🧬 Breaking the Wall Between Science & Patient Care: Translational Medicine | Samir Khleif (Part 2/4)
August 7, 2025
“The way I have grown up in the field is not only to discover basic science findings, but also to have in mind always… how can we translate this discovery into a potential drug or an approach that could be given to patients.”
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif shares his inspiring journey from a formative fellowship at the National Cancer Institute—where he mastered bridging basic science and clinical care—to being handpicked to build the pioneering King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Dr. Khleif’s story reveals how NCI’s culture of translating research into real-world impact shaped his vision for translational medicine and propelled him to bring world-class cancer care to new frontiers, overcoming formidable challenges along the way.
🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.
As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.
Episode Description:
“The way I have grown up in the field is not only to discover basic science findings, but also to have in mind always… how can we translate this discovery into a potential drug or an approach that could be given to patients.”
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif shares his inspiring journey from a formative fellowship at the National Cancer Institute—where he mastered bridging basic science and clinical care—to being handpicked to build the pioneering King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Dr. Khleif’s story reveals how NCI’s culture of translating research into real-world impact shaped his vision for translational medicine and propelled him to bring world-class cancer care to new frontiers, overcoming formidable challenges along the way.
Key topics covered:
- Bridging Basic and Clinical Research: Uniting lab discoveries with real-world care
- The Call to Translational Medicine: Turning science into patient impact
- Early Leadership: Rising from fellow to faculty and learning to lead
- Innovation in Cancer Vaccines: Pioneering a new era in immunotherapy
- Building a Cancer Center Abroad: Launching Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center
If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.
Subscribe to the Podcast:
Find our guest, Samir Khleif, at these links:
Website: http://www.georgiamune.com/
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:
Website: https://flow.page/kyojin
Resources & Articles:
Strategies for Cancer Vaccine Development: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2914453/
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38086815/
Recent Advances in the Development and Efficacy of Anti-Cancer Vaccines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40266115/
Cancer Vaccines: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11717780/
Unlocking Cancer Vaccine Potential: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564321/
Translational Research Program: https://dctd.cancer.gov/programs/trp
King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hussein_Cancer_Foundation_and_Center
Case Study: Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center: https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1744-8603-3-11
NCATS: http://ncats.nih.gov/
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:
Georgiamune: https://www.georgiamune.com/
King Hussein Cancer Center: https://www.khcc.jo/en
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:38 Journey to the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
01:46 Early Days at NCI: Breaking Down Research Silos
05:44 Bridging Basic and Clinical Research at NIH
06:02 Forming a Translational Medicine Mindset
08:35 Transition from Fellowship to Faculty at NCI
09:11 The Origins of the King Hussein Cancer Center
10:41 The Invitation to Build a Cancer Center in Jordan
13:31 Challenges and Vision for Translational Cancer Care Abroad
19:01 Reflecting on Mentorship and Collaborative Leadership
22:46 Lessons in Innovation and Cancer Vaccine Development
27:12 Outro
The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.