SXSW SESSIONS
SXSW sessions I’ve successfully conceptualized and pitched for UC San Diego since 2025.
From Neanderthal DNA to the Dark Genome: Diversity Explained [2026]
What sets modern humans apart from our cave-dwelling ancestors? The answer: genetic variations that may have hindered Neanderthals from advancing socially & technologically. That's according to Alysson Muotri, PhD, whose work creating brain organoids from stem cells — & studying them on Earth & in space — is shedding light on the factors that make present-day people unique — & especially susceptible to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's & autism. Plus: how the Dark Genome might shape personality, & why it all matters for the future of human aging, medicine, & the colonization of Mars.
Bespoke: How AI is Ushering in the Era of Precision Genetics [2026]
The pioneering base-editing method of Alexis Komor, PhD, was recently used to create a custom therapy for an infant with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1, a deadly rare disease. Her colleague, Gene Yeo, PhD, favors another new approach: RNA-targeting precision therapeutics, which he used to target ALS & aid a child with developmental epileptic encephalopathy. Both employ AI to discover the roots of polygenic diseases — from the ultra-common like diabetes & heart disease to the ultra-rare — & decode the Dark Genome. More on the promise the technology holds for the future of personalized treatment.
Reconstructing the Human Brain in the Lab [2025]
What makes us uniquely human? One of the most influential characteristics of modern humans is our sophisticated brains. Surprisingly, it is extremely difficult to study the human brain; it develops in utero and then is protected by the skull. What if we could re-create the brains of live people in the lab? Here, we will explore how scientists generate brain organoids from stem cells and use them to study diseases, consciousness, and brain evolution. Moreover, brain organoids at the International Space Station are teaching us about aging and will help with interplanetary exploration.
Guardians of Youth: Stem Cells & Human Longevity [2025]
Are stem cells a veritable fountain of youth? Do they hold the key not only to radiant appearance, but to increased life- & health-span? University of California San Diego stem cell biologist Rob Signer, Ph.D., will outline an intriguing new research paradigm — one in which the focus shifts away from targeting singular disorders like cancer & Alzheimer's, toward addressing a common cause. "The No. 1 risk factor for these conditions is aging," Signer says. "If we can understand & target mechanisms of aging, we should be able to prevent multiple diseases & improve personal & population health."
Want To Achieve Health Equity? Democratize Health Data [2025]
Health equity is a crucial yet complex goal, with many variables at play. One thing is certain: It can't be achieved without the democratization of health data. Allowing patients access to their ePHI enables them to champion their own care & potentially reach their own diagnoses — especially with the advent of generative AI & Health 3.0. A cancer researcher, a scientist who co-founded a personalized medicine company, & a critical care doctor/health equity expert discuss what it will take to realize this aspiration — and the significant benefits to personal & population health that will result.
