Raising Health

Bioorthogonal Chemistry with Carolyn Bertozzi

Episode Summary

Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, Director of Sarafan Stanford ChEM-H and professor at Stanford University, joins Jorge Conde, general partner at a16z Bio + Health.

Episode Notes

Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi joins Jorge Conde to unravel the concept of bioorthogonal chemistry. 

Carolyn traces her pioneering path from early studies in carbohydrate chemistry to how her lab developed the revolutionary ability to manipulate chemical reactions inside the human body. 

Together, they highlight the intersection of cutting-edge academic research and the challenges of translating discoveries into market-ready solutions. They also discuss navigating the science-to-startup journey, balancing academic and commercial ambitions, and leveraging precision therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer and beyond. It’s a compelling case study for founders looking to push the frontiers of biotech.