What if treating brain cancer wasn't about destroying tumors, but redirecting them? In this captivating episode, Dr. Nassir Mokarram—Director of Venture Investments at the Emory Endowment and a Georgia Tech "40 Under 40" honoree—shares the remarkable story behind the "Tumor Monorail," a groundbreaking medical device designed to guide brain tumors away from vital tissue and into a controlled space. From the early research labs at Georgia Tech to real-world clinical trials, Nassir takes us through the decade-long journey of translating science fiction into surgical reality. Beyond biotech, this episode dives deep into the future of academia, AI, and leadership. Nassir unpacks why universities must rethink how they reward innovation, why intellectual humility is essential for progress ("strong opinions, loosely held"), and how integrity and self-awareness shape great leaders. Whether you're a scientist, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and humanity, this conversation will leave you inspired to build what's next. Learn more about Nassir Mokarram: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nassir-mokarram-5b966017/ Mentioned in this episode: Biolocity (Georgia Tech x Emory): https://biolocity.gatech.edu/ Investment: The Last Liberal Art by Robert Hagstrom: https://amzn.to/3WCJmZT Golden Goose Award – Celebrating basic research that transforms society. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/ Nature Materials – Journal where the Tumor Monorail research was published: https://www.nature.com/nmat/ BBC Article: "Tumor Monorail" – Coverage of the research. https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/tumour-monorail-on-the-fast-track-for-human-trials About Angela: Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in the creation of exceptional companies and teams. She serves as the Director of Biolocity and is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of both The AGN Group and the Recovery Advocate Network. Previously, she held the position of Chief Operations Officer at Aetos Imaging, RenovoRx, and Florence Healthcare. With a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Angela has a proven track record of successfully navigating the FDA, leading diverse teams, prioritizing the needs of customers and patients, and building exceptional companies. Angela shares her lessons learned around the country in keynote speeches, coaching, and team-building workshops. Learn more about Angela at www.AngelaGillNelms.com. About The AGN Group: At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. We offer keynote and panel speaking, leadership and team-building workshops, fractional and management consulting, brand and storytelling services. Email us at [email protected] to connect. Learn more at www.TheAGNGroup.com. Social Media Channels: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bebravebebadass/podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73Dg8OQ7SqtGtSiCWQUfLB?si=c17c0f1abe29446f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/badass-leaders-podcast-brave-hearts-brave-conversations/id1788987881 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Badass-Leaders-Podcast-Brave-Hearts-Brave-Conversations-Badass-Leaders/B0DS2CQL9V?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2 Want to be a Podcast Guest? If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about the podcast at www.BadassLeadersPodcast.com.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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