This week on BioTech Nation, we talk with Dr. Eben Kirksey about the ethical issues behind CRISPR, the gene-editing tool that made headlines with the birth of the first “CRISPR babies” in China. Dr. Kirksey shares his experiences investigating this controversial experiment and highlights the deeper questions it raises. He stresses the importance of public dialogue, urging us to consider carefully who benefits from such powerful technologies as we shape the future of gene editing. 

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Daniel Kraft talks about how AI can personalize health advice using data from devices like your smartwatch. He explains how this technology can help people make better choices to stay healthy and avoid major illnesses. Dr. Kraft envisions AI as a personal health coach, offering real-time tips and reminders tailored to each person's needs.

Dr. Avak Kahvejian, Founding CEO of Cellarity, explains their new approach to discovering drugs by using AI to look at how cells behave as a whole, rather than focusing on one part of the problem. This approach could lead to faster development of better treatments, such as a pill for sickle cell disease.

Brian Culley, CEO of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, talks about a new approach to treating diseases called whole cell replacement therapy - which replaces damaged cells with new ones. Lineage is focusing this new therapy on dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, through their collaboration with Genentech..

Dr. Daniel Kraft, Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent introduces "multimodal medicine", combining data like proteomics, wearables, and imaging for early disease detection. He stresses the importance of both advanced diagnostics and listening to patients' stories for effective healthcare.

Dr. Antony Taubman, the former Director of the Intellectual Property Division at the World Trade Organization, discusses the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the rapid development and distribution of 15 billion doses of Covid vaccines, and how international intellectual property rules influenced these efforts. 

Part II - We continue our discussion with Dr. Leroy Hood and Dr. Nathan Price about the subject of their book "The Age of Scientific Wellness", delving into the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and the ability to mine deep data to deliver hyper-personalized recommendations at a scale never before possible. 

Dr. Leroy Hood and Dr. Nathan Price delve into the subject of their book "The Age of Scientific Wellness", which highlights the advancements in science that enable the prediction and personalization of healthcare based on an individual's wellness level, and the potential advantages of early diagnosis and treatment of illnesses

Dr. Michael Weickert, CEO of Pacylex Pharmaceuticals, about their once-daily pill in trials now for cancer treatment - it’s already showing early indicators of success in stopping cancer growth in not just one, but a number of cancers.

Dr. Robert Coleman, CEO of Codagenix, discusses their innovative approach to virus engineering, which includes developing a nasally-delivered COVID-19 vaccine that targets multiple virus proteins for broader protection. Codagenix's "rational virus design" method creates genetically stable vaccines and therapeutics, reducing the risk of harmful mutations. Their work also extends to vaccines for other diseases and viral-based cancer treatments, with the potential to significantly advance global health.