Behind the Breakthroughs

Precision medicine isn’t just molecular—it’s anatomical. Even as gene editing advances, many conditions still demand exquisitely targeted surgical care. That’s the world envisioned by Stereotaxis CEO David Fischel, where operations become remote, cockpit-guided missions. Using magnetic “invisible fingers,” surgeons steer ultra-soft catheters with sub-millimeter precision through fragile vessels. After two decades and 170,000 patients, Stereotaxis has reshaped cardiac procedures into robotic navigation—bridging genomics, anatomy, and the future of intervention.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

Katherine Stueland’s early advocacy—raising money for genetic disease research as a child—shaped her belief that genomic insight can change lives. As CEO of GeneDx, she has refocused the company on high-need conditions, tripled sequencing capacity, delivered more than 750,000 exomes and genomes, and returned the company to profitability. She highlights the power of combining sequencing with the Infinity database and champions newborn screening, all guided by a core principle: genomic access should reach every family.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

When Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, stepped down in January 2025 as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, he closed a historic chapter as the first physician and first immigrant to serve as America’s “drug czar.” He steered national drug policy toward a public-health approach, advancing harm reduction, expanding naloxone access, and reframing addiction as a treatable condition amid the deadliest years of the fentanyl crisis. Now, as President of GATC Health, Gupta is channeling his experience into biotechnology and AI, seeking to accelerate drug discovery and use data-driven tools to outpace the slow machinery of government.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

If you work in biotech, the name Langer likely rings a bell. Robert Langer—the MIT legend behind Moderna and dozens of biotech startups—has become synonymous with innovation. Now, a new Langer is stepping forward. Michael Langer, Robert’s son, represents a new generation of investors rethinking biotech in the age of AI and data. Rather than chasing hype, he’s applying lessons from a lifetime around scientists to build a more disciplined, informed investment philosophy. As co-founder of T.Rx Capital, he’s helping shape the next phase of tech-enabled biotech—and exploring what truly drives success in precision medicine.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

When a rare genetic mutation left baby KJ without any treatment options, scientists and regulators confronted a profound ethical question: should medicine move fast enough to save a single child? For geneticist Vanessa Almendro-Navarro, PhD, KJ’s case represented both an urgent humanitarian mission and a glimpse into the future of personalized medicine. In this interview, she explains how her team created a bespoke gene-editing therapy for KJ, what it reveals about the rise of one-patient medicines, and how unprecedented collaboration is reshaping the boundaries of science and ethics.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

Mara Aspinall has long been a leader in precision medicine, championing diagnostics as vital to better treatments and saving lives. She built Genzyme Genetics into the nation’s top testing business, later acquired by LabCorp for $1 billion, and led Ventana (now Roche Tissue Diagnostics) in pioneering companion diagnostics. As co-founder of BlueStone Venture Partners and partner at Illumina Ventures, she continues shaping the field. She also publishes the Diagnostics Year in Review, serves on multiple boards, and co-founded ASU’s School of Biomedical Diagnostics. This episode explores both her vision for testing and her journey to becoming a transformative leader.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

David R. Liu, PhD, Harvard and Broad Institute professor, invented base and prime editing—gene editing tools now in 20+ clinical trials with early wins against sickle cell, leukemia, and more. Founder of Editas, Beam, and Prime Medicine, and winner of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize, Liu joins Behind The Breakthroughs to share how chemistry and evolution are driving the next wave of medicine.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)

Janice Chen, PhD, helped transform CRISPR from a lab discovery into a life-saving tool. As co-founder of Mammoth Biosciences with Jennifer Doudna, Trevor Martin, and Lucas Harrington, she’s driven efforts to harness CRISPR for human health and diagnostics. On Behind the Breakthroughs, Chen shares how she’s turning a once-theoretical gene editor into a medical revolution.Produced and hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhDAudio mixed and mastered by David MoselyBrought to you by Inside Precision Medicine (SAGE Publishing)