In the final episode of 2025, the GEN team came together to reflect on some of the stories over the last year that they each found impactful. Some of the stories were covered in GEN’s December issue, but our editors took the time to discuss some topics in a bit more depth during the podcast. The discussion began with an update on the progress of AI use in drug discovery. Cell and gene therapy was a big topic with the positive outcome for Baby KJ, while Sarepta dealt with a rollercoaster of a year with their DMD treatment, Elevidys. Research and biotech in Africa are growing and the discussion ranged from challenges to promise in research and development on the continent. This year’s NIH budget cuts and impacted institutions rounded out the conversation.
Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:
GEN Editors Reflect on Six of the Biggest Stories of the Year
By Alex Philippidis, Savannah Wiegel, Fay Lin, PhD, Kevin Davies, PhD, Uduak Thomas, and Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, December 4, 2025
StockWatch: Sarepta Says Deaths of Two Elevidys Patients Posted on FDA Database Unrelated to Treatment
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 10
StockWatch: As Prasad Exits FDA, Analysts See Benefit for Sarepta, CGT Stocks
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 3
FDA Probes Death of Brazilian Boy Linked to Sarepta’s Elevidys
GEN Edge, July 27
Second DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 15
DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 18
From The Editor in Chief
John Sterling, December Issue of GEN
Gene Therapy in Africa
The State of CRISPR & Genome Editing Summit, June 11, 2025
Gene Therapy in Africa: An Interview with Julie Makani and Johnny Mahlangu
By Julia Makani, Johnny Mahlangu, Uduak Thomas, and Kevin Davies, GEN Biotechnology, August 14, 2025
TOP 50 NIH
By Alex Philippidis, GEN, December 4, 2025
FDA Cell & Gene Therapy roundtable: Cell and Gene Therapy Leaders Tell FDA: “Believe in American Solutions”
By Alex Philippidis, and Kevin Davies, PhD, GEN Edge, June 5, 2025
Scientists in NYC Rally to Defend and Stand Up for Science
By Corinna Singleman, GEN, March 10, 2025
Touching Base Podcast
Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD
Behind the Breakthroughs
Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD
