Business Trip

Matias interviews Rob Malenka.In this episode, we discuss:Why progress in psychiatry is slow because the brain is the most complex organ and many disorders are highly heterogeneousThe bottlenecks including weak replicability in research, academic politics, perverse incentives, and pharma’s avoidance of neuropsychiatryHow breakthroughs require early detection, rigorous science, and bridging academia with biotech through venture philanthropyHow success depends on mission-driven, ethical people who align science, capital, and patient impact.The opportunities in neuromodulation, data-driven precision medicine, and combination therapies.Credits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky Produced by Caitlin Ner & Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Brendon Boot of Skin2Neuron. Brendon is a neurologist at Harvard and Mayo Clinic with prior experience as Medical Director at Biogen overseeing their Phase 1b Alzheimer’s trials.In this episode, we discuss:How skin-derived cells can be turned into neurons to repair the brain.Why replacing lost neurons may succeed where drugs have failed in Alzheimer’s.What makes autologous (self-derived) cell therapy safer and more effective.How testing in dogs brought stronger proof than traditional mouse models.Why this approach could shift Alzheimer’s treatment from slowing decline to restoring memory.Credits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Caitlin Ner & Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Natalie Yivgi-Ohana of Minovia. Natalie is a life science entrepreneur with twenty years’ experience in mitochondrial research and received her PhD in Biochemistry at The Hebrew University in 2007, after which she performed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Weizmann Institute of Science until 2010. In this episode, we discuss:How mitochondria impacts health by not just regulating energy, but also hormones, cell survival, and overall cellular functionWhy mitochondrial dysfunction is a root cause of many conditions, from rare genetic disorders to aging and mental health issues.What mitochondrial therapy does by restoring function and improving cellular healthWhat makes mitochondrial therapies distinct from gene therapiesHow to scale mitochondrial therapies for clinical adoptionCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Caitlin Ner & Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias and Greg interview Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a world leader in the genetics of sleep. Her lab has discovered the first-known genes behind “natural short sleepers”. Her work bridges human genetics and neuroscience to uncover how to modulate sleep for brain health, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases.In this episode, we discuss:How some people thrive on 4–6 hours of sleep with rare genetic mutationsWhy sleep efficiency is more important than total hours sleptWhat short sleeper genes reveal about preventing Alzheimer’s and autismWhy current sleep research tools miss deeper brain activity patternsWhat’s next in sleep science with potential therapiesCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Caitlin Ner & Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias and Greg interview Justin Mares, co-founder of TrueMed and Kettle & Fire on current US healthcare and how startups have the opportunity to change the system.In this episode, we discuss:How the US system profits from chronic illnessFixing the food system, environmental toxins, pharma incentives & moreOpportunities for founders building in brain and body health.Contrarian ideas Justin is investing in todayCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Caitlin Ner & Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Brooks Leitner, MD/PhD, newest partner at PsyMed Ventures and expert in neuroscience from Yale and the NIH, discusses the future of brain health investments. He emphasizes a human-first approach, shifting from animal models to clinical insights. The conversation covers emerging investment areas like therapeutics, diagnostics, and AI-enabled care. Brooks also shares his thoughts on leadership challenges, innovative strategies in personal health, and the evolving landscape of mental health innovations that can reshape therapies and enhance patient care.

Matias and Greg interview Dr. Nir Grossman, one of the world’s leading researchers in neurotechnology. Nir is a lecturer in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London and a founding fellow of the UK Dementia Research Institute. In this episode, we discuss:What is temporal interference (TI), a non-invasive stimulation methodA comparison of TI with deep brain stimulation (DBS)How physics plays a crucial role in neuroscience innovationTranslating TI academic research to clinical useTI’s role in treating Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, depression, and traumatic brain injuryCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin NerFind us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Dr. James Adams, professor and autism researcher at Arizona State University and President of Gut-Brain-Axis Therapeutics, on groundbreaking research in autism.In this episode, we discuss:The latest advancements in microbiome therapy for autismHow the gut-brain axis is shaping new therapeutic approachesThe role of nutritional interventions in supporting individuals with autismEnvironmental factors and toxins influencing autism developmentCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin NerFind us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias interviews Elizabeth Horn, founder of the 2m Foundation, on the current state of autism and what can we do about it.In this episode, we discuss:The rising prevalence of autism and its impact on societyHow 2m Foundation is funding research and solutionsEnvironmental and biological factors contributing to autismPhilanthropy and venture capital through the Autism Impact FundCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin NerFind us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias and Greg interview Dana Watt, a Partner at Breakout Ventures, about genetic medicine for brain and mental health.In this episode, we discuss:How genetic therapies work: addressing underlying causes, not just symptomsThe opportunities and challenges for genetic therapies for brain healthExploring effective delivery of genetic payloadsCommercial viability and insurance considerationsCredits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg KubinProduced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin NerFind us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank