In this episode of Precision Medicine Made Simple, we’re joined by Dr. Jeff Gulcher, co-founder of Decode Genetics and current leader at Galateo Bio. Dr. Gulcher shares his vast experience in the field of genomics and precision medicine, covering everything from polygenic risk scores (PRS) to the challenges of integrating diverse genetic data into predictive healthcare.

Dr. Gulcher takes us back to the early days of genetic research with Decode Genetics, where his team pioneered genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Iceland. He dives into the development of PRS and the challenges of improving disease prediction models, especially by ensuring they are accurate across diverse populations.

In addition, Dr. Gulcher discusses his personal journey with prostate cancer and how polygenic risk scores helped predict his elevated risk at an early age. The episode also covers how genomics, when combined with other clinical data, can revolutionize preventative healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are essential in predicting the risk for diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
• The development of PRS is revolutionizing preventative healthcare, especially when there's no family history.
• Ancestry-aware PRS models are crucial, as current models are mainly based on European populations.
• Dr. Gulcher’s personal experience with prostate cancer demonstrates the power of early genetic screening.
• Combining genetic data with clinical risk factors can provide a more accurate disease risk prediction.
• The future of PRS lies in the integration of AI and better data representation across diverse populations.

In This Episode: 

• [00:00] – Introduction to Dr. Jeff Gulcher and the significance of polygenic risk scores
• [05:00] – Dr. Gulcher’s background and the founding of Decode Genetics
• [10:00] – How polygenic risk scores work and their application in predicting diseases
• [15:00] – The challenge of making PRS models work for non-European populations
• [20:00] – Dr. Gulcher's personal story: how early genetic testing saved his life
• [25:00] – The role of genetic data in determining the risk for common diseases like prostate cancer
• [30:00] – The importance of combining genetic risk with lifestyle factors in disease prevention
• [35:00] – The potential of AI in refining polygenic risk score models
• [40:00] – The challenges of integrating genetic data into real-world clinical practice
• [45:00] – How diverse genetic data will help improve precision medicine globally

Notable Quotes:

• “Polygenic risk scores help us understand how much our genes contribute to disease, but they are just one piece of the puzzle.” – Dr. Jeff Gulcher
• “Genetics isn’t destiny, but it’s an important part of the story, especially when combined with other risk factors.” – Dr. Jeff Gulcher
• “We need to build more inclusive data sets so that precision medicine works for everyone, not just for those of European ancestry.” – Dr. Jeff Gulcher
• “Personalized healthcare is about understanding each individual’s unique genetic makeup and how that impacts their risk for disease.” – Dr. Jeff Gulcher
• “Polygenic risk scores are not diagnostic, but they can offer a more accurate prediction for individuals at risk.” – Dr. Jeff Gulcher

Our Guest

Dr. Jeff Gulcher is a co-founder of Decode Genetics and the Chief Scientific Officer at Galateo Bio. With over 200 publications and years of pioneering work in genetics, he has been instrumental in shaping the field of genomic medicine. Dr. Gulcher’s current work at Galateo Bio focuses on building a global biobank with diverse genetic data to advance precision medicine, particularly for underserved populations.

Resource and Links

Dr. Jeff Gulcher

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-gulcher-274912a
• https://galatea.bio/

Taylor Cu

• https://precision-medicine-made.captivate.fm/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorcu
• https://www.instagram.com/taylor_cu

Dr. William Stanford

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-stanford-md-phd-facp

Sponsored by: Biography Health

This episode is sponsored by Biography Health — where DNA-powered healthcare is designed just for you. Biography Health is a HIPAA-compliant precision medicine platform that equips providers with AI-driven recommendations powered by your genetics, health history, and clinical insights — all while keeping data private, secure, and independent from large EHR systems.

If you're a provider ready to bring precision medicine into your practice, visit BiographyHealth.com to learn more.

Or, if you're a patient who wants your doctor to explore this, point them our way — we’ll help them bring personalized healthcare to life.