WIRED Health Summit: Insights into Cutting - edge Health Technologies
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On September 9, at the WIRED Health summit held in Boston, we invited some of the preeminent experts in Crispr, whole - genome sequencing, vaccines, and other fields. They engaged in a series of illuminating conversations and keynote speeches. In case you were unable to attend in person, there is no need for concern; you can watch all the content right here.
From David Liu, the 2025 Breakthrough Prize winner, to Stepháne Bancel, the CEO of Moderna, the speakers at WIRED Health provided profound insights into the future of gene - editing, cancer treatment, and numerous other avant - garde topics. Additionally, Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent, joined us. He discussed chronic pain and his new book, It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain - Free Life.
The next WIRED Health event is scheduled to take place on April 17 in London. In the meantime, you can catch up on the highlights of our Boston summit below.
1. Correcting Genetic Errors with Crispr
Designing treatments for genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia is a formidable task. However, ongoing Crispr clinical trials offer newfound hope for patients. Hemal Jhaveri, WIRED's managing editor, conversed with David Liu, the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences laureate, to explore how novel genetic - editing tools can rectify the pathogenic gene mutations responsible for thousands of diseases.
2. Creating a Brain in a Computer
Over the past two decades, MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden has invented innovative tools for mapping and controlling the brain. Currently, he is constructing the world's first computer simulation of a brain. In this WIRED Health keynote, he expounded on how this invention can revolutionize artificial intelligence, unlock novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, and even facilitate a better understanding of the human condition.
3. The Rise of AgeTech
From digital brain training to at - home screening devices, technology is revolutionizing the way and place where people aged 50 and above live, while also helping them manage conditions like dementia and chronic diseases. Myechia Minter - Jordan, the CEO of AARP, had a dialogue with Brian Barrett, WIRED's executive editor, regarding the promise of AgeTech, the burgeoning longevity economy, and how startups are innovating to enable us to thrive as we age.
4. The Promise of Whole - Genome Sequencing
Governments worldwide, from the United Kingdom to the United Arab Emirates, are launching nationwide whole - genome sequencing projects. George Church, a Harvard geneticist, and Noor Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Orchid, spoke with Emily Mullin, a WIRED staff writer, about how whole - genome sequencing is being utilized to prevent genetic diseases.
5. Using Light to Treat Cancers, Mental Diseases, and More
In this keynote, Mary Lou Jepsen, a former Google and Facebook technical executive and now the chairman and founder of Openwater, shared an exclusive preview of her new invention: a portable modular device designed to integrate ultrasound, holography, and cutting - edge physics to precisely target and eliminate cancer tumors and other diseases.
6. Winning the War on Cancer
Cancer care still depends on slow and costly procedures developed decades ago. Liquid biopsies are transforming this scenario - replacing CT scans and surgical biopsies with a single blood test that can detect cancers at an early stage and expedite treatments. Helmy Eltoukhy, the co - founder and CEO of Guardant Health, had a discussion with João Medeiros, the WIRED Health curator, about how precision oncology is reshaping the cancer patient experience and how liquid biopsies will soon become part of routine healthcare.
7. The Cancer Vaccine Revolution
What lies ahead for the company that developed a Covid - 19 mRNA vaccine in record time? Stéphane Bancel, the CEO of Moderna, talked with Brian Barrett from WIRED about the biotech company's exciting work on individualized mRNA cancer therapies and other promising cancer treatments in development. Bancel also addressed the Trump administration's recent anti - mRNA rhetoric.
8. It Doesn't Have to Hurt: A Conversation with Sanjay Gupta
More than 52 million people globally suffer from daily chronic pain. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent and an Emmy - award - winning neurosurgeon, joined João Medeiros, the WIRED Health curator, to discuss his new book and the most effective science - based methods for treating pain.