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E998: The Next Unicorns: Benchling CEO & Co-founder Sajith Wickramasekara is increasing efficiency for scientists with a cloud-based platform, gives insights on recent life-science innovations, ethics of gene therapy & defining the line between quackery & brilliance – E10 of 10-ep miniseries

Nov 6, 2019

Sajith Wickramasekara, CEO and co-founder of Benchling, revolutionizes scientific efficiency with a cloud-based platform. He shares his journey into life sciences and discusses the promise of immunotherapy and breakthroughs in gene therapy. The ethics of editing human embryos sparks a heated debate, distinguishing legitimate advancements from quackery. Insights into genetically modified crops and their implications for health provide a well-rounded view of the future in biotechnology. It's a thought-provoking conversation about the intersection of science, morality, and innovation.

54:30

Creator website

Episode guests

Saji Wickramasekara

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Revolutionizing Biotechnology Research

8min

Economic Insights and Innovations in Life Sciences

4min

Shifting Paradigms in Drug Development

11min

Navigating Ethical Lines in Gene Therapy and Hiring Talent via LinkedIn

3min

Ethics and Innovations in Gene Therapy

11min

Navigating Health Claims and Startup Risks

3min

Genetic Innovations in Food and Medicine

10min

Unlocking Human Potential: The Future of Intelligence Enhancement

2min

0:53 Jason intros Sajith Wickramasekara
1:40 What does Benchling do?
2:24 How did Sajith get into life science?
6:55 Benchling's value proposition for scientists
9:04 How do they charge?
10:43 Is Chamath Palihapitiya the most famous Sri Lankan in the US?
13:25 Why immunotherapy is the most exciting development in life science
19:00 3D Printing & harvesting organs in other species
20:50 Ethics of editing a human embryo
28:19 How did the scientific community respond to the embryo controversy
29:52 Breakthroughs in gene therapy
34:09 Defining the line between quackery & brilliance
42:37 Upside & downside of genetically modified crops
47:54 What is the best approach for breakthroughs in life science?

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