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A Podcast Decoding AI in Biotech and Beyond.

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Our Podcast

AI on the Hill is a podcast exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clinical research. Designed to inform and inspire, the show brings together thought leaders, innovators, and regulatory voices to discuss frontier developments in AI-driven drug discovery, clinical trials, and health tech innovations.

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Our Host

René Bastón is the host of AI on the Hill and a Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital. With 25+ years in venture creation, digital health, data science, and innovation strategy, he’s co-founded startups, taught for the NSF, and led initiatives at Columbia University and the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub. René holds degrees from Columbia and brings deep expertise in bridging science, business, and policy.

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Our Guest

  • Professional portrait of an Asian man with glasses, wearing a dark blazer and gray shirt, standing indoors with a blurred background.

    Tommy Tang

    Bioinformatics Leader at AstraZeneca

  • A young man with dark hair and glasses wearing a black suit, light blue dress shirt, and striped tie, smiling against a gray background.

    Dean Zheng

    Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer

  • A professional headshot of an Asian man with short black hair, glasses, and a light blue checkered dress shirt smiling against a gray background.

    Yaoyu Yang

    Founder & CEO of Cypher AI

  • A man with a bald head wearing a beige blazer and black shirt, standing indoors with a ceiling and wall in the background.

    David A. Hall

    Managing Director at AKT Health

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Tommy Tang is the guest on AI on the Hill and the Director of Bioinformatics at AstraZeneca. He leads innovative cancer research using epigenomics and data science to discover new treatments. He’s the author of From Cell Line to Command Line and the creator of Chatomics, his YouTube channel dedicated to making complex bioinformatics accessible to everyone.

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Dean Zheng is the guest on AI on the Hill and a Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer. With over 8 years in the clinical trial industry, he has supported 100+ regulatory submissions across oncology, CNS, rare diseases, and more. From DJ booths and investment banking to pharma operations, Dean offers a unique perspective on efficiency, collaboration, and data quality. Today, he’s helping integrate AI into trial processes to cut timelines, boost quality, and deliver life-saving treatments faster.

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Yaoyu Yang is the guest on AI on the Hill and the Founder & CEO of Cypher AI, where he’s building the world’s first AI software engineer for scientists. With over a decade bridging biology and software, Yaoyu developed Aquarium at the University of Washington, turning lab protocols into executable code. At Ginkgo Bioworks, he built platforms for synthetic biology and earned the Redwood Award for innovation. Now at Cypher, he’s reimagining research with AI that makes science faster and smarter.

Highlights from AI on the Hill

  • To me, AI is just part of the toolset now — like pipettes or a microscope. You don’t fear it, you learn how to use it well.

    Tommy Tang

    Bioinformatics Leader at AstraZeneca

  • AI is not replacing, it’s actually evolving our way of working.

    Dean Zheng

    Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer

  • The most powerful scientists in the future will code ideas, not commands.

    Yaoyu Yang

    Founder & CEO of Cypher AI

Co-produced by Hill Research and the Tech Impact Foundation.

Hill Research drives the advancement of AI in clinical trials, developing Generative AI solutions that optimize trial design, streamline operations, and improve regulatory outcomes, enabling faster delivery of life-changing therapies.

Tech Impact Foundation advances the application of AI, biotechnology, and educational technology to improve human lives, promote knowledge sharing, and foster social equity through STEM education, public engagement, and investment in breakthrough research.

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