Reducing Disease Risk through Gene Editing – a Conversation with Dr. Kirin Munusuru - Episode 64

On this episode of Living Beyond 120™, cardiologist Kiran Musunuru joins Mark and Dr. Gladden to discuss his study of genetics and cardiovascular disease. They talk about "genetic superheroes" who have certain genes partially or fully turned off in their system, which appears to benefit their cardiovascular health. By isolating these genes and better understanding their function, there is potential for creating medical treatments for people who might be otherwise prone to certain diseases.

Dr. Musunuru discusses some exciting developments in the research he's been working on with gene editing. He also shares the top three things he believes people should do to live longer, better lives.

About the Guest:

KIRAN MUSUNURU, MD, PhD, MPH, ML, author of The CRISPR Generation: The Story of the World's First Gene-Edited Babies, is one of the world's leading experts in genetics and gene editing, is an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Genetics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Musunuru studied and trained at Harvard University, Cornell University Medical College, The Rockefeller University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the genetics of heart disease and seeks to identify genetic factors that protect against disease and use them to develop therapies to protect the entire population. In his recent work he has been using gene editing to create a one-shot "vaccination" against heart attacks, the leading cause of death worldwide.

Follow him on Twitter: @kiranmusunuru.