Raising Health

Nikita Singareddy, cofounder and CEO of Fortuna Health, is joined by Dr. Mark Smith, who offers insights from a provider's perspective on Medicaid. They dive into the challenges of Medicaid enrollment, highlighting the complexities faced by eligible Americans and the importance of simplifying processes. The duo discusses innovative solutions for enhancing the enrollment experience, such as automation and multilingual support. They also address the intricacies of state-specific regulations and the need for better collaboration between organizations and Medicaid administrators.

Mark Smith, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF and the former CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation. He shares insights on the Medicaid system, reflecting on its evolution and the complexities it faces. The conversation covers challenges in California's Medi-Cal program, from funding issues to insurance eligibility. They also discuss the importance of addressing social determinants of health and the potential for technology, like telehealth, to enhance access and efficiency in the Medicaid landscape.

Vijay Pande, PhD, founding partner of a16z Bio + Health, joins Derrick Harris, host of the AI + a16z podcast. Together, they discuss how computer science has subsumed biotech.

Casey Means, MD, a Stanford-trained physician and cofounder of Levels, discusses innovative approaches to health with Vijay Pande, PhD. They examine the limitations of traditional medical training and advocate for a shift from acute care to preventive health. Casey explains how personalized metabolic insights, like those from continuous glucose monitors, can empower individuals to make informed dietary choices. The conversation highlights the need for systemic change in healthcare to prioritize long-term wellness, especially for future generations.

Greg Meyers, EVP and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, joins Jorge Conde of a16z to discuss the rapidly evolving role of AI in biopharma. They explore how technology serves as a competitive advantage and delve into generative AI's impact on drug development, particularly in cancer treatments. The conversation highlights the importance of agile partnerships in innovation and addresses the challenges of integrating AI into regulated healthcare, emphasizing the need for responsible practices and effective data management.

Michael Crackower, Chief Scientific Officer at Ventus Therapeutics, and PhD researcher Jason Burch dive into the future of drug discovery. They unveil the ReSOLVE platform, designed to quickly iterate small molecular compounds for therapeutic use. The duo discusses the importance of water dynamics in protein interactions, machine learning's role in drug design, and their strides in targeting NLRP3 for neurodegenerative diseases. With groundbreaking data and a push to enter clinical trials, they highlight the rapid progress made from concept to investigational new drug.

Vijay Pande, a general partner at a16z Bio + Health, is joined by venture partner Surya Ganguli and investing partner Bowen Liu. They dive into how AI is revolutionizing drug development, highlighting its role in identifying new targets and optimizing clinical trials. Discussions touch on the power of large datasets in advancing personalized medicine, as well as the exciting potential of using AI to merge various biological data types. Their perspectives present a captivating look at the future of health technology and research.

Bruce Levine, a leading expert in cancer gene therapy and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, shares his insights on the evolution of CAR T-cell therapy. He reflects on his formative lab experiences that sparked his passion for translational therapies. The conversation dives into the obstacles patients face in accessing these life-saving treatments and the hope for future advancements. Levine also discusses the potential of CAR T beyond cancer and the crucial role of clinical trial volunteers in driving innovation.

Vijay Pande and Julie Yoo, general partners at a16z with a focus on healthcare technology and AI, tackle the intriguing fusion of AI and healthcare. They discuss how AI can dramatically reduce healthcare costs while improving patient experiences. The conversation dives into the complexities of regulatory challenges and the critical need for innovative data generation over traditional methods. They explore personalized healthcare through advancements in precision medicine, highlighting how understanding patient phenotypes can revolutionize care.

John Crowley, President and CEO of BIO, shares his personal journey into biotech driven by his children's Pompe disease. They discuss navigating policies in medicine, developing treatments, rising costs of genetic medicines, and securing the medicine supply chain for national security.