CrownCast

Across the global oncology drug discovery landscape, the UK stands at the forefront. In this CrownCast episode, Rajendra Kumari, Executive Director of Integrated Solutions at Crown Bioscience, talks with Sarah Wagner, Senior Director of Business Development and Bryan Miller, Director of Scientific and Technical Operations about leveraging the UK’s vibrant ecosystem of cutting-edge technologies, strong collaborations, and a commitment to high ethical standards.

As cancer research progresses rapidly, obtaining high-quality biospecimens has grown increasingly important for making significant breakthroughs. In this CrownCast episode, Rajendra Kumari, Executive Director of Integrated Solutions at Crown Bioscience, talks with Sadaf Malik, Senior Director, Head US Sales (Biobank and Biomarker) about how superior biospecimens can drive advancements in oncology by means of innovative biobanking.

As the landscape of drug discovery evolves, breakthrough technologies like organoids are gaining traction for their potential to revolutionize how new treatments are developed. In this episode of CrownCast, Jonny McMichael, Vice President at Crown Bioscience, and Leo Price, a member of Crown Bioscience’s Scientific Advisory Board, shed light on organoids' growing role in drug development. With insights into their application, this commentary delves into a technology that offers a significant leap toward personalized medicine, ushering in a new era for the healthcare industry.

In the relentlessly evolving landscape of drug discovery, modern technologies and groundbreaking methods are going beyond animal testing to ensure a more human-centric, efficient, and improved approach in terms of reliability. It's a journey that promises a more efficient future for pharmaceutical companies and, ultimately, patients worldwide.Dive into the details with industry leader Professor Thomas Hartung, shedding light on how policy changes and innovative technologies are setting the stage for the future.What You'll Learn00:15 — Cutting-Edge Advances in Non-Animal Testing07:50 — Regulatory Shifts with the FDA Modernization Act15:30 — The Role of AI in Drug Discovery24:10 — Integrating New Approaches into Current PracticesMain Points of Conversation:In a time when the complexities of drug development demand rapid, accurate solutions, the adoption of alternative methodologies is crucial. As regulatory bodies worldwide signal a shift away from animal testing, the opportunities for innovative technologies to provide human-relevant data are immense. Executives and decision-makers must understand these transformations to maintain competitive advantages and drive industry standards forward.

In a rapidly shifting landscape of personalized medicine, biomarkers have become central to shaping the way drug development and clinical trials unfold. From predicting therapeutic response to identifying optimal patient populations, the complexity and scope of biomarker use has increased alongside technological advances. A key success story like the BCR-ABL biomarker in chronic myeloid leukemia demonstrates the power of targeted medicine, which has raised five-year survival rates from around 30–50% to over 90%. With the rise of multi-omics and AI-driven analytics, the industry is entering a new era of integration, data complexity—and unprecedented possibility.How early should companies start thinking about biomarker strategy to improve outcomes and reduce clinical trial risk?On this episode of Crown BioScience, host Jonny McMichael sits down with Julie Mayer, VP of the Global Biomarker Platform at Crown BioScience, to explore how biomarkers are revolutionizing oncology drug development. From diagnostic tools to regulatory rigor, they discuss where the field is heading, the success stories already reshaping care, and what it takes to stay ahead of the curve.Main Points of Conversation:The earlier biomarker strategies are developed in the pipeline, the better the potential for trial success and regulatory alignment.Technological advances—like multi-omics and liquid biopsy—are enabling earlier, more accurate, and less invasive patient insights.Future biomarker development will depend heavily on AI and bioinformatics to manage large, complex data and translate it into actionable therapies.Julie Mayer is Vice President of the Global Biomarker Platform at Crown BioScience. With over 15 years of experience in molecular strategy and assay development, she previously held leadership roles at NeoGenomics Laboratories, GenOptix, and Navigate Biopharmaceuticals. Julie holds a PhD in Pathology from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Once labeled “undruggable,” KRAS has emerged as one of oncology’s most promising—yet complex—targets. With nearly 90% of pancreatic cancers and 30-40% of lung and colorectal cancers harboring KRAS mutations, the need for effective therapies is urgent. Recent FDA approvals of KRAS G12C inhibitors have signaled a new era, but the rise of resistance and diverse mutation profiles demand deeper innovation. As preclinical tools and combination strategies evolve, scientists must ask: how do we stay ahead of KRAS-driven resistance and translate insights into patient-specific treatment success?So, what will it take to overcome the final barriers to fully unlocking the therapeutic potential of KRAS?In this episode of Crowncast, host Jonny McMichael, VP of Client Experience & Enablement at Crown BioScience, is joined by Dr. Rajendra "Jen" Kumari, Executive Director of Integrated Solutions. Together, they delve into KRAS biology, resistance mechanisms, and preclinical strategies reshaping drug discovery. Their conversation touches on cutting-edge translational modeling and what the future holds for combination therapies targeting KRAS mutations.Key topics covered in this episode:Why KRAS mutations are uniquely challenging—and how recent breakthroughs have shifted the “undruggable” narrative.The rise of G12C inhibitors and how resistance is reshaping combination strategies in colorectal and lung cancer.The essential role of preclinical models, including engineered systems and PDXs, in predicting clinical response and guiding next-gen drug development.About the Guest:Dr. Rajendra Kumari brings over two decades of oncology research experience to Crown BioScience. A PhD in pharmacology from the University of Leicester, Jen co-founded preclinical CRO PreCOS in 2010, which was acquired by Crown in 2013. She has held various leadership roles including CSO, COO, and GM of Crown UK, and now leads global integrated solutions, driving innovation in translational modeling and oncology strategy.

In the last two decades, oncology has undergone a transformation with over 300 new cancer therapies approved by the FDA—many offering novel mechanisms of action. Despite these innovations, resistance to treatment remains a critical challenge, with cancer cells evolving or adapting to evade even the most advanced therapeutics. This issue is particularly pressing given that resistance often leads to disease relapse, severely impacting patient outcomes and quality of life.As we develop increasingly precise and powerful cancer therapies, how can we anticipate and overcome the inevitable challenge of drug resistance?In this episode of Crowncast, host Jonny McMichael, VP of Client Experience & Enablement at Crown Bioscience, speaks with Enrico Pesenti, the company’s Executive Director of Client Engagement. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of oncology drug resistance—unpacking the biological mechanisms behind it, the impact on patient care, and the technological breakthroughs helping researchers counter it.Main Points:Resistance in cancer therapy emerges through both genetic mutations and adaptive, non-genetic mechanisms, presenting a dynamic challenge for drug developers.New technologies—such as single-cell multi-omics, spatial transcriptomics, and CRISPR gene editing—are enabling deeper understanding and more precise modeling of resistance pathways.Translational models like organoids and patient-derived xenografts, combined with AI and machine learning, are helping design better, more personalized therapeutic strategies.Enrico Pesenti brings over two decades of experience in oncology research and drug development. He previously held leadership roles at Pharmacia and Nerviano and served as CEO of Accelera, a regulatory CRO in Italy. At Crown Bioscience, he leads scientific engagement, drawing on deep expertise in pharmacology and personalized cancer therapies.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the drug discovery process, moving from augmenting research to actively driving innovation. As biotech companies face soaring R&D costs and long development cycles, AI promises a breakthrough: slashing drug development time by nearly half while improving accuracy in identifying promising compounds. With global pharmaceutical R&D spending projected to exceed $230 billion by 2026, efficiency isn't just desirable—it's critical.Can AI transition drug discovery from a serendipitous search to a precise, design-led process? And what are the real-world applications—and limitations—of machine learning in today’s labs?In this episode of Crowncast by Crown BioScience, host Jonny McMichael welcomes Kuan Yan, Senior Principal Scientist, and Jordan Lim, Associate Director of Digital Product. Together, they explore how AI is being used to automate workflows, optimize molecular designs, and provide advisory-level insights within CRO environments—all while navigating the complexities of regulation and data privacy.Key Highlights:AI is already accelerating early-stage drug discovery, from target identification to molecule generation and optimization—cutting development timelines dramatically.Human-in-the-loop remains essential, especially for quality control, validation, and navigating the risks of AI's "black box" nature.Crown BioScience is developing internal AI frameworks to transform data into insights, optimize experimental designs, and ultimately deliver more value to clients.Jordan Lim holds a bachelor’s and MBA from the University of California, San Diego, and brings a unique perspective from his work in patient advocacy, study coordination, and digital transformation at Crown BioScience.Kuan Yan earned his master’s and PhD in bioimaging and image analysis from the University of Leiden. With over 15 years of experience in machine learning, he now leads AI initiatives as a Senior Principal Scientist at Crown BioScience Netherlands.

In the ever-evolving world of cancer treatment, immuno-oncology (IO) continues to stand at the forefront of innovation. With recent FDA approvals for TIL therapies and bispecific antibodies, and new developments in CAR-T technologies, the field is rapidly expanding into combination-based strategies that integrate with standard care. Researchers are also exploring how to overcome challenges posed by the tumor microenvironment and immune cell exhaustion to increase therapeutic success rates.How can scientists and biotech innovators harness the immune system more effectively to combat cancer—and what does the next generation of immuno-oncology look like?On this episode of Crowncast by Crown BioScience, host Jonny McMichael welcomes Gera Goverse, Director of Immuno-Oncology at Crown BioScience, for a deep dive into the scientific advances and strategic considerations shaping immuno-oncology today. From bispecifics and checkpoint inhibitors to personalized and allogeneic CAR-T therapies, they explore the complexity of immune response modeling, the need for combination therapies, and how the tumor microenvironment impacts treatment outcomes.Key discussion points from this episode:The rise of combination therapies and their role in overcoming immune resistanceEmerging innovations in CAR-T design to address exhaustion and broaden applicationThe critical importance of tumor microenvironment and model precision in preclinical researchDr. Gera Goverse is an accomplished immunologist with a PhD from Amsterdam UMC and a postdoctoral fellowship at KU Leuven. She has over a decade of experience in immunology and oncology, having transitioned from academia to biotech, where she now leads the immuno-oncology efforts at Crown BioScience Netherlands following their merger with organoid research CRO Ocello.

Are you ready to understand the seismic shifts in the CRO (Contract Research Organization) industry? Join Johnny McMichael, VP of Client Experience and Enablement at Crown Bioscience, and Alex Slater, Chief Business Officer, as they delve into how strategic partnerships and innovation are redefining drug discovery and development. This video is a must-watch for executives navigating the complexities of outsourcing within the healthcare sector.