What determines how cells become what they are meant to be?

In this episode of The Curious Mindset, we sit down with Drs. Iva Greenwald and Gary Struhl, recipients of the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award, recognized for their pioneering discoveries in the Notch signalling pathway—a fundamental system that allows cells to communicate with one another during development.

Their work transformed our understanding of how cells determine their fate, organize into tissues, and develop into complex organisms. These discoveries have had far-reaching implications for developmental biology and medicine, including our understanding of cancer, developmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Beyond the science, this conversation explores the human side of discovery: collaboration, skepticism, mentorship, and what it means to dedicate a lifetime to curiosity-driven research. As longtime collaborators—and partners in life—Iva and Gary also reflect on how science and personal connection became deeply intertwined throughout their careers.