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How a Bold Yes Became a Scientific Breakthrough
City of Hope Academic Research

How a Bold Yes Became a Scientific Breakthrough

  • Jun 9th 2025
  • 47 mins
  • On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research

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Summary

Dr. Linda Malkas shares the story behind AOH1996—how one bold “yes” led to a new cancer drug and a legacy built from love and science.

Welcome back to Season 2  On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research. In this powerful episode, Dr. Monty Pal welcomes Dr. Linda Malkas, Dean of Translational Sciences at City of Hope, for a conversation that spans childhood stargazing in Queens to leading one of the most ambitious cancer drug developments in recent history.

Dr. Malkas shares how a chance encounter with a grieving father sparked her quest to take on an “undruggable” target, resulting in AOH1996, a promising molecule designed to selectively attack cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. Named in memory of 8-year-old Ana Olivia Healy, the drug is now moving through clinical trials and showing potential to improve standard of care treatments across multiple cancers.

This episode dives into the science, the setbacks, and the synchronicity that fueled this journey, from organic chemistry and DNA fascination to late-night lab work, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the unique ecosystem at City of Hope that made it all possible.

It’s a remarkable story of science, heart, and the human drive to say “yes” to the impossible. Listen now.

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