Lex Fridman Podcast

#238 – Francis Collins: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Nov 5, 2021

Francis Collins, the former head of the Human Genome Project and current director of the NIH, discusses his groundbreaking work in genomics and the ethical implications of biomedical research. He dives into the controversies surrounding COVID-19 origins, emphasizing the importance of trust and transparency in public health. Collins also shares personal insights on the intersection of faith and science, and reflects on the legacy of his work, illustrating how scientific advancements can transform lives.

01:33:22

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Episode guests

Francis Collins

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Intersection of Fitness and Mindfulness in Grappling

2min

Sponsor Highlights: Special Deals and Innovations

3min

Navigating the Controversies of COVID-19 Origins

20min

Navigating Trust in Public Health Leadership

16min

Controversies on COVID-19 Treatments

7min

Navigating COVID-19 Variants and Vaccination Strategies

8min

Ethics and Advancements in Biomedical Research

23min

Faith and Science: A Harmonious Dialogue

7min

10.

Reflections on Legacy and Life's Meaning

4min

Francis Collins is the director of the NIH and former head of the Human Genome Project. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Francis’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NIHDirector
NIH: https://www.nih.gov
Human Genome Project: https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:44) – Lab-leak theory
(10:51) – Gain-of-function research of viruses
(23:00) – Bioterrorism
(27:30) – Tony Fauci
(37:41) – COVID Vaccines
(43:46) – Joe Rogan
(50:49) – Variants
(55:31) – Rapid at home testing
(59:44) – Animal testing
(1:05:09) – Stepping down as director of the NIH
(1:09:03) – Barack Obama
(1:11:06) – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
(1:21:44) – Faith
(1:27:12) – Fear of death
(1:30:15) – Meaning of life