1 00:00:00,399 --> 00:00:02,879 Hello, and welcome to the Becker's Health Care 2 00:00:02,879 --> 00:00:03,379 podcast. 3 00:00:03,839 --> 00:00:05,219 I'm Elizabeth Gregersen, 4 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,080 a reporter here at Becker's, and I'm thrilled 5 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,300 to interview doctor Zhang, vice president of oncology 6 00:00:11,679 --> 00:00:13,219 research of the OSF 7 00:00:14,025 --> 00:00:17,245 Health Care Cancer Institute on the podcast today. 8 00:00:17,625 --> 00:00:19,785 Doctor Zhang, thank you so much for joining 9 00:00:19,785 --> 00:00:21,545 me. I am so grateful to share your 10 00:00:21,545 --> 00:00:24,505 insights with our podcast audience. Could you give 11 00:00:24,505 --> 00:00:26,765 us just a brief little intro about yourself 12 00:00:26,824 --> 00:00:27,885 and your organization? 13 00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:30,500 Yeah. Thank you. It is really nice to 14 00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:31,399 be here today. 15 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:35,859 So I'm doctor Zhang. I am a medical 16 00:00:35,859 --> 00:00:36,359 oncologist, 17 00:00:37,619 --> 00:00:39,879 primarily focused on thoracic oncology, 18 00:00:40,820 --> 00:00:43,479 meaning that I, take care of patients 19 00:00:44,064 --> 00:00:46,064 with their cancer, you know, developed in the 20 00:00:46,064 --> 00:00:48,324 thoracic cavity or or chest. 21 00:00:49,184 --> 00:00:51,824 So in that case, primary will be different 22 00:00:51,824 --> 00:00:52,964 kinds of lung cancer, 23 00:00:53,344 --> 00:00:56,244 but also actually patients with stomach cancer mesothelioma. 24 00:00:57,620 --> 00:00:59,460 Now at the same time, I was also 25 00:00:59,460 --> 00:01:00,840 trained as a cancer biologist, 26 00:01:01,539 --> 00:01:03,480 so, therefore, I also conduct research. 27 00:01:04,180 --> 00:01:04,920 My research, 28 00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:05,959 spend 29 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:07,319 basically from, 30 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:09,959 really preclinical laboratory research 31 00:01:10,325 --> 00:01:12,805 all the way to different phases of clinical 32 00:01:12,805 --> 00:01:14,265 trials to help our patients. 33 00:01:15,444 --> 00:01:16,084 So, really, 34 00:01:17,204 --> 00:01:17,605 my, 35 00:01:18,245 --> 00:01:19,225 passion is 36 00:01:19,685 --> 00:01:20,745 utilizing my, 37 00:01:21,284 --> 00:01:23,465 experience or expertise to bring, 38 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,019 from the bench side, which is the laboratory, 39 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:30,379 to the bedside, which is a clinical setting. 40 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,140 So, you know, trying to, 41 00:01:33,239 --> 00:01:35,579 really bring new discoveries to our patients. 42 00:01:36,394 --> 00:01:38,075 But it is in time if I see 43 00:01:38,075 --> 00:01:39,215 some important questions, 44 00:01:40,155 --> 00:01:42,555 arising from clinical side, I'm trying to answer 45 00:01:42,555 --> 00:01:44,174 that as well through research. 46 00:01:45,754 --> 00:01:46,254 Perfect. 47 00:01:46,875 --> 00:01:48,954 I'm so grateful to have you, to kinda 48 00:01:48,954 --> 00:01:50,094 share your perspective. 49 00:01:51,439 --> 00:01:54,799 As vice president of oncology research, I'd love 50 00:01:54,799 --> 00:01:57,200 to know what some of the, you know, 51 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,060 first priorities, the top focuses 52 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:02,159 will be for you and for OSF in 53 00:02:02,159 --> 00:02:03,939 terms of oncology research. 54 00:02:05,685 --> 00:02:06,165 Sure. 55 00:02:06,484 --> 00:02:08,905 So when we're talking about oncology research, 56 00:02:09,685 --> 00:02:12,584 this is basically cover a full spectrum of, 57 00:02:13,205 --> 00:02:14,824 various research activities. 58 00:02:15,364 --> 00:02:17,784 As I mentioned earlier, that, it includes, 59 00:02:18,164 --> 00:02:21,560 like, really early stage preclinical laboratory research 60 00:02:22,020 --> 00:02:24,819 and all the way to the clinical trials 61 00:02:24,819 --> 00:02:27,000 that we benefit our patients directly. 62 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:30,199 But then even in a clinical trial setting, 63 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:31,719 we have other 64 00:02:32,180 --> 00:02:35,159 research such as, for example, outcome research, 65 00:02:36,334 --> 00:02:36,834 translational 66 00:02:37,215 --> 00:02:37,715 research, 67 00:02:38,254 --> 00:02:39,155 quality research, 68 00:02:40,334 --> 00:02:42,275 and even cost effective analysis 69 00:02:42,574 --> 00:02:45,375 to see which, treatment is the, best for 70 00:02:45,375 --> 00:02:46,034 our patients. 71 00:02:47,055 --> 00:02:49,294 You know, with all this research, we have 72 00:02:49,294 --> 00:02:50,674 made two major focus, 73 00:02:51,810 --> 00:02:54,050 Both me and our also our OSF Cancer 74 00:02:54,050 --> 00:02:54,550 Institute, 75 00:02:55,090 --> 00:02:57,189 we're trying to focus in two major areas. 76 00:02:57,250 --> 00:02:58,150 One is, 77 00:02:58,930 --> 00:02:59,430 the, 78 00:03:00,290 --> 00:03:00,790 prevention 79 00:03:01,169 --> 00:03:03,110 and early detection of cancer. 80 00:03:04,064 --> 00:03:05,905 As we know, that prevention is, in fact, 81 00:03:05,905 --> 00:03:07,925 the best treatment for for cancer. 82 00:03:08,224 --> 00:03:10,064 We want to get rid of cancer be 83 00:03:10,305 --> 00:03:12,485 before it becomes out of control. Right? 84 00:03:12,865 --> 00:03:15,125 But then when cancer really becomes 85 00:03:15,585 --> 00:03:16,085 advanced 86 00:03:16,545 --> 00:03:17,764 or sometimes metastatic, 87 00:03:18,610 --> 00:03:21,409 then we want to have really innovative clinical 88 00:03:21,409 --> 00:03:23,509 trials or new treatment for our patients. 89 00:03:23,889 --> 00:03:25,030 And for that reason, 90 00:03:25,650 --> 00:03:26,289 we have, 91 00:03:26,689 --> 00:03:29,729 established what we call breakthrough treatment center. So 92 00:03:29,729 --> 00:03:30,229 breakthrough 93 00:03:30,530 --> 00:03:31,500 treatment center is, 94 00:03:32,675 --> 00:03:35,254 is really focusing on bringing innovative, 95 00:03:35,875 --> 00:03:36,935 trials, especially 96 00:03:37,634 --> 00:03:40,375 early phase clinical trials so that our patient, 97 00:03:40,835 --> 00:03:43,574 can have early access to those potentially 98 00:03:44,194 --> 00:03:45,254 life saving treatments. 99 00:03:47,150 --> 00:03:49,229 So those are two things that we are 100 00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:51,310 trying to kind of, you know, make it 101 00:03:51,310 --> 00:03:53,650 better and and, hopefully, the best. 102 00:03:54,509 --> 00:03:56,110 Yeah. It kinda sounds like, you know, the 103 00:03:56,110 --> 00:03:58,030 best of both worlds in those two focuses 104 00:03:58,030 --> 00:04:01,134 of prevention and then and then those breakthroughs 105 00:04:01,134 --> 00:04:03,474 in treatment that are so important as well. 106 00:04:03,935 --> 00:04:06,974 You know, I cover oncology news for Becker's, 107 00:04:06,974 --> 00:04:10,194 and I've slowly began to see clinical trials 108 00:04:10,334 --> 00:04:12,914 play a bigger role in health system strategy. 109 00:04:13,670 --> 00:04:17,830 What role do clinical trials play in your 110 00:04:17,830 --> 00:04:18,970 plan at OSF, 111 00:04:19,509 --> 00:04:22,470 particularly in that, treatment center that you were 112 00:04:22,470 --> 00:04:24,149 just talking about? I'd love to kind of 113 00:04:24,149 --> 00:04:25,850 get a peek behind the curtain there. 114 00:04:26,470 --> 00:04:28,730 Sure. I think, you know, clinical trials, 115 00:04:29,365 --> 00:04:30,104 by definition, 116 00:04:31,204 --> 00:04:32,504 it includes both, 117 00:04:33,044 --> 00:04:33,544 interventional 118 00:04:33,845 --> 00:04:34,745 clinical trials 119 00:04:35,284 --> 00:04:36,024 and also, 120 00:04:36,564 --> 00:04:39,284 the correlated clinical trials. Now, primarily, we're focused 121 00:04:39,284 --> 00:04:42,324 on intervention. It means that we provide new 122 00:04:42,324 --> 00:04:43,784 treatments for our patients. 123 00:04:44,370 --> 00:04:47,009 So let's say a patient is diagnosed with 124 00:04:47,009 --> 00:04:48,550 cancer, come to my clinic. 125 00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:51,569 If he or she is not interested in 126 00:04:51,569 --> 00:04:52,709 any clinical trial, 127 00:04:53,490 --> 00:04:55,910 or not eligible for any any clinical trials, 128 00:04:56,529 --> 00:04:59,415 then we offer that patient what we call 129 00:04:59,574 --> 00:05:00,634 standard of care. 130 00:05:01,254 --> 00:05:03,754 So standard of care is basically those treatment 131 00:05:04,295 --> 00:05:07,335 that is already proven to be efficacious and 132 00:05:07,335 --> 00:05:11,014 safe and got FDA approval and is covered 133 00:05:11,014 --> 00:05:11,754 by insurance. 134 00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:12,919 So, therefore, 135 00:05:13,539 --> 00:05:16,300 any oncologist that can prescribe the treatments and 136 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:18,199 a patient can get such therapy 137 00:05:18,660 --> 00:05:20,039 in any treatment center. 138 00:05:20,579 --> 00:05:22,199 Now kind of interesting that, 139 00:05:22,899 --> 00:05:24,759 especially for oncology area, 140 00:05:25,060 --> 00:05:25,800 all those, 141 00:05:26,404 --> 00:05:28,185 new, standard of care, 142 00:05:28,805 --> 00:05:30,884 it you know, it's a their approval is 143 00:05:30,884 --> 00:05:32,024 based on previous, 144 00:05:32,884 --> 00:05:34,264 successful clinical trials. 145 00:05:35,045 --> 00:05:36,024 So in other words, 146 00:05:36,324 --> 00:05:37,305 any new treatments 147 00:05:37,685 --> 00:05:40,100 must have gone through rigorous, 148 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,879 you know, stages of clinical trials from phase 149 00:05:42,879 --> 00:05:43,379 one, 150 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,580 then phase two, and quite often phase three 151 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:47,620 to demonstrate, 152 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,860 the treatment is really efficacious, 153 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:52,019 you know, and safe. 154 00:05:52,334 --> 00:05:55,074 Therefore can get FDA approval. And after that, 155 00:05:55,295 --> 00:05:56,514 that treatment becomes, 156 00:05:57,134 --> 00:05:59,214 you know, standard of care. So from that 157 00:05:59,214 --> 00:06:01,235 perspective, clinical trial is, 158 00:06:01,535 --> 00:06:03,714 in fact, an essential and 159 00:06:04,014 --> 00:06:04,514 indispensable 160 00:06:04,894 --> 00:06:05,370 step, 161 00:06:05,930 --> 00:06:08,110 before any treatment becomes, standard 162 00:06:08,490 --> 00:06:10,189 care. But then at the same time, 163 00:06:10,729 --> 00:06:13,069 imagine that for any treatment to get approval, 164 00:06:13,370 --> 00:06:15,449 it takes many years. So if we do 165 00:06:15,449 --> 00:06:16,589 have clinical trials, 166 00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:18,569 then as I mentioned earlier, that we can 167 00:06:18,569 --> 00:06:19,470 offer our patients 168 00:06:20,009 --> 00:06:20,829 early access 169 00:06:21,165 --> 00:06:23,425 to those potentially life saving treatments. 170 00:06:24,524 --> 00:06:26,865 Now at the same time, from science perspective, 171 00:06:28,125 --> 00:06:28,944 we know that 172 00:06:29,324 --> 00:06:30,064 new targets, 173 00:06:30,685 --> 00:06:32,845 new treatments, they develop in the laboratory set 174 00:06:33,004 --> 00:06:36,029 laboratory setting by our scientists. I mean, sometimes 175 00:06:36,029 --> 00:06:38,849 could be whole lifetime or many decades. 176 00:06:39,229 --> 00:06:41,789 But, eventually, if we want to translate those 177 00:06:41,789 --> 00:06:42,689 those discoveries 178 00:06:43,069 --> 00:06:44,449 to benefit our patients, 179 00:06:44,750 --> 00:06:46,669 all those things has to go through clinical 180 00:06:46,669 --> 00:06:49,245 trials. So that's important. So clinical trials 181 00:06:49,564 --> 00:06:50,064 that, 182 00:06:50,444 --> 00:06:53,165 is valuable for our patients, and it's also 183 00:06:53,165 --> 00:06:54,944 valuable for science in general. 184 00:06:56,685 --> 00:06:57,185 Perfect. 185 00:06:57,644 --> 00:06:58,845 So, you know, our, 186 00:06:59,564 --> 00:07:00,944 our podcast audience, 187 00:07:01,420 --> 00:07:03,580 they might come from an oncology background, but 188 00:07:03,580 --> 00:07:05,120 they're also, you know, just 189 00:07:05,580 --> 00:07:08,080 hospital and health system leaders across the country 190 00:07:08,699 --> 00:07:11,819 who are, you know, tasked with making those 191 00:07:11,819 --> 00:07:14,960 strategic decisions for the operations of their systems. 192 00:07:15,740 --> 00:07:18,785 I'd love to know from your perspective what 193 00:07:18,785 --> 00:07:20,404 mindset you feel, 194 00:07:20,785 --> 00:07:22,785 you know, health system leaders should take when 195 00:07:22,785 --> 00:07:25,044 it comes to supporting cancer research 196 00:07:25,504 --> 00:07:27,604 or even beginning to operationalize 197 00:07:27,985 --> 00:07:30,324 or expand cancer research programs 198 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,420 within their own organizations. 199 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,500 Do you have any advice for them? 200 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,080 Yeah. I think, you know, this is I 201 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,480 can share by personal kind of, you know, 202 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:40,980 insight. 203 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:42,985 I think there are a few, 204 00:07:43,625 --> 00:07:45,704 principles we have to kind of pay attention 205 00:07:45,704 --> 00:07:47,785 to. One is we've got to have a 206 00:07:47,785 --> 00:07:50,365 mission, and I think this mission must be 207 00:07:50,824 --> 00:07:52,925 patient centered or patient centric. 208 00:07:54,104 --> 00:07:55,644 What is important? Because, 209 00:07:56,290 --> 00:07:58,470 let's say if we have our beloved one 210 00:07:58,610 --> 00:08:01,410 diagnosed with cancer. Right? From that moment, I 211 00:08:01,410 --> 00:08:04,050 mean, the diagnosis of cancer is devastating. So 212 00:08:04,050 --> 00:08:06,290 at a time when patient our patient, our 213 00:08:06,290 --> 00:08:08,069 beloved one is diagnosed with cancer, 214 00:08:08,814 --> 00:08:11,855 every day matters, and every hour matters. From 215 00:08:11,855 --> 00:08:12,595 that perspective, 216 00:08:13,615 --> 00:08:16,175 we want to introduce really effective treatment for 217 00:08:16,175 --> 00:08:18,735 our patients. And now this can be through 218 00:08:18,735 --> 00:08:20,274 a very good care, 219 00:08:21,055 --> 00:08:21,794 using standard 220 00:08:22,095 --> 00:08:23,714 care treatment, but also 221 00:08:24,189 --> 00:08:26,430 innovative clinical trials makes much sense in the 222 00:08:26,430 --> 00:08:26,930 setting. 223 00:08:27,230 --> 00:08:30,509 We also want to translate really those, discovery 224 00:08:30,509 --> 00:08:33,470 to to to innovative treatments for our patients 225 00:08:33,470 --> 00:08:36,029 to benefit them as soon as possible, and 226 00:08:36,029 --> 00:08:38,690 this is what we call translational imperative. 227 00:08:39,324 --> 00:08:42,044 We want to really move all the discovery 228 00:08:42,044 --> 00:08:44,704 to the clinical side as quickly as possible. 229 00:08:45,324 --> 00:08:48,524 So I think with this patient centric mind, 230 00:08:48,524 --> 00:08:49,184 the mission, 231 00:08:49,565 --> 00:08:52,044 then we know the direction of doing research. 232 00:08:52,044 --> 00:08:53,730 At the same time, you know, if we 233 00:08:53,730 --> 00:08:55,730 are really focused on patients, not only we 234 00:08:55,730 --> 00:08:58,309 bring new treatments, we're also going to conduct 235 00:08:58,370 --> 00:09:00,950 research that pay attention to their, 236 00:09:01,649 --> 00:09:03,669 the quality of life, their needs, 237 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:04,769 and then, 238 00:09:05,330 --> 00:09:07,335 provide basically evidence based, 239 00:09:07,735 --> 00:09:08,215 you know, 240 00:09:08,774 --> 00:09:11,195 science to support those kind of decisions. 241 00:09:12,215 --> 00:09:14,715 I'm glad to hear that, at OSF, 242 00:09:15,335 --> 00:09:16,075 we don't 243 00:09:16,934 --> 00:09:19,014 just call us, you know, employee, but we'd 244 00:09:19,014 --> 00:09:20,715 rather call us mission partner. 245 00:09:21,029 --> 00:09:22,789 So I think, you know, OSF well, this 246 00:09:22,789 --> 00:09:24,309 is one of the reason that I came 247 00:09:24,309 --> 00:09:25,529 to OSF is 248 00:09:25,990 --> 00:09:28,629 that, it has its own mission really to 249 00:09:28,629 --> 00:09:29,449 trying to 250 00:09:29,750 --> 00:09:32,409 prevent or reduce any unnecessary sufferings 251 00:09:32,835 --> 00:09:35,715 to save every single, patient. So we do 252 00:09:35,715 --> 00:09:37,875 have the mission, and I think, you know, 253 00:09:37,875 --> 00:09:39,975 this mission, especially patient centric, 254 00:09:40,434 --> 00:09:42,595 will really help us to shape our research 255 00:09:42,595 --> 00:09:44,615 direction. So I think this is number one. 256 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,320 Number two is, I think, you know, for 257 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,179 the research, we have to be innovative. 258 00:09:49,879 --> 00:09:52,059 As I said, you know, best care using 259 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:53,500 serum treatment 260 00:09:53,879 --> 00:09:55,960 is important, but at the same time, we 261 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,279 are dealing with a very challenging disease. This 262 00:09:58,279 --> 00:09:59,019 is cancer. 263 00:09:59,355 --> 00:10:02,095 Everybody's cancer is different, and and kind of 264 00:10:02,154 --> 00:10:05,595 another challenging thing is any treatment we give 265 00:10:05,595 --> 00:10:06,654 to cancer cells, 266 00:10:07,355 --> 00:10:09,995 they will adapt. They have elasticity. They will 267 00:10:09,995 --> 00:10:11,134 find a way to escape. 268 00:10:11,570 --> 00:10:13,570 And because of that, we have to keep 269 00:10:13,570 --> 00:10:15,190 chasing innovative treatments. 270 00:10:15,809 --> 00:10:16,629 So that innovative, 271 00:10:18,289 --> 00:10:21,110 treatments is supposed to be based on innovative 272 00:10:21,250 --> 00:10:21,750 research, 273 00:10:22,610 --> 00:10:24,950 and sometimes we have to have the guts 274 00:10:25,250 --> 00:10:27,704 to take high risk, high rewarding, you know, 275 00:10:27,944 --> 00:10:28,924 research program. 276 00:10:29,865 --> 00:10:32,264 And I think the third is, I think 277 00:10:32,264 --> 00:10:34,204 quite important is we have to be open 278 00:10:34,264 --> 00:10:36,264 minded. And, you know, when we're taking care 279 00:10:36,264 --> 00:10:38,764 of patients, we're conducting good research. 280 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,919 I think we should put less ego, you 281 00:10:40,919 --> 00:10:42,139 know, in ourself. 282 00:10:42,759 --> 00:10:45,799 We want collaborate with different mindsets. We want 283 00:10:45,799 --> 00:10:47,799 to collaborate like, for example, as OSF, we 284 00:10:47,799 --> 00:10:49,179 can collaborate with 285 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,360 academic centers. Like, you know, us, we have, 286 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:53,899 you know, UIC, UICAMP. 287 00:10:54,384 --> 00:10:56,565 We have UIUC, those are academic centers. 288 00:10:57,424 --> 00:10:59,504 We may also want to collaborate with other 289 00:10:59,504 --> 00:11:00,004 hospitals. 290 00:11:00,865 --> 00:11:03,284 We want to collaborate with industry 291 00:11:03,664 --> 00:11:06,225 where we can develop or co develop, you 292 00:11:06,225 --> 00:11:08,990 know, innovative clinical trials. At the same time, 293 00:11:08,990 --> 00:11:11,070 we have to be open minded to all 294 00:11:11,070 --> 00:11:13,649 sorts of new knowledge, new technology, 295 00:11:14,029 --> 00:11:16,850 such as artificial intelligence, for example, how to 296 00:11:17,070 --> 00:11:19,570 integrate this into, for example, clinical trials. 297 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:22,355 So, you know, I think keep open minded. 298 00:11:22,355 --> 00:11:24,134 This will help us to keep learning. 299 00:11:24,514 --> 00:11:26,855 I think those are three, costly pillars, 300 00:11:27,715 --> 00:11:29,475 to, you know, to kind of ensure that 301 00:11:29,475 --> 00:11:32,455 we have a successful research program. 302 00:11:32,835 --> 00:11:34,134 Number one is always 303 00:11:34,709 --> 00:11:37,189 patient centric mission. Number two is to be 304 00:11:37,189 --> 00:11:37,689 innovative, 305 00:11:37,990 --> 00:11:39,990 and number three is to be open minded 306 00:11:39,990 --> 00:11:40,809 and collaborative. 307 00:11:42,549 --> 00:11:44,730 Amazing. Yeah. I think that's, you know, 308 00:11:45,269 --> 00:11:46,329 a perfect encapsulation, 309 00:11:46,789 --> 00:11:48,870 I think, of of your strategy and then 310 00:11:48,870 --> 00:11:50,945 also, you know, what other leaders can kind 311 00:11:50,945 --> 00:11:53,904 of emulate and maybe repurpose for their own 312 00:11:53,904 --> 00:11:56,705 organizations when it comes to supporting cancer research. 313 00:11:56,705 --> 00:11:58,485 So I appreciate you laying it out, 314 00:11:58,865 --> 00:12:00,245 so perfectly for us. 315 00:12:00,785 --> 00:12:03,105 Whenever I speak with an oncologist, I always 316 00:12:03,105 --> 00:12:05,309 like to ask them, you know, what excites 317 00:12:05,309 --> 00:12:07,649 you most about the future of the oncology 318 00:12:07,710 --> 00:12:10,190 field? I feel like my conversations with leaders 319 00:12:10,190 --> 00:12:11,649 in oncology are also, 320 00:12:12,830 --> 00:12:13,570 are always, 321 00:12:13,950 --> 00:12:16,269 you know, extremely motivating and hopeful. So I'd 322 00:12:16,269 --> 00:12:17,730 love to know from your perspective, 323 00:12:18,029 --> 00:12:19,845 what are you most excited about in the 324 00:12:19,845 --> 00:12:20,345 future? 325 00:12:20,804 --> 00:12:22,324 Yeah. Exactly. I can tell you a lot. 326 00:12:22,324 --> 00:12:24,164 So, man, I think, you know, I'm kind 327 00:12:24,164 --> 00:12:24,745 of excited. 328 00:12:25,365 --> 00:12:27,044 A few things. I think number one is 329 00:12:27,044 --> 00:12:28,024 we're gonna see, 330 00:12:29,125 --> 00:12:30,504 more novel treatments, 331 00:12:31,044 --> 00:12:31,704 you know, 332 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:35,289 approved in a much faster pace. This is 333 00:12:35,289 --> 00:12:36,029 based on, 334 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:39,289 you know, explosion of knowledge and technology, etcetera. 335 00:12:39,289 --> 00:12:40,889 And I can give you some sort of 336 00:12:40,889 --> 00:12:41,389 example. 337 00:12:42,009 --> 00:12:44,009 In old days, I came to United States 338 00:12:44,009 --> 00:12:46,090 in a year of 2000. So twenty five 339 00:12:46,090 --> 00:12:46,909 years ago, 340 00:12:47,254 --> 00:12:48,235 for any medicine, 341 00:12:49,095 --> 00:12:51,575 just say, for lung cancer space, for any 342 00:12:51,575 --> 00:12:53,274 chemotherapy drug to be approved, 343 00:12:53,575 --> 00:12:55,254 we have to wait for fifteen to twenty 344 00:12:55,254 --> 00:12:55,754 years. 345 00:12:56,774 --> 00:12:59,674 For example, one of the most famous chemotherapy 346 00:12:59,735 --> 00:13:00,554 drugs, cisplatin, 347 00:13:01,190 --> 00:13:03,450 took about fifteen years to get approved. 348 00:13:04,149 --> 00:13:06,649 The second, famous one, you know, paclitaxel, 349 00:13:07,190 --> 00:13:09,049 took about twenty years to approved. 350 00:13:09,669 --> 00:13:12,070 And then we we start having, you know, 351 00:13:12,230 --> 00:13:15,589 targeted therapy based on better understanding of cancer 352 00:13:15,589 --> 00:13:16,889 cells. And the first 353 00:13:17,335 --> 00:13:19,095 target therapy in lung cancer field, I think 354 00:13:19,095 --> 00:13:19,595 gefitinib, 355 00:13:20,054 --> 00:13:22,294 took about fifteen years. So it's about same 356 00:13:22,294 --> 00:13:23,595 same time as chemotherapy. 357 00:13:24,455 --> 00:13:27,514 But then the next generation, which is osimodinib, 358 00:13:28,695 --> 00:13:32,519 with our more in-depth understanding of molecular biology, 359 00:13:32,980 --> 00:13:35,860 only, took about three years to get approved. 360 00:13:35,860 --> 00:13:38,019 Wow. So you can see that we're gonna 361 00:13:38,019 --> 00:13:41,059 see more, you know, more new drugs, more 362 00:13:41,059 --> 00:13:43,959 efficacious drugs get approved in much faster pace. 363 00:13:45,195 --> 00:13:47,535 In old days, it took on average about 364 00:13:47,595 --> 00:13:49,934 twelve to fifteen years, but now it's about 365 00:13:50,235 --> 00:13:52,975 six to seven years, so much faster pace. 366 00:13:53,115 --> 00:13:55,115 And, of course, there is also improvement. For 367 00:13:55,115 --> 00:13:55,615 example, 368 00:13:56,555 --> 00:13:59,195 the regulation FDA regulation in old days is 369 00:13:59,195 --> 00:14:02,309 kind of sequential, just, you know, a one 370 00:14:02,309 --> 00:14:04,950 stand approach, but now you have different track. 371 00:14:04,950 --> 00:14:07,210 You can have, you know, accelerated 372 00:14:08,149 --> 00:14:10,549 approval. You can have prior to review different 373 00:14:10,549 --> 00:14:13,450 approaches. We get medicine pretty much faster way 374 00:14:13,855 --> 00:14:15,315 to benefit our patients. 375 00:14:15,695 --> 00:14:16,914 So from that perspective, 376 00:14:17,535 --> 00:14:18,195 we are, 377 00:14:18,654 --> 00:14:20,815 you know, I cannot say that we can 378 00:14:20,815 --> 00:14:23,875 completely get rid of cancer, that disease entity. 379 00:14:24,495 --> 00:14:26,894 But for sure, we're gonna see more patients. 380 00:14:26,894 --> 00:14:28,355 We're going to really prolong 381 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:29,220 patients' 382 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,240 life, and we're gonna improve their quality of 383 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:32,740 life. 384 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:34,340 I'm very confident, 385 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,200 and in fact, it's actually happening, we're able 386 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,100 to convert cancer really to a chronic disease, 387 00:14:40,654 --> 00:14:43,075 such as something like hypertension, diabetes. 388 00:14:43,774 --> 00:14:46,095 People get it. We cannot cure them, but 389 00:14:46,095 --> 00:14:47,695 we are not scared about that. So I 390 00:14:47,695 --> 00:14:49,774 think in one day and in fact, it's 391 00:14:49,774 --> 00:14:52,654 actually happening now that we are converting cancer 392 00:14:52,654 --> 00:14:53,715 to chronic disease. 393 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,299 So this is something that really exciting exciting 394 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:57,860 to 395 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,399 me. And and second, you know, all those 396 00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:02,419 new treatment is based on new 397 00:15:02,879 --> 00:15:06,259 knowledges. So now we see explosion of knowledge. 398 00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:09,360 We not only we are having more, in-depth 399 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,445 understanding about cancer biology just based on cancer, 400 00:15:12,985 --> 00:15:15,784 but we also harness power of our immune 401 00:15:15,784 --> 00:15:18,264 system. For example, based on that, we have 402 00:15:18,264 --> 00:15:18,764 immunotherapy. 403 00:15:19,625 --> 00:15:22,024 And I tell you that immunotherapy, sometimes I'm 404 00:15:22,024 --> 00:15:24,480 able to cure I'm talking about not just 405 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,220 treat. Sometimes I can cure a patient 406 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:29,539 with metastatic lung cancer 407 00:15:29,919 --> 00:15:30,659 by immunotherapy. 408 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:32,659 So it's it's really amazing. 409 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,440 And then we have new technology, for example, 410 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:36,580 artificial intelligence, 411 00:15:37,264 --> 00:15:39,184 which can help us to design drug in 412 00:15:39,184 --> 00:15:41,284 a much faster way, smarter way. 413 00:15:41,825 --> 00:15:44,784 Artificial intelligence can also simulate, you know, clinical 414 00:15:44,784 --> 00:15:45,284 trials 415 00:15:45,585 --> 00:15:47,284 so that we can test a hypothesis 416 00:15:47,664 --> 00:15:49,284 in a much faster approach. 417 00:15:50,250 --> 00:15:53,370 And artificial intelligence can interpret all those knowledge 418 00:15:53,370 --> 00:15:56,730 base, the database, for example, the genome data, 419 00:15:56,730 --> 00:15:59,870 the radiomics data, all sorts of things together 420 00:16:00,169 --> 00:16:02,490 and kind of give us a better picture 421 00:16:02,490 --> 00:16:03,480 of about 422 00:16:03,904 --> 00:16:06,004 an individual's biology. And, 423 00:16:06,545 --> 00:16:08,144 based on that, we can give a tailored 424 00:16:08,144 --> 00:16:08,644 therapy. 425 00:16:09,825 --> 00:16:11,205 And I think lastly, 426 00:16:12,304 --> 00:16:14,705 even more exciting is that when in the 427 00:16:14,705 --> 00:16:16,325 process, when we are looking 428 00:16:16,865 --> 00:16:18,565 new treatments for cancer, 429 00:16:19,269 --> 00:16:21,509 we got to understand better about the cancer 430 00:16:21,509 --> 00:16:22,009 biology. 431 00:16:22,709 --> 00:16:24,709 But then it's not only just cancer. Basically, 432 00:16:24,709 --> 00:16:26,789 we also have to understand the biology of 433 00:16:26,789 --> 00:16:27,690 normal cells. 434 00:16:28,149 --> 00:16:30,730 For example, the normal immune cells, etcetera. 435 00:16:31,269 --> 00:16:33,894 And in that, through that process, we actually 436 00:16:33,894 --> 00:16:36,075 gain lots of knowledge. It's not only just 437 00:16:36,454 --> 00:16:37,434 to conquer cancer, 438 00:16:37,894 --> 00:16:40,714 but also to apply those knowledge to other, 439 00:16:41,014 --> 00:16:43,414 you know, branches of medicine or other parts 440 00:16:43,414 --> 00:16:44,554 of life science. 441 00:16:44,934 --> 00:16:46,634 And because of this knowledge, 442 00:16:47,450 --> 00:16:48,330 then we are, 443 00:16:48,809 --> 00:16:50,889 get more how to say we're getting, 444 00:16:51,690 --> 00:16:53,389 more benefits. And 445 00:16:53,850 --> 00:16:55,370 in fact, we I I will say we 446 00:16:55,370 --> 00:16:57,049 are able to have a better life and 447 00:16:57,049 --> 00:16:58,730 hopefully a happier life. So this is the 448 00:16:58,730 --> 00:16:59,870 most exciting part. 449 00:17:01,164 --> 00:17:03,644 Perfect. Thank you so much. I always feel 450 00:17:03,644 --> 00:17:04,684 so great when I hear, 451 00:17:05,884 --> 00:17:08,045 cancer leaders speak about the future. So I 452 00:17:08,045 --> 00:17:10,285 appreciate hearing from you. I would just like 453 00:17:10,285 --> 00:17:11,805 to thank you again for joining me on 454 00:17:11,805 --> 00:17:14,464 the podcast today. It's been such an amazing 455 00:17:14,605 --> 00:17:16,065 and informative discussion. 456 00:17:16,779 --> 00:17:18,779 And, again, I'm so appreciative of you for 457 00:17:18,779 --> 00:17:20,400 sharing your time and your insights. 458 00:17:21,019 --> 00:17:23,440 I invite our listeners to tune into more 459 00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:25,359 podcasts from Becker's Healthcare 460 00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:30,525 by visiting our podcast page at beckershospitalreview.com. 461 00:17:30,845 --> 00:17:32,924 Thank you again, doctor Zhang, and I hope 462 00:17:32,924 --> 00:17:34,365 you all have a wonderful rest of your 463 00:17:34,365 --> 00:17:34,865 day. 464 00:17:35,404 --> 00:17:37,244 Thank you for having me here today. Thank 465 00:17:37,244 --> 00:17:37,744 you.