HealthSpan Lab

Your heart starts aging long before you notice. By the time symptoms appear, decades of silent damage may already be done. Dr. Amela Jusic, a genomics expert and translational research scientist, reveals why cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and how we can shift to proactive prevention.From childhood habits that predict lifelong heart health to microRNA biomarkers that detect hypertension years in advance, this episode bridges ancient Blue Zone wisdom with cutting-edge precision medicine.You'll learn:Why heart health begins in the mother's wombWhat centenarians teach us about "less is more"How Blue Zone wisdom informs modern drug discoveryHow AI and wearables are moving us from reactive to predictive medicineWhy your heart, "the body's first and oldest organ", deserves lifelong protectionWhether you're a parent building healthy routines, an adult monitoring risk factors, or simply curious about the future of longevity, this conversation offers a practical roadmap to protecting your healthspan.Prevention before intervention. Consistency over complexity.About our Guest: Dr. Amela Jusic is a distinguished biomedical scientist with over 15 years of experience bridging laboratory research and clinical diagnostics. A specialist in the genomics of cardiovascular disease, she currently serves as the Translational Research Lead at QuantBio in Basel and is a Faculty Member at the Geneva College of Longevity Science.With a PhD in genomics and an MBA on AI applications in precision health, Dr. Jusic is at the forefront of the "predictive medicine" revolution. She is an active contributor to several international consortia dedicated to preventive cardiovascular health, where she works to transform complex multi-omics data into life-saving treatments.

Could a single hospital stay accelerate brain aging by a decade? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Benjamin Dodsworth, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Pipra, to uncover the hidden epidemic of delirium—a condition that doesn't just complicate surgeries but fundamentally alters the trajectory of your long-term cognitive health.While the longevity community often focuses on diet and exercise, we rarely discuss the "paternalistic" healthcare system and the acute risks faced during hospitalization. Dr. Dodsworth reveals a startling statistic: suffering from delirium can increase your risk of a new dementia diagnosis by 1,400% in the following year.What You’ll Learn:The Advocacy Gap: Why you must be your own advocate in a paternalistic healthcare system that often overlooks patient perspectives.The Longevity Link: How delirium acts as a catalyst for cognitive decline and why prevention is the ultimate anti-aging strategy.AI to the Rescue: How Pipra’s fully automated AI risk assessment is helping nurses and surgeons identify at-risk patients before it’s too late.A Family’s Guide: Practical advice for supporting loved ones through surgery to ensure they come home with their cognitive health intact.Join us as we explore how to protect your most valuable asset, your mind, during the most vulnerable moments of medical care. Don't let a routine procedure become a turning point for your brain health, or for your loved ones.

Want to age with strength and vitality? Join us as we explore the science of healthy aging with Dr. Anna Erat, sports physician and Harvard Medical School graduate. We uncover the most important predictors of longevity and break down how to adapt your workout for your 30s, 40s, and beyond, with practical tips on injury prevention and managing hormonal changes.Learn how sports medicine can optimize your body and mind, with lessons from the Swiss Ice-hockey team and F1 athletes on adopting a holistic approach to health. Get an inside look at how a balanced workout that builds muscle and boosts cardio can set you up for a long, healthy life, and how recovery is just as important as training.Plus, we share simple yet powerful tools—from grip and VO2 max testing to recovery habits like saunas and cold exposure—that can transform your longevity.

Why do so many groundbreaking health tech innovations struggle to reach the market—and the patients who need them most?And just as importantly: what kind of healthcare future lies ahead of us?To close out Season 2 of The HealthSpan Lab, I invited Romy Benninga, MSc, BCMAS, to help unpack the complex journey from scientific discovery to real-world impact—and explore the innovations shaping the future of care.Romy brings a rare 360° perspective, with hands-on experience in R&D, Medical Affairs, and business development across Switzerland, the UK, EU, and the US.In this episode, we dive into:Why academic breakthroughs rarely become commercial productsWhat makes medtech and digital health particularly hard to scaleHow to navigate regulatory, commercialization, and market hurdlesThe strengths and differences between the US and EU approaches to innovation A vision for more holistic and integrated patient careWhether you're a founder, clinician, investor, or simply curious about the future of healthcare, this episode is packed with practical insights into what it really takes to bring a health innovation to life.

In this episode, Filippo Nigro, co-founder of YOU(th), joins us to explore how AI-powered health screening is making preventive care more accessible. YOU(th) is pioneering smartphone-based health tracking, using facial video, voice recordings, and eye scans to monitor key biomarkers in under two minutes—without the need for expensive lab tests.Filippo shares his journey from longevity enthusiast to founder, driven by the vision of democratizing preventive health for 8 billion people. We discuss the intersection of AI and healthcare, the challenges of scaling health tech, and the balance between bold innovation and commercial viability.Join us as we dive into the future of digital health, predictive screening, and how YOU(th) is reshaping the way we monitor our well-being.---A deep learning model for novel systemic biomarkers in photographs of the external eye: a retrospective study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(23)00022-5/fulltextThe Longevity Biotech Fellowship (LBF): https://www.longbiofellowship.org

In this episode, Gaia Salizzoni, co-founder of Hale, joins us to explore the world of FemTech and its role in addressing women’s health challenges. Hale is on a mission to diagnose and manage chronic pelvic pain—an issue affecting one in four women yet often overlooked due to cultural stigmas and medical gaps.Gaia shares how Hale is bridging this divide by combining education, community support, and hybrid healthcare solutions to make expert care more accessible. We discuss the barriers women face in seeking help, the misconceptions surrounding pelvic pain, and the systemic challenges in FemTech, from underlooked issues to medical bias.Join us as we explore how Hale is redefining gynecological health and the resilience that often drives women founders like Gaia.

In this episode, Christopher Wall–pharmacist, PhD researcher at EPFL and founder of Maven Health–shares a new approach to metabolic health monitoring using saliva-based testing. Together with his co-founder Kevin, Chris has turned their combined 11 years of research into a practical tool that analyzes 47 metabolites to assess metabolic wellbeing.During our conversation, we explore why saliva could be the future of health testing, what metabolic screening actually tells us, and the question that drives their work: are we really as healthy as we think? Whether you're curious about health innovation or simply want to understand your own wellbeing better, you will find Chris’ insights both practical and thought-provoking.Join me as we discover how years of complex research are being transformed into tools that could change our approach to personal health.

Short summary of Season 1 episodes, where I share a few highlights and learnings from each conversation.You will also hear a sneak peak about what to expect in Season 2.Enjoy listening!

Virginia Gambardella is an entrepreneur, influencer, and author of the book ‘Un Anno Per Rinascere’. I witnessed the evolution of Virginia through the years, and it is a pleasure to have the chance to share her truly inspiring story in this conversation about health at 360°.  Enjoy listening!

In this episode, my guest is Maribel Cortés—a former ballet dancer and lifelong learner of methods to improve the body’s flexibility. Together, we’ll explore different stretching techniques, including the Feldenkrais method, which is able to raise physical and psychological awareness during movements. Maribel is also an example of how you fix chronic discomforts through regular mobility exercises. Get ready to listen and be inspired!

In this episode, my guest is Jemima Cooper—founder, triathlon athlete, and former Investment Banking Analyst at JP Morgan. We will explore how sport influences your psychology and shape your brain. Jemima’s journey from classical ballet to JP Morgan also shows how your passion for sports can inform recruiters and business partners about your attitude. Get ready to listen and be inspired!

In this episode, my guest is Sandra Egloff—member of the 100 Marathons Swiss Club who is now pursuing her goal of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks. We will discuss the journey from couch to her first marathon, and explore the preparation needed to run consecutive marathons injury-free. Sandra’s story exemplifies how initial goals can gradually evolve, and how running can become a way to make new connections and travel the world. Get ready to listen and be inspired!