In the final episode of 2025, the GEN team came together to reflect on some of the stories over the last year that they each found impactful. Some of the stories were covered in GEN’s December issue, but our editors took the time to discuss some topics in a bit more depth during the podcast. The discussion began with an update on the progress of AI use in drug discovery. Cell and gene therapy was a big topic with the positive outcome for Baby KJ, while Sarepta dealt with a rollercoaster of a year with their DMD treatment, Elevidys. Research and biotech in Africa are growing and the discussion ranged from challenges to promise in research and development on the continent. This year’s NIH budget cuts and impacted institutions rounded out the conversation.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, Phd, Kevin Davies, Phd, John Sterling, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news. 

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base: 

GEN Editors Reflect on Six of the Biggest Stories of the Year

By Alex Philippidis, Savannah Wiegel, Fay Lin, PhD, Kevin Davies, PhD, Uduak Thomas, and Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, December 4, 2025

StockWatch: Sarepta Says Deaths of Two Elevidys Patients Posted on FDA Database Unrelated to Treatment

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 10

StockWatch: As Prasad Exits FDA, Analysts See Benefit for Sarepta, CGT Stocks

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 3

FDA Probes Death of Brazilian Boy Linked to Sarepta’s Elevidys

GEN Edge, July 27

Second DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 15

DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 18

From The Editor in Chief

John Sterling, December Issue of GEN

Gene Therapy in Africa

The State of CRISPR & Genome Editing Summit, June 11, 2025

TOP 50 NIH

By Alex Philippidis, GEN, December 4, 2025

FDA Cell & Gene Therapy roundtable: Cell and Gene Therapy Leaders Tell FDA: “Believe in American Solutions”

By Alex Philippidis, and Kevin Davies, PhD, GEN Edge, June 5, 2025

Scientists in NYC Rally to Defend and Stand Up for Science

By Corinna Singleman, GEN, March 10, 2025

Touching Base Podcast 

Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD 

Behind the Breakthroughs 

Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.