For decades, BMI has been the most widely used tool for measuring obesity. But recently, the medical community has begun to move away from using it as the main way to measure and define obesity. So in this episode, we’re opening up a nuanced discussion about why this popular tool… was never really built for the job. Why do we still use BMI? What are its limitations? And is there a better way to understand and measure obesity? Host Joe Hanson dives in.

Featured guests:
– Dr. Lisa Tarasenko, Obesity Global Medical Affairs Leader, Pfizer
– Dr. Giles Yeo, Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, University of Cambridge
– Dr. David Cummings, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, and Founding Director, Weight Management Clinic and Program, Seattle-Tacoma VA System

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – Wait, what is BMI?
02:58 – Why understanding obesity is crucial
05:05 – The problems with BMI
13:11 – A new definition of obesity

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch full interviews with Joe & special experts and guests for more on obesity.

Season 7 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Joe Hanson. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do we weigh what we weigh? The answer to that question is surprisingly complicated. On season seven of Pfizer's award-winning podcast Science Will Win, host Joe Hanson, a science storyteller and host of PBS’s Be Smart, explores the cutting-edge research that’s changing the way we think about hunger and weight. Understanding that research means diving into history, genetics, hormones, comorbidities, and real patient experiences. And, just like last season, you can find full length video discussions led by this season’s host on Pfizer’s YouTube channel. Season 7 of Science Will Win is coming soon—subscribe to stay tuned in!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cancer research is moving faster than ever—but too many patients never feel the impact of that progress. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as one tool that could help change that.

In the Season 6 finale of Science Will Win, Dr. Raven Baxter follows the human journey behind AI in oncology—from the moment of diagnosis to the real‑world barriers that determine access to care.

Along the way, we explore how thoughtfully designed artificial intelligence is reshaping trial design, enrollment, eligibility, and access—helping patients regain agency and bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and real‑world cancer care.

As the season concludes, one thing is clear: progress matters most when it reaches the people who need it.

Featured guests:
– Dr. Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, Medical Oncologist and Translational Researcher, Mayo Clinic
– Jeff Legos, Chief Oncology Officer, Pfizer
– Dr. Ravi Parikh, Medical Oncologist; Director, Human‑Algorithm Collaboration Lab
– Maya R. Said, Founder and CEO, Outcomes4Me

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – Past episodes introduce us to an emerging tech advancement
04:16 – What is a clinical trial?
07:35 – AI accelerating the pace of oncology
12:42 – Clinical trials and AI: How can it help?
16:17 – A gap between innovation and patient access
19:16 – Maya's story
23:47 – Clinical trials for AI tools
27:54 – Conclusion: building pathways alongside scientific innovation

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch full interviews between Raven & some of the patients featured.

Season 6 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Raven Baxter. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

*The content in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Pfizer does not endorse or sponsor third‑party tools referenced. Patients should not use the tools described as a replacement for discussions with a healthcare provider. Patients should consult their healthcare provider regarding medical decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What comes after a cancer diagnosis and treatment?

In this episode of Science Will Win, host Dr. Raven Baxter explores one of the most important, and often overlooked, chapters for cancer patients: survivorship. As five-year survival rates climb to 70%, more people than ever are living with and beyond cancer. But longer survival brings its own complex challenges, and our care systems are still catching up.

You'll hear from experts and advocates working at the intersection of medicine, policy, and community. We’ll discuss what it really takes to support people through this transition — when the clinical benchmarks have passed and it’s time to go back to “normal life”.

From patient care plans and workplace disclosure to mental health, this episode makes one thing clear: survivorship demands dignity, support, and a whole new kind of care.

Featured guests:
– Tina Deignan, Commercial President, Pfizer Oncology
– Shelley Fuld Nasso, CEO, Cancer Nation
– Rebecca Nellis, Executive Director, Cancer and Careers
– Bob Riter, Breast Cancer Patient & Advocate

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – The ongoing battle with cancer
03:43 – Rethinking survivorship
05:32 – The five-year survival myth
07:00 – The history of the term "survivor"
09:36 – Bob’s journey with breast cancer
11:38 – Lost in transition and survivorship care plans
14:25 – The intersection of cancer and work
18:49 – Rethinking how work gets done
20:00 – Disclosure and improving company culture
20:59 – The swivel technique
23:19 – Controlling your narrative
25:11 – Standardizing long-term survivorship care through policy
27:08 – Lack of access to care leads to disparities in survival rates
29:48 – Bob's second journey with cancer
32:21 – Takeaways and peek into our final episode

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch the full interview with Raven & Bob Riter on his cancer journey.

Season 6 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Raven Baxter. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What women carry through cancer is more than a diagnosis.

In our third episode of this miniseries, Dr. Raven Baxter explores how generations of women turned silence into advocacy and fear into progress, reshaping the perceptions and discussions around cancer over time. Through history, science, and a powerful story from Katrina M. Johnson — a woman who has lived through multiple breast cancer diagnoses and now advocates for others — the episode highlights how women continue to drive change in how cancer is understood, treated, and lived with.

Featured guests:
– Dr. Isaac Chan, Physician‑scientist and Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern
– Kirsten Gardner, Director of Medical Humanities, University of Texas at San Antonio; Author
– Katrina M. Johnson, Breast Cancer Patient; Director of Advocacy and Professional Relations, Pfizer Oncology

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – The start of three cancer diagnoses
02:06 – The history of breast cancer awareness campaigns
09:27 – How the mastectomy has changed
12:59 – Evolving research in breast cancer
15:10 – Breast cancer impacting body image and sexuality
19:29 – Emerging therapies to address breast cancer
21:18 – Addressing the BRCA gene today
23:30 – Breast cancer advocacy then and now
26:08 – Katrina's takeaways about her breast cancer story

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch the full interview with Raven & Katrina M. Johnson on her breast cancer journey.

Season 6 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Raven Baxter. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the key to treating cancer was hiding in plain sight – written into its DNA? In this episode of Science Will Win, host Dr. Raven Baxter explores one of the most exciting breakthroughs in cancer care today: the discovery of biomarkers. These tiny molecular signals are helping doctors understand what’s really driving an individual person’s cancer – and opening the door to treatments that can dramatically change patient outcomes.

You’ll hear powerful stories from people whose cancers were traced back to a specific biomarker, alongside experts who break down what biomarker testing is, how it works, and why it’s transforming the way we think about cancer treatment.

Biomarkers are showing us that when we understand cancer at its molecular level, a disease that once felt like an unsolvable mystery starts to come into focus.

Featured guests:
– Dr. Ross Camidge, Director of Thoracic Oncology, University of Colorado
– Kelly Huffman, Lung Cancer Patient and Retail Account Manager, Pfizer
– Karin Tollefson, Chief Oncology Medical Officer, Pfizer

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – An oncologist’s diagnosis introduces the world of biomarker
03:10 – Defining biomarkers and its history
06:24 – Discovery of the first lung cancer biomarker
08:39 – The start Kelly’s lung cancer journey
16:00 – Biomarkers: how do you test for them?
19:11– Discovery of ALK biomarker shift’s Kelly’s story
22:34 – Landscape of targeted therapy and lung cancer today
25:24 – Moving forward with targeted treatments and conclusion

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch the full interview with Raven & Kelly Huffman on her lung cancer journey.

Season 6 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Raven Baxter. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why are more young adults getting cancer? That's one of the most pressing questions facing the scientific community today. Traditionally thought of as a disease that affects aging populations, recent data shows that cancer diagnoses for people under the age of 50 are increasing. To tackle this problem, it’ll take a global effort. In this episode you’ll hear from patients, oncologists, researchers and health care providers who are coming together to address this issue head on.

Featured guests:
– Dr. Marshall Anthony Jr., social scientist and colorectal cancer patient
– Dr. Johanna Bendell, Chief Development Officer of Oncology, Pfizer
– Dr. Yin Cao, molecular cancer epidemiologist; Cao Lab leader, Washington University
– Dr. Beatrice Dionigi, colorectal cancer surgeon; founder & co‑director, Early Onset Colon and Rectal Cancer Project, Columbia Research Cancer Center
– Dr. Susan Zhang, Global Development Lead, Pfizer Oncology

Dive into the episode here:
00:00 – A patient story reveals an alarming new trend
6:30 – The data behind the rise of early-onset cancer
10:39 – The global search for a cause
14:13 – The unique challenges facing young people with cancer
20:28 – Screening guidelines and what to expect from a colonoscopy
25:17 – The importance of early detection
27:59 – The conclusion of Marshall's cancer journey
30:23 – What's next, and closing thoughts

Check out our YouTube channel (@Pfizer) to watch the full interview with Raven & Dr. Marshall Anthony Jr. on his colorectal cancer journey.

Season 6 of Science Will Win is created by Pfizer and hosted by Dr. Raven Baxter. It’s produced by Acast Creative Studios. Hosts in this podcast series were compensated for their time.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Science Will Win is back for a new season! Dr. Raven Baxter, a molecular biologist also known as Raven the Science Maven, returns as our host to dive into the latest in oncology: The latest challenges, the latest research, the latest treatment approaches, and the latest sources of progress and optimism keeping researchers going. You’ll hear from leading doctors, cutting-edge scientists, insightful historians, and inspiring patients sharing powerful stories of resilience. Plus, for the first time, you can find full length video discussions led by Raven on Pfizer’s YouTube channel. Season 6 of Science Will Win is coming soon—subscribe to stay tuned in!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.