In this episode of the Nucleate Podcast, we are joined by Prof. Dr. Dominik Rüttinger — oncological surgeon, MD/PhD, and Global Head of Research & Early Development Oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. We talk about his journey from the operating room to biotech startups and global pharma leadership, navigating a 10% success rate in oncology drug development, building unbiased decision frameworks for high-stakes calls, the realistic role of AI in drug discovery and clinical trials, balancing quality of life versus longevity in cancer treatment, and his vision for the future of prevention, early detection, and personalized medicine. Whether you’re a scientist, innovator, or leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about risk, decision-making, and impact in healthcare. 

Episode Chapters: 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 02:30 Dominik talks about his childhood, family background, and early influences that led him toward science 
• 04:45 Dominik explains his decision to pursue both medicine and science, describing how his medical school and PhD experiences overlapped 
• 07:30 Offering early career advice, Dominik talks about the importance of aiming high, questioning the status quo, and embracing a bit of naivete 
• 11:06 Dominik discusses why he chose oncology and how interdisciplinary training shaped his career 
• 16:45 Dominik describes his transition from academia to industry, sharing his motivations and the decision-making process behind the move 
• 20:02 Reflecting on his adjustment to industry, Dominik highlights the differences in work environment and expectations compared to academia 
• 23:33 Dominik provides practical tips for others transitioning from academia to industry, emphasizing humility and the value of building a diverse “toolbox” of skills 
• 28:01 Dominik talks about moving from a startup to a large company, and how his responsibilities shifted to managing a broader portfolio 
• 33:28 Dominik describes what his daily life looks like as a portfolio leader in oncology R&D and the types of decisions he makes regularly 
• 37:24 Dominik delves into the challenges of decision-making in drug development, discussing success rates and the importance of a “10% mindset.” 
• 39:27 Dominik explains the impact of biases in drug development and how organizations use frameworks to make more objective decisions 
• 42:46 Dominik shares his perspective on the role of AI in drug development and how it can support better decision-making 
• 47:02 Dominik discusses the use of AI in clinical trials and considers whether it can make development faster and less expensive 
• 51:46 Drawing on his clinical experience, Dominik talks about patient care and patient perspectives, especially the balance between quality of life and longevity in cancer treatment 
• 55:38 Dominik looks to the future of cancer prevention, early detection, and prediction, and how these areas might evolve