What if we could teach the immune system to fight cancer? Dr. Carl H. June pioneered the bold ideas behind CAR T-cell therapy, a breakthrough that is transforming cancer treatment and holds the potential to reshape care for millions. In this episode, he reflects on a remarkable career that has spanned the Vietnam War, the HIV epidemic and the rise of modern immunotherapy. He shares how curiosity has driven his work, and why he remains a champion for science in an era when it is increasingly under threat. Dr. June is the 2025 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine laureate.

With Dr. Carl H. June

Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Director, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at The University of Pennsylvania

Director, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania

Links:

Dr. June: A Global Titan of Cancer Research

Emily Whitehead Foundation

Official Film Trailer: Of Medicine and Miracles

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women, with 1 in 8 women facing a diagnosis in their lifetime. It's a complex foe, shaped by biology and lifestyle, made difficult by invasive treatments and cumbersome diagnostic techniques.

In this episode, Dr. Ana Lohmann, a medical oncologist and scientist at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, discusses how this complexity is being met head-on. Her research explores how obesity and metabolism shape cancer diagnosis and recurrence, and how lifestyle, access to care and social inequities influence outcomes. She also discusses emerging tools like liquid biopsies and the growing focus on survivorship and quality of life.

With Dr. Ana Lohmann, MD PhD

Medical Oncologist, Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre

Associate Scientist, London Health Sciences Research Institute

Assistant Professor, Western University

Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Dept. of Oncology

• Breast Cancer and Obesity
• Bio
• Breast Cancer and Diabetes Drugs

Can the trillions of microbes in our gut hold the key to transforming cancer treatment? Through relentless persistence, Saman Maleki, PhD, is pioneering research that uses the gut microbiome and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) to boost the power of cancer-fighting immunotherapy. In this episode, he shares the science, the challenges, and the hope driving a new frontier in cancer care.

With Saman Maleki, PhD

Associate Professor, Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Oncology, and Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University

Scientist, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR)

Scientist, Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute

Saman Maleki's Poop Pills

FMT Phase 1 Trials

FMT at Work

What if your body already held a secret weapon to beating cancer? Mansour Haeryfar, PhD, is tapping into MAIT cells — a rare type of immune cell that can be supercharged with bacterial molecules to hunt down tumours. His research suggests these cells could form a basis for powerful, universal therapies that work across patients. In this episode, he'll reveal how this cutting-edge science could transform cancer treatment and how the inspiration to fight against malignancy came from an unexpected source.

With Mansour Haeryfar, PhD

Professor, Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Medicine, Surgery, and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University

Scientist, Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's Health Care London

Past President, Canadian Society for Immunology

Robert Pope: the Artist

MAIT Cells Fighting Cancer Tumors

The Haeryfar Laboratory

Imagine if doctors could send tiny, living medicine straight to a tumor — and then watch it move through the body in real time. That's the work of imaging scientist John Ronald, PhD. From eureka moments, to using firefly genes to track cells, in this episode he tells us how curiosity and creativity are leading to cancer treatment breakthroughs, and opening new frontiers in cancer treatment — one where therapies can be monitored, adjusted, and optimized as scientists track their progress inside the body with unprecedented resolution.

With John Ronald, PhD

Associate Professor, Medical Biophysics

Director, Imaging Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry Western University

• John Ronald's Lab
• Cell Tracking Research
• Imaging Reporter Genes
• Monitoring Cell Therapies

When it comes to cancer drug treatments, one size doesn't fit all. That's because our unique genetics determine how our body reacts to certain drugs, which can turn a life-saving treatment into a side-effect nightmare. This is the problem Dr. Richard Kim has spent his career solving. He's championed pharmacogenomics: using genetics to match the right drug to the right patient. His persistence helped make Ontario one of the first provinces to adopt genetic testing that prevents severe chemotherapy side effects, saving lives and reshaping cancer care. In this episode, Dr. Kim explains why "one-size-fits-all" medicine is outdated and how innovations in technology are turbocharging genomics and precision medicine.

With Richard B. Kim MD, FRCPC, FCAHS, FRSC

Wolfe Medical Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics

Professor of Medicine, Physiology & Pharmacology, and Oncology

Chair, Division of Clinical Pharmacology

Department of Medicine

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University

Attending Physician, London Health Sciences Centre

Scientist, London Health Sciences Research Institute

• Personalized Medicine at Schulich
• Groundbreaking Drug Testing
• Wolfe Medical Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics
• Pharmacogenomics in the Clinic