#90 The Metabolic Signal You’re Probably Ignoring with Jari Närhi: NAD Testing, Longevity & Cellular Health
Jari Närhi, Co-Founder and CEO of NADMED, a University of Helsinki spin-out revolutionising how we understand and monitor NAD levels. With a background in mechanical engineering and a career spanning medtech, diagnostics and hospital operations, Jari brings a unique systems-level view on cellular health and innovation in clinical testing.In this episode, we explore why NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is so vital for human health, from fuelling ATP production to supporting DNA repair and immune regulation. Jari breaks down the science of NAD+, NADH and glutathione and why traditional lab methods like mass spectrometry have long failed to make NAD testing practical or scalable. We discuss the real-world impact of measuring NAD levels, from chronic illness to long COVID, and how this simple test could become as common as checking haemoglobin in the future.Jari also opens up about NADMED’s regulatory journey, the ethical dilemmas of DIY supplementation, the rise of longevity tech, and how AI will transform personalised diagnostics through pattern recognition in metabolic biomarkersTimestamps:[00:00:45] Age vs Disease: What Really Impacts NAD Levels[00:02:28] Why NAD Is Essential for Life[00:03:52] How NAD Decline Signals Deeper Health Issues[00:05:05] From Niacin to NAD: Understanding the B3 Pathway[00:06:00] CE‑Marking and Regulatory Hurdles for Diagnostics[00:06:59] How NADMED Made Testing Faster and More Accessible[00:09:02] The Ethics of Supplementation Without Testing[00:10:16] The VC Path: Funding Deep‑Tech MedTech Innovation[00:14:02] Metabolic Fingerprints and Personalised Medicine[00:17:11] AI, Data and the Future of Longevity DiagnosticsConnect with Jari - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jari-n%C3%A4rhi-38b44/ Learn more about NADMED - https://www.nadmed.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwal
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#89 Reframing Fertility with Kirsten Karchmer: AI, Cycle Health, and FemTech’s Untapped Potential
Kirsten Karchmer, founder of Conceivable, is one of North America's first reproductive acupuncturists. With a career spanning clinical practice, software development and AI integration, Kirsten brings a fresh, deeply personal perspective to the future of women’s healthIn this episode, we explore the root causes of infertility and why simply timing intercourse isn’t enough. Kirsten breaks down the concept of the “Conceivable Cycle,” how subclinical symptoms reveal deeper fertility issues, and why most women are misled by generic wellness advice. She also shares the story behind building an AI-powered virtual care platform, one designed not to replace doctors, but to give millions of women access to tools that previously cost tens of thousands in clinical care.We also talk about IVF, when it should be used, and how even women in their 40s can significantly boost fertility outcomes by improving internal health metrics. The conversation ends with Kirsten’s advice to female founders, the role of automation and AI in running a business and how her unexpected obsession with houseplants helps restore balance in a founder's high-stress lifeTimestamps:[00:00:45] From MS Diagnosis to Reproductive Medicine[00:02:26] Why Fertility Monitors May Be Doing More Harm Than Good[00:04:22] How to Actually Know If You’re Fertile[00:05:00] What the “Conceivable Score” Reveals[00:07:04] Building an AI OS for Women’s Health[00:10:15] Signs of a Healthy vs. Unhealthy Menstrual Cycle[00:13:46] When IVF Makes Sense and When It Doesn’t[00:16:03] Fertility After 35: Misconception or Reality?[00:18:00] The Resistance (and Reception) from Clinicians[00:21:02] Advice for Female Founders and Women in FemTechGet in touch with Kirsten - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-karchmer-0139808/ Learn more about Conceivable - https://conceivable.com/Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast
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#88 Hydrogel Tech and Lab Automation with Sinan Golhan: Hydrogel Robotics, Startup Fundraising and Battlefield Medicine
Sinan Gölhan, Founder and CEO of GelTech is helping scientists develop life-saving hydrogel treatments faster through automation. From cancer-fighting gels to battlefield-ready biomaterials, Sinan’s journey fuses deep technical insight with an intensely personal mission.In this episode, we talk about why hydrogels, the “Jell-O of medicine”, are so important in modern biotech, and how Sinan’s frustration with repetitive lab work led him to build robotic systems to accelerate testing. He shares hard-won lessons from early fundraising, what labs get wrong about automation, and how he turned rejection into resilience. We also dive into the world of battlefield bleeding control, nanotech-based drug delivery, and the future of AI-driven materials science.Timestamps:[00:00:18] What Are Hydrogels and Why They Matter[00:02:30] A Personal Mission: Cancer, Family and Science[00:04:45] From Lab Frustration to Robotic Innovation[00:06:33] Fundraising Real Talk: Angels, Grants, and Grit[00:10:42] How GelTech’s Platform Actually Works[00:13:33] Hydrogels in Your Fridge and in the OR[00:14:54] Why Lab Automation Isn’t a Luxury[00:16:23] The Coming Wave of Smart Materials[00:20:11] Battlefield Nanotech: Bleeding Control with Gels[00:27:25] Advice to Founders: Obsession, Vision and PersistenceGet in touch with Sinan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinan-g%C3%B6lhan-a49691b6/ Learn more about Exagen - https://www.geltechlabs.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast
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#87 Diagnosing the Undiagnosable with Dr. Brittany Partain: T-Cell Biomarkers, Clinical Trust and Women in Biotech
Dr. Brittany Partain, Associate Director of Clinical Affairs and Physician Education at Exagen has a background in biomedical engineering and a passion for problem-solving, Brittany has carved out a unique role at the intersection of diagnostics, clinical education and biotech innovationIn this episode, we explore why autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are so difficult to diagnose, and how Brittany is helping close that gap through physician education and the use of novel T-cell biomarkers. We also talk about building trust with clinicians, misconceptions around diagnostic tools, and the real challenges of advancing innovation in a field that’s historically lagging behind specialities like oncology. Finally, Brittany reflects on her journey as a female leader in MedTech, the importance of collaboration, and why passion matters when navigating a fast-paced, highly regulated industryTimestamps:[00:00:45] Why Autoimmune Diseases Are So Difficult to Diagnose[00:01:55] From Biomedical Engineering to Clinical Affairs[00:04:34] Why Rheumatology Has Lagged Behind[00:07:07] How T-Cell Biomarkers Work and What They Solve[00:09:18] What Autoimmune Diseases Are and How They Present[00:11:05] Common Misconceptions Among Clinicians[00:13:00] How Hospitals and Private Clinics React to New Tools[00:15:07] Building Clinical Trust Through Science[00:18:05] What Most People Don’t Know About Autoimmune Disease[00:21:58] Women in Biotech: Breaking Stereotypes and Leading ChangeGet in touch with Brittany - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-d-partain Learn more about Exagen - https://exagen.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast
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#86 Sepsis, Speed and Saving Lives with Dr. Rolland Carlson: Gene Signatures, Clinical Trials, and the Future of Infection Detection
Dr. Rolland “Rollie” Carlson, CEO of Immunexpress is a veteran of the molecular diagnostics space. With over 25 years of leadership across Abbott, WaferGen, Asuragen, and more, Rollie is now focused on solving one of healthcare’s most urgent crises: Sepsis.In this episode, we explore why sepsis, despite causing more than 48 million deaths annually remains so poorly understood and misdiagnosed. Rollie breaks down why early detection is so difficult, how gene expression profiling can finally distinguish between infectious and non-infectious inflammation and the real-world barriers to clinical trial design, FDA approval and physician adoption. We also cover military use cases, the lack of gold standards in sepsis diagnostics and what needs to change in how hospitals are incentivised to tackle this conditionTimestamps:[00:00:26] Why Sepsis Remains Underdiagnosed Globally[00:01:42] What Sepsis Actually Is and Why It's So Deadly[00:03:14] Who’s Most at Risk: Age, Immunity, and Beyond[00:04:25] Detecting Sepsis Through Gene Expression[00:05:39] Why Blood Cultures Aren’t Enough Anymore[00:09:14] FDA Approval Without a Gold Standard: The Regulatory Maze[00:12:39] Sepsis Isn’t Always Bacterial and Why That Matters[00:15:20] How Physicians Are Reacting to New Molecular Tools[00:17:35] Beyond Sepsis: Expansion Into Infectious Diseases[00:18:57] From Marine Biologist to Diagnostics PioneerGet in touch with Rollie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rollie-carlson-ph-d-059074a/ Learn more about Immunexpress - https://immunexpress.com/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ Follow Karandeep on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwalSubscribe to the Podcast
The MedTech Podcast shares the journey behind the path of the people shaping the MedTech industry and its future. Join me as I connect with industry leaders, thought providers and innovators.
Hosted by Karandeep Singh Badwal, Karandeep is a Quality & Regulatory Consultant specialising in the MedTech Industry. If you have any ideas for future episodes or would like to be on the podcast then feel free to connect with me via the links below
Follow Karandeep on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/
Follow Karandeep on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarandeepBadwal/
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