Episodi

  • The 20-Year Industry Secret: Redefining Neurodegenerative Treatment

    The 20-Year Industry Secret: Redefining Neurodegenerative Treatment
    Jan 9 2026
    In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li sits down with Dr. Gabriel Vargas, Chief Medical Officer at CuraSen Therapeutics, to explore how targeting the adrenergic system could offer both symptomatic relief and disease-modifying potential for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and depression. From his two decades developing breakthrough therapies in neurology and psychiatry, including the migraine treatment Erenumab, Dr. Vargas breaks down translational medicine, challenges the amyloid hypothesis, and reveals why shorter clinical trials may be missing the bigger picture.
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    53 min
  • One Mechanism, Three Conditions: A New Direction in Neurological Treatment

    One Mechanism, Three Conditions: A New Direction in Neurological Treatment
    Dec 3 2025
    What if inflammation was the key to unlocking treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Long COVID? In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li sits down with Cuong Do, CEO of BioVie, to explore the fascinating intersection of these seemingly unrelated conditions. From diving into medical research at the age of 14 to leading groundbreaking clinical trials, Cuong shares invaluable insights on biotech innovation, trial design, and navigating today's challenging funding landscape. Tune in to discover how a single molecule's unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier could potentially transform treatment for millions of patients.
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    35 min
  • Why Traditional Psychedelics Miss 90% of Neurology Patients - And The Solution

    Why Traditional Psychedelics Miss 90% of Neurology Patients - And The Solution
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li sits down with Dr. Chris Witowski, CEO and Co-Founder of Psilera, to explore the fascinating intersection of psychedelics and neurodegeneration. Discover how non-hallucinogenic compounds could revolutionize treatments for conditions like frontotemporal dementia, why traditional psychedelics may have overlooked neurodegenerative applications, and the future of neuroplasticity-based therapies. From biomarker development to innovative drug delivery systems, this conversation offers deep insights into an emerging frontier in neuroscience that could transform patient care beyond traditional psychiatric applications.
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    42 min
  • Inside the ALS Breakthrough: 20-Year Journey to FDA Approval with Dr. Joseph Palumbo

    Inside the ALS Breakthrough: 20-Year Journey to FDA Approval with Dr. Joseph Palumbo
    Nov 5 2025
    In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li and Dr. Palumbo, Chief Medical Officer at BioVie Pharma, explore the evolving landscape of neuroscience research, the critical differences between big pharma and biotech approaches, and promising new pathways for treating conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or industry professional, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how inflammation-focused treatments and systems biology could revolutionize neurological disease treatment.
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    40 min
  • Why Clinical Trial Speed Kills Success - And What Top Sponsors Do Instead ft. Steve Brannan

    Why Clinical Trial Speed Kills Success - And What Top Sponsors Do Instead ft. Steve Brannan
    Oct 21 2025
    What if you could learn the secrets behind one of psychiatry's most significant breakthroughs in decades? In this episode of Power to the Patients, host Brandon Li sits down with Steve Brannan, Chief Medical Officer of Karuna Therapeutics, to explore the art of clinical trial excellence, the future of precision psychiatry, and the untold story behind developing the first new-mechanism schizophrenia drug in decades. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or industry professional, this conversation reveals invaluable insights about trial methodology, site relationships, and the delicate balance between speed and quality in drug development. Tune in to discover why clinical operations excellence might be the most underappreciated factor in successful psychiatric drug development.
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    41 min
  • Dr. Anantha Shekhar on the Convergence of Psychiatry, Neurology, and the Next Era of Brain Medicine

    Dr. Anantha Shekhar on the Convergence of Psychiatry, Neurology, and the Next Era of Brain Medicine
    Oct 15 2025
    In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li speaks with Dr. Anantha Shekhar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Shekhar shares how his early experiences with a family member’s schizophrenia inspired a lifelong mission to bridge neuroscience, psychiatry, and translational research. They explore how psychiatry and neurology are rapidly converging, why the future of mental health treatment lies in understanding brain circuits and plasticity, and what AI, precision medicine, and synthetic biology might mean for the next generation of therapies. Dr. Shekhar also reflects on his pioneering work developing xanomeline—the first novel mechanism of action for schizophrenia in over 70 years—and offers hard-won lessons on trial design, translational gaps, and maintaining scientific rigor in a complex field. A fascinating conversation on the science—and the humanity—behind reshaping how we understand and treat the brain.
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    50 min
  • Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC Pharma, on Innovation and Hope in Alzheimer’s Care

    Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC Pharma, on Innovation and Hope in Alzheimer’s Care
    Sep 23 2025
    In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li speaks with Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC, about groundbreaking approaches to Alzheimer’s care. Ram shares how his team is developing an ultra-low dose THC-based therapy to reduce agitation and neuroinflammation without sedation, and how AI models may transform early diagnosis for millions worldwide. Their conversation highlights both the science and the human urgency behind innovating for patients and caregivers facing Alzheimer’s.
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    40 min
  • Brandon Bentzley, CSO and Co-founder of Magnus Medical, on Precision Psychiatry and Rewiring Depression

    Brandon Bentzley, CSO and Co-founder of Magnus Medical, on Precision Psychiatry and Rewiring Depression
    Sep 17 2025
    What if we could treat severe depression in just five days — and give patients back the cognitive control to live their true lives? This week on Power to the Patients, we sit down with Brandon Bentzley, MD, PhD, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Magnus Medical, to talk about the future of precision psychiatry and the breakthrough SAINT™ protocol.
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    1 ora e 8 min