Cambridge Gravity Encounters
Jan Venne, Claudia Smith, Emily James 18 episodes Jan 18, 2026
Cambridge Gravity Encounters is a podcast featuring conversations with leaders in the life sciences across academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Each episode explores the personal and professional journeys that shaped their careers, including pivotal childhood moments, career-defining risks, and groundbreaking innovations. Guests share lessons and advice for the next generation of life science innovators. The show also examines transitions between sectors and the ideas driving transformative research.
Episodes
Episode #17: Dr Mike Stubbington - CSO at CS Genetics
This week, we’re joined by Dr Mike Stubbington, whose work spans single-cell genomics across academia and industry. He was part of the founding team of the Human Cell Atlas at the Sanger Institute, before moving to 10x Genomics to work on large scale single-cell and spatial data. Now Chief Scientific Officer at CS Genetics, Mike is focused on building tools that make single-cell genomics more acce
Episode #16: Tim Eisen - Professor of Medical Oncoloy at the University of Cambridge and Franchise Head of GU Oncology at Roche
Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Professor Tim Eisen to Gravity Encounters. As a Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Cambridge and Franchise Head of GU Oncology at Roche, Tim’s career spans academia, clinical practice, industry, and patient advocacy. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications and groundbreaking contributions to cancer research, including pioneering VEGF Receptor inhib
Episode #15: Professor Sarah Teichmann - Professor of Stem Cell Medicine at the University of Cambridge and Co-founder of the Human Cell Atlas
Today, we’re excited to welcome Sarah Teichmann to Gravity Encounters. As Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the University of Cambridge and Vice President for Translational Research at GSK, Sarah has had a profound impact on single-cell genomics, immunology, and translational medicine. Previously, she held positions at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, the European Bioinformatics Institute,
Episode #14: Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith - Professor of Genetics at the University of Cambridge
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith. Anne is a globally recognised expert in mammalian genetics and epigenetics, and currently holds the Arthur Balfour Professorship of Genetics at Cambridge. Her research investigates how epigenetic mechanisms regulate genome function, with a focus on how genetic and environmental factors influence development, health, and dis
Episode #13: Dr. Alan Rigby - CEO Epitopea
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Alan Rigby to Gravity Encounters. With a career spanning academia, biotech, and drug discovery, Alan has made a significant impact on cancer research and immunotherapy. From his time as an Assistant Professor at Harvard to leading multiple innovative companies, he has been at the forefront of tumor biology, computational drug discovery, and antibody ther
Episode #12: Professor Madeline Lancaster - Group Leader at the MRC LMB
In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Madeline Lancaster, a leading expert in brain development and neuroscience. As a group leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Madeline has pioneered the development of brain organoids; 3D models that mimic early human brain development and provide critical insights into neurodevelopmental disorders and evolution.Her groundbreaking work has res
Episode #11: Professor Allan Bradley - Founder and CEO of T-Therapeutics
Today, we’re excited to welcome Allan Bradley to Gravity Encounters. As the Founder and CEO of T-Therapeutics, Allan has had a profound impact on the fields of genomics, monoclonal antibody discovery, and biotech entrepreneurship.Previously, as the Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Allan played a pivotal role in transforming its genome-sequencing infrastructure into a world-class re
Episode #10: Dr Alex Teng - Partner at Fifty Years
Warning: This podcast contains strong language. Today, we’re excited to welcome Alex Teng to Gravity Encounters. As a Partner at Fifty Years, Alex has forged a career at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship, backing founders who are leveraging cutting-edge innovation to tackle humanity's greatest challenges.From his academic foundations at UC Berkeley and Caltech to pionee
Episode #9: Dr Michael Anstey - Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital
Today, we’re excited to welcome Michael Anstey to Gravity Encounters, Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital. With a career that bridges science, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, Mike has been a driving force behind some of biotech’s most exciting innovations. From earning a DPhil in neurobiology at Oxford to co-founding a company whilst working at BCG, and guiding startups like Bicycle The
Episode #8: Dr Mark O'Connor - Chief Scientist, AstraZeneca Oncology R&D
Today, we’re joined by Mark O'Connor, a pioneer in the field of oncology R&D, whose work has significantly impacted the way we approach cancer treatment. With over 30 years of experience, our guest serves as Chief Scientist in AstraZeneca’s Oncology R&D division, providing scientific leadership to a team of more than 150 researchers. Specializing in DNA damage response (DDR) biology, he ha
Episode #7: Dr Janette Thomas - CEO, Five Alarm Bio
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Janette Thomas whose journey took a fascinating path from the world of dance to the heart of science. Our guest started her career as a dancer but soon found her passion for science, leading her to pursue a degree in the field. She went on to complete a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Leicester, followed by a postdoc at the University of Cambri
Episode #6: Dr Simone Fishburn - Editor in Chief, BioCentury Inc.
Today, we to speak with Simone Fishburn, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at BioCentury. Simone provides strategic oversight of BioCentury's biopharma industry coverage. With a diverse career spanning from bench scientist to consultant and now journalism, her passion for science and innovation shines through in everything she does. She is also a dedicated advocate for advancing women in careers,
Episode #5: Professor Cigall Kadoch - Co-founder of Foghorn Therapeutics, Harvard University
In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Cigall Kadoch, a leading expert in chromatin and gene regulation. As a Professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cigall has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding chromatin remodeling in cancer.Co-founder of Foghorn Therapeutics, she is driving innovation in
Episode #4: Professor Jennifer Doudna - Nobel Prize 2020, Serial Entrepreneur
In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a leader in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. As a professor at UC Berkeley and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Jennifer has revolutionized biotechnology.Co-founder of Caribou Biosciences, Mammoth Biosciences, and The Innovative Genomics Institute, she focuses on harnessing CRISPR to address gl
Episode #3: Sir Paul Nurse - Nobel Prize 2001, Former Chief Executive of the Francis Crick Institute & President of the Royal Society
In this episode, we sit down with Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize-winning geneticist and former President of the Royal Society, to explore his remarkable career, groundbreaking discoveries in cell division, and unexpected family history.Paul, now Chief Executive of the Francis Crick Institute, reflects on his journey in science, his early academic experiences, and the milestones that have defined his
Episode #2: Lord Martin Rees - Astronomer Royal
In this episode, we sit down with Lord Martin Rees, the UK’s Astronomer Royal, to discuss his remarkable career, proudest achievements, and his early predictions of a global pandemic.Martin is a renowned astrophysicist and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, with research spanning black holes, galaxy formation, and extraterrestrial life. A co-founder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Ri
Episode #1: Professor Sir Simon Baron Cohen - Director of the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge
In this episode, we speak with Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, a world leader in autism research at the University of Cambridge. Simon discusses how taking risks and balancing boldness with caution have fueled his groundbreaking work. He also shares his love for bass guitar and its role in his life.A pioneer in autism studies, Simon has developed influential theories, authored five books, and pub
An introduction to Cambridge Gravity Encounters
In this episode, we introduce Cambridge Gravity Encounters.Hosts: Jan Venne, Emily James, Claudia Smith
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