Finding Genius Podcast

Quantgene combines deep genomics with AI to detect cancer very early. When you listen, you'll hear Mr. Bhakdi explain: What information they are able to glean from a blood test regarding cancer presence. The difference and benefit of a "liquid biopsy" or blood test compared with a conventional tumor biopsy. How this test is able to recognize mutational expressions despite the heterogeneity of most tumors. Quantgene founder and CEO Jo Bhakdi discusses the company's focus on early cancer detection through blood testing to find its earliest markers. With a human genome sequence software-driven technology that also engages chemistry, machine learning, and laboratory processes, Quantgene is able to sequence and investigate cancer DNA one by one. This increases the accuracy and speed by an exponential degree compared to other detections that were based on protein marker identification. The test can pick up somatic DNA mutations in the blood caused by tumors with a whole new level of precision by detecting individual molecules in cancer DNA. This human genome sequence work is superior to next generation sequencing because it's much more accurate. Quantgene's process can investigate every single DNA copy and eliminate any errors. They aggregated the world's largest data set of tumor DNA and created a matching learning project to answer very specific questions like, what are the smallest number of locations one has to look at to still find any variant of a tumor? They can get a systemic reflection of the tumor and can tell exactly what the tumor is in mutational terms. The data they've generated and continue to generate is completely new in oncology. Future plans include the launch of an early detection product in 2020 called Serenity. A simple blood test done once a year should guide physicians on detecting cancer early. The resulting data set will create much larger data sets ultimately, with a huge data flow to gain full scientific insight. For more information on the company, see https://www.quantgene.com/ For more on the 2020 test release of Serenity, see https://www.quantgene.com/early-cancer-detection

On today's episode, Dr. Price shares his insight and information on a range of fascinating topics, including the following: How microbiota and viruses interact How oral microbes in mice have been shown to produce different phenotypes What purpose is served by each of the two separate lifestyles carried out by viruses in bacteria Whether or not viruses are considered to be alive, and whether or not it matters for Dr. Pride's research aims How bacteriophages might function as antibiotic alternatives The human virome is the collection of all of the viruses in and on the surface of the body. There are trillions of these viruses, and many of them are bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Over the past 15 years or so, there has been a lot of research and effort in trying to understand the function of microbes in the body and how they relate to states of health and disease. At UC San Diego, Associate Director of Microbiology and Associate Professor of Pathology and Medicine, David Pride, is focused specifically on trying to understand how to utilize bacteriophages in a way that will improve human health.

"One of the unanticipated developments that really came from nano is that we evolved from chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, toxicology, and so forth, and we learned to adopt each other's approaches and adopt each other's problems," says Dr. Paul Weiss, UC Presidential Chair, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Distinguished Professor of Material Science & Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He continues by explaining how the communication and collaborative approaches in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology have served the world of microbiome research, and how they might impact other fields of research as well. After developing the BRAIN Initiative under the Obama Administration, Dr. Weiss and his team were asked to lead the technological roadmap effort for the National Microbiome Initiative, which gathered scientists and engineers from around the world with a common goal: to understand what technologies can be used to understand how different species interact in the microbiome of humans, oceans, and soils. Dr. Weiss discusses a number of interesting topics and accomplishments of the Paul Weiss Lab, so tune in for all the details. You will discover: How the BRAIN Initiative laid out which technologies would be necessary for measuring chemical signals in the brain and understanding how neural circuits work How Dr. Weiss' group is trying to address single gene mutation diseases like sickle cell and apply the same approach to cancer immunotherapy How chemical cues and the ability to place functionality is useful in tissue engineering, for example in the creation of an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory periodontal membrane that encourages bone regrowth and controls degradation

Greg Paulsen, Director of Applications Engineering at Xometry (xometry.com), discusses the work they do at Xometry, including an overview of on-demand manufacturing services. Paulsen heads the Applications Engineering team that is responsible for handling special case projects that demand specialized attention to material selection, design-for-manufacturing, and technical engineering resources as well. Paulsen discusses Xometry, and how they came to their company's name. He provides an overview of what they do—making manufacturing easier. He discusses how they have sought to revolutionize the established manufacturing industry by introducing AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning. Their system allows customers to procure parts in one location, yet still take advantage of the talents of thousands of people in a gigantic manufacturing network. He discusses sourcing of parts, technical data packages, communications, and the entire process from start to finish as manufacturers bring all the necessary elements together. But the system is slow, and thus Xometry enhances the entire chain so manufacturers can get pricing quotes and information more efficiently and faster. Paulsen discusses customized manufacturing and set up costs, and as he states, there is a need for high level specification but quantities needed are not as high. He explains how Xometry can help customers find the right suppliers who can meet these specialized needs. Continuing, Paulsen talks about quantities needed, touching on the processes in 3D printing and how improvements can speed up manufacturing times. Paulsen goes on to discuss the feedback customers can get right away after they input their data, and manufacturing/parts needs. As Paulsen states, they seek to create a 'knowledge nucleus' for clients and customers, so they can make all sorts of important decisions that will bring multiple, more efficient technologies to their manufacturing process. Wrapping up, the manufacturing expert details how their solutions help customers to streamline their process for manufacturing. He discusses their typical and atypical clients, and he provides further information on raw goods, milling, and prototypes. In this podcast: 3D printing uses in manufacturing What methods can manufacturers use to speed up their manufacturing times? How can AI make manufacturing more efficient?

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers such as esophageal and stomach cancer are on the rise worldwide, with under-resourced populations being particularly affected. Early detection of GI changes that can lead to cancer requires endoscopy, a procedure that involves the insertion of a thin tube into the body to image the tissues, identify signs of disease, and deliver treatment. When endoscopy is either too expensive or simply unavailable in certain populations, otherwise preventable cancers can emerge. In her work, gastroenterologist and director of the Baylor Global Innovation Center in Houston, TX, Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, has two primary research interests: how to better prevent the development of GI cancers, and how to make early detection and treatment more accessible to underserved populations around the world. In order to address this very issue, Dr. Anandasabapathy and her team have developed an affordable, portable endoscopic tool capable of detecting precancerous cellular changes and acting as the medium through which treatments are delivered. She discusses a range of important issues, including the following: What contributes to the development of the two main types of esophageal cancer What happens to the cells of the esophagus when repeatedly exposed to acid over a period of time Risks associated with taking proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux on a long-term basis How the use of innovative healthcare apps can improve awareness, education, and treatment of GI diseases worldwide

Is natural talent a real thing? Are human beings fundamentally different in that some are born with special capabilities, and others just aren't? How are very high levels of performance attained? And how would the answer to these questions impact who receives access to limited resources? These are a few of the questions that Karl Ericsson has been researching for almost 40 years now. Ericsson joins the podcast to talk about a number of topics in this field of research, including child "prodigies," possible hallmarks of continuous success from childhood into adulthood in a particular domain, savants, in what ways certain abilities might actually be "natural" (or not), and the lack of overall evidence suggesting that genetics play a role in high levels of performance. On today's podcast, you will discover: How purposeful or deliberate practice differs in significant ways from simply "putting in the hours" Why it can be hard to find a good measure of current performance and how to become more successful Learning methods and techniques that foster better performance in different fields Press play for the full conversation, and check out Ericsson's book, Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise.

Ben Atkinson, of the Functional Health podcast (FunctionalHealthInfo.com), is a nutritionist and health enthusiast. In this informative podcast, Ben talks about holistic wellness, functional medicine, and overall holistic health. Ben's podcast, and site, is a complete resource guide for all kinds of important information regarding professional recognition, health events, training, and more—happening across the country—for clinicians in the field, as well as trainees and the public. Ben discusses his background and how he came to be interested in nutrition. As an overweight child, Ben became interested in body building at the age of 16, and this interest led him to learn about high protein diets—low in carbs and low in fat. When he saw fast results he became excited about this power of nutrition and decided to make it a part of his ongoing work. But over time he added in carbs and fats to increase energy, which provided clarity of mind. Taking from everything he learned, he began to see that nutrition was the key to not only how you look and feel, but also to prevent illness and restore health. Ben discusses his intensive studies, and what he learned while gaining his master's. He discusses various modalities and the separations in the medical field, which he states need to come together and be more synchronized in order to best deliver options for good health practices. Ben discusses genes and how they contribute to various health outcomes, and he talks about the different people/cultures around the world and the diets that they exist upon. He discusses allergens, and how to eliminate them, and the various ways we can fine tune our bodies. Continuing, Ben talks about DNA testing, and other methods people can use to learn more about their bodies, markers, and health information. In this podcast: What can we learn from DNA testing? The power of nutrition and good foods for the body How genetics play a role in health

Renowned herbalist and nutritionist Donnie Yance talks about plant-based treatments with a focus on cancer management specifically. When you listen, you'll better understand How plants, by enduring stress during growth, develop compounds that help humans bodies handle their own stress. Why plant medicine can work together with traditional cancer treatments for more effective care, combatting issues such as drug resistance and nutritional deficits. What plant medicine can offer you in terms of tips to live longer through Mederi's five-stage system. Founder, President, Chairman, and Lead Clinician at the Mederi Center, Donnie Yance has been involved in plant medicine for decades. He founded the Natura brand to make high quality botanical medicine. At the Mederi Center, Yance works with cancer patients and their doctors from a quality of life and healthcare perspective under a specific order: first, they focus on the health of the patient with plant medicine to strengthen their healing capacity; then, they assess and alter accordingly the patient's micro environment and how it relates to the disease; and last, they targeting the cancer after identifying its molecular characteristics. Ultimately, the goal is to create a medicinal approach that does the most harm to the unhealthy cells with the least harm to the healthy. Yance uses his extensive knowledge of extracts and botanicals to inhibit the capacity of the cancer cells to build resistant pathways. The Mederi Center also focuses on quality of life, offering tips to live longer with better healthcare. For more, see the Mederi Center web site at https://medericenter.org/as well as a video featuring a Mederi Center patient called "That's Not Your Story" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVu354ujnc. Donnie Yance also has a website and a blog at https://www.donnieyance.com/

Consumer wireless broadband connection uses better technology than the industrial sector. Mr. Kantor explains why and how Ondas is changing this through software defined radio projects and other technologies. When you listen, you'll hear: Why consumer and industrial networks can't work with the same technology for wireless broadband connections. Why improvements in communication technology for first responders and electric companies will help consumer networks function in times of emergencies as well. How this technology comes from "licensed radio frequencies" and why that makes a difference. President, CEO, and cofounder of Ondas Networks, Stewart Kantor, discusses "mission critical IOT" (internet of other things) for the industrial sector. Ondas focuses on network connectivity for the industrial sector, including utility, natural gas, transportation, and commercial drone companies. He explains that the technology in use by industrial companies has not been upgraded as it has for consumers because of a long list of challenges such as distance, cost, and data needs. Ondas is working on this upgrade through multiple means from software defined radio projects to specialized types of automation fitting the large geographical and upstream data needs. Mr. Kantor discusses the ways in which these vulnerabilities played out in the California wildfires of 2019 and how his company is developing technology that could improve the situation from multiple angles. He describes what "licensed radio frequencies" are in terms of these improvements and why wireless broadband connections may never be the same. For more, see www.ondas.com and find links to additional information.

P. Shannon Pendergrast, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Ymir Genomics (ymirgenomics.com), discusses his company's work in biomarker identification techniques. Dr. Pendergrast holds a PhD from the Rutgers University Waksman Institute of Microbiology in Molecular Genetics. He completed his post-doctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. Dr. Pendergrast has over 12 years of experience as a scientist, executive, and entrepreneur. Ymir Genomics seeks to provide new and innovative tools to facilitate the discovery of biomarkers from biofluids, to assist in the ongoing fight against human diseases. Dr. Pendergrast discusses the primary objectives of Ymir Genomics. Dr. Pendergrast talks in detail about their accomplishments and discoveries, including their efficient, rapid method for isolating extracellular vesicles, extracellular RNA, and/or extracellular protein directly from urine samples. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived vesicles that can be released via different cell types, including hepatic stellate cells, hepatocytes, and immune cells in normal as well as pathological conditions. The science researcher CSO discusses how they compare proteins using mass spectrometry, and how they look at the data. He talks in detail about their work studying liver-specific vesicles, exosomes, stability issues, and more. He discusses their processes in detail, discussing how they work with structures, proteins, RNA, etc. Among the many important offerings Ymir delivers, they can also provide extracellular vesicle isolation protocol and bioinformatics protocol to discover biomarkers for prostate and bladder cancer. Dr. Pendergrast wraps up by discussing their current and future work. In this podcast: What can we learn from extracellular vesicles? What can biomarkers tell us? An overview of biomarker identification techniques