Health Unchained Podcast

Kyle Culver is the co-founder of Synaptic Health Alliance, an alliance of different health leaders sharing one common goal–to make create a trusted provider directory for the industry. Using the functions of blockchain technology, Synaptic Health Alliance aims to solve the problem of inaccurate provider information in health plan databases. In this episode, Kyle Culver discusses what started Synaptic Health Alliance, where it is now, and where it’s projected to go. Topics Covered  Kyle’s first introduction to blockchain technology.  The origin of Synaptic Health Alliance.  Kyle explains what a provider directory is and how it works.  The challenges they faced on the development and testing of Synaptic Health Alliance.  The process of onboarding new members in Synaptic Health Alliance and the requirements needed.  The future adaptation and progress of blockchain in the healthcare space.  The business operation of Synaptic Health Alliance and how debit credit system of Synaptic Health Alliance works.  Kyle discusses what holds back others from joining Synaptic Health Alliance. Events in the healthcare and blockchain space that surprised Kyle.  Kyle shared his 2022 outlook for Synaptic Health Alliance.  Connect with Kyle  LinkedIn Twitter News Cornerhttps://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-covid-health-care-costs-8758c06e78dc33a9e472bff6517bdb85https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/us/politics/fact-check-health-claims-inflation-reduction-act.htmlhttps://www.healthcaredive.com/news/biden-signs-inflation-reduction-act-aca-subsidies-payers-hospitals/629865/https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/inflation-reduction-act/On August 16, 2022, US president Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, enacting some of the biggest changes to US Healthcare since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.Resources Mentioned ProcredexKaleido: Enterprise-Grade Blockchain & Digital Asset PlatformQuest DiagnosticsAetna: Health Insurance PlansA16z - Andreessen HorowitzOffice of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Optum - Health Services Innovation CompanyMultiPlan – Delivering affordability, efficiency and fairness to the US healthcare system. Health Unchained Links Website: https://healthunchained.org/Telegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Savva Kerdemelidis is the CEO and Founder of Crowd Funded Cures (CFC), a non-profit initiative funded by the Prize Charitable Trust. Aiming to renovate the broken system of medical innovation, CFC creates an open source incentivization of clinical trials for off-patent drugs. In this episode, Savva Kerdemelidis, along with Nicholas Fiorenza, CFC’s Head of Business Development & Operations, talk about the main market failures of the medical patent system and how Crowd Funded Cures addresses these failures in ways that ultimately transform how traditional science is done. Topics Covered How Savva and Nick first got interested in the idea of decentralized science (DeSci) & its importance in solving scientific challenges through collaboration.  Savva and Nick share their original reason for starting Crowd Funded Cures and its current operations.  The challenges they faced and the pushbacks often heard by people in the scientific academic community.  How the pay-for-success contracts work as an alternative to the traditional patent system and its benefits in the field of academic science. What IP NFT is and its advantage to the clinical field and as well as to investors. Why DeSci is important for the psychedelic space and how important psychedelic research is going to be for science DAOs. Connect with Savva LinkedIn @newzealandlaw / Twitter  Crowd Funded Cures  Connect with Nick LinkedIn @nfiorenza / Twitter Moleculetter - Blog Resources Mentioned VitaDAO - Longevity DAO  Molecule Protocol Home | A New Era of Drug Development Open Source Pharma Foundation - Medicine for all Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)  National Health Service (NHS)  News CornerUNOS transplant network depends on out-of-date technology - The Washington PostIn a recent exclusive story by the Washington Post, investigators reveal that the entire organ transportation and IT infrastructure needs a major overhaul. In January of 2021, theWhite House’s U.S. Digital Service recommended that the government “break up the current monopoly” that oversees what is formally known as the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.That monopoly the United Network for Organ Sharing, the nonprofit agency that operates the transplant system, has held for 36 years and worth more than $200million, funded mainly by fees patients pay to be listed for transplants. It is a complex collection of about 250 transplant-performing hospitals; 57 government-chartered nonprofits that collect organs in their regions; labs that test organs for compatibility and disease; and other auxiliary services.The mechanics of the entire transplant system must be overhauled, the review concluded, citing aged software, periodic system failures, mistakes in programming and over reliance on manual input of data.Health Unchained Links Website: https://healthunchained.org/Telegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Vincent Weisser, Chief Product Officer at Molecule, a platform bridging decentralized science and research funding, shares insights on transforming healthcare. He discusses how decentralized science creates scalable, transparent medical research environments and why decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) could revolutionize funding. Vincent highlights the challenges and opportunities of democratizing intellectual property in research, emphasizing a collaborative marketplace approach that could ultimately expedite drug development and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Anthony Diaz is modernizing global health engagement with his health-to-earn startup Health Hero, Inc. On this episode, Anthony shares with Ray how he plans to use gamification to improve people’s health while also being a monetary asset that can finance their core needs. He details how his company is creating a platform that rewards individuals for engaging in their health and also how he plans to make telehealth more fun.Topics Covered Why Anthony became a software architect and interested in blockchain technologies. How Health Hero is hoping to bring the health-to-earn concept to more people. The way an individual’s health records can be turned into an NFT, Why gamification can have such a large impact on user adoption. How Anthony is using “game jams” to drive innovation for their platform. The way Health Hero structured their software to integrate with different electronic health records, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. Connect with Anthony Health Hero: Play-to-earn health Connect on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned Polygon Unity SDK WebGL Itch.io News CornerWe have raised $12.7 Million in Seed Funding to Build the Future of Decentralized Science and Biotech (molecule.to)Recently a company called Molecule announced it raised $12.7M in seed funding to build the future of decentralized science. The investment was led by Northpond Ventures and includes over a dozen other major funders. The company has close partnerships with VitaDAO and other leading DeSci groups.Specifically, Molecule is first focusing on fundraising and resourcing for research projects and issuing IP-NFTs to secure the IP assets in the blockchain marketplace. The team has over 22 members distributed around the world and is passionate about making DeSci a reality.Health Unchained LinksWebsite: https://healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Jordon Ritchie is helping patients use personal health information to improve their health outcomes with health technology. He’s currently the CEO at AiMedica, a software company on a mission to simplify healthcare data. Jordon shares why he felt called to serve the healthcare industry by not being a doctor and also explains how AiMedica plans to tackle the seemingly insurmountable challenge of healthcare data and privacy. Listen in for a great interview with Ray and Jordon!Topics Covered: Jordon shares how his background in computer programming and software development got him interested in electronic health record systems. How his dad, Bryan Ritchie, introduced him to Bitcoin and why he immediately saw solutions for the healthcare industry. Why Jordon thinks that AI will play a big role in the future of digital healthcare. The relationship between security and access and the challenges it’s creating for healthcare data. How AiMedica’s suite of products helps providers make better healthcare recommendations based on otherwise hard-to-access data. Why the current electronic health record systems are not as secure as we believe them to be. The reason that the healthcare industry doesn’t obey traditional economic signals. Connect with Jordon Aimedica Connect with Jordon on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned Simba Chain Book of Mormon Crucial Conversations News CornerOn June 24, 2022, the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court voted to abolish the constitutional right to abortion. The 6-3 majority decision overturned the landmark ruling of the 1973, Roe V. Wade, which generally protected a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion. This decision is expected to have negative cascading effects across the U.S. healthcare system. HHS Issues Guidance to Protect Patient Privacy in Wake of Supreme Court Decision on Roe | HHS.gov Period tracker app Flo dev 'anonymous mode' : NPR The Supreme Court Decision That Defined Abortion Rights for Thirty Years | The New Yorker Health Unchained Links Website: https://healthunchained.org Telegram: t.me/healthunchained Twitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind Stitcher: Health Unchained Podcast on Stitcher iTunes: ‎Health Unchained Podcast on Apple Podcasts Google Play: Google Play Music is no longer available Spotify: Spotify for Podcasters

Jorden Woods and Radhika Iyengar-Emens are enterprise blockchain experts enabling executives and entrepreneurs to benefit from integrating blockchain technologies into their business. They share their experience pioneering enterprise blockchain and why businesses will be the ones to fuel early adoption of these technologies. Ray, Jorden, and Radhika also discuss NFTs and the metaverse being such a big adoption driver for Web3 technologies.Topics Covered How Jorden and Radhika’s experience in business and tech led them to writing a book about the emergence of enterprise blockchain. What surprised Jorden and Radhika the most about the adoption of blockchain technologies. Why the pandemic opened up a lot of opportunities for digital tools improve the accessibility and effectiveness of the healthcare experience. The way NFTs can fuel adoption of other enterprise blockchain technologies in industries outside of art and collectibles. How the government’s involvement in enterprise blockchain can accelerate mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies. The steps needed for mainstream adoption of enterprise and consumer blockchain technologies. Why it’s important to consider privacy, safety, and security for individuals participating in Web3. Connect with the Guests Connect with Jorden on LinkedIn Connect with Radhika on LinkedIn Visit Their Website Resources Mentioned Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived: Real Deployments. Real Value Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Governor Newsom Signs Blockchain Executive Order Snow Crash News CornerOracle Completes Acquisition of CernerThere’s been a major shift in the electronic medical record space, Oracle has finalized its acquisition of a major EMR company called Cerner for a whopping $28.3B. The intent to acquire Cerner was announced by Oracle towards the end of 2021, and since the companies have completed the necessary federal Anti-trust review by the Federal Trade commission and the justice Department. There was no mention of using blockchain, NFTs, or web3 technologies in their tech stack. I wonder when or if hospitals and clinics that are using Cerner will be affected by acquisition. I’m not convinced that making hands-free voice technology the primary interface for clinicians is the best approach to improving the overall clinical experience. I hope this consolidation is a net-positive for patients and doctors, not just a way for Oracle to take a piece of the healthcare market.Health Unchained LinksWebsite: https://healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Talisha Shine is bridging the gap between the blockchain and BIPOC communities. She is a leader in the blockchain consulting space and recognized among the top 100 black leaders in blockchain. She has a unique set of experiences in both the healthcare and blockchain industries, and she shares why it’s important for members of the black community to be involved in Web 3.0. Topics Covered: How Talisha’s background in healthcare and technology shaped her consulting career. What led Talisha to starting Black Blockchain Consultants Why it’s so important for the black community to get involved with blockchain technologies How blockchain technologies were uniquely suited to fix Pandemic-related healthcare industry issues The way new legislation has given individuals more control over their data Why the healthcare industry needs to adopt more blockchain solutions. About the Guest Connect with Talisha Website Resources Mentioned Black Blockchain Consultants Bitcoin and Black America book by Isaiah Jackson Ep. 21: Empowering Patient with Blockchain – Chrissa McFarlane (CEO Patientory) News Cornerhttps://www.statnews.com/2022/05/23/hipaa-patient-ge-data-privacy-profit/According to a STAT News investigation published recently, multiple companies were involved in this complex web of transactions that turned patient data into lucrative business deals. Quintiles, now known as IQVIA, MedicaLogic, which was purchased by GE in 2002, Veritas Capital, which acquired and then sold GE’s medical records business as part of a larger deal worth $17B were all part of this elaborate unethical use of patient data. Data privacy protections are only as good as the technological policies that can be enforced in the entire healthcare ecosystem. Using blockchain technologies to give patients real ownership of their data can help solve this growing problem in the industry. Our data is not like oil which gets burned and cannot be reused. Our data is an extension of ourselves which can be reused and increases in value as more data is generated. People need to stand up for their right to their data.-----------------------------Health Unchained LinksWebsite: https://healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Hadil Es-Sbai is on a mission to make clinical trial data more secure and accessible. His company, Triall, is attempting to revolutionize the clinical trial industry. They’re building an easy and secure way for researchers to conduct trials as well as for participants to stay engaged. Hadil shares why blockchain solutions are a perfect match for an industry like clinical research and how it can make the transition to Web3.Topics Covered: How Hadil got into blockchain after working over 20 years in the clinical research industry The different blockchain integrated e-clinical solutions that Triall is developing How blockchain solutions can help streamline clinical development activities Using LTO Network, Accumulate – but blockchain agnostic   The ways Triall is making it easier for participants and researchers to complete clinical trials How Triall is ensuring patient privacy and also accessibility for researchers Triall’s ICO and TRL token Roadmap for the future of their platform About the GuestConnect with HadilLearn more about TriallResources MentionedCR2OSphereonThe 48 Laws of PowerNews CornerLouisiana sues UnitedHealthcare, OptumRx for alleged Medicaid drug overcharging - https://digitalhealth.modernhealthcare.com/technology/louisiana-sues-unitedhealthcare-optumrx-alleged-medicaid-drug-overchargingHyperledger - Healthcare Special Interest Group Meetingshttps://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/HCSIG/HC-SIG+General+MeetingsHealth Unchained LinksWebsite: https://healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Everardo Barojas, PhD, founder of Prescrypto, is revolutionizing electronic prescriptions in Latin America. Since 2017, Prescrypto has been working to bring prescriptions into the modern age by providing reliable, secure prescriptions that are written and verified using blockchain technology. Everardo shares how this transition can benefit the doctors, the patients, and the industry as a whole. We also discuss Everardo’s journey building a Web3 company in Latin America and the advantages and challenges that come along with it.Topics Covered:- How Prescrypto helps doctors to write and fulfill prescriptions on the blockchain- The business model Prescrypto is making possible by minting prescriptions on the blockchain- How Prescrypto has been able to mint over 650,000 prescription NFTs on the blockchain- The blockchain Prescrypto runs on (Rexchain) and the differences between that and Bitcoin- How Prescrypto was able to raise capital and structure their organization- What Everardo does to stay healthy and improve his entrepreneurial skillsConnect with the GuestTwitter: twitter.com/e_barojasLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/everardo-barojasWebsite: www.prescrypto.com/Resources Mentioned-Ep. 48: Private, Personal DNA Exploration - Daniel Uribe (CEO Genobank)](healthunchained.org/ep-48-private-p…be-ceo-genobank)-Rexchain(www.rexchain.io/)-Jim Clark(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Clark)News Cornerwww.theverge.com/2022/3/29/230016…on-defi-hack-nftRonin Blockchain and Axie Infinity operator Sky Mavis revealed a breach on March 29th and froze transactions on the Ronin bridge, which allows depositing and withdrawing funds from the company’s blockchain. $625 million worth of cryptocurrency that was stolen from Ronin, the blockchain underlying popular crypto game Axie Infinity. The operator, Sky Mavis says it’s working with law enforcement to recover 173,600 Ethereum (currently worth around $600 million) and 25.5 million USDC from the culprit, who withdrew it from the network on March 23rd.Although this breach isn’t related to healthcare data, the healthcare web 3 industry should take note of the security failures that allowed the hacker to steal such a large sum of money.Moral of the story - Decentralization matters for network security. Having more nodes on the network may have made it more difficult to full gain access. Also, it highlights the reliance on law enforcement for helping to track down the hacker.**Health Unchained Links**Website: healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind

Georgina Kyriakoudes, CEO of DCentric Health, is paving the way for patients to beable to take control of their data. DCentric is the creator of Aria, an app designed tomake accessing medical records quick and easy while giving patients the ownershipand privacy that comes with blockchain technology. Georgina explains why blockchaintechnologies are actually built for compliance. She also discusses why the accessibilityof patient data is important for the future of the health industry.Topics:How Georgina got her start in the healthcare industry after working with anaccounting firm and doing her graduate thesis on medical data and blockchain. The medical emergency that prompted Georgina's and her partner to start DCentric. How DCentric is handling regulations like GDPR to make blockchain solutions compliant with new privacy regulations.How DCentric uses a multichain solution to create an interface between patientsand providers that provides privacy and accessibility. Why DCentric chose to focus on development and product before marketing and how COVID caused them to pivot from their initial strategy Connect with GeorginaTwitter: @GKyriakoudesLinkedIn: Georgina KyriakoudesWebsite: MyAriaResources MentionedFederal Public Health Laws Supporting Data Use and SharingHealth GorillaNews CornerResearchers generate the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome --ScienceDailyThe Human genome project was an international scientific research project with thegoal of determining the base pairs that make up human DNA and physically andfunctionally mapping all the genes of the human genome. It was formally launched in1990 and declared complete on April 14, 2003 but only included 85-92% of the genome.Over the last 20 years, scientists and researchers have developed better laboratorytools, computational methods and strategic approaches to decipher the complexsequence.In early 2022, the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome, two decadesafter the Human Genome Project produced the first draft human genome sequence.According to researchers, having a complete, gap-free sequence of the roughly 3 billionbases (or "letters") in our DNA is critical for understanding the full spectrum of humangenomic variation and for understanding the genetic contributions to certain diseases.According to consortium co-chair Adam Phillippy, Ph.D., whose research group atNHGRI led the finishing effort, sequencing a person's entire genome should get lessexpensive and more straightforward in the coming years.This milestone marks a new era for breakthrough medical treatments and overallimproved understanding of how the human body works. Given all the potential, I hopescientists and doctors will consider the importance of bioethics and data privacy whendrafting new protocols for sequencing patients’ whole genomes. Web3 technologies,blockchain, and privacy preserving solutions can recreate the way health data is owned,managed, and shared. What more identifying data do we have than our individual wholegenome sequence? It is literally the blueprint of our existence and we should leverage itto help research but not sacrifice our individual privacy and agency along the way. Whatdo you think? Health Unchained LinksWebsite: https://healthunchained.orgTelegram: t.me/healthunchainedTwitter: twitter.com/Healthunchaind