| Host |
Anastasia Janas
|
| Editors | Jose Zamora |
| Social Media Manager | Priya Singhal |
| Short-form Content Creator | Caitlin FitzMaurice |
| Listen | Apple Podcasts Spotify |
| Watch | YouTube |
Summary
In this episode of the Nucleate Podcast, Prof. Dr. Dominik Rüttinger takes listeners from his childhood in Munich, where a family of engineers sparked his early fascination with science, to his decision to pursue both an MD and a PhD. His interdisciplinary training, rooted in oncological surgery, gave him a unique perspective that continues to shape his career philosophy: aim high, question the status quo, and think in terms of societal impact.
Dominik reflects on his move from the operating room and academic research into the world of oncology drug development, describing the cultural and professional shifts involved in transitioning from a university hospital to the agility of biotech startups, and later to the scale and complexity of global pharma leadership. He offers a rare inside look at high-stakes decision-making in oncology R&D, highlighting the importance of humility, adaptability, and the use of unbiased frameworks to improve success rates.
The conversation also explores the evolving role of AI and machine learning in drug discovery and clinical trials, alongside the ethical and practical challenges of balancing quality of life and longevity in cancer care. Looking ahead, Dominik shares his vision for advances in prevention, early detection, and personalized medicine in the field of oncology.
Show Notes
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:03 Dominik talks about his childhood, family background, and early influences that led him toward science
- 03:13 Dominik explains his decision to pursue both medicine and science, describing how his medical school and PhD experiences overlapped
- 06:03 Offering early career advice, Dominik talks about the importance of aiming high, questioning the status quo, and embracing a bit of naivete
- 09:36 Dominik discusses why he chose oncology and how interdisciplinary training shaped his career
- 15:12 Dominik describes his transition from academia to industry, sharing his motivations and the decision-making process behind the move
- 18:22 Reflecting on his adjustment to industry, Dominik highlights the differences in work environment and expectations compared to academia
- 22:03 Dominik provides practical tips for others transitioning from academia to industry, emphasizing humility and the value of building a diverse “toolbox” of skills
- 26:21 Dominik talks about moving from a startup to a large company, and how his responsibilities shifted to managing a broader portfolio
- 30:48 Dominik describes what his daily life looks like as a portfolio leader in oncology R&D and the types of decisions he makes regularly
- 34:54 Dominik delves into the challenges of decision-making in drug development, discussing success rates and the importance of a “10% mindset.”
- 37:57 Dominik explains the impact of biases in drug development and how organizations use frameworks to make more objective decisions
- 41:16 Dominik shares his perspective on the role of AI in drug development and how it can support better decision-making
- 45:32 Dominik discusses the use of AI in clinical trials and considers whether it can make development faster and less expensive
- 50:16 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
- 54:08 Dominik looks to the future of cancer prevention, early detection, and prediction, and how these areas might evolve
Links
Dominik's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominik-ruettinger-57395910/
Bayer Pharmaceuticals: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bayer/
