Power to the Patients (Brandon Li)

In this episode, Scott Schliebner, a life sciences and digital health executive with experience across the biopharma, CRO, medtech, and non-profit sectors, discusses the evolution of patient-centricity. With over 30 years of experience, Scott provides insights into patient-centered design in clinical research. 

The discussion also covers the necessity of using more humanizing terms for patients, the crucial balance in patient recruitment, the role of patient advocacy, and the future of the industry.

Topics Discussed:

• Introduction to Scott Schliebner, a life sciences and digital health executive
• Evolution of patient involvement in clinical research
• Discussion on the current state of the industry and areas for improvement
• Introduction to Power's platform, designed to streamline interactions between patients and researchers
• Future developments in healthcare and the role of patient-centricity
• Consideration of the administrative burden of clinical trials and potential ways to accelerate the process
• Importance of building relationships with advocacy groups and providing a range of clinical trial opportunities for patients
• Closing remarks on the future of patient-centricity in clinical research, and an invitation to listeners to join the ongoing conversation

Links:

Scott Schliebner

In today’s healthcare landscape, the term ‘patient-centric’ has been showing up more and more. It emphasizes the importance of considering the patient’s needs, experiences, and preferences. In the realm of oncology clinical trials, patient-centricity plays a pivotal role. But achieving it isn't easy. 

In this episode, our guest Deb Kientop, a pharmaceutical professional with 27+ years of experience, including research, clinical, medical affairs, strategy and management, explores the complex world of patient-centric oncology clinical trials. Deb shares her personal experiences, and provides a unique perspective on the intricacies involved in achieving patient-centricity in these trials. Tune in to explore the hurdles that exist in crafting patient-centric clinical trials, the role that collaboration plays in clinical trials, and how to dismantle barriers that deter patients from accessing clinical trials. 

Topics Discussed: 

• Deb's personal experiences with clinical trials and how it highlights the importance of patient-centricity in oncology clinical trials.
• Challenges in designing patient-centric clinical trials for oncology patients due to varying patient pathways and needs.
• The role of patient advocacy groups and advisory boards in incorporating the patient voice into clinical trial protocol design.
• Practical considerations like time, effort, and potential travel that affect protocol inclusivity. 
• Importance of understanding data in context, technology use, and timelines when designing protocols and selecting sites. 
• Necessity of alignment between CRO and sponsors and the approach needed for successful clinical trials. 
• The critical role of collaboration among the sponsor, CRO, and investigator. 
• Importance of removing barriers for patients to access clinical trials and equipping patients and caregivers with the necessary information. 
• Logistical considerations in clinical trials, such as frequency of visits, travel assistance, and insurance coverage.

Links: 

Deb Kientop 

As the dedicated Foundation Manager for the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation (PRRF), Stephanie Saville offers a unique and enlightening perspective into the specialized area of pediatric retinal research. The PRRF is a volunteer-driven organization that focuses on rare pediatric retinal diseases, offering support for children and adults who experience vision loss.Throughout our conversation, Stephanie emphasized the challenges rare diseases face and explored the complexities of rare disease research.

Stephanie believes in the importance of understanding the 'why' behind the diagnosis, and the power of patient stories in driving change. Stephanie offers insights on how organizations can work with advocacy groups like the PRRF to drive change together.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in rare disease advocacy, and the power of patient stories.

Topics Discussed:

• An introduction to Stephanie Seville, the Foundation Manager for the Pediatric Retinal ResearchFoundation (PRRF), and an overview of the organization's focus on rare pediatric retinal diseases
• The volunteer-driven nature of the foundation
• Where Stephanie sees progress coming from and next steps in the journey
• The importance of the foundation’s biobank in understanding and finding the cause of rare pediatric diseases, and the challenges faced in this field such as funding and research complexity
• The intricacies of rare disease research, and the potential roles of pharma, biotech companies, and other organizations in supporting these initiatives
• The concept of "power to the patients" in the rare disease space, and the need for patients to be their own advocates and share their stories
• The importance of inclusivity and access in clinical trials, and how these can be ensured for patients with rare diseases
  

Links: 

Stephanie E. Saville 

Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation 

Today’s guest is Bryan Wylie, Global and Scientific Director of Clinical Affairs, Operations, and Field. He joins today’s episode to share his thoughts about the significance of patients in the process of clinical trials and how harnessing technology can enhance the overall success of clinical trials. 

This episode explores the intersection of patient-centricity, technology, and efficiency. Bryan provides valuable insights on the importance of putting patients at the heart of clinical studies and how technology is transforming the way these trials are conducted. Bryan also discusses the role of sponsors, effective pre-planning, and team collaboration in improving patient enrollment and enhancing overall trial efficiency. 

Topics Discussed: 

• The importance of patient-centricity in clinical trials and how it contributes to the overall success of these studies. 
• The role of sponsors in simplifying complex scientific data for patients, thus enhancing patient interaction and participation. 
• The application of AI technology in clinical studies, including the concept of a safety score decipherable by patients. 
• The potential of technology in helping sites manage resources efficiently and tailor patient follow-ups. 
• The importance of effective pre-planning and team collaboration in improving patient enrollment in clinical trials. 
• The use of modern tools for patient education and recruitment to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. 
• The potential risks and mistakes sponsors might make when implementing new methods. 
• The challenges and solutions for patient recruitment in medical device trials. 
• The impact of streamlining enrollment and creating an easier application process on trial retention and diversity. 

Links: 

Bryan Wylie 

In this episode we delve into the topic of patient centricity in clinical trials with Dr. Anthony Yanni, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Patient-Centricity at Astellas Pharma Inc. Dr. Yanni shares what patient-centricity means for him and how it is integrated both operationally and culturally at Astellas.

We explore how specialized teams work collaboratively to transform patient information into practical solutions, and the conscious patient-awareness that is a fundamental part of every role at Astellas. You'll also discover some innovative programs that bring patient-centricity to life.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:52) Dr. Yanni’s career and how he ended up in his current role
• (00:02:14) What patient-centricity means to Dr. Yanni 
• (00:04:12) Bringing in patient-centricity as a culture 
• (00:06:13) Bringing interested patients into the R&D side of operations 
• (00:08:15) Decisions that go a different direction due to more patient-centricity 
• (00:10:38) How to gather impactful insights
• (00:12:02) Presenting to the research team
• (00:14:32) How clinical operations insights translate to the recruitment space
• (00:16:16) How behavioral science factors in
• (00:18:35) What the pharma industry side gets wrong about patient-centricity today
• (00:21:08) Quantifying the impact of a patient’s interest
• (00:25:15) The first things to do when taking a new company on the journey Astellas has been on
• (00:26:49) How to reach out to Dr. Yanni

Links:

Dr. Anthony Yanni

Today’s episode features Victoria DiBiaso from Sanofi. Victoria provides a detailed analysis of patient-informed development and the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in clinical trials. With her unique perspective stemming from her nursing background, she explains the significance of patient-centric trials and the future of healthcare. 

Throughout the episode, Victoria elaborates on effective communication with patient communities, the significance of trust-building, and how understanding social determinants of health can aid in forging strong relationships with patient advisors. The episode further explores the world of drug development, from considering patient-relevant endpoints to health scales and label opportunities.  

 Topics Discussed: 

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:51) Victoria’s background and how she ended up in her current role 
• (00:02:32) An explanation of patient-informed development 
• (00:03:48) The meaning of patient centricity 
• (00:06:13) Stumbling blocks to patient centricity 
• (00:08:14) What cross-industry collaboration is like 
• (00:09:41) Cross-industry collaboration milestones 
• (00:12:07) The new voice Victoria wants to bring forward 
• (00:16:56) How the new programs will fit into patients’ lives 
• (00:18:48) How to talk about clinical trials in language patients want to hear 
• (00:19:53) Important factors in implementing patient-centric solutions in clinical trial programs 
• (00:21:24) Victoria’s thinking about what parts of patient disease strategy are shareable and standardizable 
• (00:23:28) What the future of patient-centric clinical trials looks like 
• (00:25:16) What modern patient recruitment means  
• (00:26:53) How Victoria would change clinical trials overnight if she had a magic wand 
• (00:29:44) How to learn more about what Victoria is doing 
  

Links:  

Victoria DiBiaso 

Explore the world of clinical trials with our guest, Megan Liles. Drawing from her 25+ years of experience, Megan offers a practical perspective on the importance of prioritizing patients in clinical trials. She discusses the role of patient advisory boards, improving access to clinical trials, and understanding the real-life impact on patients. Megan emphasizes the significance of incorporating patient-centric approaches into clinical trial design.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:01:06) Megan's background and current role
• (00:05:01) What goes into making patients stakeholders
• (00:09:03) Why clinical trials aren't already easier for patients to navigate
• (00:16:24) How sites and site design are part of making patients stakeholders
• (00:19:59) The success of and concerns about physician referrals
• (00:25:07) The unpredictability of clinical trials
• (00:27:54) What Megan thinks everyone is getting wrong today
• (00:29:49) Flexibility in GCPs
• (00:32:45) What's productive in the space of improving awareness and access to patients that should be considering clinical trials
• (00:38:00) Facebook as a tool
• (00:39:47) How a protocol has to be designed for it to be feasible for the patient's real life
• (00:41:12) Ideas that looked promising during the pandemic that haven't worked out

Links:

Megan Liles

How much do you know about the behind-the-scenes process of clinical trials? Our guest today, Farah Meghji, has a unique perspective on the matter through her role at Roche Canada, where patient experience sits at the heart of every stage of solution development. We're thrilled to share her insights on balancing the urgency in clinical trial development with the necessity of embedding patient experiences from the start, transforming the way we think about patient-inclusive culture. Farah also elaborates on how Roche Canada is revolutionizing patient education materials to be more accessible and user-friendly.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:46) What Farah’s current role entails
• (00:01:18) The initiatives that Farah’s team takes on 
• (00:02:13) The patient journey that spans R&Ds through post-marketing
• (00:03:36) What being the chair of the above-brand patient council entails 
• (00:05:19) Examples of things implemented to further the patient experience
• (00:06:41) The differences in patient education communication in Canada
• (00:07:58) How Farah thinks about the patient experience from the R&D side of things
• (00:13:18) Analysis of the top barriers for patients as they think about trials
• (00:16:06) Specific initiatives to address barriers to patients
• (00:19:04) Trends in where patients are going for information and how they’re using the internet to take control of their situation
• (00:22:40) The approaches to finding empowered patients today
• (00:24:20) What Power could do to have the most impact
• (00:31:08) How Farah hopes to see the industry evolve
• (00:35:32) Farah’s final thoughts for the audience
  

Links:

Farah Meghji

In today's episode, Sasha Sinclair discusses the current challenges and emerging solutions shaping the future of patient recruitment and engagement in clinical trials. Sasha has a comprehensive background in clinical operations that allows her to share an informed perspective about how digital strategies and improved education can transform the landscape of clinical research, making it more accessible and inclusive for patients everywhere. She talks about the problem of patients not having access to trials and how to approach it, the new patient recruitment strategies she's excited about, and how the patient's journey affects the decisions made along the way. 

 Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction 
• (00:00:56) Sasha’s background and her current role 
• (00:02:38) Why patient recruitment is such a struggle currently 
• (00:03:59) The ceiling on the percentage of providers that could feasibly do research and why it's limited 
• (00:04:50) How to crack the problem of patients not having access 
• (00:06:27) What an informal exchange of knowledge is and how it works for the patient 
• (00:08:13) How Power's platform plugs into the broader ecosystem 
• (00:10:39) What modern patient recruitment means to Sasha 
• (00:12:19) The core components Sasha looks for in a modern patient recruitment strategy 
• (00:14:56) New strategies and approaches Sasha is excited about in patient recruitment strategies 
• (00:16:54) Piecing together tools for recruitment strategies 

• (00:20:06) How to think about the incremental investment to be made in recruitment 
• (00:23:06) The proactive versus reactive approach at the beginning of studies 
• (00:24:50) Understanding the patient journey and the decisions that get made as a result 
• (00:26:18) How to think about patient self-advocacy as a sponsor running trials 
• (00:27:15) How a comprehensive effort from all stakeholders could change the game in research 

Links: 

Sasha Sinclair 

Today, we sit down with Robin and Dave Dubin from the AliveAndKickn Foundation, who share their inspiring journey with Lynch Syndrome. Robin explains the genetic intricacies of this hereditary cancer predisposition, emphasizing the crucial role of genetic counseling and the proactive measures taken for their children as previvors.  

Dave, a three-time cancer survivor, offers an account of his experiences, shedding light on the motivations behind the foundation's establishment and the significance of patient advocacy. Together, they reveal how personal battles can transform into movements that champion patient-centric approaches in the healthcare landscape. 

Topics Discussed: 

(00:00:00) Introduction 

(00:01:10) Robin’s background 

(00:05:07) Screening for Lynch syndrome  

(00:07:08) The history of the foundation and what it does  

(00:09:10) The biggest challenges in raising awareness for Lynch Syndrome  

(00:11:12) What is most effective in educating patients’ families on Lynch Syndrome  

(00:12:25) Interacting with larger biopharma and biotech companies pursuing research in this space 

(00:15:43) The vaccine for Lynch Syndrome 

(00:19:29) Increasing awareness for older patients 

(00:22:24) How the foundation tries to educate the clinical community 

(00:26:43) The countries the foundation focuses on 

(00:28:49) Helping patients communicate with their families 

(00:32:46) How people can get involved and support AliveAndKickn 

Links:  

Robin Beth Dubin  

Dave Dubin 

In this episode, Dr. Dan Karlin, Chief Medical Officer at MindMed, talks about the potential of psychedelic therapies, especially LSD, to help treat anxiety. He shares his personal journey through psychiatry and addiction medicine, discussing the limitations of traditional treatments and the hope that psychedelics might bring. We dive into MindMed’s research on how LSD could impact generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with Dr. Karlin explaining how it works and the importance of therapy alongside these treatments. This insightful conversation explores how MindMed is leading the way in developing new solutions for mental health, which could change the way we treat anxiety.

In this episode, we sit down with Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin, to discuss the growing interest in psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. Doug talks candidly about his initial skepticism and how the data convinced him to dive into the world of psychedelic medicine. With decades of experience in drug development, Doug shares why he believes psilocybin represents a new approach to mental health care—one that could provide alternatives to traditional treatments like SSRIs.

We explore Cybin's ongoing research, the results from their recent phase two studies, and what’s next as they prepare for phase three trials. Doug also discusses the challenges of working in a field that still faces regulatory hurdles and public stigma, and how his company is navigating these complexities.

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the potential of psychedelics in medicine—what's real, what's still uncertain, and what the future might hold for patients seeking new options for managing depression and anxiety.

If you're curious about the science behind psilocybin or want to understand where the field of psychedelic medicine is headed, this episode offers an honest and grounded perspective from a leader in the space.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Winton, Founder and Chairman of Rural Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for mental health services in rural America. Jeff shares his deeply personal story of how a family tragedy inspired the creation of Rural Minds and sheds light on the mental health crisis in rural communities, where stigma and lack of access to care create unique challenges. He talks about his career in the biopharmaceutical industry and how it shaped his approach to advocacy. From the isolation of rural life to the growing pressure on fragile healthcare infrastructures, Jeff emphasizes the urgent need for mental health equity and offers insights into how we can better support underserved populations. Listen in to learn more about how Rural Minds is making an impact and why storytelling is central to breaking the silence surrounding mental illness in rural America.

In this episode, Brandon Li sits down with Cosmo Feilding-Mellen, CEO of Beckley Psytech, to explore the groundbreaking work Beckley is doing in the world of psychedelics. Cosmo shares his journey growing up in a family immersed in psychedelic research, co-founding Beckley Psytech, and pushing the boundaries of mental health treatment with next-generation compounds like 5-MeO-DMT.

Tune in to discover why Beckley Psytech is focusing on shorter, scalable psychedelic treatments for conditions like treatment-resistant depression and substance use disorders. Cosmo explains how their innovative approach aims to make these therapies more accessible while maintaining high ethical standards, balancing cutting-edge science with compassionate care. Learn about the future of psychedelics as pharmaceutical medicines, and what it takes to develop new treatments in this rapidly evolving field.

In this episode, Jessica Branning, President of JBran Consulting and former CEO of ClinCloud, shares her  work in creating accessible and patient-focused clinical research sites in the neuropsych space. Jessica’s journey takes us from her early days as a clinical research coordinator to founding ClinCloud, a fully remote-capable site specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia trials.

Tune in as we dive into:

• How technology like EMR integrations and virtual pre-screening is transforming patient recruitment.
• The importance of building an ecosystem of support for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
• Key challenges and learnings in making clinical trials more accessible, including community engagement and education.

Whether you’re in clinical research, patient care, or interested in the latest in neuropsychiatry trials, Jessica’s story of building a compassionate, tech-forward site is sure to inspire.

In this episode, Brandon Li sits down with Srinivas Rao, Co-CEO of atai Life Sciences, for a deep dive into the pragmatic strategies shaping the future of psychedelic therapies. Srini shares how his background in engineering and neuropharmacology has informed a streamlined, patient-centric approach to drug development.

Key topics include:

• The evolution of atai Life Sciences, from a fund to a biotech company.
• Innovative drug delivery approaches, like DMT oral thin films, and why simplicity and scalability matter.
• Balancing diverse compounds and therapeutic areas with a focused portfolio strategy.
• Advancing research in areas like social anxiety disorder and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
• Tackling clinical trial challenges, including the placebo effect and trial design complexities.

Tune in to hear how a pragmatic lens is redefining what’s possible in neuropsychiatric drug development.

In this episode, Brandon Li sits down with Manish Agrawal, Co-Founder and CEO of Sunstone Therapies, to discuss the transformative role of psychedelics in cancer care and mental health. 

Manish shares his journey from oncology to leading groundbreaking research in psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasizing its profound potential to address emotional and psychological needs that traditional medicine often overlooks.

Key topics include:

- Manish’s career pivot: Why seeing unmet emotional needs in oncology patients inspired Manish to transition into psychedelic research.

- Complexity of psychedelic therapy: How combining psychedelics with psychological support creates a unique treatment model.

- Challenges in research: How subjective patient experiences challenge traditional clinical research methods.

- Patient stories: Profound moments of transformation, from facing mortality to finding peace and acceptance.

- The future of psychedelics in healthcare: How tailored approaches can integrate psychedelics into mainstream care while addressing stigma and operational challenges.

Tune in to hear how Manish Agrawal and Sunstone Therapies are navigating this exciting frontier.

1. Patient-Centric Design: Clinical research often prioritizes researcher convenience over patient experience. Katie advocates designing trials with patients as true partners, incorporating motivations beyond financial incentives, such as learning, community, and altruism.
2. Diversity and Equity: Building diversity into clinical trials from the planning stage is essential. Katie highlights the importance of including representative voices early on and addressing barriers like geographical and digital divides.
3. Digital as a Bridge: Digital tools are not just for convenience; they can bridge gaps in access to clinical trials for underserved populations, especially in rural areas.
4. Learning from Consumer Industries: Drawing from her experience at Disney, Katie stresses the importance of creating a seamless and engaging experience for participants. From onboarding to returning results, every touchpoint should enhance patient trust and retention.
5. Reducing Barriers Through Behavioural Science: Katie highlights how applying behavioral science principles, like A/B testing and understanding participant motivations, can address key drop-off points in clinical trials. This approach ensures that trials are not just functional but also participant-friendly.

In this episode, Brandon Li speaks with Kabir Nath, CEO of Compass Pathways, about their groundbreaking work in using psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Kabir shares his personal connection to mental health, the journey of Compass Pathways, and their rigorous approach to clinical trials. The discussion also delves into the broader potential of psychedelics, regulatory challenges, and the importance of patient-centric innovation.

Key takeaways:
- Psilocybin for TRD: Compass Pathways focuses on treatment-resistant depression, addressing a critical unmet need for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies.
- Pioneering Clinical Trials: Their phase 3 trials are the largest ever conducted for psilocybin, emphasizing safety, durability of results, and robust evidence generation.
- Expanding Indications: Beyond TRD, Compass is exploring the potential of psilocybin for conditions like PTSD, highlighting its versatility as a therapeutic tool.
- Patient-Centered Innovation: Kabir emphasized the importance of rigorous, ethical research to build trust and ensure equitable access for vulnerable populations.
- Psilocybin vs. MDMA: The conversation highlighted the pharmacological and therapeutic differences between psilocybin and MDMA.
- Policy and Public Perception: Managing public hype and addressing regulatory hurdles are key to ensuring the successful integration of psychedelics into mental health care.

On this episode of Power to the Patients, we are joined by Amit Etkin, Founder & CEO of Alto Neuroscience and adjunct professor at Stanford, to explore how precision psychiatry is paving the way for more tailored approaches to mental health care. Amit discusses his journey from academia to founding Alto, the role of biomarkers in advancing treatment, and Alto's work on precision psychiatric medicines for MDD.

Key Takeaways:

- Precision Psychiatry in Practice: Amit shares how precision psychiatry applies biological insights, such as EEG biomarkers, to better understand and treat mental health conditions. While still emerging, these tools hold promise for improving care for patients.

- Biomarkers and Individualized Treatment: EEG biomarkers are being used to study how individual brain activity can guide treatment choices. Amit explains how these data-driven methods could reduce the need for trial-and-error in psychiatry.

- Amit’s Shift from Academia to Industry: Leaving a tenured position at Stanford, Amit founded Alto Neuroscience to create scalable solutions for unmet needs in psychiatry. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of translating science into real-world applications.

- ALTO-300, Advancing MDD Treatment: ALTO-300 is being developed as an adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients who haven’t responded to a first-line antidepressant. By using EEG biomarkers, Alto aims to identify patients most likely to benefit, potentially improving outcomes and speeding up recovery.

- The Future of Precision Psychiatry: While precision psychiatry is still an evolving field, Amit emphasizes the importance of collaboration, rigorous testing, and scalable tools to make meaningful progress in mental health care.

In this episode, Brandon Li sits down with Raymond Sanchez, former CMO of Cerevel, now at Bain Capital Life Sciences, to discuss the neuroscience renaissance—the explosion of new treatments, novel mechanisms, and scientific breakthroughs reshaping the future of neuropsychiatric research.

Ray shares his career journey, from early psychiatry research at Yale to scaling Cerevel from 3 to 350 employees and guiding it to a $8.7B acquisition by AbbVie.

Key topics include:
- The neuroscience renaissance: What’s driving renewed investment and innovation in brain research.

- Research in schizophrenia: How muscarinic drugs like KarXT and Emraclidine could change the treatment landscape for schizophrenia.

- The challenge of clinical trials in psychiatry: Why subjective measures, variability, and rising placebo effects make trials so difficult—and why we urgently need objective biomarkers.

- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research: Why disease-modifying therapies are the next frontier, and what’s still missing.

- Precision neuroscience: The promise of biomarkers, digital tools, and personalized medicine—and how long it might take to reach clinical practice.

Ray also shares one of his hopes for the future: developing validated biomarkers that can make psychiatric trials more objective and accelerate drug approvals.

How do we move from a system that treats disease to a system that cares for individuals? Dr. Anthony Yanni, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Patient Centricity at Astellas Pharma Inc, has spent his career shaping patient-centricity—and in this episode, he shares a framework for embedding it into drug development, clinical trials, and healthcare delivery.

We cover:
- Building a patient-focused culture—why real patient centricity is an active process, not a slogan
- Bridging the gap between research and real-world care—ensuring patient input guides drug development from the start
- Mental health & neuropsychiatry trials—why patient voices must be front and center in an area long overlooked
- Patient burden & clinical trials—how early engagement can improve recruitment and retention
- Trust in pharma—why patient relationships must be built on transparency, collaboration, and listening first

Dr. Yanni also shares insights from his new book, A Bandana and a Bluebird: The Path to a Patient-Centric Healthcare System.

In this episode, Brandon Li sits down with Dr. Jordan Smoller - Jerrold F. Rosenbaum Chair in Psychiatry at Mass General, Co-Director for the Center for Suicide Research and Prevention at MGH and Harvard, Director of the Center for Precision Psychiatry, and a professor at Harvard Medical School, to explore the future of psychiatry. They discuss how AI, big data, and genomics are transforming mental health care—bringing us closer to precision psychiatry that moves beyond trial-and-error treatment.

Dr. Smoller shares his journey from early psychiatric research to leading one of the foremost centers in precision psychiatry, tackling some of the biggest challenges in mental health.

Key topics include:

• The promise of precision psychiatry – Why psychiatry has lagged behind other fields in precision medicine, and how AI and genomics are closing the gap.
• AI in suicide prevention – How electronic health records and machine learning models could predict suicide risk for earlier intervention.
• Rethinking antidepressant treatment – Why 50% of patients don’t respond to their first antidepressant, and how predictive modeling could reduce trial-and-error prescribing.
• Drug development breakthroughs – How genomics and AI are identifying new targets for psychiatric drug development and improving clinical trial success rates.
• Digital tools & biomarkers – The role of wearables, vocal biomarkers, and real-world data in improving diagnosis, treatment selection, and monitoring.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Shawn Singh, CEO of Vistagen, to discuss a first-of-its-kind approach to treating mental health conditions. Vistagen is developing pherines, a new class of nasal spray treatments that work through nose-to-brain neural pathways, with the potential to provide fast-acting relief for conditions like social anxiety disorder and depression—without systemic exposure, weight gain, or addiction risk.

Key Takeaways:

• Mental health treatments haven’t changed in decades. Traditional antidepressants come with slow onset, side effects, and compliance challenges—patients need better options.
• Vistagen’s pherines offer a completely new approach. These nasal sprays use neural circuits to deliver rapid effects without entering the bloodstream, eliminating common side effects.
• First-ever Phase 3 success for acute treatment of social anxiety disorder. Vistagen’s lead drug, Fasedienol, showed rapid and significant anxiety reduction in a public speaking challenge study.
• Non-systemic treatments could change the future of medicine. Unlike traditional pills, pherines don’t require processing through the liver or bloodstream—reducing toxicity and drug interactions.
• This could be a once-in-a-generation shift in neuroscience. If successful, pherines could reshape treatment standards for mental health and beyond.

John Krystal, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale, joins Brandon Li to discuss his groundbreaking work on ketamine's antidepressant effects and the evolving landscape of psychiatric treatments. Dr. Krystal was at the forefront of the discovery of ketamine's rapid antidepressant properties in the 1990s. Dr. Krystal shares insights from his career - his pioneering work on the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, exploring its journey from a misunderstood drug to a revolutionary treatment backed by rigorous research, its development into a treatment by Johnson & Johnson, and its dramatic impact on patients. The conversation also explores the future of psychiatric research, addressing the convergence of neurobiology, psychotherapy, and neuromodulation to create more effective, personalized treatments for disorders like schizophrenia and depression.