Sci-Tech Conclave 2024: A Confluence of Minds
IISc's Longevity India Initiative convened leaders from academia, industry, and healthcare, showcasing cutting-edge longevity research and fostering collaborations to transform healthy aging in India.
On August 23, 2024, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in Bangalore buzzed with excitement as it hosted the Longevity India Sci-Tech Conclave. This landmark event, orchestrated by the Longevity India Initiative (LII), brought together the brightest minds from academia, industry, and healthcare to tackle one of humanity's most pressing challenges: ageing and healthspan.
Setting the Stage for Innovation
The day began with warm welcomes from Dr. Navakanta Bhat (Professor & Dean of Interdisciplinary Sciences, IISc) and Dr. Usha Vijayraghavan (Professor & Dean of Biological Sciences, IISc). Their opening remarks set the tone for the day, emphasizing the critical need to merge technological advancements with academic insights.
Dr Deepak K Saini, Professor and Convener of LII, then took the stage to deliver a compelling address. He challenged the audience to shift their perspective from a reductionist, treatment-centric approach to a more holistic, preventive, and generalist view of modern medicine. This paradigm shift, he argued, is crucial for addressing the complex challenges of ageing.
The conclave's agenda, meticulously crafted to cover all aspects of longevity research, was presented by Dr. Shovamayee Maharana, Assistant Professor and a key member of the LII team. The day was structured into three pivotal sessions:
Biomarker Discovery & Diagnostics
Therapeutics & Interventions
Wellness & Lifestyle Medicine
These sessions, comprising nine research talks and two-panel discussions, promised a comprehensive exploration of the current state and future directions of longevity research.
Keynote: India's Unique Position in the Longevity Landscape
The keynote address by Mr. Prashanth Prakash, Co-founder of Accel and LII's first philanthropic donor, was a highlight of the event. Prakash painted a vivid picture of India's potential to lead the global longevity revolution. He outlined the three pillars of Medicine 3.0:
Precision medicine
Continuous tracking and monitoring
Regenerative medicine
Drawing parallels to India's leapfrog advancements in telecom and digital payments, Prakash posited that the absence of entrenched pharma-healthcare nexuses could accelerate innovation in longevity research. He emphasized the critical role of systems biology in tailoring longevity advancements to India's unique population.
Panel Discussions: Where Theory Meets Practice
1. Building in Biomarkers & Diagnostics
This panel, moderated by Dr. Saini, brought together industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of health monitoring:
Mr. Mohit Kumar (Founder and CEO, Ultrahuman) traced the evolution of wearable devices from simple step counters to sophisticated health monitors.
Mr. Gaurav Agarwal (Co-Founder and CTO, TATA 1mg) highlighted the transformation in diagnostics, citing examples of point-of-care devices and continuous glucose monitoring.
Dr. Vijay Chandru (Co-Founder and Director, Strand Life Sciences) discussed the democratization of genomics through decreasing costs.
Mr. Kumar Sankaran (Founder, Leucine Rich Bio) provided insights into the nascent field of microbiome research.
The discussion underscored the importance of integrating multiomics data with the biome and the need for continuous monitoring. Dr. Saini emphasized the necessity of studying healthy individuals to better understand biological age and health.
2. Advances in Longevity Therapeutics
Moderated by Dr Ramray Bhat (Assistant Professor, LII team), this panel delved into the complexities of geriatric care:
Dr Vishal Rao (Physician Oncologist and Dean, HCG) and Dr Harshavardhan Rao (Prof. of Gastroenterology, MS Ramaiah Hospital) highlighted the heterogeneity of the geriatric population and the concept of homeostenosis: a concept that older people need to spend more energy to maintain homeostasis, and are more vulnerable to challenges.
Dr Vishal Rao introduced the concept of "mass customization" in elderly care, balancing personalized approaches with scalable solutions.
Dr Subba Rao (Professor, IISc, LII team) discussed the challenges of studying ageing at the cellular level and in animal models, emphasizing the need for more advanced research paradigms.
Research Talks: Innovations at the Forefront
The conclave featured presentations from cutting-edge startups and established companies:
Leumas showcased its revolutionary digital technology for personalized care in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
DecodeAge presented advanced genomic tools for high-resolution metagenomics, offering new insights into the human microbiome's role in health and ageing.
Iom Bioworks shared findings from a pilot study mapping 838 microbes to 262 metabolites, linking these to the 12 hallmarks of ageing.
Potential Health Development (PHD) demonstrated a holistic approach to health optimization using advanced diagnostic tools like VOâ‚‚ max testing and DEXA scans.
Other notable presentations came from reWise Health, Bruker, Savikalpa Sciences, and Terra Bioware, covering various aspects of biomarker discovery and therapeutic interventions.
Bridging Academia and Industry
Dr. Chiranjib Bhattacharyya (Professor, LII team) delivered a special presentation highlighting potential areas for industry collaboration. This was followed by a talk from Mr Omprakash Subbarao, Chief Executive at the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), IISc, further emphasizing the importance of academia-industry partnerships.
Fireside Chat: Building Longevity Frameworks
Industry leaders Mr Prashanth Prakash (Accel), Mr Rajesh Reddy (Founder, Project Serotonin), and Mr Saravanan Balakrishnan (Founder & CEO, Amura) shared insights into the future of health optimization. Key points included:
The potential of AI in delivering personalized health solutions
Development of data-driven platforms for tracking user behaviour and optimizing health interventions
A Gen AI tool capable of analyzing meals from photos and identifying nutritional gaps
The importance of sleep discipline in overall health
Academia to Industry: Nurturing Biotech Innovation
A panel discussion featuring Anmol Trehan (Nucleate Canada), Nicholas Roby (Nucleate France), Amruth Bhat (RA, LII team), and Debolina Chakraborty (Postdoc, IISc), moderated by Dr. Kaushik Chatterjee (Professor, LII team), explored pathways for translating research from laboratories to markets. The session highlighted Nucleate's Activator Program and its potential expansion into longevity research in India.
Venture Capitalist Mixer
The event concluded with a venture capitalist mixer, where investors discussed the potential of health and longevity domains in the context of the silver economy. This session provided a refreshing perspective for academics, as VCs shared their own healthspan-focused lifestyles.
Culinary Innovation
Even the catering reflected the event's focus on health and longevity. Lunch, provided by GoNative, featured a variety of healthy plant-based options. High tea, catered by Eat Fit, offered healthier snacks and juices, demonstrating that nutritious food can also be delicious.
Key Takeaways
The Longevity India Sci-Tech Conclave successfully highlighted India's potential to lead in longevity research and healthcare innovation. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and technology sectors, the event laid the groundwork for sustainable solutions aimed at improving the quality of life and longevity for future generations.
Looking Forward
As Dr Suramya Asthana (Lead Coordinator, LII) presented the LII journey so far, and Dr Annapoorni Rangarajan (Professor, LII team) delivered the closing remarks, it was clear that the Longevity India Initiative is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health and wellness in India and beyond.
Participants
The event saw participation from a diverse range of organizations:
Industry & Start-Ups
Acasta Health, Cordana Ecosystem, Decode Age, Indus Roots, Iom Bioworks, Leumas, Live Ivory, Orange Health, Papyrus Dx, Rewise Health, Rove Health, Savikalpa Sciences, Terra Bioware, Wisdom Circle, TATA 1mg, Beckman, Bruker, Danaher, L'Oréal, Leucine Rich Bio, Potential Health Development, Serotonin Labs, Strand Life Sciences, Genotypic, Ultrahuman, Unilever, Valerian Proteomics, The Fasting Studio, Truweight, Behavioural Foresight, Nano Bio Labs, Beckman, Amura health, Orange Health, Valerian, Fitterfly, and DSM
Hospitals and Clinicians
AIIMS (New Delhi), Apollo Spectra Hospital, Arka Anugraha Hospital, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, BMCRI, HCG, Health Metabolics, MS Ramaiah Hospital, and Rejuage Medical Center
Universities and Educational Institutes
Adamas University, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, and inStem
This diverse participation underscores the multidisciplinary nature of longevity research and the growing interest in this field across various sectors in India. As we progress, the Longevity India Initiative continues to pave the way for groundbreaking research and innovative solutions in the quest for healthier, longer lives.
