Mendelspod Podcast

Grail and Verily Alum on Billion Dollar Startup Bringing AI to Drug Development: A Discussion with Vik Bajaj


Listen Later

Vik Bajaj is bullish on genomics in the age of artificial intelligence. A pioneering figure in biotech—co-founder of Verily and Grail—Bajaj now leads Xaira Therapeutics, where he's exploring how AI can revolutionize drug development. In today’s episode, he joins Theral to break down how the intersection of AI and genomics is unlocking new possibilities in drug development, with the potential to accelerate every stage of drug discovery.

Bajaj explains that at Xaira, machine learning and advanced modeling enable drug development to happen almost entirely in silico. By simulating biological systems and predicting drug interactions, AI could dramatically cut the time and cost of traditional methods.

However, there are still hurdles, especially the need for more robust genomic datasets to better understand causality. Bajaj discusses how Xaira Therapeutics is addressing this gap, driven by an ambitious vision to harness AI for breakthroughs that could reshape the field.

What are the most exciting applications of AI in biotech today? And what does Bajaj see as the biggest challenges ahead? We even ask for his thoughts on unified information theory—a concept that could integrate biology, AI, and computational science for a more comprehensive approach to human health.

Join us as we take a broad look into what’s happening now in AI-driven biotech with one of the field’s leading innovators.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Mendelspod PodcastBy Theral Timpson

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

31 ratings


More shows like Mendelspod Podcast

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,260 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,462 Listeners

a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,034 Listeners

The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

The Tim Ferriss Show

16,101 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,202 Listeners

The Long Run with Luke Timmerman by Timmerman Report

The Long Run with Luke Timmerman

122 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

11,772 Listeners

The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet

The Journal.

5,937 Listeners

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

5,397 Listeners

Business Of Biotech by Ben Comer

Business Of Biotech

88 Listeners

BioCentury This Week by BioCentury

BioCentury This Week

29 Listeners

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) by Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

88 Listeners

Raising Health by Andreessen Horowitz, a16z Bio + Health

Raising Health

147 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,237 Listeners

Crucible Moments by Sequoia Capital

Crucible Moments

92 Listeners