Robert Plenge is a physician-scientist known for his work at Merck, Celgene, and BMS, translating insights from human genetics into breakthroughs in drug discovery and development, resulting in new medicines. On his well-known blog, he writes with inspiring clarity about genomics, therapeutic target validation, and lessons from translational research, bridging academic rigor and industry practice for scientists and clinicians alike. In this interview, we explore Robert's passion for causal human biology, drug development, and leading teams.

Roberts Blog: https://www.robertplenge.com

Coronary heart disease is no longer a mystery. Listen to the story of one of medicine’s greatest triumphs — a battle fought in labs, clinics, kitchens, and boardrooms. This is the story of cholesterol. And how we turned a silent killer into a preventable disease.

Dame Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Bingham is a British biochemist and life‑sciences venture capitalist. She earned a first‑class MA in Biochemistry from Oxford and an MBA (Baker Scholar) from Harvard. Since 1991, she has been a managing partner at SV Health Investors, co‑founding the Dementia Discovery Fund and helping launch multiple first‑in‑class drugs. In May 2020, she chaired the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, securing 350 million COVID‑19 doses and leading the country to be the first Western nation to begin vaccinations. Honored as a DBE in 2021, Kate also serves on the Francis Crick Institute and ARIA boards.

Mathai Mammen is a world-renowned innovator in drug discovery, development, and team- and company-building responsible for creating 13 transformational medicines from discovery through commercial launch and more than 25 other potential medicines that have achieved clinical proof-of-concept, many of these practice-changing. Mathai is the CEO, President and Chairman of Cambridge-based Parabilis Medicines, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing a new category of peptide therapeutics for people affected by cancer and other severe diseases. Previously Mathai was Executive Vice President of Pharmaceuticals, R&D at Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest R&D organizations in the world. Prior to that Mathai was the leader of much of the research at Merck including Oncology, Immunology and Cardiovascular Disease. He began his career as head of R&D at Theravance, Inc., a company he co-founded out of graduate school based on his work at Harvard University with Dr. George Whitesides, which split to form Theravance Biopharma and Innoviva. Mathai holds an M.D. from the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (HST) and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University.

The Therapeutic Momentum podcast series illuminates the inspiring personal stories, touchstone moments, and transformational events that fuel the relentless pursuit of life-changing treatments. It reveals the intricate tapestry of experiences that drive people in the biomedical field who share the collective goal of improving patient outcomes. We hope to offer listeners a multifaceted perspective on the diverse talent and backgrounds of people working towards better health and hope for patients.

Andy Plump discusses his journey from a postdoc at UCSF to a leading roles in pharmaceutical research. Andy, who joined Merck in 2001, worked in clinical pharmacology. He highlighted the importance of genetics in target selection and shares his experiences at Sanofi and Takeda, emphasizing the cultural sensitivities and leadership lessons gained from global experiences. The interview explores the transformative potential of AI and machine learning in biopharmaceutical research.

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not represent those of their organization.