The Cure Circle

Epizodai

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  The Future of Diabetic Foot Care: Wound Healing, Remission & Limb Preservation 28.09.2026 53min

  What does it take to move beyond simply closing a diabetic foot wound and achieve lasting remission? In this episode of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate, MD, speaks with Dr. David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, a podiatric surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC and Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Neurological Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.As a specialist in diabetic foot care, wound remission, and limb preservation, Dr. Armstrong possesses three decades of experience in the field. He brings a clinical and research perspective to one of the most challenging areas of wound care: how to help wounds heal, prevent recurrence, and reduce avoidable amputations. The conversation begins with a fundamental question: what should we remove from a wound before considering what to apply? Dr. Armstrong discusses debridement and offloading before exploring cellular and acellular matrix products, biologics, exosomal therapies, tissue-engineered constructs, and gene therapy.But wound closure does not mean the end of the story. Dr. Armstrong explains why he prefers the concept of “remission” and discusses the importance of maximising ulcer-free days and continuing to support patients after a wound has closed.The conversation also examines a broader challenge in regenerative medicine: how do we know which therapy to use, for which patient, and when to start or stop it? Dr. Armstrong discusses combination approaches, companion diagnostics, treatment endpoints, and the need to look beyond a single product or cell as the solution to complex wounds.In this episode, Dr. Smita Karpate and Dr. David G. Armstrong discuss:Why wound care may begin with what needs to be taken offThe role of debridement and offloadingTechnology and adherence to offloadingWhy “wound remission” may be a more useful framework than wound closureCellular and acellular matrix products, biologics and exosomal therapiesCombination approaches and tissue-engineered constructsThe potential role of gene therapy in wound careWhy companion diagnostics could help guide treatment decisionsThe challenge of defining meaningful endpoints in wound healingWhy the value of a multidisciplinary team may be underestimatedThe challenge of translating emerging therapies into clinical practiceThrough this conversation, The Cure Circle explores the evolving science of diabetic foot care, regenerative medicine, wound remission, and limb preservation, and what it will take to bring promising approaches from research into everyday patient care.Subscribe, follow, and join the conversation shaping the future of regenerative medicine and advanced therapeutics.
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  From Science to Access: Building India’s Cell & Gene Therapy Future 07.09.2026 46min

  What will it take for India to build a cell and gene therapy ecosystem that can compete globally? In Episode 5 of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate, MD, speaks with Dr. Arun Anand, MD, a physician-executive, cell and gene therapy business leader, and nominated expert on the Precision Biotherapeutics Committee, Department of Biotechnology (DBT/BIRAC), Government of India.With more than two decades of experience, Dr. Arun brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, drug development, portfolio and strategy, global and emerging markets, and C-suite operations. As former COO and Board Director of Immuneel Therapeutics, he was involved in building CGT capabilities and taking Qartemi®, a CD19 CAR-T therapy, from development to commercial launch in India. The conversation looks at the science and economics of CGT, including funding, reimbursement, manufacturing, regulation, research, talent and patient access. Dr. Arun also discusses what India can learn from China's biotech strategy and why India should think beyond its domestic market when developing advanced therapies.At the centre of the discussion is a practical question: how can India make CGT more affordable while creating an ecosystem that can continue to support innovation?In this episode, Dr. Smita Karpate and Dr. Arun Anand discuss:Why lowering the cost of CGT cannot be the only goalWho should pay for advanced therapies and how reimbursement could evolveFunding models for long and expensive development programmesWhy India needs more investment in biology and mechanistic researchHow regulation can become more flexible without compromising safetyWhat India can learn from China's long-term biotech strategyHow India can attract global scientific talentThe role of manufacturing and infrastructure in CGTWhy India should think beyond its domestic marketWhat “make in India for the world” could mean for CGTHow affordability, patient access and commercial sustainability are connectedThe links between researchers, developers, regulators, investors and healthcare systemsWhat physicians and researchers entering the field should understand about immunology and CGTThrough this conversation, The Cure Circle looks at where India stands today, what it can learn from other ecosystems, and what needs to change to build a cell and gene therapy ecosystem that can serve patients in India and compete globally. Subscribe, follow, and join the conversation shaping the future of cell and gene therapy.
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  Why India Loses Top Scientific Talent 24.08.2026 48min

  What slows cell and gene therapy, biology or systems?In this episode of The Cure Circle, translational immunotherapy researcher Gaurang Telang explains why reproducibility, documentation, and system reliability, not heroics, determine whether CAR-T science reaches patients. A grounded look at what real CGT translation requires.In Episode 4 of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate speaks with Gaurang Telang, a translational T-cell immunotherapy researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT), Regensburg, Germany, whose work bridges bench-level CAR-T research and GMP-aligned translational science.This episode asks a question many avoid but everyone in Indian science feels:Why do talented researchers leave India and what is the real cost of that loss?Gaurang did not leave because of ambition alone. He left because, over time, his scientific progress became limited not by biology, but by system friction - procurement delays, unreliable infrastructure, unclear career paths, and a constant firefighting mindset that erodes creativity.Now working in a highly structured translational ecosystem in Germany, he offers a rare, honest comparison between resource-constrained innovation and process-driven science, and explains why talent moves toward environments where the bottleneck is biology, not logistics.This is not a story about brain drain.It is a diagnosis of system reliability, quality culture, and legible careers.In this episode, Dr. Karpate and Gaurang Telang discuss:Why researchers don’t “choose to leave”, they respond to accumulated system frictionHow procurement delays, approvals, and unreliable supply chains silently destroy productivityWhy scientific creativity requires predictability, calm, and psychological safetyThe hidden cost of constant firefighting in Indian research environmentsGermany’s unique position between pure academia and industry-grade translationWhat translational institutes get right: documentation, reproducibility, GMP-aligned thinkingWhy cell & gene therapy success depends on boring fundamentals, not heroicsThe myth of patriotism as a substitute for functioning incentivesWhy India does not have a talent problem, but a system reliability problemThe “Tesla moment” India needs in biotech: a few platform companies, not hundreds of startupsWhy quality shortcuts in CGT will backfire and set ecosystems back yearsWhat researchers actually need to return: healthcare security, legible careers, dignity of workThis episode is not speculative. It is practical, grounded, and deeply personal.It reframes the conversation from “Why don’t people stay?” to “What kind of system deserves them?”Episode 4 reinforces The Cure Circle’s mission: to examine not just scientific possibility, but the structures required to turn science into patient impact.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation shaping the future of cancer care in India and beyond.
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  CAR-T Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: From Relapse to Real Hope 10.08.2026 37min

  In this episode of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate, MD, is joined by Dr. Mallikarjun Kalashetty, DM, Head of Clinical Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, and Cellular Therapy at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru.Multiple myeloma remains one of the most complex and relentless blood cancers, treatable but rarely curable. While modern drug combinations and stem cell transplants have extended survival, relapse is inevitable for most patients. This is where CAR-T therapy is redefining the landscape.Drawing directly from clinical experience at the bedside, Dr. Kalashetty explains how CAR-T therapy has emerged as a transformative option for heavily pre-treated, relapsed-refractory multiple myeloma patients, those who previously had few meaningful choices left.The conversation moves beyond hype into reality: patient selection, treatment timelines, toxicities, infrastructure needs, and the stark contrast between global breakthroughs and Indian access. From cytokine release syndrome to long-term immune suppression, from affordability to indigenous CAR-T manufacturing, this episode offers a grounded, clinician’s view of what it truly takes to deliver cellular therapy safely and effectively.More importantly, it asks the bigger question: Is CAR-T a final solution—or a stepping stone toward the next generation of cell-based therapies?In this episode, Dr. Kalashetty and Dr. Karpate discuss:Why relapse is inevitable in multiple myeloma and how CAR-T changes outcomes in triple-class refractory diseaseWho qualifies for CAR-T therapy and when it should be considered in the treatment journeyHow CAR-T compares to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantationReal-world toxicities like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity—and how clinicians manage themWhy CAR-T can be safer than transplant for select “CAR-fit but transplant-unfit” patientsThe current status of CAR-T availability in India, including DCGI-approved productsCost realities: India vs global benchmarks and what affordability truly enablesInfrastructure, training, and ecosystem gaps that innovators and startups must solveWhether CAR-T is the endgame or a foundation for allogeneic, dual-target, and next-gen cellular therapiesThis episode is a candid, clinically grounded exploration of CAR-T therapy—not just as a scientific breakthrough, but as a healthcare system challenge.The Cure Circle continues to bring together clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss not only what is possible in cell and gene therapy—but what is necessary to make it accessible, ethical, and impactful.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation shaping the future of cancer care in India and beyond.
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  Why CMC and Manufacturing Decide CGT Success 27.07.2026 1val 6min

  In this episode of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate, MD is joined by Emily Moran, Founder of 3LB Consulting, a global expert at the intersection of cell and gene therapy manufacturing, CMC strategy, and regulatory execution.While cell and gene therapies promise cures once thought impossible, most programs do not fail because of weak science — they fail because execution breaks down. Emily’s work focuses on closing that gap: translating beautiful biology into manufacturable, compliant, and patient-ready therapies.Drawing from nearly two decades in life sciences, vaccines, and advanced therapies — and a deeply personal experience with her own children in a Phase I clinical trial — Emily brings a rare dual lens to this conversation: the precision of an operator and the urgency of a parent.This episode goes beyond discovery and dives into the realities that determine whether a therapy ever reaches patients: IND readiness, CDMO selection, CMC strategy, GMP design, regulatory inspections, and investor confidence.In this episode, Dr. Smita Karpate, MD and Emily Moran discuss:Why cell and gene therapy is ultimately an execution challenge, not just a scientific oneHow academic science must evolve to meet IND, CMC, and GMP expectationsWhen and how scientists and clinicians should engage strategic partners and CDMOsWhat truly matters in CDMO selection — and how the wrong choice can derail years of workWhy CMC strategy is the backbone of both regulatory success and investor confidenceThe concept of right-size process design in an uncertain, patient-driven marketHow regulators evaluate cell and gene therapy differently from traditional pharmaWhy manufacturing discipline, transparency, and focus determine patient safetyHow close we really are to patients — beyond clinical trials and hypeWhat founders, scientists, and clinicians should not delay if they want to succeed in CGTThis conversation is a grounded, unsentimental look at what it actually takes to deliver cures — from lab benches to clean rooms to patients’ lives.Episode by episode, The Cure Circle builds the missing bridge between innovation and impact.This discussion is essential listening for anyone serious about bringing cell and gene therapies to the world.Subscribe, share, and join us as we explore the people, the systems, and the responsibility behind cure.
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  Building Fitter T Cells to Fight Cancer with Prof. Roland Schelker 24.03.2026 1val 6min

  In the premiere episode of The Cure Circle, host Dr. Smita Karpate speaks with Prof. Roland Schelker, clinician–scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, whose work sits at the cutting edge of T-cell engineering, CAR-T therapy, and solid tumor immunotherapy.What began as a routine pharma dinner in 2011 where Prof. Schelker first heard about CTLA-4 checkpoint antibodies became the moment that redirected his scientific career. Today, he is pioneering approaches that go beyond receptor design and focus on something deeper: T-cell fitness and stem-like memory T cells (TSCM) capable of renewing themselves and sustaining anti-tumor activity.Drawing directly from real clinical experiences and translational research, this episode explores how immune cells can be reprogrammed to last longer, fight harder, and potentially change survival outcomes for patients with advanced cancers.In this episode, Prof. Schelker and Dr. Karpate discuss:Why the next frontier of immunotherapy is not just better CAR receptors but fitter, stem-like T cellsHow T-cell exhaustion limits current therapies and how TSCM engineering may overcome itWhy certain tumors (like synovial sarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma) are ideal for next-generation TCR/T-cell trialsHow academic centers bring therapies from discovery to GMP to regulatory approval to first-in-human studiesThe real-world challenges clinicians face when treating cytokine release syndrome and other toxicitiesThe critical role of collaboration between researchers, clinicians, GMP teams, and pharmaWhy global access matters and how countries like India can become hubs for scalable, cost-effective cell therapyThe emotional side of breakthrough responses: what it feels like when a patient with metastatic cancer enters remissionThis conversation is a rare blend of scientific depth, clinical honesty, and global perspective. Episode 1 sets the tone for The Cure Circle, a platform where innovators discuss not just what is possible in cell and gene therapy, but what is necessary to bring healing to every patient, everywhere.Subscribe, share, and join us as we explore the people, the purpose, and the science shaping the future of cancer care.
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  Why The Cure Circle 30.01.2026 2min

  The Cure Circle is a global dialogue on regenerative medicine, cell and gene therapy, and the science of true healing. Each episode takes you inside the minds of scientists, clinicians, innovators, and thinkers who are not just treating disease; they’re reprogramming biology itself.Go behind the breakthroughs to discover the personal stories, the collaborations, and the courage driving this new era of medicine. From lab benches to hospital wards, from discovery to delivery, The Cure Circle reveals how healing happens when science and soul finally meet.Inspiring, intelligent, and deeply human, these conversations bring together global voices in cell and gene therapy, tissue regeneration, exosomes, secretomes, iPSCs, and clinical innovation. Whether you’re a doctor, researcher, founder, or just a curious listener, each episode gives you insight, depth, and the optimism of what’s coming next in healthcare.Our goals:To create a global space where scientists, clinicians, innovators, and patients come together to translate breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy into meaningful, accessible, and ethical healthcare solutions.Through honest dialogue, expert insights, and compassionate storytelling, The Cure Circle aims to bridge the gap between discovery and care, making advanced therapies understandable, approachable, and impactful for all.To build a world where transformative therapies are not limited by borders, knowledge gaps, or inequity and where true cures emerge from collaboration, communication, and humanity-driven science.The Cure Circle envisions a future in which cell and gene therapy becomes a trusted, accessible, and global force for healing, empowering medicine to move from treating disease to restoring life.