How AI Is Breaking the Rules of Biology | Dr. Priscilla Chan, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative — Silicon Valley Girl Podcast

Priscilla Chan November 7, 2025 31 MIN

About the Guest

Priscilla Chan

Co-founder and Co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Dr. Priscilla Chan is a physician, philanthropist, and co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which she established alongside her husband Mark Zuckerberg. She trained as a pediatrician and has dedicated her post-clinical career to advancing science and education through large-scale philanthropic investment. CZI is at the forefront of combining frontier AI with biological research to help cure, prevent, and manage all diseases.

In this episode of the Silicon Valley Girl Podcast, Marina Mogilko interviews Priscilla Chan, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Marina Mogilko interviews Dr. Priscilla Chan about how the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is using AI and frontier science to transform medicine at the cellular level. Priscilla explains the mission behind building virtual cell models — AI systems capable of simulating biological life — and how this technology could accelerate drug discovery and enable personalized medicine. She also shares the personal clinical moment that shifted her focus from treating disease to preventing it.

Key Takeaways

Priscilla and Mark Zuckerberg have committed 99% of their wealth to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, funding efforts like Biohubs and virtual cell research.
CZI is building the world's first virtual cell models — AI systems that simulate life at the cellular level to speed up drug discovery and reduce clinical trial risk.
Rather than targeting a single disease, CZI deliberately builds tools and infrastructure for all scientists, multiplying the impact across many research areas.
Priscilla describes a pivotal moment in the clinic that shifted her perspective from reactive medicine to a prevention-first approach to healthcare.
Within the next five years, virtual cell technology could begin transforming patient care by making personalized medicine more accessible and practical.

00:00 Teaser 1:10 Marina shares why Priscilla’s openness about miscarriage meant so much to her 2:35 Why Priscilla and Mark decided to start the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative 3:24 The mission of SZI 4:40 10 years ago VS now. How do people react 6:56 Priscilla’s personal story: why she turned from medicine to biology and investing in science 9:18 Why CZI focuses on building tools for all scientists instead of tackling a single disease 10:38 Why they’re building virtual cells 11:17 What exactly is a virtual cell? 11:52 How close are we to creating a full, natural virtual cell? 12:23 What this means for patients — how healthcare could change in the next five years 13:40 Which common diseases could be cured with the help of virtual cells 14:38 The first diseases likely to be cured with AI-driven biology 16:11 Looking ten years ahead: what breakthroughs to expect 17:12 How mapping cells accelerated from 100 million to 1 billion — and why speed matters 19:50 What is the virtual immune system? 20:38 The sensor that reads immune-cell communication — how the body “talks” to itself 21:37 2040 - what medicine could look like 23:34 What keeps Priscilla up at night 23:58 Her advice for future scientists and doctors 24:29 The new role of physicians working alongside AI 26:00 When Priscilla’s mission becomes deeply personal 27:56 Which diseases she believes will be cured in our lifetime 29:31 When Priscilla will feel her mission is fulfilled 29:46 Balancing work and raising kids

Transcript not available for this episode.