Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody,
fascinating chat today at the
intersection of AI and genomicsand precision health, with a
true innovator in the field, drKapoor.
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Not bad.
Thank you so much for having meon your show.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Well, thanks for
being here, Really intrigued by
your work and mission.
Before that, maybe introduceyourself a cardiologist, an
entrepreneur, now an AI genomicsinnovator.
How do I describe you and yourwork?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, you can
describe, as someone tells me,
I'm a disruptor, so I do disruptthings for the better of the
humanity.
So there are things I do as acardiologist when I start
practicing.
I want to improve healthyoutcomes in Alberta, canada, so
I disrupted how the healthcarewas getting delivered and the
(00:48):
changes were implemented andthey got implemented later on.
Then I saw there were gaps thatexist in genomic space and we
stepped up and provided theknowledge and the research we
invested money in and the timeand effort trying to find a way
how we can improve access tohealthcare based on genomics.
(01:11):
And many people are sufferingand there's a delay of access
and not because of money issue.
It is because people don't havetimely reports coming back to
them the doctors.
If they don't have the reports,how can they take an action?
So a lot of time.
We are doing one glove fit allapproach.
It just doesn't work anymoreinto the DNA.
(01:33):
It could have worked 10 yearsago.
So I'm very passionate about it.
As a cardiologist, preventativemedicine, expert in this area
and also learned about longevitymedicine, I want to understand
how we can delay the onset ofdiseases and how we can truly
provide better care to thepatients.
So that essentially motivatedme to found the company BioAero
(01:57):
and we are proud of the team,what they have achieved so far
in a short period, and I'm superexcited about this field for
the future.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I share your
enthusiasm.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
So what was the aha
moment that led you to launch
BioAero?
Well, the aha moment.
So it all started with theCOVID.
So that would be the story.
We were in the COVID times.
There were challenges, Patientswere suffering and people were
suffering.
The COVID testing PCR reportwas taking them two days, three
days, to get the report to seeif they have a positive or
negative COVID.
(02:33):
We found a technology, alab-based old technology,
converted into hybridized, intoPCR-based, and we started
getting reports in 30 minutes orso versus traditional 90
minutes or three hours it wastaking for the PCR machines.
We understood that the testneeds to be delivered in a
timely manner, so we investedmoney into technology and later
(02:56):
we realized that COVID has manyvariants.
There's Delta, there's Omicron,there's so many coming out.
We start sequencing viruses,understanding the type of
viruses mutating right now inaround our community or globally
.
So from there we realized thatsequencing is a huge gap that
exists in the human genome whichis much more complex than a
(03:17):
single virus genome.
We have to analyze it orsequence it.
So we got the high-performancesequencer machine and my team
did a whole genome sequencing.
I was one of the first ones inmy company to get it done along
with my family.
It took them three months toanalyze the whole genome.
At that time I said you can'twork like this.
(03:39):
The medicine cannot bedelivered like this.
No wonder it's not getting usedbecause taking two three months
to get the report.
My own report took two threemonths for my team to get it
done.
So that's where I traveledaround the globe.
I started understanding howpeople are doing it.
It doesn't matter.
I went to USA, singapore,middle East, europe, uk it
(04:01):
doesn't matter where I went.
Everywhere the same problem thereport was taking two to three
months.
It wasn't just my lab, it isjust how the cumbersome the
process is.
A large amount of data thatneeds to be analyzed.
That clinical report needs tobe generated and manually takes
that long time.
That allowed me to figure outthere is a market gap that
(04:23):
exists.
We are still using oldtechnologies to sequence analyze
the data, so we have to find anew way, and AI was coming up
around those times, so we investresources in that area.
We understood that we need toharness power of parallel
computing and multiple serverssame time to be churn out large
(04:43):
amount of data in real time.
So that's where the innovationstarted.
So, essentially, neet is amother of innovation.
Essentially, there's a NEET andthere were solutions possible
available.
No one had tried them before.
We ventured into them and thatbecame the announcement.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Brilliant.
So how would you describe whatBioAero does to someone, maybe
outside of the healthcareindustry, with a tech industry,
you know, like my mother, forexample?
What would you describe to?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
her.
There is a secret key.
All of us are born with it, ithas been given by our payments
and there's a blueprint of theblueprint of our life.
There is a genome and that codehas a transcription of the
(05:36):
message that needs to beunlocked.
That can tell us a lot aboutour body and about my family's
health and about everyone elsearound me.
So if I can unlock that, sothen I can decide if the
treatment they're getting is theright treatment and if there is
something could be coming inthe future that could be
(05:58):
intercepted and perhaps theycould live healthier longer and
perhaps they get the righttreatments.
And if there's a history of somecancers, so they could be then
deleted out of their code.
And if there are some rarediseases in the family, they
could be stopped happening inthe family.
So all of those applicationsare possible today and that's
(06:23):
what BioAero is doing.
So BioAero can help analyzethat code that everyone is born
with it either it could be inthe gut microbiome or the skin
microbiome or the oralmicrobiome or the whole genome
and help them understand in areasonable manner what that code
means to them and to theirfamily and for their kids, and
(06:46):
also to see if the medicationthey're using is the right
medications.
Many times people get sideeffects, they take unnecessary
medications and they waste theirmoney and time and their health
.
So rather they would get to thegenomic way.
They'll get the right approachthe first time without becoming
a guinea pig, and they have lessside effects and better success
(07:07):
rate by taking thosemedications.
And I'm hopeful with thismessage your mother will be
happy and want to take the nextstep and want her to get tested
and want you to get tested.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Well, it's a
wonderful thought.
I certainly will take you up onthat.
So you're covering the fullhealth data stack, as it were,
from the genomic sequences tothe microbiome testing, anything
else?
What does that mean for notjust patients in terms of the
preventative capability, butalso the payers in our system?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Thank you for asking
that question From the peer
system what the system has beenbuilt in medicine, patients have
to develop a disease and thenor a symptom of the disease and
the doctors will have to beseeing the patient and trying to
diagnose the disease.
Many times the guesswork wedon't have 100% accurate tests.
There's no test in medicinethat is 100% accurate.
(08:00):
I can tell you why we have thedisease.
I haven't come across yet.
We always have hypothesis.
Yes, it's inflammation thatcould be triggering the heart
attack, but lipid particles,along with other things that
play the role.
But there's more to the story.
We believe that genetics alsoplays a role and also type of
diet we eat.
That also plays a huge role andwe always tell people eat a
(08:23):
healthy diet.
What is a healthy diet?
We tell people eat aMediterranean diet.
Okay, what does a Mediterraneandiet mean?
Can people even afford?
How they are individuallyreacting to Mediterranean diet?
Maybe, perhaps for an Indianperson, maybe the different kind
of diet they should be usingversus a Mediterranean person,
the Mediterranean diet is betterfor them.
So there are many biases how weinterpret that data and how the
(08:46):
researches are done.
They usually focus on thediseases and they're trying to
figure it out how many peoplesurvived this clinical trial,
how side effects happen and ifthere's actually a value by
approving this drug.
But after that there are manyside effects.
Patients suffer but we find areasonable number and we said
this drug probably will be safefor this population and start
(09:07):
prescribing it.
And then along the way, patientcome to us.
They're having a dry cough fromblood pressure medication or
swelling in the legs.
They cannot tolerate statins inthe high dosages.
Muscle aches and pains arehappening or they're not
responsive to aspirin.
They're still getting the heartattack.
But it's still giving them thesame drugs.
Everyone right now todaygetting still aspirin, beta
(09:28):
blockers, ace inhibitors,statins, plavix, maybe Berlinda
and a bunch of other fewcocktails.
Everyone gets that after heartattack and we know that every
seventh or 10th person in thehospital today is not going to
respond to statins or, sorry, toaspirin.
They're not responding toaspirin and we also know that
many Asians and if they get ahigh dose statins they'll not
(09:51):
like it.
They will not respond to highdosages, they will stop taking
it.
And we know that many patientswill not respond to ACE
inhibitors as much.
They get dry cough.
So we understand now.
Genetically we all are different.
But imagine, instead of takingguessing game just by the look
of it, if I'm african-americanor I'm a south asian, perhaps I
(10:12):
should not take this kind ofdrug.
If I'm a chinese, perhaps Ishould not take a hydrostatin.
But how do you tell who's notresponded to aspirin?
Because every seventh and tenthperson is no responder.
So you have to start lookinginto genetic testing.
You have to start understandingthe drug we are taking are the
right drugs.
We are giving them and theyhave no side effect.
(10:32):
There's a data.
It's a well-published data.
There's nothing, no new sciencethere.
But what the problems are?
The science has been alreadyestablished, but the delivery of
scientific data or theguidelines have not been done
yet.
Why?
Because it's hard to accessdata, hard to access these
testings.
Since we can't access the test,why then order it?
(10:54):
Let's give the medication.
I'll give you one practicalexample.
If there is a free MRIavailable to you, but this MRI
report will come back afterthree months, will you ever even
take it?
Will you ever even order thetest?
If you're a doctor, probablynot, even as a CT scan that is
available.
But the report will come backafter three months, will you
(11:14):
even order the test.
You will not order the test.
Same with genetic and genomictests are right now.
Today, doctors don't have anaccess to the report on tiny
manner, so they don't order thetest.
Patient doesn't get an accessto continuous technology.
What do they do?
They suffer through the diseaseand the side effects from the
drugs as a pair.
If we can cut this time period,as we have done for MRIs and a
(11:36):
CT scan, start giving themclinical reports, genomic
reports, in real time when itmatters.
When the patient is from thedoctors, the doctor can take the
right call at the.
So peer saves the money.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
It's a wonderful
vision, just a question of how
quickly we can get there.
Let's talk AI and diagnostics.
I'm guessing your averagepatient.
There's just no use of AI indiagnostics.
But how is BioAira usingmachine learning to not just
detect but prevent disease?
What's your approach there?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Well, first approach
is a large amount of data and
humans are the biggest variable.
If you're coming to see meearly in the morning as a doctor
, I probably am more alert bythe end of the day.
If I had a busy day, probablyI'm rushing to my clinic and I'm
very busy, perhaps missing outmany data sets which I have not
seen.
So I'm going with the gutfeeling and probably have 50%
(12:35):
right, 50% wrong to helpdiagnose a problem for you.
So this is a present healthcaresystem because doctors do get
tired.
There are many variables thatplay a role.
Ai helps us in many differentways.
We have built a next-generationhealth record system.
What it does?
It reads our chart notes, itreads our lab systems and puts
(12:57):
data together.
It's like having your juniormedical resident who gathers all
the information and helps ustriage those patients so they
can be seen earlier.
Or perhaps there are othervariables which a doctor is not
able to look at it.
Perhaps there are othervariables which a doctor is not
able to look at it, so they cannudge and bring those analysis
interpretation forward.
They can summarize the notesand charts.
(13:18):
For us becomes much easier todocument it and also dictation
and transcribing is becomingmore automated.
So what does it?
Doctor can spend more timetalking to the patient and less
becoming the receptionist ortypist, so they can focus on
clinical care.
Ai is like an, and from agenomic perspective.
(13:48):
Are you there?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yes, gotcha, yep,
hello.
Yes, got you, yep, hello.
Yes, continue, yep Hello.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I can hear you.
I think I've lost you.
I cannot hear you.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I can hear you, so
you can keep going Can you hear
me?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
There was a call came
in between, my wife's call came
in between, and even though itdidn't do no disturb, but
somehow she got through it.
I don't know how, so I cannothear you at all.
Okay.
I can see your face moving, butI cannot hear you, okay.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Can you log back on
maybe?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Hi, can you hear me?
Now I can hear you.
Yes, now I can hear you.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
yes, I can hear you
yep testing one, two test, test
test.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Should I log in again
?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
yeah, yeah, log in
again.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
I can hear you now.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I can hear you all
right, no worries, no worries.
So, um, let's shift thequestion a little bit to this
idea of proactive care,predictive care versus reactive.
So how do you have to changeyour practice, the way you do
medicine?
What needs to change in medicaleducation?
(15:08):
That's quite a differentapproach, that's quite a
different approach.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Thank you for asking.
It's an amazing question.
Education needs to be changed.
So far, harrison InternationalMedicine book has a very tiny
chapter on genetics.
There's no chapter on genomics,no chapter on multiomics.
The science has moved.
We understand that there arecertain mutations when we're
born with it that define how wereact to certain diseases.
Sometimes we may have amutation of a genome, but you're
(15:34):
seeing the whole environmentaround that genome or the gene
that triggers a reaction.
So in preventative medicine,what I practice, I look at the
whole genome.
First I look at the patient,making sure there is no
high-risk variants they havethey inherited.
Then I look at any othermutation they might have
acquired along the way.
(15:54):
Then I look at their gutmicrobiome data to see if they
have any high risk pathogens intheir gut and if that pathogens
could be linked to certaindisease such as IBD, ibs,
cancers and in different areas.
And from there I then step upnext level called
pharmacogenomics.
So I look at genetically whichdrugs are good or bad for them.
(16:19):
Along with when I use this baseof foundation of this data, then
I have another layer of thedata with a basic blood test we
do.
It is lipid panels, glucosepanels, hemoglobin, et cetera.
Then I have the ultrasoundsimaging together.
So when I combine them togetherI have much more data sets.
I have imaging data, I have abiomarker data from the blood
(16:40):
lab, blood testing labs, I havea genomic data.
Based on that I can make a morepersonalized program for the
patient.
If there's a high risk forprostate cancer, perhaps I
should be paying more attentionto their prostate, not just
having a genetic recommendationfor them.
If there's a potential risk ofcolon cancer or certain surgeon
syndromes, then they should begetting colonoscopy much earlier
(17:02):
, at much younger ages.
Then I'll make morepersonalized programs for them,
not just based on the guidelinesbut what matters to them.
So, using the information thatwe have well-established,
evidence-based now, adding thatgenomic layer and providing care
based on that.
So we need to rewrite ourcurriculum again, we need to
rewrite our textbooks again andall the disorders we have in
(17:24):
Harrison's book of internalmedicine or any other medical
book along the way, the genomicsshould be the basis, as a
foundation, and then you buildthe other layer of investigation
.
We, as the doctors do, thencome up with a conclusion to
decide how we can provide bettercare to the patient and perhaps
we can intercept the diseaseand we truly can intercept the
(17:44):
disease.
I was speaking to somescientists in Italy a couple of
days ago and we're talking abouthow a diet can use as a a
transcription-inhibiting system.
So if you take the right diet,you can literally inhibit the
message of certain genesexpressing.
Already, brazil has done astudy on this area in young
(18:05):
people with high cholesterol.
When the certain type of dietwas given to them, they saw the
impact of gene expression inthose young adults there.
We have seen studies happeningglobally in this area.
So definitely diet plays a hugerole.
We need to incorporate that.
We cannot just say don't gotalk to a dietician.
(18:25):
We have to empower people.
The dietician should have anaccess to genomic data.
They should have an access toAI tools so they're able to
personalize a.
They should have an access toAI tools so they're able to
personalize a nutrition plan.
I call it Nutrition 3.0 or theHealthcare 3.0.
So first healthcare wasimaging-based.
Then healthcare became a bloodtesting base.
Now we have to add healthcarewith genomic base.
(18:46):
When you add all three layerstogether now you have a full
picture of the person.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Amazing.
I'm looking at your website.
You mentioned something calleddecentralized health as a trend.
You're watching.
What does that mean exactly andhow are you enabling that?
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Well, a lot of times
the data is centralized in
certain repositories.
It's a patient's data and manycountries, including Canada, by
law this patient owns the data.
But it's a repository managedand owned by a clinic or
healthcare systems, andsometimes it becomes very
difficult for patients to accesstheir own data.
(19:24):
So someone else is using theirinformation, profiting from the
information and they have no say.
So imagine if the patient has'taccess to their information,
and not only just from onehospital, but from all the
hospitals, wherever they wentaround it, and so they could
literally take a call when itmatters to them.
(19:46):
So if someone is accessing thisinformation unauthorized, they
would be alerted, and if someonewants to buy their data or the
information, they can thenprofit directly from that.
So this way will build trustand the more bigger data
repository will be created andpeople will be more empowered.
(20:08):
It becomes much easier to enrollin a clinical trial, because
many times, clinical trialsdon't include visible minorities
in many countries, don'tinclude people from low
socioeconomic status.
They get missed out, and soeven the clinical data coming
out is biased.
So what it does is it levelsthe field.
(20:29):
Everyone becomes equal.
So it doesn't matter if you'rerich or poor.
If someone wants to enroll in aclinical trial, it becomes much
so.
It doesn't matter if you'rerich or poor.
If someone wants to enroll in aclinical trial, it becomes much
easier for them to get enrolledand from a pharma company
perspective it's easier to findthose patients.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Well, it's a great
opportunity to leverage things
like the blockchain as well forprivacy and data protection.
You know so.
When it comes to health care inthe US, as you know, health
insurance is really a workplacebenefit for many of us.
If you're an employer, anenterprise watching or listening
to this, can they work with youto make Precision Health a
(21:08):
benefit for, make theiremployees healthier and,
hopefully, happier?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
We'll be honored to
help them and we'll be happy to
help them.
Just give us a call if theyhave a problem how to implement
a genomic-based healthcare, howto move into Healthcare 3.0.
We'll guide them, hold theirhand.
If they need technologieseither AI-based panomic
(21:32):
technology for real-timeanalysis of a large amount of
data, or if they need help inupgrading their lab
infrastructure, we'll be happyto share knowledge with them.
If they need any help with theliving of healthcare based on
the new technologies, we'll behappy to guide them along the
way.
If they truly want to protectthe data, especially for the
(21:52):
future, quantum threats comingin play, with lots of
cybersecurity breaches arehappening, and they want to add
on blockchain-based datasecurity layer we do have
in-house team We'll be happy toprovide them how they can start
backing data in multiple Cloudswith a block encryption, so this
way the data is private,protected and people feel safe.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Wonderful, yeah, so
many ethical considerations.
We saw the meltdown of 23andMeand what that meant for people's
genomic data, including myself.
It's out there.
God knows what's going tohappen.
Genomic data, including myself,it's out there.
God knows what's going tohappen.
So, as a health tech company inCanada a beautiful part of
Canada, by the way how do youtake this mission and vision
(22:41):
globally?
How do you scale, not just inNorth America, but
internationally?
Is it just money or do you needsomething more?
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Well, thank you for
asking this question.
For any startup, the vision isone thing and the technology is
the other thing, and the lastthing that matters is meeting
the right people, more than anymoney or any funding we can
raise.
Yes, money does play a role,because you need to hire the
right talent who can help usgrow, but meeting the right
(23:07):
people matters most thananything else.
So I like to travel.
I am traveling globally andfinding people who are converted
in this area.
Already they believe in thisarea, they're practicing
medicine, so they are the earlyadopters.
So I like to meet with them,understand their challenges and
their successes and perhaps Ican replicate those successes
(23:29):
globally.
So I spent some time learningwith them.
So I reached out to varioushospitals institutions, asked
them if they're looking forthese kind of solutions, and we
are open to collaborations,joint ventures, and we signed
MOU in Saudi company in Bostonlast week.
We do have a huge interest inUAE, europe, uk, usa.
(23:54):
So we are looking to growglobally.
We want to be in every countrybecause the problem is universal
.
We are 8 billion plus people onthis earth and all of us should
be getting healthcare deliveredthrough genomics and
multi-genomics way, and we cando that today healthcare
delivered through genomics andmulti-genomics way and we can do
that today.
So I would like to work withanyone who can help us open
(24:16):
those doors and want to talkabout their own personal
research project or the personalstruggles they're having at
home and they're not getting theright answer from the doctors.
I would ask them to reach outto BioAero.
We'll be happy to.
If you don't have an answer,we'll work with them to find
that answer.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Incredible.
What a great opportunity tocollaborate.
And what's your sort of visionfor, you know, three to five
years?
What sort of opportunities willbe looking at then for health
monitoring, I guess digitaltwins, gosh, no.
What kind of AI models we'llhave?
It's a very exciting time.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Well, what I'm
envisioning is that there will
be countries whose healthcarewill be delivered through
genomics and that will behappening in Saudi Arabia, uk,
some other parts of Europe.
They are going ahead.
The UK already announced thatevery newborn will be getting a
whole genome sequencing.
We have a 10-year program.
(25:11):
Being the first developedcountry to implement that.
Saudi Arabia is implementinggenomics for everyone.
Emirates have done a wholegenome sequencing for themselves
.
Qataris, bahrainis, kuwaitisthey all are coming on board.
Chinese are also ahead of it.
It's just a matter of time.
So I will see Americans comingon board.
Chinese are also ahead of it.
It's just a matter of time, soI will see Americans coming on
board.
So is Canadians and other partsof Europe joining hands when
(25:36):
they start to see value comingout of NHS and many different
parts of the world?
And in three to five years, I dosee that healthcare will be
shifting more towards data focusand AI-based healthcare
delivery will be more usingvariable data coming to doctor
offices, integrated.
We'll be looking atenvironmental data the type of
air we are breathing in, thetype of water we are drinking
(25:57):
and the food we are eating.
We'll have more awareness aboutthat.
The AI agents will play a role,so we'll be having more
interaction with them.
People will be learning moreabout their health and body,
understanding what theingredients are going inside the
packaging, what they actuallymean, and AI agents will be
guiding them and advising them.
(26:18):
These foods are good or bad.
So the healthcare will bereally different and there will
be smart devices Over the nextfive to 10 years.
What I see?
That healthcare will bedelivered from homes.
There'll be less reliance onhospitals, less reliance on
coming to the clinical side.
It'll be more home care will bedelivered wherever the patients
are, so healthcare will beavailable 24 hours and blood
(26:42):
testing will be easily availableless requirement for going to
lab for the blood testing, forthe basic blood test or the
cardiac blood test, biomarkers.
So huge disruption is comingand the need for a big
brick-and-mortar hospital orclinic will go down.
It'll be just based on acutecare or the procedures that
cannot be done in homes.
(27:03):
Those will be done in thoseclinics and hospitals, but most
things will be delivered inpeople's homes.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Incredible.
What if I'm an individual orfamily listening, can I go to
BioAero and get my genomesequence as well and access your
services directly from thewebsite?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Yes, please.
Anyone can go to the websiteand they can access gut
microbiome, skin, oral, vaginal.
They can get access toepigenetic testings and many
more tests are going to beavailable soon.
And one thing I want to mentionto your listeners that we don't
sell people data and we respectyour privacy and we do have a
(27:43):
strong standards to protect yourprivacy and we are not into
data selling business.
We are in healthcare.
Our goal and mission is to makesure you get the best
healthcare service possible.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Well, wonderful.
I can't wait to try it myselfand many family members
interested.
Please look us up when you'renext in Boston.
And thanks for joining.
Appreciate your time and theamazing enthusiasm you're
sharing here.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
No, thank you so much
for having me Really appreciate
that.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
And thanks everyone
for listening, watching, sharing
this episode and also check outour Tech Impact and AI Impact
TV show now on Fox, business andBloomberg.
Take care everyone.