00:00:00:

00:00:14: Hi everyone and welcome back to the Strategy & Insider podcast.

00:00:18: For this episode I have once again travelled all the way to Tokyo, Japan one of the world's most dynamic hubs for technology longevity but also innovation in healthcare.

00:00:29: today we explore a question that will define the future of medicine What does actually the next generation of personalized health look like and what does that mean for each of us?

00:00:40: I'm delighted to be joined by a visionary leader who sits at the crossroads of genomics, AI but also digital health.

00:00:47: And has spent more than two decades driving innovation across industries but also across continents.

00:00:53: so please welcome Michelle Momeja Who is the president representative director and chief innovation officer at Adam Innovations.

00:01:02: Michel actually is a global cosmopolitan originally from France who has lived and worked in the US, UK and Asia holding executive roles that span marketing digital transformation as well as healthcare innovation.

00:01:16: He joined Adam Innovations back in twenty eighteen as chief marketing officer was then promoted to Chief Innovation Officer in twenty-twenty three And most recently he was appointed president January twenty five.

00:01:30: Adam Innovations is actually a pioneer in genomics and precision health here, Japan having completed more than two point nine million genetic tests.

00:01:40: And built the largest R&D Genomic Database for Japanese population under its brand gene life.

00:01:48: The company offers direct to consumer genetic testing kits while clinical sequencing services with Genesis Pro is a second lag, and then the third leg around AI-powered genomic data platform called Genesis Gaia.

00:02:05: Michel is also an entrepreneur at heart with extensive experience launching startups, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.

00:02:14: With all that said I'm truly looking forward to this conversation.

00:02:17: so Michel really thank you for hosting us here in your office Tokyo and joining me on the podcast!

00:02:23: First welcome to our office in Tokyo.

00:02:28: Thankyou very much for having me today.

00:02:32: So Michelle, you are originally from France and have built your career across four continents having lived in work then Boston London Singapore.

00:02:42: And since twenty sixteen in Tokyo.

00:02:45: this to me is really an extraordinary global journey.

00:02:48: What drew you to Japan specifically?

00:02:51: After all these years living here what it about Tokyo?

00:02:56: the Japanese culture that continues to inspire both personally, but also professionally.

00:03:02: I feel very fortunate to have been able to live and work across multiple continents through all my career basically having such a diversity of environments where i've being able to engage in different technologies and solutions for customers and profiles.

00:03:22: .I first came.

00:03:23: I spent six years here initially.

00:03:28: Then, i moved to Singapore for nine years and then came back in twenty sixteen so have been spending quite significant part of my life here in Japan.

00:03:37: originally come to Japan to launch a digital marketing agency at the very beginning off the Digital Era.

00:03:45: Back then we didn't Google Translate, Google Maps and all the tools that you are using when you're traveling in

00:03:52: Tokyo

00:03:53: at a moment.

00:03:54: So it was very different experience to live And he was really fascinating on that front.

00:04:00: to engage already in Japan In a sense of first global market or most advanced markets mobile communications.

00:04:11: Interesting.

00:04:12: So people were already using mobile internet, mobile content in this part of the world while it was still very nascent in Europe or North America.

00:04:24: so I Was not only impressed by the technology but itself But how he could transform The life of People and their engagements with Technology.

00:04:34: that also How they commute?

00:04:36: How They consume Content and information.

00:04:39: Tokyo still inspires me today because it really naturally blends this tradition and this modernity that you can see every day when, when you go around the city.

00:04:52: Professionally.

00:04:52: Japan is also fascinating because its facing some of the world's biggest health care challenges first, aging population longevity preventing healthcare And now the convergence of AI applied to healthcare, so it's a very unique blend.

00:05:10: So just like twenty years ago when I came to Japan where mobile was... The first global market.

00:05:17: have the feeling that for health care and precision medicine this is coming back on that front.

00:05:25: Personally you know living across Europe, US as well Asia has taught me basically innovation comes from different cultures and blending different experiences all together.

00:05:38: And at Adam Innovation, for example about twenty percent of our team members are non-Japanese.

00:05:43: so it's very important to have that diversity bring different perspectives to innovate and drive those changes.

00:05:52: over time

00:05:53: And before healthcare.

00:05:55: you actually spent many years in the world of marketing and advertising, digital transformation working with major global brands.

00:06:03: So quite a different universe from genomics and biotech.

00:06:07: was there any particular moment or experience that made me say well I want to dedicate my career health care?

00:06:14: What learnings and experiences have been made in the past can still weave into day-to-day jobs in business and doing here at Adam Innovations.

00:06:24: So, I first glance you know marketing and genomics are very different.

00:06:28: it is

00:06:28: a very different world on that way.

00:06:31: but for me the transition actually was very logical and very natural.

00:06:36: For about twenty-twenty five years basically i work in direct marketing In CRM ,in social media And digital transformation where I was helping brands & companies to transform themselves through data and create more personalized experiences in stronger relationships with consumers.

00:06:54: As such, genomics is the most personal and meaningful type of data that an individual can ever have.

00:07:02: so I could see a tremendous potential for personalization but also to contribute society through health care and biotech.

00:07:10: What was fascinating to me was very much realizing that biology and genomics are becoming information systems.

00:07:17: For me, it becomes the foundations where you are able to understand about yourself and potential predispositions that have a developing specific conditions or disease.

00:07:29: Or even apply your day-to-day life or wellness on that front.

00:07:34: So this foundation is critical.

00:07:36: I truly believe that it will be imperative for everybody to do a test in the future as part of their longevity and prevention, to gracefully aging.

00:07:47: As we say in Japan And also because of that convergence of genomics combining biomarkers lifestyle information at AI To really develop those personalized health journeys.

00:08:03: It makes total sense with my marketing background always looking at data as a transformation or enabling transformations through data.

00:08:13: And that's where my marketing and digital background has been very relevant.

00:08:17: for me, I'm useful because marketing is about understanding people identifying patterns, looking at trends in translating complexity into simplicity of doing something meaningful and actionable with it.

00:08:32: so for me there was actually logical transition, because our risk came from the background of data and using the data to change.

00:08:41: And transform companies products or experiences?

00:08:45: Because you mentioned that element around Japan in this region being again at a forefront of innovation when it now comes to healthcare as compared to internet mobility and the alike in the past given that you have been obviously living in these regions but also Europe With regard to health care and prevention, also your phrase of gracefully aging that you have in Japan.

00:09:11: There is also the Kengon Shindan which under the Industrial Safety & Health Act kind a must-have annual checkup.

00:09:20: as somebody who's working at Japan That needs to be organized by an employer for employees And it's mandatory step to get their health checked up on an annual basis.

00:09:32: So Japan is somewhat probably more sensitive to prevention and health status?

00:09:36: Is that kind of a conclusion, uh...that it's fair to make?

00:09:40: or what-what is the difference you're seeing here when people think about healthcare prevention in managing their status versus other areas around the world.

00:09:48: I see prevention looking after yourself as very much ingrained into Japanese culture.

00:09:57: You know, people are very active.

00:10:01: Many people work past sixty years old and extremely engaged in life activities.

00:10:11: We do have some emeritus professors that we work with In the seventies to eighties who want contribute help support basically younger generations to keep growing.

00:10:27: So I think it's very cultural on that front, and also if you think about the blue zones in Okinawa for example but has been identified as a zone of longevity.

00:10:35: here It comes from how to stay active mentally and physically looking at nutrition And what food?

00:10:45: What do we drink as part being able to age?

00:10:49: gracefully as I said, but i think that's a key cultural component.

00:10:53: That is very different maybe from other part of the world

00:10:56: and this also will come to that in a second.

00:10:58: obviously why Adam Innovations has well placed here.

00:11:01: yeah um to also innovate at the forefront of customer facing genetic testing to inform life choices and help prevention... But before jumping there I also got to know you as somebody who is really a lifelong learner.

00:11:15: Who takes regular courses at renowned institutions like Wharton, Stanford Imperial College Yale in Seat and I couldn't go on all while running the company.

00:11:26: How do you stay curious?

00:11:28: And keep learning at that pace?

00:11:30: how does that kind of continuous education directly feed into your lead but also innovate with this company ?

00:11:37: I

00:11:38: believe curiosity probably one of the most important skill that once needs to have, particularly in a continuously changing world.

00:11:48: Again I was making reference to all different disciplines that are to manage and learn over my career.

00:11:56: so you know i constantly had to renew and upgrade my skills every two to three years technically if you want to keep with a pace of change But to create meaningful impact on businesses, but also people's life as such.

00:12:14: So it is very important to remain that and I am teaching my three kids how they will have to adapt and be flexible in managing their careers so continuous learning can sustain them for a long time Also allows you stay open with new ideas new technologies and also having different perspectives.

00:12:43: You know, I was making reference a bit earlier on about the development between genomics AI and data science.

00:12:51: they are all converging together And the pace of change in the development is very fast.

00:12:56: So we need to keep learning all the time and be curious.

00:12:59: i think this Is any young person in the future needs.

00:13:03: you have that curiosity too able to continue and sustain?

00:13:08: Most of the time, the most valuable insight not only comes from a class or listening but also from the interactions that you get with people.

00:13:17: You know it could be an entrepreneur ,it can be an advisor .

00:13:19: It could be investors and analyst teacher scientist But getting all those influences together keeps on your toes.

00:13:30: be open basically to keep learning and adding those new solutions or consideration as part of what you do in your working life.

00:13:40: As a leader, I don't think that I need to know everything.

00:13:43: My role is stay connected To be adaptable ask the right questions And connect ideas so we can keep evolving.

00:13:50: as company.

00:13:51: We are very fortunate because we have a lot of talented experts in their fields from the laboratory, from pure science perspective data science bioinformatics tech development AI etc.

00:14:06: So it's really bringing and converging all those skill sets together.

00:14:10: our innovation center is a great example of that where we have brought an open space basically Data Science Bioinformatic Tech Development Product Development Marketing and Product Innovation altogether.

00:14:25: So everybody is working in the same directions and we are basically blending all those different expertise together because science keeps evolving, technology keeps evolving.

00:14:36: We get more and more data.

00:14:37: hence we need to have everyone together too.

00:14:39: work on that And again this when marketing comes back as a skill Because you look at both strengths and activities As such.

00:14:50: To be honest, I couldn't agree more on your phrase around convergence because we are also seeing this in healthcare.

00:14:58: We're going to see a fundamental shift.

00:15:00: that is not only happening in hospitals or at doctor's place physically but health care needs to be here now and the twenty four seven in all of our lives And therefore when not only spending globally were not spending more than thirty minutes per person at a doctor's place here.

00:15:19: This is at best!

00:15:20: bug fixing that we're seeing, right?

00:15:22: If you talk preventing health and taking health more serious it needs to be at home.

00:15:29: At work...at our way-to-work.

00:15:31: And for that we also see a lot of convergence in industries around healthcare and into healthcare.

00:15:37: there's retail companies There is mobility companies..there is real estate looking into this.

00:15:44: This brings kind of the next level as well.

00:15:57: Let's also set stage for our listeners who may be less familiar with your area of expertise.

00:16:03: So, can you explain in at best simple terms what personalized health powered by genetics actually means to an individual and What can somebody kind of learn from a genetic test?

00:16:14: For managing their health?

00:16:15: so the simplest way to think about genetic is that your DNA Is your biological blueprint does not predict future for certainty But you can help explain why people respond differently to things like nutrition, exercise sleep stress medication or even specific drugs.

00:16:37: So it's a blueprint.

00:16:38: It is the foundation about predisposition.

00:16:41: You may have to develop specific conditions Or even disease Automatically.

00:16:47: To take some simple example Some people may process caffeine differently.

00:16:53: Some metabolize it very quickly, some other much more slowly.

00:16:58: So if you take a coffee now with time zone difference... You may stay up quite long-time tonight on your side.

00:17:06: I don't know.

00:17:07: that could be a possibility!

00:17:08: Some people might respond better to certain type of exercise or nutrition while others react very differently to medication and drug dosage.

00:17:18: Genetics is about probabilities not necessarily destiny.

00:17:22: Some people believe this is destiny.

00:17:23: Actually, no it's more a blueprint that gives you an indication of predisposition to have and based on your lifestyle or the context in life may develop those conditions.

00:17:37: What personalized ELSE really means moving away from one size fit all approach something that is more individualized as such.

00:17:48: Traditionally, health care as you mentioned has been more reactive.

00:17:52: People go to the doctor after something goes wrong.

00:17:56: now prevention is coming so you anticipate your wellness, you anticipate yours else To avoid getting to the point where you need to take medication or you need see a doctor.

00:18:09: So that's one key aspect and genomics combined with additional biomarkers allows us to better understand potential risk.

00:18:21: And that's what we are about, and that where make a difference for people.

00:18:25: So it is bringing all those items together To help to anticipate basically wellness as well else and prevention

00:18:34: overall.

00:18:37: With all that information around ourselves, there is also a paradox in personal health.

00:18:44: You're actually very outspoken about the problem of inaccurate medical information largely online.

00:18:50: so science advancing rapidly but consumer understanding often lacks far behind and many people still associate genetic testing with ancestry kids and other extreme, with frightening news about disease risks.

00:19:07: So meanwhile the internet obviously is flooded with misleading health content And also many of the Google searches that people doing are related to health conditions.

00:19:17: There's approximations of five percent and even above of google searchers who are related.

00:19:25: What do you believe it will take to close this kind of literacy gap?

00:19:29: And who is actually responsible for closing the illiteracy gap off society.

00:19:35: Do we have its government, companies or physicians and other media?

00:19:41: where did they see that?

00:19:42: This very interesting an important point because as people live in a moment at the speed of social media there are potential misunderstandings misinformation or disconnections.

00:19:54: I think on some aspects, one of the biggest issues is oversimplification.

00:20:00: When i go back to genomics people often believe genetics explains everything or nothing at all.

00:20:05: it's almost two opposites when reality is much more nuanced you know?

00:20:10: The participants need education explanation and proper context.

00:20:15: really understand what that genomic information is about lifelong investment.

00:20:27: This is something that will give insight and information, like can be reused across the years as you age.

00:20:37: provide more context about again potential disease or predisposition to your might have.

00:20:43: now who's in charge of providing the government or institutions provide a good job, particularly in Japan.

00:20:52: As you explained there is very good framework about health check on yearly basis and support.

00:20:59: social security is in place with national insurance etc.

00:21:04: so I think Japan is well protected as multiple solutions in place.

00:21:13: but I believe that individuals are going to make the difference Again, because the system is more about treating a disease.

00:21:22: So you see your doctor and access to health care once you have the disease or condition already happening.

00:21:30: I think there is a realization of the individuals that they want to anticipate, because knowledge is much more accessible.

00:21:38: There's very high level of education in Japan where people understand about their health and sickness and everything And again going back into this cultural aspect trying to understand more about your health anticipating and aging gracefully.

00:21:58: I think that's an era of combinations, that allows basically people to take more ownership.

00:22:05: So as in the individual... The issues are very tricky is accessing information and combining different data sets you may get about your health is complicated.

00:22:17: In a sense everything is disconnected.

00:22:20: You could have your health check but also maybe wearables blood tests and other things that you do, but there is not a unified system to provide information in the long term.

00:22:33: And see progress over the years.

00:22:36: overall so there's lot of progress done on providing an ecosystem which allows people connect data Not only in the moment T but also for the long-term.

00:22:51: Additionally doctors have a play where it's again not only looking at treating the symptoms that have appeared, but how to anticipate and preventive actions.

00:23:05: And this is when there are two disconnections visible in which we need to have reconciliations between the individual, medical practitioners or government to provide those solutions.

00:23:20: And one of the most immediate and practical applications of genomics that affects millions of people actually is pharmacogenomics.

00:23:28: So, the idea our DNA can predict how well we will respond to a specific medication?

00:23:35: Really today I'm coming from the medical field.

00:23:38: obviously it's around prescribing drugs which are still largely trial-and-error for many conditions.

00:23:46: How close do you think Even a simple genetic test could tell a doctor which drug will probably work best for an individual at what dose?

00:23:57: and the ones with fewer side effects who can make informed choice.

00:24:01: Do you believe this is coming?

00:24:03: Yes, it's not mainstream at that stage, but I think pharmacogenomics specifically is one of the most important and practical application of genomics.

00:24:14: Right now prescribing medication is still often based on trial-and-error you know?

00:24:20: One person responds well another may experience side effects And another may see little benefit at all.

00:24:27: So genetics can help to understand those differences.

00:24:31: You know some people may have a certain drug faster or slower than others which can impact both effectiveness and side effect.

00:24:40: I actually experienced this personally.

00:24:42: a few years ago, I was prescribed with medication for colds... ...and honestly i felt more sick from the drug that from the cold itself.

00:24:52: later you know two or three years after.. ..I took my pharmacogenomic test And discovered an adverse reaction to specific compound in that medication.

00:25:02: since then have been obviously avoiding it knowledgeable about it, so the idea beyond pharmacogenomics is very simple.

00:25:10: It's using genetic information to help physicians choose the right drug at their right dose for the right person.

00:25:17: and this another example of biology and genomics are becoming an information system that can support more precise and personalized medicine or health care

00:25:28: And...the idea we can actually shift from a reactive medicine prevention to predictive health is also a fundamental belief of me personally.

00:25:39: And we, as a team and company established the concept in our strategy and thought leadership publications that we call a life care ecosystem where disease care as well as wealth care do converge.

00:25:53: yet for most people around still only happens when something goes wrong, right?

00:26:00: So from your perspective what are the biggest barriers that still hinder us towards a more preventative and personalized health.

00:26:09: That is actually becoming at some point of mainstream.

00:26:12: so What does it need to take?

00:26:13: also in your case genetic insights and testing Is becoming very routine in annual checkups.

00:26:20: I completely agree that health care is moving from reactive medicine towards a more preventive level, or even wellness focused model.

00:26:31: One of the biggest barriers is that healthcare systems are really originally designed to treat disease not to maintain wellness and prevent problems before they happen.

00:26:43: so thats one key aspect needs be change or addressed in long term.

00:26:48: as you say people usually go to doctor when something goes wrong, not before.

00:26:53: And having the conversation with a doctor about preventing... I'm bit of data maniac and potentially like you as well where i look at some of my biomarkers over a period of years.. ..and show that to my doctor and say Look!

00:27:10: The trend is going in THAT

00:27:12: direction!!

00:27:13: And I don't like it because but the doctors are gonna tell me Don't

00:27:17: worry!!!

00:27:18: Because they didn't pass the threshold, which means that I need to have treatment.

00:27:25: So how to curve?

00:27:26: To avoid you get to that level and that's an era that organizations in a way that things manage at the moment are not... Have no change.

00:27:37: so it will take time on that front.

00:27:39: The other challenge is also beyond education of doctors be able shift from treatment prevention.

00:27:48: all data is fragmented.

00:27:51: If you try to connect things all together, You don't really have an ecosystem of framework that is allowing you look at the data on a longitudinal level.

00:28:03: Else check than you did ten years ago might be still interesting because it's going give you evolution over time but... It's good!

00:28:11: ...you may not have it or

00:28:13: the

00:28:14: effort we need do put into format is understandable and provide you that historical view, it's very complicated and challenging.

00:28:24: So I think that part is fragmentations because its coming from the clinics or doctors to hospitals but also how do connect with wearable data in your day-to-day life as well?

00:28:39: so connecting all those dots becomes complex

00:28:42: And i fully agree on one of these challenges.

00:28:47: challenging part is to me also how you take the system along onto this.

00:28:52: So, The doctors of today and I'm coming from that field has said we learned a lot about diseases But none of the doctors that is in action yet or now has actually been trained on healthy nutrition, healthy sporting, healthy eating living whatever.

00:29:11: So he or she will need to be also subsidized by insights and data analytics in the background That it's kind of readily available once this person has a dialogue with patient Or a person that he coaches to stay more prevented ,more healthy.

00:29:30: one of the key challenges to really unlock prevention big time, I would say.

00:29:33: I also believe that as we go over time genetic testing will become a routine you know?

00:29:41: As part of your portfolio or medical check that you do bloodshake or annual cheque etc... To inform and look at that information to inform those decisions or preventions.

00:29:58: So at the moment, it's not yet ingrained into a full ecosystem.

00:30:04: where is part of different items that you look.

00:30:09: But I do believe this going to come through life and that's gonna be changing because suddenly your genetics... You'll look at your yearly check ...you will look at the historical data all together to have much better understanding right approaches and the right treatments on the back of it.

00:30:32: I'm fully with you that genetic testing will be a very fundamental source of information, not only in the multi-omics testing space but more broadly in understanding individuals end to end.

00:30:53: Coming probably back to Japan in brief as Japan has one of the most rapidly aging societies in the world yet is also one of their longest life expectancies And that creates both a tremendous healthcare challenge because people live longer, but also unique opportunity.

00:31:13: Your company has completed now more than two point nine close to three million genetic tests here and built the largest genomic database around the Japanese population, giving you a kind of unique window into this demographic reality.

00:31:29: How does Japan's aging society shape your vision for preventative health?

00:31:35: And what can other countries learn from the Japanese approach?

00:31:41: Japan is often described as the world's laboratory for edging societies, and the country faces major demographic challenges.

00:31:49: But it also offers important lessons about longevity prevention and wellness What I find fascinating that Japan has traditionally focused not only on living longer but also maintaining quality of life and independence at people age.

00:32:05: That's a key learning I think we can take from the country.

00:32:09: Again, going back to your comments about preventive checkups that people do but also balance nutrition daily movement social connection within the culture are very important.

00:32:23: everybody again goes back to example of the blue zone in Okinawa that has attracted global attention for LCH and longevity over last few years.

00:32:35: What makes us unique at Aminovation is because we have completed two point nine million genetic tests, We do have a unique opportunity to better understand how genetic lifestyle aging as well as environment are interacting over time and within the Japanese population obviously.

00:32:55: So that helps us a lot too to have that knowledge.

00:32:58: And for instance we have developed some specific solutions or services where we don't only look at the genetic risk of developing a specific condition but again, combine that and add additional biomarkers.

00:33:16: Your BMI could be your blood pressure glucose levels other blood biomarker altogether to on-the-fly.

00:33:27: if you change those variables to see how it changes basically your risk is a up or down.

00:33:34: So let's say you lose ten kilos, isn't going impact?

00:33:38: Your risks are developing a cardiovascular risk or not?

00:33:42: if You able control because of your blood pressure Is he gonna change?

00:33:48: so you can see as you age.

00:33:50: you can See the progression and How you can take interventions or actions that will help you do So.

00:33:57: in our mobile application, we have these options where you can look at those changes and really try to help individuals take those actions on that front.

00:34:09: Again the reason why we do this is because there's significant data to build models in first place.

00:34:15: And then validating it with proper literature or research so as to support evidence of that front.

00:34:24: I'm actually going back in the next couple of days from Japan to Europe.

00:34:30: And i'm coming back from a country that aims for graceful aging and it is kind of a laboratory where you have those genetic data on what are two or three advices, which would take me back to a region like Europe?

00:34:46: What people could and should do in order?

00:34:52: I think you need to think from an holistic approach.

00:34:56: You need to look at your health, but also your wellness overall including nutrition and physical activities as well as mental health.

00:35:06: basically i'm quite very focused And do many different things But i monitor everything You can see either ring or watch From time to time.

00:35:18: i have a glucose monitor you know blood pressure, digital blood pressure instrument at home.

00:35:28: Digital scale and I monitor basically everything.

00:35:31: in combining that with my genetic result as well plus my yearly check plus checking it's a bit extreme.

00:35:39: not everybody is able to make all that effort and combine all that information, trying to develop your own AI model.

00:35:48: To identify what are the risks?

00:35:50: What intervention you should do.

00:35:52: but I think people will get there.

00:35:54: And technology is going well with them too on their front.

00:35:57: I believe again so strongly that genetics is a foundation layer where we add different biomarkers plus tests over a period of your life to really inform on what will make the difference for individuals.

00:36:16: And genetic data is arguably most personal information that exists about human beings.

00:36:21: It is immutable, inherited and it can reveal things about family members who even never consented to a test but they still have this information in the family.

00:36:31: As industry scales globally how should we think of ethical framework?

00:36:37: And data governance models needed to earn or maintain consumer trust because that would ultimately is required also to leverage genomic data for research purposes in order to benefit society while still protecting the individual's right of privacy.

00:36:56: What is your perspective on that?

00:36:58: Genetic data is probably the most sensitive type of data available and it's permanent, deeply personal and connect with family members.

00:37:09: every detail information basically is written in your DNA.

00:37:15: So trust is absolutely fundamental, and this industry I believe company needs to move beyond the traditional internet model where people have a product.

00:37:25: what i mean by that?

00:37:27: we need transparency.

00:37:29: everything we do for instance it's consented and transparent about you participate in IND or not.

00:37:38: One individual's data is used for R&D, basically they should be rewarded.

00:37:44: They are part of the ecosystem.

00:37:46: so again it's not about being in social media and being a product.

00:37:50: actually you get something back if your data is useful for healthcare innovation or research or even commercial value creation.

00:38:01: So we're really moving towards shared values around else data.

00:38:09: And I think that would be.

00:38:10: the success within the industry is to actually give back to participants and users something so they get part of a reward as well, not only some players have been selling their data we should never sell our data in first place but it's about sharing that component.

00:38:33: once this is done more people will participate and new discoveries are going to come as a result.

00:38:41: To solve some of the sicknesses, conditions that we need to address.

00:38:45: at same time you know society can benefit from genomic research for better prevention faster drug discovery More personalized medicine and improved outcomes.

00:38:57: So the challenge is really create governments model that really balance innovation with privacy.

00:39:04: I think thats key aspect.

00:39:06: Security is also a key aspect.

00:39:09: How do you protect the data that's so private and personal, unique to an individual?

00:39:17: So recently we've developed new services in terms of genomic data security platform called GINLOCK And basically our idea is that We need stronger security privacy-preserving infrastructure Data Surveillance and transparent approach.

00:39:37: With gene log, for example the genetic data are encrypted fragmented and distributed across different locations.

00:39:46: it means that... It's a digital puzzle.

00:39:50: It means each fragment by itself is meaningless only when you put them back together because one of key risks if your genome becomes lost or accessed by somebody else, they have all your information.

00:40:07: By having this digital puzzle suddenly is very difficult to rebuild that aspect.

00:40:13: so thats really driving new development in how you protect the data and also support privacy concerns users may have.

00:40:22: And probably jumping onto that, because you have as Adam Innovations coined also the concept of artificial general gene intelligence or AGGI.

00:40:32: Can you please unpack what it actually means in practice and how it differs from way AI is used based on this versus elsewhere healthcare?

00:40:43: What could enable given these coming years?

00:40:48: We've been operating for twenty-three years Now and very early, you know We have been one of the first companies to apply generative AI to some of our genomic services particularly Genesis Gaia I just mentioned earlier on GNAF forecast which combines genomics biomarkers and lifestyle data.

00:41:07: To help participants too You know take interventions.

00:41:12: And also have simulations based on changing their lifestyle how it will impact on their risk or predisposition that they have.

00:41:22: Again, what makes our approach different is not only we apply AI but because we have access to one of the largest genomic data sets in the population which really allows us to develop a much more relevant prediction model especially for Japanese and Asian populations remain underrepresented in global R&D.

00:41:46: So it's very much, you know how do we use AI about moving beyond static genetic reports towards more dynamic and continuously evolving biological intelligence?

00:41:58: I think that's the key part on how we use it.

00:42:02: And this AGGI is famous for the idea intelligent information system where genomic data serves as a foundation layer of biological health and information for the future of healthcare.

00:42:21: That's what we are building, that is how... Honestly it was still in the beginning.

00:42:29: with rapid evolution of AI especially ancient AI The potential to create more personalized, more adaptive and preventive experiences is becoming extremely exciting.

00:42:42: But also it's a wide open canvas.

00:42:46: so we were very excited on those developments.

00:42:50: no one has yet the full solution but that's very very exciting.

00:42:55: Well, hard to find a better ending for this episode.

00:42:58: So really thank you Michel For such fascinating yet insightful conversation on the future of genomics But also AI and also personalized health And obviously also for welcoming me to Tokyo

00:43:11: My pleasure.

00:43:11: It was really nice to meet you and have meaningful conversations today.

00:43:17: Please feel free to come back anytime whenever your in town.

00:43:21: I will count up that.

00:43:22: so Thank You very much.

00:43:24: What I found most striking were your really very insightful aspects around the society and societal mindset of the Japanese, about graceful ageing.

00:43:37: And how people are actually taking ownership on their health or well-being... ...and taken that very seriously in a personal load.

00:43:46: Secondly i've found it's striking how you shared your ideas around protecting the trust, about genetic data.

00:43:53: But also how you focus on bringing value to individuals but also a Japanese society as such.

00:43:59: and third I was deeply impressed when doing the lab tour because we were combining here under one roof management next with wet lab testing but also innovation center.

00:44:10: this is actually where in end magic happens between all those three legs.

00:44:15: So, thank you everyone for joining us today.

00:44:18: Be sure to check out other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or whatever you prefer to listen too!

00:44:26: Stay tuned for our next episode back from Europe and while I'm here in Tokyo i will check-out of course further innovations & startups From this pulsing hub And look forward being inspired myself.

00:44:39: Maybe we'll have another episode from the Asian region soon.

00:44:42: Having said that Have a nice day, take care and of course stay safe.