Shows
The Biotech FuturistPlay: Chimpanzees, Bonobos, Uncertainty, Sex, Animal SocietiesHow about play in animals?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss outstanding research in ethology with Elisabetta Palagi from the University of Pisa, who has been a leader in Primatology for over 30 years, and, among several successes, was recently awarded the Animal Behavior Society Fellowship Award for her outstanding research.
In this episode, we explore animal play behavior, focusing on social play. We examine its definition and functions across different animal groups, gaining insights into its diverse manifestations. We delve into the methodologies used by ethologists to study play and it...2023-06-0652 min
The Biotech FuturistComputers Now Know Gene Networks: Transfer Learning And Massive Single Cell Transcriptomes Predict Bio | Christina TheodorisWhat if we had a ChatGPT for transcriptomics, what if we could predict how the gene network is changed in diseases for which we have scarce molecular data?
Today I have the immense pleasure to discuss transformers in single-cell transcriptomics to make huge predictions about gene modulation with Christina Theodoris, who today first-authored a paper in Nature entitled “Transfer learning enables predictions in network biology”. Christina has recently started her own lab at Gladstone Institutes to study gene networks with a focus on the heart and cardiovascular disease, after working at Harvard, the Broad, and Children’s.
...2023-05-311h 14
The Biotech FuturistIs It Possible To Predict Lifespan From A Biopsy? | Alessandro CellerinoWhat if told you that your lifespan is probably predictable from a biopsy?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss state-of-the-art epigenetic clocks for biological age and lifespan estimation to develop interventions that slow down aging with my former mentor Professor Alessandro Cellerino. Prof Cellerino is a world leader in aging and longevity research. He is an Associate Professor and Research group leader at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa and the Leibniz Institute on Aging.
Prof Cellerino and I discuss how he and his collaborators established quickly and with great success Nothobranchius furzeri, Killifish...2023-05-081h 02
The Biotech FuturistGene Editing Meets Nanomedicine: A Trustworthy Friendship? | Vittoria RaffaWhat if gene editing went on a date with nanomedicine?
Today I am lucky to spend some time talking to my former mentor Vittoria Raffa about all the fundamental molecular biology of gene editing, and the open challenges to translate CRISPR-based technologies to the clinic. Will nanomedicine and synthetic biology be the right partners for gene editing to make it? Vittoria is an Associate Professor of Nanomedicine and Molecular Biology at the University of Pisa, and she’s been a leader in nanomedicine since a very young age.
Vittoria and I start from her experience as...2023-05-011h 00
The Biotech FuturistIndustrial Biotech, SynBio, Yeasts, And Outreach | Stefano BertacchiWhat’s the revolution of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in Industrial Biotech?
Welcome to the latest episode of The Biotech Futurist, where we drive around the fascinating field of industrial biotechnology. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stefano Bertacchi, a passionate researcher and EU bioeconomy ambassador. Stefano shares with us his journey, from his interest in microorganisms and yeasts to his current research in industrial biotechnology.
Stefano introduces us to the main themes, goals, and research directions in the field of industrial biotechnology. We explore the biotech story behind everyday products that we te...2023-04-241h 19
The Biotech FuturistAbleism and Genetic Counseling [Bonus episode] | Jenna PucelI am delighted to host Jenna Pucel for a short bonus episode on ableism, a urgent topic in bioethics, strongly connected with this week's theme, genetic counseling. Excited to keep having conversations with Jenna and people like her!
2023-04-2021 min
The Biotech FuturistA Day In The Life Of A Genetic Counselor: From Genetic Technologies To Ethics | Tori SuslovitchWhat if we had non-directive, unbiased genetic counseling all over the world?
Today I have fun talking to Victoria (Tori) Suslovitch, friend and coworker from the Yu Lab in Boston. Tori is a genetic counselor, and she has been supporting the logistical, educational, and emotional needs of patients and families enrolled in translational genomics studies for a long time.
Tori and I try to give an exhaustive overview of the world of genetic counseling, starting from her daily experience in the world of interventional genomics for ultrarare diseases. Tori moves between history, definitions, technologies, ethics...2023-04-171h 14
The Biotech FuturistThe Scientist Who Records The Computations Of Cells | Adam CohenWhat if we could record several molecular events happening inside cells along time?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss an outstanding tool to record molecular events in time with Professor Adam Cohen. Adam is a Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Physics at Harvard, he has countless academic and extra-academic achievements that led to his MIT Technology Review nomination to the 35 world's top innovators under 35 in 2007.
Adam and I chat about Adam’s story as an interdisciplinary scientist, dating back to high school, when he replicated a scanning tunneling microscope by himself. We discuss the too...2023-04-101h 01
The Biotech FuturistClinical Trials In Liquid Biopsy For The Diagnosis, Monitoring, And Stratification of Cancer Patients | Chiara CremoliniWhat if we could detect a tumor, monitor for metastasis, and track the response to therapeutics from a simple blood draw instead of an invasive tissue biopsy?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss state-of-the-art liquid biopsy techniques with Professor Chiara Cremolini, who I met virtually during my time in Pisa. Chiara is an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology at the University of Pisa, where she performs translational research, devoted to the care of patients with malignant gastrointestinal cancers.
Chiara and I discuss the revolution brought about by the introduction of liquid biopsy in the...2023-04-031h 13
The Biotech FuturistTrends in Aging and Rejuvenation Research | Eleanor SheekeyWhat if we could treat aging as any other disease?
Today I am excited to meet Eleanor Sheekey on my podcast. Eleanor is a PhD student at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, where she focuses on p53 biology. Eleanor has a beautiful YouTube channel where she distills the most innovative research in aging with a creative and engaging rhythm, The Sheekey Science Show.
Eleanor and I go through some of the most promising trends in aging research (2022). This is not a technical episode, but rather an accessible introduction to longevity research. For most of...2023-03-2753 min
The Biotech FuturistThe Genomic Surgeon And The Rise Of Interventional Genomics | Winston YanWhat if therapeutics for genetic diseases became as routine as transplant surgery?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss the rise of interventional genomics with the very unique Winston Yan. Winston did his PhD in the Feng Zhang lab in the very early days of the CRISPR revolution, founded Arbor Biotech, became a leader in the new field of interventional genomics with the N=1 collaborative to bring advanced therapeutics to patients with ultrarare diseases, and recently graduated from Harvard Medical School.
Winston and I discuss the rise of interventional genomics. We believe that genetic technologies...2023-03-2046 min
The Biotech FuturistAI-Powered Scalable Diagnostics For Any Virus | Ben ZhangWhat if we had rapid and reliable COVID tests since the very early days of the pandemics?
Today I have the pleasure to discuss state-of-the-art diagnostics for infectious diseases with my friend Ben Zhang. Ben is a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He has done prize-winning work in the Pardis Sabeti lab on CRISPR-based diagnostic for flu and COVID.
Ben and I discuss the importance of viral tests that are easy to use and do not require expensive technology and expertise, to foster widespread home testing immediately as a new pathogen begins circulating, also...2023-03-1358 min
The Biotech FuturistUnderstanding Minimally Verbal Individuals With Machine Learning | Kristy JohnsonWhat if we could understand and talk to minimally verbal individuals thanks to machine learning?
Today I have the luck to meet the pure energy of Kristy Johnson. After a PhD at the MIT Media Lab, Kristy is now working at Boston Children’s Hospital, but she’s also a mother, and her first child has a terrible ultrarare disease called MEF2C haploinsufficiency. Kristy is a versatile scientist and she has devoted her research to minimally verbal and non-verbal children to help them communicate.
Kristy and I discuss her personal story, the several research fiel...2023-03-0655 min
The Biotech FuturistThe Biotech Futurist Podcast - Out March 6th!The Biotech Futurist podcast aims to build fundamental knowledge and trust in emerging research in the biomedical disciplines. I interview a guest every week, exploring topics such as CRISPR therapeutics, neuroscience, rare diseases, machine learning in biology, omics, oncology, longevity. You can imagine to be out with me and my expert guests for a friendly conversation, having fun as much as I've had recording this podcast. Thanks for listening to The Biotech Futurist!
2023-03-0202 min