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Dominik Lysek, CEO of PharmaTrail, explains how blockchain technology can solve trust issues in clinical trials by providing an incorruptible audit trail that verifies data integrity. This solution could significantly accelerate the time required for regulatory approvals, partnerships, and acquisitions, ultimately getting treatments to patients faster.

• Blockchain provides a complete, unchangeable audit trail where data can only be added, never deleted
• Most clinical data (99.9%) has integrity, but proving this to outsiders is time-consuming and costly
• PharmaTrail uses private blockchain technology alongside traditional databases for optimal security and functionality
• Blockchain verification can maintain momentum through due diligence processes, preventing deals from stalling
• The technology creates trust by enabling independent verification of data integrity
• Current systems face challenges with data credibility that delay patient access to treatments
• Private blockchains protect patient data while still providing the benefits of immutable record-keeping

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Dr. Shervin Molayem shares his journey of innovation in dentistry, starting with his discovery of a connection between periodontal disease and COVID-19 severity that became the world's most-read dental article of 2020. He discusses groundbreaking technologies including AI-powered diagnostic tools and a revolutionary non-surgical treatment that regenerates bone tissue around teeth.

• Discovered connection between gum disease and COVID-19 severity through interleukin-6 levels
• Developing Trust AI, a dental co-pilot that gives practitioners instant access to research, bridging the 17-year gap between research and practice
• AI dental diagnostics can detect 37% more pathology than human eyes by distinguishing 250 shades of gray versus only 30
• Created non-surgical periodontal regeneration technology using piezoelectric nanoparticles that kill bacteria and stimulate bone growth
• Oral infections affect overall health with links to heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease
• Clinical research needs greater transparency to eliminate bias, potentially using blockchain technology to make science "fraud-proof"
• The volume of research is doubling every three years, making AI essential for clinicians to keep pace

You can find Dr. Shervin Molayem on LinkedIn or Instagram under "DentalSurgeon," or try his free dental chatbot at shervin@trustdentistryai.com.

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Chris Wood discusses how early diagnostics of lung cancer through artificial intelligence and medical imaging can lead to better survival rates through early intervention.

• Lung cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined, with approximately 70% of cases caught at late stages
• The National Lung Screening Trial showed that screening high-risk populations reduced mortality by 20%
• I-ELCAP research demonstrated an 80% twenty-year survival rate for early-stage cancers detected with CT scans and treated surgically
• Preventive healthcare is shifting from general advice to personalized screening protocols based on individual risk factors
• AI applications in medical imaging now assist with detection, characterization, and triage of disease
• Lung biopsies have a 22% complication rate, making non-invasive diagnostic methods particularly valuable
• AI-powered imaging can provide additional information to help clinicians decide whether to perform biopsies
• In clinical trials, AI imaging analysis could improve patient selection and help trials reach endpoints more efficiently
• Medical imaging gives patients visual information about their bodies that can motivate healthier lifestyle changes
• The future of healthcare will likely focus on improving quality of life rather than simply extending lifespan

If you have a suggestion for a guest for our show, reach out to Sam Parnell or Ivanna Rosendal on LinkedIn. You can find more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or in any other player.

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Building high-performing teams in life sciences requires understanding how neurodiversity can be an advantage and designing work systems that enable different brain types to collaborate effectively.

• A high-performing team continues to function when everything around it has fallen apart
• Star players can become crutches that mask underlying team issues
• Life sciences faces unique challenges: financial pressures, outdated technology, layoffs, and pervasive lack of trust
• Teams often develop learned helplessness after years of having initiatives rejected
• Only 10-15% of people are needed to drive revolutionary change in an organisation
• Traditional management approaches fail because they don't account for individual differences
• Standard practices like the "feedback sandwich" often backfire depending on neurotype
• Creating concrete team habits that normalize desired behaviours works better than abstract training
• Tracking waste can give teams agency and hope while improving processes
• Many come to life sciences wanting to make a difference—reconnecting to this purpose is powerful

If you'd like to learn more about building high-performing teams in life sciences, reach out to Nehama Katan at wickedproblemwizards.com or find Rajesh Anandan at team-x.ai.

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Sebastian Andruszczak, Chief Growth Officer at Holisticon (part of the Nexer Group), brings fresh perspective to the conversation around generative AI adoption in pharmaceutical companies. Drawing from his unique background in sales, marketing, and technology, Sebastian cuts through the hype to address fundamental challenges that prevent successful AI implementation in life sciences.

The conversation reveals a critical insight often overlooked in the rush to adopt new technology: without proper data governance, organizations risk "scaling disaster." Sebastian walks us through the specific challenges pharmaceutical companies face - from ever-changing data sources creating inconsistent AI responses, to linguistic variations causing subtle differences in interpretation across global teams. These issues become magnified when implementing AI at enterprise scale, potentially undermining the very efficiencies these technologies promise.

Sebastian outlines a methodical, four-part approach to building effective AI systems: starting with data governance fundamentals, then data engineering, followed by traditional machine learning, and finally generative AI applications. This structured approach has proven successful for companies like Beringer Ingelheim, whose ambitious knowledge management system has already saved one million working hours by processing over 800,000 documents across 200 departments in 70+ countries.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Sebastian's candid assessment of the industry's current state. While acknowledging the transformative potential of strategic AI initiatives in drug discovery and knowledge management, he challenges the fear-driven implementation happening in many organizations. His "magic wand" wish for the industry reflects this pragmatism: focus first on data quality - a decades-old challenge that finally has the perfect justification for investment.

Whether you're directly involved in pharmaceutical technology implementation or interested in how AI adoption affects life sciences advancement, this episode provides practical insights on building systems that deliver genuine value rather than just following technological trends. Connect with Sebastian on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

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Why do we wait until we're severely unwell before seeking help? In this thought-provoking episode, I'm joined by Eva Papadopoulou, a mental health professional and expert in digital and AI-enabled healthcare solutions, to explore the transformative potential of preventative mental healthcare.

Eva reveals the stark reality of our current healthcare systems - less than 10% of budgets are allocated to prevention, despite evidence showing preventative approaches lead to better outcomes and cost savings. Using dental care as a compelling example, she illustrates how cultural shifts can transform how we approach healthcare. "We take care of our mind and body before it breaks, not after," Eva explains, offering a vision where mental wellbeing is nurtured proactively rather than repaired reactively.

We delve into key areas ripe for preventative intervention, including youth mental health (with most conditions developing before age 25) and workplace wellbeing, where burnout and absenteeism cost businesses billions annually. Technology emerges as a powerful enabler through apps, wearables, and AI systems that can detect early warning signs and deliver personalized support at scale. Eva emphasizes that successful health tech must be co-designed with users and integrated seamlessly into clinical pathways, while better health education is essential to help people interpret their health data meaningfully.

The conversation culminates with Eva's powerful vision for healthcare's future: shifting from short-term thinking to long-term investment that prioritizes prevention over crisis management. "Invest in the future instead of firefighting in the present," she urges, inviting listeners to imagine a society where understanding and maintaining mental wellbeing becomes as routine as brushing our teeth. Connect with Eva on LinkedIn to continue this important conversation about transforming healthcare through prevention.

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Rob Freistat, President of Uncommon Cures, discusses how clinical trials are transforming to accelerate drug development and ensure patients receive treatments faster, particularly in the rare disease space.

• Current market uncertainty and investment challenges in biotech, especially for rare disease research
• Approximately two-thirds of clinical trial processes add no value and aren't required by regulations
• Many clinical trial failures occur not because drugs don't work but because trials can't recruit enough patients
• Companies often treat development phases as "islands" rather than planning for commercial success from the beginning
• Rare disease economics require greater efficiency since development costs must be recovered from much smaller patient populations
• Reviving shelved drug candidates represents a potentially valuable opportunity
• Patients should have greater input in trial design and outcome measures that matter to them
• Better communication between sponsors and regulators could significantly improve drug development

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Jonathan Hill takes us on a fascinating journey through the cutting-edge world of DNA sequencing and its revolutionary potential for early disease detection. As both an academic professor at Brigham Young University and co-founder of Wasatch BioLabs, Hill shares how third-generation sequencing technologies are transforming our ability to identify diseases years before symptoms appear.

The conversation centers on a groundbreaking approach using native methylation calling—a method that identifies specific chemical modifications to DNA—to detect neurodegeneration in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Hill explains how these diseases damage the brain for up to a decade before symptoms emerge, creating a critical window where treatment could be most effective. By detecting the unique methylation signatures of dying neurons from cell-free DNA in the bloodstream, Wasatch BioLabs' technology aims to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

What makes this platform particularly powerful is its versatility. The same technology that identifies dying neurons can be adapted to detect signatures from other dying cell types, potentially offering early diagnostics for autoimmune diseases, various cancers, and other conditions—all from a simple blood draw.

Beyond the science, Hill reveals his passion for nurturing the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs. He's created a unique ecosystem at BYU where students with innovative ideas receive the mentorship, lab facilities, and business connections needed to translate academic discoveries into real-world applications. Drawing parallels to the tech boom of Silicon Valley, Hill emphasizes that biotech is experiencing its moment of explosive innovation, though with unique regulatory and infrastructure challenges.

The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion on regulatory hurdles in life sciences and how streamlining these processes—while maintaining safety standards—could accelerate innovation and save countless lives. For anyone fascinated by the intersection of cutting-edge science, entrepreneurship, and healthcare transformation, this conversation offers an inspiring glimpse into the future of medicine.

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