Empowered Patient Podcast

Dexter Ang, CEO, Pison Technology, an MIT start-up is developing breakthrough technology using electromyography or EMG to detect nerve signals with sensors that allow command of compatible devices.  Dexter began his quest to address the needs of ALS patients by placing sensors on their bodies that use wi-fi to control a computer, phone or wheelchair by having the patient think about the muscle movement.  The possibilities for all humans are endless. @pisontechnology #XMED @exponentialMed Pison Technology

Nadeem Sarwar PhD, President, Eisai AiM Institute talks about the dramatic changes taking place in the development of targeted theraputics because of the introduction of human genomic data rather than just relying on animal testing, building more sophisticated drug discovery models, and how the timing of intervention is shifting to earlier in the disease cycle. @EisaiUS Eisai

Edwin Chau Senior Sales Manager Affymetrix eBioscience was exhibiting at the Festival of Genomics California and took the time to talk about their ground-breaking microarray solutions and other tools that are helping researchers increase their efficiency and get a better picture of disease.  @ebioscience #FestivalofGenomics ebioscience.affymetrix.com  

David Winternheimer, PhD Business Development, DxTerity talks to me from the show floor of the recent Festival of Genomics California where he demonstrates how easy it is for patients to get a blood sample to participate in research initiatives that are using rich diagnostic data from their genomic testing to investigate a wide range of diseases. #FestivalofGenomics DxTerity.com

Ali Torkamani, PhD Director of Genome Informatics and Drug Discovery,The Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) and Assistant Professor of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute is the co-author of a study on the Wellderly--those over 80 who have never suffered any major disease.  The focus on healthspan and not just lifespan is being enhanced by exploring genomic data of the Wellderly phenotype as well as lifestyle choices and environment. @ScrippsSTSI The Scripps Translational Science Institute  

Dr. Ezra Cohen, Professor Division of Hematology/Oncology Department of Medicine University of California San Diego and Associate Director for Translational Science at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center shines light on the newest innovations in immunotheraphy for treating cancer, using precise cellular therapies and check point inhibitors to reactivate the immune system to attack cancer cells, and the promise of being able to prevent cancer using personalized vaccines. @UCSDHealth UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center UC San Diego Health Services Presentation on Immuotheraphy

Dr. Tom Cowan, holistic physician and founder of Dr. Cowan's Garden Powders talks about how vegetable powders were first seen as a gourmet seasoning and now are being used to provide more diversity and nutrition for a wide audience.  He also talks about harvesting and dehydrating sea vegetables like nori to make them more accessible, and why calories don't matter. @DrCowansGarden Dr. Cowan's Garden Powders  

Kevin Stewart, Managing Partner State and Local Government, GIS Inc. talks about technology that is in place in cities and states to track and control vector borne diseases like the Zika virus, how important citizen engagement is for reporting problems, and value of maps for raising awareness and educating populations at risk. @GISIncorporated @Esri_health #ZikaVirus GIS Inc. Zika.gisinc.com Esri

Dr. Steve Steinhubl Director of Digital Medicine, the Scripps Translational Science Institute talks about the NIH Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Cohort Program that will be officially launched this fall to recruit 1 million people in the most ambitious medical research program in US history.  The goal is to create a rich data base feed by genetic information and patient data collected using smart phones and sensors to help define the new model for the future of healthcare. @ScrippsSTSI Scripps Translational Science Institute Go here to register to receive more information from NIH: PMI Cohort Program Participation

Jonathan Dotson host of The Ability Show talks about the impact of the Paralympics in London 2012 and the anticipation for the upcoming Paralympics in Rio in September.  Jonathan is wheel-chair bound and knows how important participation in competitive sports is for those who are disabled. Facebook.com/TheAbilityShow  

Penny Wing, CEO and Founder, Brojure talks about her start-up that gives hospice patients the ability to create multi-media presentations that can be shared and enhanced by friends and family. @Brojure Brojure

John Audette, Co-Founder and President, Amplion talks about how biomarkers are starting to be used by pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies to create more effective drug treatments and tests that use liquid biopsies for early detection of cancer.  @Amplion #precisionmedicine #biomarkers Amplion

Sonny Beech, Senior Business Development, GIS Inc. talks about the reasons indoor navigation has been slow to catch on, how the technology that tracks sensors or smart phones indoors is being used for emergency response training, and innovative uses for tracking patients and caregivers in care facilities to spot troubling trends and ways to improve service. @GISIncorporated #Esri_health @esri GIS Inc.  

Eric Klasson, CEO, Snaptrends talks about listening to social media to look for smarter ways to deploy first response resources in times of emergency.  He also talks about social media tracking and Esri GIS tools that are being put into place to track the spread of the Zika virus through people who attend the Olympics in Rio.  @Snaptrends @esristartups #Esri_health Snaptrends  

Chad Minteer, Mobile GIS Software Solutions Manager, Electronic Data Solutions talks about mosquito and other vector control efforts that are being aided by GIS tools, using geographic visualization to inform about threats to health like the Zika virus, and who is reporting and has access to mosquito activity data. @esri_health @esri_humanservices Elecdata.com

Katija Lamia PhD is an assistant professor at The Scripps Research Institute and doing research into the connection between circadian clocks and metabolic disease and cancer.  Her research has revealed that there are different internal biological clocks that govern every organ which might influence chronic diseases, weight gain and effectiveness of drugs. @Scrippsresearch The Scripps Research Institute

Corinna Davidson, patient advocate, talks about her struggles with United Healthcare to get recommended care services for her husband with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease.  Corinna reveals what she has learned about the lack of transparency and oversight for insurance companies when they are making life or death decisions. @myUHC @ALSAssociation

Carey Kauffman, CEO, Well Self 360 talks about the value of volunteers and the different roles they can play in the healthcare system, finding support groups for a wide range of disease states, and extending the care team to include family, friends, co-workers, and care givers. Well Self 360

Andrew Su PhD is Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute and leader of the Su Lab looking at ways to apply bioinformatics approaches to biological discovery.  Andrew talks about the tools the lab is developing to engage citizen scientists in discrete tasks that can be handled uniquely by humans and not computers. @AndrewSu @ScrippsResearch @ScrippsSTSI Scripps Research Institute Su Lab Mark2Cure.org GeneGames.org

Dr. Glenn Wollman, medical guide and host of the Magical Medical Tour reveals there is no code for a death related to human error, on the public safety need to track and understand the cause of medical errors that result in death, and how patients need to educate themselves as the best defense against preventable errors. Magical Medical Tour