CAN WE TRAIN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT CANCER? | Dr. Ankur Singh
Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping TomorrowShow Notes
Can we train the immune system to fight cancer and stay stronger as we age?
In this episode of Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, Angela Gill Nelms talks with Dr. Ankur Singh about cancer, immunotherapy, healthy aging, and the future of personalized medicine. Learn how scientists are building miniature human immune systems in the lab to better understand disease, predict treatment responses, and accelerate the development of new therapies.
Dr. Singh also shares two remarkable breakthroughs from his lab, including a new way to predict how cancer survivors may respond to future infections and a discovery that could help restore youthful function to aging immune cells.
Along the way, you'll hear how an aspiring liquor baron became a biomedical engineer, why he runs five miles in every new city he visits, and how science may help us live longer, healthier lives.
Topics: Cancer • Immunotherapy • Immune System • Healthy Aging • Longevity • Personalized Medicine • Biotechnology • Biomedical Engineering • Healthcare Innovation
Learn More About Ankur Singh: Ankur Singh's Linkedin Ankur Singh’s Lab website Ankur Singh’s Instagram Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. Jean Koff, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Ankur Singh talks about President Biden’s cancer diagnosis Georgia Tech Paradigm Shifters featuring Ankur Singh Support Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs – Donate Today: If you want to support the research you heard about on today’s episode, consider a donation to the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. Every contribution—big or small— supports ongoing work and fuels future innovations. https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46972/donations/new Select "Designation" Choose "Make a Special Gift to Georgia Tech (write in your preference)" In the open field, write: "BME Fund for Excellence (555788) Connect! Learn More: https://bme.gatech.edu/bme/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BMEGeorgiaTechEmory/podcasts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-wallace-h-coulter-department-of-biomedical-engineering-at-georgia-tech-and-emory-university Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoulterBME Twitter/X: https://x.com/CoulterBME About The Host: Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in transforming bold ideas into impactful healthcare solutions. She serves as the Director of Biolocity, accelerating the commercialization of early-stage medical technologies developed at Emory University and Georgia Tech. She is also the Founder and CEO of The AGN Group, and the host of the Badass Leaders Podcast, where she champions courageous, compassionate leadership. Learn more at www.AngelaGillNelms.com.
Meet The HolyShift! Team: Produced by: Erin Buckley and Zachary Danziger Filming & Editing: Vani Sridar, Katie Hart Logistics & Marketing Support: Rajashree Ramamoorthy
More from Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow
How do you fix the most complex machine in the known universe?
What if the next breakthrough medicine wasn't made in a factory, but inside your own body?
In this special Season 1 roundup of Holy Shift!, host Angela Gill Nelms revisits standout moments from this season's conversations with researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Guests share their engineering solutions, the personal stories and unexpected paths that brought them to the lab, and why public funding for basic science and biomedical innovation is more critical than ever. This episode features clips from conversations with Melissa Kemp, Lena Ting, David Myers, Mike Davis, Scott Hollister, Zachary Danziger, Annabelle Singer, Shella Keilholz, Machelle Pardue, Anant Madhabushi, Chethan Pandarinath, Felipe Quiroz, and Ming Fong. As we look ahead to Season 2, we want to hear from you! Take a few minutes to fill out our listener survey and let us know what you loved, what you want more of, and what we can do better. One lucky respondent will receive a Holy Shift! listener swag package.
What if we could simulate your cancer on a computer and predict which treatment will work before you ever receive it?
What if we could stop vision loss before it starts? In this episode of Holy Shift!, host Angela Gill Nelms speaks with Dr. Machelle Pardue, a vision scientist working to protect one of our most precious senses. Dr. Pardue studies how diseases like diabetic retinopathy damage the eye and explores new ways to preserve sight for millions of people at risk.