# The Science and Hope of Brain Cancer with Dr. Robert Thorne, Denali Therapeutics Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/biotalk-unzipped-6702602/the-science-and-hope-of-brain-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali-therapeutics Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/biotalk-unzipped-6702602/the-science-and-hope-of-brain-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali-therapeutics.md Podcast: [BioTalk Unzipped](https://stenobird.com/podcast/biotalk-unzipped-6702602) Published: 2025-07-03T03:30:00+00:00 Episode link: https://biotalk-unzipped.captivate.fm/episode/the-science-and-hope-of-brian-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/22580ac2-44bf-43a5-8b46-b8c3d6a567a8.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/biotalk-unzipped-6702602/episodes/the-science-and-hope-of-brain-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali-therapeutics Duration seconds: 1337 ## Resource In this powerful episode (#35) of BioTalk Unzipped , recorded live at the AAPS NBC conference in Boston, Gregory Austin engages in a deep conversation with a leading Neuroscientist, Dr. Robert Thorne, Denali Fellow at Denali Therapeutics, for an intimate and scientific deep dive into the evolving world of brain cancer treatment and CNS drug delivery. Both Gregory and Dr. Thorne share personal stories of losing family members to brain metastases, weaving in the emotional 'why' behind their professional paths. Dr. Thorne highlights the complexities of the blood-brain barrier, the heterogeneity of brain metastases, and cutting-edge delivery technologies—including focused ultrasound and molecular engineering approaches. The conversation also touches on pediatric brain tumors like diffuse midline glioma (DIPG), emerging research in lysosomal storage diseases, and the collaborative spirit driving innovation in neuroscience today. This is more than a technical discussion—it’s a human story about grief, hope, and the relentless pursuit of better outcomes for patients with brain diseases. 00:00 Preview & Intro 01:10 Robert Thorne’s Reflections on the AAPS NBC conference 03:14 The Professional Biotech and Pharma League 05:09 A Personal Story Shared: Family Loss to Brain Cancer 07:57 My Reason for Optimism Treating Brain Cancer 08:50 Why Brain Metastases Remain Hard to Treat 11:10 Scientific Advances in Drug Delivery for Brain Cancer 12:30 Seed and Soil Concept in Oncology 15:18 Pediatric Brain Tumors: DNET, DIPG, and Beyond 16:49 Looking Ahead: Hope for Future Therapies 21:32 Closing Gratitude Dr. Robert Thorne https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-g-thorne/ Denali Therapeutics - https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/   Dr. Chad Briscoe https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadbriscoe… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/biotalk-unzipped-6702602/episodes/the-science-and-hope-of-brain-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali-therapeutics/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/biotalk-unzipped-6702602/the-science-and-hope-of-brain-cancer-with-dr-robert-thorne-denali-therapeutics.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.