ Heel of Cancer: Synthetic Lethality and Hypoxia in Precision Oncology
William Kaelin was born in New York City. He studied chemistry and mathematics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and received his doctor of medicine degree there in 1982. He then did his residency at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2002 he became a professor at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Work
Animals need oxygen for the conversion of food into useful energy. The importance of oxygen has been understood for centuries, but how cells adapt to changes in levels of oxygen has long been unknown. William Kaelin, Peter Ratcliffe, and Gregg Semenza discovered how cells can sense and adapt to changing oxygen availability. During the 1990s they identified a molecular machinery that regulates the activity of genes in response to varying levels of oxygen. The discoveries may lead to new treatments of anemia, cancer and many other diseases.
TRACK 1 204BC
WIN SYMPOSIUM
MULTI-OMICS
9:40 – 10:40
SESSION 1
From Base Pairs To Better Care:
AI and Omics in Precision Oncology
9:40-10:00
Multi-Omic Profiling and Clinical Decision Support in Precision Oncology
David Spetzler, PhD, MBA, MS, President, Caris Life Sciences
10:00-10:20
Integrating Omics and AI for Next-Gen Precision Oncology
Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research,Massachusetts General Cancer Center; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
10:20-10:40
Real-World Data and AI in Precision Oncology: Making Data Work for Patients – Q&A
MODERATOR: Jeff Elton, PhD, Vice Chairman, Founding CEO
ConcertAI
PANELISTS: David Spetzler, PhD, MBA, MS, President, Caris Life Sciences
Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research,Massachusetts General Cancer Center; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Daryl Pritchard, PhD, Interim President, Personalized Medicine Coalition
Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research,Massachusetts General Cancer Center; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
SESSION 3
The Shifting Landscape:
Tumor Plasticity and Resistance
12:00-12:20
Mathematical and Evolutionary Modeling in Precision Radiation Oncology
Jacob Scott, MD, DPhil, Professor and Staff Physician-Scientist, CWRU School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic
12:20-12:40
Plasticity and Persistence: The Role of EMT in Cancer Progression and Therapy Resistance
Sendurai A. Mani, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University; Associate Director of Translational Oncology, Brown University Legorreta Cancer Center
12:40-1:00
Targeting Molecularly Defined Subsets: Challenges in Translational Oncology
Benedito A. Carneiro, MD, MS, Director, Clinical Research Director, Cancer Drug Development; Associate Director, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University Health
We, the Weizmann Institute of Science community, deeply mourn the passing of Prof. Zelig Eshhar of the Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology. Prof. Eshhar was a trailblazing scientist in the field of cancer immunotherapy, a recipient of the Israel Prize in Life Science, and an acclaimed researcher who dedicated his life to life-saving research. May he rest in peace.
This Fourth of July weekend, a time when freedom and new beginnings are celebrated, we mourn the loss of one of science’s great liberators, Dr. Zelig Eshhar. His passing is deeply personal to me and profoundly impactful for the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Zelig was more than a scientist. He was a visionary who redefined what was possible in cancer treatment. As the “father” of CAR T therapy, he broke the bounds of conventional oncology and empowered the immune system to do what it was always meant to do: fight cancer. His pioneering work on chimeric antigen receptors, which began at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and continued at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the The National Institutes of Health under another cancer legend, Dr. Steve Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., sparked a revolution that now brings hope to thousands of patients worldwide.
In December 2013, Kite Pharma licensed the groundbreaking CAR constructs Zelig had pioneered, forming the scientific backbone of our mission. His trust in our team was instrumental in building Kite, and he served on our Scientific Advisory Board with the humility and wisdom of a true giant. I will never forget when Zelig signed his agreement with Kite and inscribed a 50-shekel note in front of Ran Nussbaum, a fellow board member, and I, to mark “a new beginning” for CAR T therapy. Though small in size, that note carries monumental symbolic value – a belief in a better future.
One of my most cherished photographs is from 2013, standing with Dr. Zelig Eshhar and Dr. Rosenberg, two visionaries who helped launch a new chapter in medicine. That image captures more than a historic moment; it marks the start of a true paradigm shift. I knew I was among giants, but I didn’t yet grasp how life-changing that moment would be. It was Zelig who first showed us how to combine the precision of antibodies with the power of T cells, creating a therapeutic approach that would redefine what’s possible, not just in oncology, but across the spectrum of disease.
The Fourth of July celebrates independence. How fitting that we remember Zelig on this day, a man who gave medicine its own independence from the limitations of traditional cancer therapies. His legacy is not just in the patents he held or the publications he authored, but in every patient who now lives longer, stronger, and freer because of CAR T cell therapy.
To me, Zelig Eshhar will always be remembered not only as a pioneering scientist but also as a quiet hero, a generous mentor, and a dear friend. We honor him not just with words, but with action, by continuing to build, to innovate, and to carry forward the mission he began.
Zelig, your vision endures in every cell, every cure, and every life saved.
Prof. Selig Ashchar – one of the fathers of immunotherapy research in Israel – has passed away
Israel Prize laureate Prof. Zelig Ashchar, who was head of immunology research at Ichilov, has died at the age of 84. “My real prize is saving lives,” Ashchar said before receiving the Israel Prize 10 years ago. Ichilov Hospital paid tribute: “Beyond his unprecedented scientific achievements, Prof. Ashchar was a guide, mentor and an extraordinary human being – dedicated to his students, his colleagues and to science.”
Israel Prize laureate, Prof. Selig Ashchar of the Weizmann Institute of Science, who was head of immunological research at Ichilov Hospital and a pioneer in immunotherapy research for cancer treatment, passed away at the age of 84. He is survived by three children and grandchildren
Ichilov Hospital paid tribute to him: “It is with deep sadness that we at Ichilov Hospital say goodbye to the late Prof. Selig Ashchar – a groundbreaking scientist, Israel Prize laureate, and the one who served as the head of immunological research at Ichilov. Prof. Ashchar was one of the fathers of CAR-T therapy, a real revolution in the field of cancer research, which gave new hope and life to countless patients around the world. Thanks to him, Israel became a world leader in the field of immunotherapy, and patients who had no hope – were given a new chance.”
Prof. Zelig Ashchar upon receiving the Israel Prize in 2015
( Photo: Gil Yohanan )
Ichilov also said that “Beyond his unprecedented scientific achievements, Prof. Ashhar was a guide, mentor, and an extraordinary human being – dedicated to his students, his colleagues, and to science. His spirit and legacy will continue to inspire generations of researchers and therapists. We send our deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, and all his partners in scientific and clinical endeavors. May his memory be blessed – and a light for the path of those who seek to change the world through science and medicine.”
Dr. Anat Gloverson Levin, principal investigator of the Laboratory for Immunology and Advanced Cellular Therapy using CAR-T at Ichilov, began her doctorate at the Weizmann Institute in 2006 under the supervision of Prof. Ashchar. In a post on the social network LinkedIn, she wrote: “I share with you my deep sorrow at the death of my legendary mentor, Prof. Selig Ashchar. Selig was not only a groundbreaking scientist whose invention saved many lives, but also an extraordinary, caring, generous, and endlessly inspiring human being.”
“I had the privilege of learning from him, witnessing his passion for discovery, and being guided by his wisdom and creativity. His ideas were always ahead of their time, and his dedication to science and his students was unparalleled. I have so many wonderful memories of our time together,” she added.
Prof. Zelig Ashhar was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and a recipient of the 2015 Israel Prize in Life Sciences. Ashhar was an expert in the genetic engineering of T cells, and was among those who laid the foundations for the clinical application of CAR-T technology that works against cancer cells. In 2021, he also won the Dan David Prize for his groundbreaking research that led to the development of dozens of medical treatments based on the revolution he led in editing T cells to attack cancerous tumors, and for laying the foundations, together with Dr. Steven Rosenberg, for the clinical application of this technology to fight cancer.
Economic Potential of a Drug Invention (Prof. Zelig Eshhar, Weitzman Institute, registered the patent) versus a Cancer Drug in Clinical Trials: CAR-T as a Case in Point, developed by Kite Pharma, under Arie Belldegrun, CEO, acquired by Gilead for $11.9 billion, 8/2017.
Biomolecular Condensates: A new approach to biology originated @MIT – Drug Discovery at DewPoint Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA gets new leaders, Ameet Nathwani, MD (ex-Sanofi, ex-Novartis) as Chief Executive Officer and Arie Belldegrun, PhD (ex-Kite Therapeutics) on R&D
Jennifer A. Lewis: Revolutionizing Materials Science with the 2025 James Prize
Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.
Jennifer A. Lewis, the Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 James Prize in Science and Technology Integration by the National Academy of Sciences. This recognition highlights her ground breaking research in the programmable assembly of soft functional, structural, and biological materials.
Lewis has pioneered work in integrating various scientific fields, including materials science, soft matter physics, additive manufacturing, bioengineering, and stem cell biology. Her lab focuses on developing advanced materials, such as electrically and ionically conductive inks for micro-scale printed devices like electronics and batteries. Additionally, Lewis’s work on stem cell-derived organoids has enabled the creation of 3D organ-on-chip models and vascularized tissues, which hold promise for drug screening, disease modeling, and therapeutic applications.
The James Prize, awarded by the National Academy of Sciences, recognizes outstanding contributions made by individuals who integrate knowledge across multiple disciplines to address pressing challenges. Lewis’s innovative approach, exemplified in her multidisciplinary work, has transformed the way soft materials and biological systems are designed and utilized. The prize includes a $50,000 award, underscoring her exceptional impact on science and technology.
With numerous accolades to her name, including the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow Award and election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, Lewis’s work continues to reshape the future of biologically inspired engineering.
Paul G. Yock, Recipient of the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford Medical School
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
NMTI Citation
Paul G. Yock, Stanford University
For innovations in interventional cardiology. Paul Yock’s visionary work understanding the human heart is applied around the world today to improve patient care and save countless lives. His creation of the Biodesign approach to training future leaders of biotechnology and health care ensures his insights and experience will benefit generations to come.
Recipients of the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, administered by President Joe Biden and Laureates of the National Medal of Science, administered by NSF
Paul Yock – The Martha Meier Weiland Professor in the School of Medicine and Professor of Bioengineering, Cardiovascular Medicine, and (by courtesy) of Mechanical Engineering
Scientific Leadership Council Member, Clark Center Faculty
Dr. Paul Yock is the Martha Meier Weiland Professor of Medicine and founding co-chair of Stanford’s Department of Bioengineering, with courtesy appointments in the Graduate School of Business and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is also founder and director of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign.
After completing his undergraduate and graduate studies at Amherst College and Oxford, respectively, Paul received his MD from Harvard Medical School followed by internship and residency training at the University of California, San Francisco and a fellowship in cardiology at Stanford. He began his faculty career as an interventional cardiologist at UCSF and then moved to Stanford in 1994.
Paul has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, chapters and editorials, two textbooks, and over 50 US patents. He is internationally known for his work in inventing, developing, and testing new devices, including the Rapid Exchange™ stenting and balloon angioplasty system, which is now the primary system in use worldwide. He also invented the fundamental approach to intravascular ultrasound imaging and founded Cardiovascular Imaging Systems (CVIS), later acquired by Boston Scientific. Recent awards include the Transcatheter Therapeutics (TCT) Career Achievement Award, the American College of Cardiology Distinguished Scientist Award, and the National Academy of Engineering’s 2018 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education.
Bio
Yock began his faculty career as an interventional cardiologist at UC San Francisco and then moved to Stanford in 1994. Yock is known for his work in inventing, developing and testing new devices, including the
Rapid Exchange angioplasty and stenting system, which is the primary approach used worldwide. Yock also authored the fundamental patents for
intravascular ultrasound imaging, conducted the initial clinical trials and
established the Stanford Center for Research in Cardiovascular Interventions as a core laboratory for analysis of intravascular ultrasound clinical studies. He also
invented the Smart Needle and
is a co-inventor of the strain-reduction patch for wound healing.
Yock was founding Co-Chair of the Department of Bioengineering and continues research related to new device technologies.
Yock also was the founding director of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign – dedicated to advanced training in medical technology innovation.
Abstract: A catheter is provided for insertion in the he blood vessel of a patient for ultrasonically imaging the vessel wall. The catheter includes a tubular element and an internally housed drive cable for effective circumferential scan about the catheter of an ultrasonic generating means. Both the tubular element and the drive cable are of a size and flexibility sufficient to permit their introduction into the vessel and subsequent advancement through the vessel to the location of the vessel wall where imaging is desired.
Abstract: Devices and methods for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an internal body site are provided. The subject devices are elongated structures (e.g., catheters) having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers located at their distal end. The configuration of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers may be reversibly changed from a first to a second configuration, where the radial aperture of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is greater in the second configuration than in the first configuration. A feature of certain embodiments of the subject invention is that the plurality of ultrasonic tranducers are configured in the second configuration as a substantially continuous set of transducers. In using the subject imaging devices, the distal end of the devices is positioned at the internal body site of interest while the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is in the first configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: November 10, 2004
Publication date: September 29, 2005
Inventors: Richard Popp, Ali Hassan, Christian Eversull, Jeremy Johnson, Paul Yock
Abstract: Apparatus for introduction into the vessel of a patient comprising a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter. The device includes a flexible elongate member and a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element. The device also includes a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire extends rearwardly of the sleeve extending alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
Abstract: A catheter system for localized or semi-localized administration of agents through the wall of a blood vessel is provided. Various catheter system constructions which use at least one expandable occluding device to create an isolated region are provided. Constructions using one catheter and one occlusion device are provided, along with constructions using two catheters and multiple occlusion devices. The catheter system may include a catheter with a variable stiffness along its length. The catheter system may also include a guide wire integrated with an inner catheter. The catheter can infuse the agent into the blood vessel in a pressure regulated manner. Methods for delivery and infusion of the agent within a blood vessel are also provided.
Type: Application
Filed: February 20, 2004
Publication date: March 17, 2005
Inventors: Michi Garrison, Todd Brinton, Peter Campbell, Steve Roe, Stephen Salmon, Paul Yock
Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for introducing an imaging catheter to the coronary vasculature. A guiding catheter is introduced so that the distal end of the guiding catheter engages a coronary os. The distal end of the guiding catheter is shaped so that a mark on the distal end is oriented in a predetermined orientation relative to the coronary vasculature. An imaging catheter is then introduced through the guiding catheter and an image of the mark is produced with the imaging catheter while in the guiding catheter. In this manner, the relative orientation of the produced image and the coronary vasculature is known.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 20, 1997
Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
Assignee: Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, Inc.
Inventors: Paul Yock, Yue-Teh Jang, Stephen M. Salmon
Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for introducing an imaging catheter to the coronary vasculature. A guiding catheter is introduced so that the distal end of the guiding catheter engages a coronary os. The distal end of the guiding catheter is shaped so that a mark on the distal end is oriented in a predetermined orientation relative to the coronary vasculature. An imaging catheter is then introduced through the guiding catheter and an image of the mark is produced with the imaging catheter while in the guiding catheter. In this manner, the relative orientation of the produced image and the coronary vasculature is known.
Type: Grant
Filed: September 4, 1996
Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
Assignee: Cardiovascular Imaging Systems Inc.
Inventors: Paul Yock, Yue-Teh Jang, Stephen M. Salmon
Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for introducing an imaging catheter to the coronary vasculature. A guiding catheter is introduced so that the distal end of the guiding catheter engages a coronary os. The distal end of the guiding catheter is shaped so that a mark on the distal end is oriented in a predetermined orientation relative to the coronary vasculature. An imaging catheter is then introduced through the guiding catheter and an image of the mark is produced with the imaging catheter while in the guiding catheter. In this manner, the relative orientation of the produced image and the coronary vasculature is known.
Type: Grant
Filed: June 6, 1995
Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
Inventors: Paul Yock, Yue-Teh Jang, Stephen M. Salmon
Recipients of the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, administered by President Joe Biden and Laureates of the National Medal of Science, administered by NSF
Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
NSF congratulates recipients of the prestigious National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation awards
January 7, 2025
President Joe Biden revealed the newest honorees of the recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The laureates were honored during a prestigious ceremony at the White House last Friday. These esteemed awards celebrate groundbreaking contributions that have advanced knowledge, driven progress and tackled the world’s most critical needs while underscoring the vital role of research and creativity in fostering a brighter, more sustainable future.
Among this year’s honorees are several distinguished individuals with ties to NSF. John Dabiri, Feng Zhang and Jennifer Doudna are former recipients of NSF’s prestigious Alan T. Waterman Award, which recognizes exceptional early-career scientists and engineers for their transformative contributions. Keivan Stassun, a current member of the National Science Board and a former member of NSF’s Committee for Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering, has been a leader in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM.
These honorees exemplify NSF’s enduring role in fostering groundbreaking research, nurturing talent and driving innovation across the scientific and engineering enterprise. Among the recipients, NSF has funded, at some point in their careers, all 14 recipients of the National Medal of Science and eight of the nine recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
The 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) Laureates were honored and celebrated at the White House on Friday, January 3 for their trailblazing achievements in science, technology, and innovation.
Nine individuals and two companies were recognized for their groundbreaking accomplishments, ranging from the “camera-on-a-chip” technology integrated into most smartphones today, to improvements in mammogram and other optoelectric technologies that can better detect breast cancer, to the mRNA vaccines that treated a global pandemic, and more.
Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Derrick Brent delivered remarks at the special medaling ceremony of the NMTI, which is administered by the USPTO. Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar presented the Laureates with their NMTI medals alongside 14 Laureates of the National Medal of Science, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“These medals celebrate some of your greatest achievements,” said Acting USPTO Director Brent in his remarks. “Yet, they also bestow upon you a unique responsibility: mentoring and inspiring the next generation of innovators. Paying it forward is our obligation to history, and to our future.”
Recipients of the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Martin Cooper, Illinois Institute of Technology and Dyna LLC
For inventing the handheld cellular phone and revolutionizing worldwide communications. Martin Cooper delivered breakthroughs for cellular telephone and network technologies that have dramatically altered the world as we know it—changing our sense of proximity to others around the globe, the way we perceive ourselves, and our universe of possibilities.
Jennifer A. Doudna, Innovative Genomics Institute
For development of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, with widespread applications in agriculture and health research. Jennifer Doudna’s innovations are fundamentally transforming our collective health and well-being and have contributed to the development of treatments for sickle cell disease, cancer, type 1 diabetes, and more.
Eric R. Fossum, Dartmouth College
For inventing world-changing “camera-on-a-chip” technology that has turned billions of phones into cameras and transformed everyday life. When NASA needed smaller cameras to take into space, Eric Fossum developed a groundbreaking image sensor and then worked to use it in medicine, business, security, entertainment, and more, while also mentoring legions of young entrepreneurs pushing the bounds of innovation.
Paula T. Hammond, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For groundbreaking research in nanoscale engineering. Paula Hammond pioneered novel materials that have revolutionized how we deliver cancer drugs to cancer patients and how we store solar energy. An inventor and mentor, Paula has paved the way for a more diverse, inclusive scientific workforce that taps into the full talents of our nation.
Kristina M. Johnson, Johnson Energy Holdings, LLC
For pioneering work that has transformed optoelectronic devices, 3D imaging, and color management systems. Kristina Johnson has channeled her ingenuity and optimism into developing technologies that have improved processes for mammograms and pap smears, promoted clean energy, elevated the entertainment industry, and more—while working to expand the field of STEM for all Americans.
Victor B. Lawrence, Bell Labs and Stevens Institute of Technology
For a lifetime of prolific innovation in telecommunications and high-speed internet technology. Victor Lawrence has dedicated his life to expanding the realm of possibilities worldwide. By bringing fiber-optic connectivity to the African continent and improving global internet accessibility, he has enhanced the security, opportunity, and well-being of people around the world.
David R. Walt, Harvard Medical School
For setting a new gold standard in genetic analysis that is transforming medical research, care, and well-being. David Walt pioneered the use of microwell arrays to analyze thousands of genes at once and detect single molecules, making DNA sequencing exponentially more accurate and affordable, and promising simple biomarker blood tests that may revolutionize our approach to cancer and other conditions—giving people renewed hope.
Paul G. Yock, Stanford University
For innovations in interventional cardiology. Paul Yock’s visionary work understanding the human heart is applied around the world today to improve patient care and save countless lives. His creation of the Biodesign approach to training future leaders of biotechnology and health care ensures his insights and experience will benefit generations to come.
Feng Zhang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For development of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, with widespread applications in agriculture and health research. Feng Zhang’s innovations are fundamentally transforming our collective health and well-being and have contributed to the development of treatments for sickle cell disease, cancer, type 1 diabetes, and more.
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Organization Recipients
Moderna, Inc.
For saving millions of lives around the world by harnessing mRNA vaccine technology to combat a global pandemic. In 2020, Moderna rapidly developed and deployed a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine that was essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, opening new frontiers in immunology and advancing America’s leadership in research innovation.
Pfizer Inc.
For saving millions of lives around the world by harnessing mRNA vaccine technology to combat a global pandemic. In 2020, Pfizer rapidly developed and deployed a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine that was essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, opening new frontiers in immunology and advancing America’s leadership in research innovation.
On January 3, 2025, President Biden honored the nation’s leading scientists, technologists, and innovators
Jennifer Doudna, professor of chemistry and molecular and cell biology, and a Nobel Laureate in chemistry, has been honored by President Biden with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation as a pioneer of CRISPR gene editing. This award is one of the nation’s highest honors for exemplary achievement and leadership in science and technology. Read the White House briefing(link is external) to read about Doudna and the other recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
14 Laureates of the National Medal of Science, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Huda Akil: University of Michigan
Barry Barish: California Institute of Technology
Gebisa Ejeta: Purdue University
Eve Marder: Brandeis University
Gregory Petsko: Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Myriam Sarachik: The City College of New York
Subra Suresh: Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brown University
Shelley Taylor: UCLA
Sheldon Weinbaum: The City College of New York
Richard B. Alley: Pennsylvania State University
Larry Martin Bartels: Vanderbilt University
Bonnie L. Bassler: Princeton University
Angela Marie Belcher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Helen M. Blau: Stanford University
The 2024 National Medal of Science recipients made contributions in many fields, including astronomy, biology, and engineering.
Astronomy
Wendy Freedman
University of Chicago astronomer who studied the Hubble constant and the expansion of the universe
Keivan Stassun
Vanderbilt University astrophysicist who studied star formation and exoplanets
Biology
Teresa Woodruff
Michigan State University professor who studied ovarian biology, fertility preservation, and women’s health
Helen Blau
Stanford University researcher who contributed to the development of gene editing techniques
Engineering
Ingrid Daubechies
Duke University mathematician who developed wavelet theory, which improved signal processing and image compression
John Dabiri
California Institute of Technology aeronautics engineer who studied fluid mechanics and biomechanics, particularly in designing wind turbines
Emery Brown
Massachusetts General Hospital professor who studied the effects of anesthesia on the brain
The National Medal of Science is the highest science award in the United States. The NSF administers the award, which is selected by a presidential committee.
Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. The medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was established in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office. It recognizes individuals and organizations for their lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the nation’s technological workforce.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 to David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper
Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
UPDATED on 10/22/2024
ProteinMPNN, which is now available free on the open-source software repository GitHub, will give researchers the tools to make unlimited new designs. “The challenge, of course … is what are you going to design?” Baker says.
In a second Nobel win for AI, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded half the 2024 prize in chemistry to Demis Hassabis, the cofounder and CEO of Google DeepMind, and John M. Jumper, a director at the same company, for their work on using artificial intelligence to predict the structures of proteins. The other half goes to David Baker, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington, for his work on computational protein design. The winners will share a prize pot of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million).
The potential impact of this research is enormous. Proteins are fundamental to life, but understanding what they do involves figuring out their structure—a very hard puzzle that once took months or years to crack for each type of protein. By cutting down the time it takes to predict a protein’s structure, computational tools such as those developed by this year’s award winners are helping scientists gain a greater understanding of how proteins work and opening up new avenues of research and drug development. The technology could unlock more efficient vaccines, speed up research on cures for cancer, or lead to completely new materials.
Hassabis and Jumper created AlphaFold, which in 2020 solved a problem scientists have been wrestling with for decades: predicting the three-dimensional structure of a protein from a sequence of amino acids. The AI tool has since been used to predict the shapes of all proteins known to science.
“I’ve dedicated my career to advancing AI because of its unparalleled potential to improve the lives of billions of people,” said Demis Hassabis. “AlphaFold has already been used by more than two million researchers to advance critical work, from enzyme design to drug discovery. I hope we’ll look back on AlphaFold as the first proof point of AI’s incredible potential to accelerate scientific discovery,” he added.
Baker has created several AI tools for designing and predicting the structure of proteins, such as a family of programs called Rosetta. In 2022, his lab created an open-source AI tool called ProteinMPNN that could help researchers discover previously unknown proteins and design entirely new ones. It helps researchers who have an exact protein structure in mind find amino acid sequences that fold into that shape.
Most recently, in late September, Baker’s lab announced it had developed custom molecules that allow scientists to precisely target and eliminate proteins associated with diseases in living cells.
“[Proteins] evolved over the course of evolution to solve the problems that organisms faced during evolution. But we face new problems today, like covid. If we could design proteins that were as good at solving new problems as the ones that evolved during evolution are at solving old problems, it would be really, really powerful,” Baker told MIT Technology Review in 2022.
born 1962 in Seattle, WA, USA. PhD 1989 from University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Professor at University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
Demis Hassabis “for protein structure prediction”
born 1976 in London, UK. PhD 2009 from University College London, UK. CEO of Google DeepMind, London, UK.
Google DeepMind, London, UK
John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction”
born 1985 in Little Rock, AR, USA. PhD 2017 from University of Chicago, IL, USA. Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind, London, UK.
Google DeepMind, London, UK
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 is about proteins, life’s ingenious chemical tools. David Baker has succeeded with the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have developed an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem: predicting proteins’ complex structures. These discoveries hold enormous potential.
“One of the discoveries being recognised this year concerns the construction of spectacular proteins. The other is about fulfilling a 50-year-old dream: predicting protein structures from their amino acid sequences. Both of these discoveries open up vast possibilities,” says Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Proteins generally consist of 20 different amino acids, which can be described as life’s building blocks. In 2003, David Baker succeeded in using these blocks to design a new protein that was unlike any other protein. Since then, his research group has produced one imaginative protein creation after another, including proteins that can be used as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials and tiny sensors.
The second discovery concerns the prediction of protein structures. In proteins, amino acids are linked together in long strings that fold up to make a three-dimensional structure, which is decisive for the protein’s function. Since the 1970s, researchers had tried to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, but this was notoriously difficult. However, four years ago, there was a stunning breakthrough.
In 2020, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper presented an AI model called AlphaFold2. With its help, they have been able to predict the structure of virtually all the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified. Since their breakthrough, AlphaFold2 has been used by more than two million people from 190 countries. Among a myriad of scientific applications, researchers can now better understand antibiotic resistance and create images of enzymes that can decompose plastic.
Life could not exist without proteins. That we can now predict protein structures and design our own proteins confers the greatest benefit to humankind.
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This year’s Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have developed an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem: predicting proteins’ complex structures.
In 2020, Hassabis and Jumper presented an AI model called AlphaFold2. With its help, they have been able to predict the structure of virtually all the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified. Since their breakthrough, AlphaFold2 has been used by more than two million people from 190 countries. Among a myriad of scientific applications, researchers can now better understand antibiotic resistance and create images of enzymes that can decompose plastic.
2012pharmaceutical
sjwilliamspa
The Heart Failure Collaboratory is deeply saddened to share the passing of our esteemed member, Michael R. Bristow, MD, PhD.
Dr. Bristow was a pioneering leader in