Theory and Practice

S2E6: Dr. Tim Yu on Running the First “N of 1” Drug Trial


Listen Later

Every so often, someone comes up with a new idea that is truly visionary. The first time you see it, you may not immediately appreciate how transformational it might become.

As an attending physician in Boston Children's Hospital's Division of Genetics and Genomics, Tim was caring for a young patient with a devastating genetic mutation. He suspected her condition could be treated with an adaptation of an existing class of therapies, and he also knew that she was likely the only person in the world who would benefit from that drug. Instead of accepting the conventional wisdom that N of 1 means you don't have a valid experiment, Tim asked himself a bold question: "Why not try to give her the therapy?"

Tim went to the FDA, created a toxicology package, got it approved, manufactured it, and created a lifetime supply for his patient.


Theory and Practice is a presentation of GV and Google AI.

Hosted by Anthony Philippakis (Venture Partner at GV) and Alex Wiltschko (Staff Research Scientist with Google AI), Theory and Practice opens the doors to the cutting edge of biology and computer science through conversations with leaders in the field.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Theory and PracticeBy GV (Google Ventures)

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

45 ratings


More shows like Theory and Practice

View all
99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,174 Listeners

The Readout Loud by STAT

The Readout Loud

316 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,201 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,430 Listeners