Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns

As summer heats up, Unseen Upside brings you a special two-part mini-episode packed with inspiration for your reading and listening list. From thought-provoking explorations of social justice and capitalism to the latest in women’s sports and business innovation, this short episode is your guide to what’s fueling the minds and spirits of those driving change in healthcare, housing, and beyond.Whether you’re looking for your next great read, a podcast to spark new ideas, or just want to know what’s on the radar of industry leaders, this episode has you covered. Check the show notes for links to all the recommendations, and stay tuned for part 2 of our guests' summer picks soon!Featured Recommendations: Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society by Dr. Arline T. Geronimus James (Pulitzer Prize Winner) by Percival Everett Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson A Brief History of Seven Killings (Booker Prize Winner): A Novel by Marlon James  Queens of the Court (The Women’s Hoops Show Podcast) Americana: A 400-Year History of American Capitalism by Bhu Srinivasan Acquired: Novo Nordisk (Ozempic), Season 14, Episode 1 Unseen Upside: Appetite for Change: The Obesity Epidemic Meets Biotech Guests Include: Chavon Sutton, Managing Director, Sustainable & Impact Investing at Cambridge Associates Lynne Chou O’Keefe, Founder and Managing Partner at Define Ventures Tim Ortez, Chief Financial Officer of the Weingart Foundation Margaret Anadu, Senior Partner at The Vistria Group Jasmine Richards, Head of Diverse Manager Research at Cambridge Associates Gunnar Esiason, Head of Patient Engagement at RAVen (RA Ventures) Dean Dimizas, Partner in the Private Client Practice at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

There’s a maternal health crisis in the United States, with high rates of maternal mortality, especially among marginalized communities. But what is being done to improve it? Through conversations with those on the front lines, we uncover the stark health inequities that exist in maternal healthcare and the developments created to tackle them. We also hear from mothers who have firsthand experience with Preeclampsia—a serious pregnancy complication and one of the many causes of maternal mortality— and one company on a quest to cure it.  Guests include: Scott Gottlieb, MD, Partner at New Enterprise Associates and Former FDA Commissioner Scott Johnson, MD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Comanche Biopharma Jennell Lynch, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Executive Doula Agency  Theresa Hajer, Head of US Venture Capital Research at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

How will evolving digital technologies impact healthcare delivery, patient experience, and access to care?According to new venture-backed companies, they can advance health equity, democratize access, and empower individuals to take control of their health journey. Alongside industry pioneers and investors, we explore digital health advancements such as telemedicine, remote monitoring, and data-driven diagnostics that are all working to improve healthcare efficiencies.Join us as we uncover the potential of these technologies to improve healthcare outcomes for all.Guests include: Lynne Chou O'Keefe, Founder & Managing Partner at Define Ventures Siva Namasivayam, CEO & Co-Founder at Cohere Health Chavon Sutton, Senior Investment Director in the Sustainable & Impact Investing Research Group at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Join us in Kotzebue, Alaska to explore the issue of rural healthcare and the inequities faced by these communities.We shine a light on innovative solutions aimed at improving rural healthcare delivery, like a program called Siamit that’s connecting cutting-edge medicine from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School to the tribal regions of Alaska. We also look at the role of venture capital in driving advancements that promote access to healthcare for those living in rural parts of the country.Guests include: Lucas Trout, Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School Susan Rawlings Molina, Co-Founder and CEO at GroundGame Health Alyssa Jaffee, Partner at 7wireVentures Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Prescription drug prices in the United States are 2.78 times higher than in other developed countries, but why?We untangle the barriers surrounding drug affordability and find out why accessing life-saving medications is costly to so many. Joined by experts, advocates, and one Cystic Fibrosis patient relying on expensive medication to live, we examine the complex factors contributing to the high costs of drugs, from research and development to pricing strategies and supply chain dynamics. We also investigate potential solutions to improve access and affordability without compromising on drug innovation.Guests include: Peter Kolchinsky, Founder and Managing Partner at RA Capital Gunnar Esiason, Head of Patient Engagement at RAVen (RA Ventures) Dean Dimizas, Partner in the Private Client Practice at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Join us as we head to the Bronx to examine the critical intersection of housing and health and the innovative solutions that are aiming to address the affordable housing crisis in major cities like New York and LA. Through conversations with non-profit leaders and impact investors, we dive into how affordable housing impacts public health and health equity, highlighting the investment strategies and community partnerships that are moving the needle. We also discuss the challenges of housing insecurity and the disproportionate effects on marginalized communities, recognizing affordable housing is a critical determinant of community health. Guests include: Margaret Anadu, Senior Partner at The Vistria Group Tim Ortez, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Weingart Foundation Jasmine Richards, Head of Diverse Manager Research at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

How does venture capital contribute to advancing health equity and public health? Find out on season five of Unseen Upside, premiering Tuesday, October 8.This season, we dive into how today's investment decisions are shaping tomorrow's innovations in critical areas such as affordable housing, maternal health, drug pricing, and more. Join us for engaging conversations with investors and entrepreneurs as we uncover the profound impact of venture capital on our lives on a grand scale.Powered by the global network of Cambridge Associates, join us to explore healthcare investments beyond their returns.Listen now to Unseen Upside. 

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, unleashing new investment opportunities. From cancer screening to drug discovery, AI promises to augment clinical decision-making and improve care. We’ll explore the surging ecosystem of medical AI innovations, from the emerging tech landscape to practical deployment. But what are the challenges facing real-world implementation? Which applications show the most promise? Join us as we investigate how artificial intelligence can change healthcare for the better while examining what it will take to do it well. Guests include: Bob Nelsen, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Arch Venture Partners Daphne Koller, Founder and CEO at insitro David Baker, Ph.D., 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureate, Director at the Institute for Protein Design and Professor of Biochemistry at University of Washington Theresa Hajer, Partner and Managing Director of Venture Capital Research at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Autoimmune diseases like lupus impact over 5 million patients globally, but treatment options remain limited. Now, decoding the once mysterious "dark genome" could bring new therapies. Over 90% of our DNA was once considered "junk"—but we’ve learned this dark matter regulates gene expression and human disease. This episode takes you to the pioneers who are unlocking the dark genome's potential to correct root causes of complex conditions like lupus. We'll chat with those illuminating this uncharted territory and developing novel approaches. Guests include: Rosana Kapeller, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, President, & CEO at Rome Therapeutics Steve Kafka, General Partner at S32 Keri Mastrogiacomo, mother of a Lupus patient Katherine Cavanagh, Associate Investment Director at Cambridge Associates  This episode has named a Winner by the International Women’s Podcast Awards for their “A Moment of Visionary Leadership” category.Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Obesity is a global health crisis, with over 650 million adults affected worldwide. This drives massive economic and disease burdens. Yet new treatment options like GLP-1 drugs offer hope. This episode analyzes the investment landscape and future of obesity therapeutics, focusing on transformational GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic that curb appetite. Join us as we investigate the promise and challenges of emerging anti-obesity drugs, learn about one patient’s journey taking them, and discover what the future of weight loss medicine could look like. You'll hear from leaders in the space as well as a current patient taking these medications. Guests include: Rod Wong, Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer at RTW Investments Raymond Stevens, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Structure Therapeutics Dean Dimizas, Partner and Managing Director at Cambridge Associates Kathleen Mikaelian, Patient Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Precision oncology represents an exciting shift in cancer treatment from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalized care based on each patient's unique cancer and molecular makeup. In this episode, we'll explore how precision oncology is transforming the landscape of cancer care and improving outcomes at leading hospitals like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We'll discuss the latest precision diagnostic technologies enabling doctors to analyze a tumor's molecular profile and match targeted therapies to save lives. Join us as we investigate the promise of precision medicine to make cancer treatment more effective and more equitable. Guests include: Rick Shadyac, President and CEO at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a Cambridge Associates client Matt Gevaert, Co-Founder and Board Member at Kiyatec Jason Robart, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Seae Ventures Jeff Blazek, Partner and Head of the Northeast & Midwest Endowment & Foundation Practice at Cambridge Associates, who works with ALSAC/St. Jude as one of his clients, in partnership with Anurag Pandit, CIO of ALSAC/SJCRH, and the Investment Department. Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

Thanks to medical advances, we're living longer lives but with that comes rising rates of Alzheimer's disease. Currently 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and that could triple by 2050. This episode explores emerging innovations offering hope against neurodegenerative diseases. We'll discuss promising new drugs that could slow cognitive decline and the strides scientists are making towards understanding causes and developing therapies—and how these breakthroughs are giving hope to one family fighting to save their mom. Episode two explores the history of Alzheimer’s, its current challenges, and the promising therapies made possible by innovation and investment. You’ll hear from: Dr. Asa Abeliovich, Neurologist, Molecular Geneticist, and Founder and CEO at Leal Therapeutics Carl Gordon, Managing Partner and Head of Global Private Equity at OrbiMed Ham Lee, Co-Head of the Healthcare Practice at Cambridge Associates Randi Casciano, Director of Global Public Relations at Cambridge Associates Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

The mental health crisis is growing, especially among Gen Z (91% report anxiety or depression). This episode explores innovations in mental healthcare access, new therapeutic approaches for young people and families, and how hospitals are striking creative partnerships to tackle this emergency. Tune in to learn what’s working and showing promise in mental healthcare, glimpses of what the future could look like, and where persistent gaps remain. Hear from leaders Melody Dickerson (VHC Health); Emily Melton (Threshold Ventures); Naomi Allen (Brightline); and Bridget Sproles (Cambridge Associates).

The fashion industry accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output and roughly 2.6 million tons of clothing returns end up in US­­­ landfills each year instead of being resold. Meanwhile, the shipping for these returns account for around 16 million tons of CO2 emissions—and fast fashion is making things worse. But what if deep tech could help to cut down on returns? Amid the rise of conscious consumerism, one company is using video game technology and AI generated avatars to help online shoppers try on clothing virtually before they buy, in the hopes of making the fashion industry more sustainable. We’ll learn more from Christine Marzano (BODS); Carle Stenmark (VMG Partners); Jennifer Varekamp (MassArt); and Annachiara Marcandalli (Cambridge Associates).

Humans have fantasized about flying cars for decades, but they’ve yet to leave the pages of our sci-fi books...or have they? Join us as we visit Joby Aviation out in Marina, California to witness their eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft take flight. With plans to operate like ubers in the sky, eVTOLs are the closest thing we have to flying cars—and they could be a commercial reality by 2025. The companies creating them promise a faster and greener mode of transportation, but who’s investing in them? Are they safe? And how will they change our transportation infrastructure? We’ll discuss these questions and more with Eric Allison (Joby Aviation); Andrew Beebe (Obvious Ventures); and Doug Carlson and Alex Innes-Whitehouse (pilots affiliated with Cambridge Associates).