The Tech That Will Prevent and Reverse Chronic Disease w/ Naveen Jain & Guru Banavar | EP #71

Added: Nov 3, 2023

Viome's mission is to solve the problem of chronic diseases, which account for 97% of all healthcare spending. The current healthcare system is primarily designed for acute care and infectious diseases, but it is not effective in managing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues. To address this problem, Viome focuses on understanding the changes in the human body at the onset and during the progression of chronic diseases.

The traditional approach to understanding diseases has been to study DNA, but Jain and his team realized that DNA does not change at the onset or during the progression of chronic diseases. Instead, they focus on RNA, which provides insights into the gene expression in the body. They also discovered that 99% of the genes expressed in the body come from the microbiome, the collection of microorganisms that live in and on the human body.

To collect the necessary data, Viome analyzes samples from different parts of the body, including saliva, stool, and blood. They collect massive amounts of data, with over one quadrillion biological data points collected so far. This data allows them to understand what changes in the body when people have chronic diseases and develop personalized recommendations for each individual.

The use of AI is crucial in analyzing this vast amount of data. Guru Banavar, who previously worked at IBM Watson, explains that in the past, the focus was on acquiring data from the healthcare delivery system, such as claims data and medical notes. However, in the last five years, there has been a shift towards collecting biological data and going deeper into the biology of diseases. This has been made possible by advancements in computational power, algorithms, and the availability of data.

Viome's approach involves collecting phenotype data from consumers, including symptoms, diseases, and medications. They use this data to make personalized recommendations for nutrition and supplements. They also have a robotic compounding pharmacy that customizes capsules for each individual based on their specific needs.

The ultimate goal of Viome is to diagnose diseases early and provide interventions to prevent and reverse them. They are constantly fine-tuning their approach and launching new products, such as personalized toothpaste to adjust the oral microbiome. This allows them to understand what works and what doesn't and conduct human clinical trials to validate their findings.

Jain explains that Viome uses advanced technology to analyze the gut microbiome and provide personalized recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle changes. The company collects and analyzes a large amount of data from individuals, including stool samples, to create a digital twin of each person's biology. This digital twin is a model of their biology that includes various algorithms and models to understand what is happening in their body.

The goal of Viome is to detect diseases in their early stages when they are still highly curable. Jain gives the example of detecting stage one cancer in the mouth or throat using the data collected from the digital twin. Viome has received a breakthrough device designation from the FDA for its ability to detect oral and throat cancer at 95% specificity and 90% sensitivity.

Jain emphasizes the importance of personalization in healthcare and nutrition. He explains that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to diet and that what works for one person may not work for another. Viome aims to provide personalized nutrition recommendations based on an individual's unique biology and microbiome.

Jain also discusses the challenges of measuring the upper intestine and stomach microbiome, as Viome primarily analyzes stool samples from the large intestine. However, he explains that the oral microbiome can provide valuable insights into the gut microbiome and overall health.

The conversation then shifts to the importance of sleep in overall health and longevity. Jain emphasizes the need for quality sleep and discusses the impact of stress on the body. He also highlights the importance of exercise, finding purpose in life, and reducing stress for optimal health.

Jain offers advice for entrepreneurs looking to build consumer-facing companies. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on improving people's lives and building trust with customers.

Guru Banavar adds that the future of AI in healthcare lies in its ability to move beyond correlation and focus on causation. He explains that AI should not just analyze data and identify patterns but also understand the underlying mechanisms and provide insights into the root causes of diseases.

The discussion then turns to the future of AI in medicine and healthcare. Naveen Jain predicts that within the next 10 to 12 years, AI will reach or exceed human-level intelligence. He believes that AI will be able to process vast amounts of data and provide insights that humans cannot. However, he also acknowledges the importance of human touch and empathy in healthcare and believes that healthcare professionals will still play a crucial role in providing care.

The host raises the question of what will happen to medical professionals in a future where AI is more capable than human doctors. Naveen Jain believes that while AI may be technically superior, humans may not evolve fast enough to trust AI completely. He suggests that healthcare professionals will still be needed to provide the human touch and empathy that AI cannot replicate.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the timeline for achieving optimal health through personalized medicine. Naveen Jain explains that it typically takes four to six months to see significant improvements in an individual's health after following personalized recommendations. He emphasizes the importance of regular testing and monitoring to track progress and make necessary adjustments.