Let's Live Longer and Better, American Academician Leno Hood: Preventing Diseases and Diseases through Phenotypic "Spiders" | Health | United States
"Our vision is to prevent diseases through the 'clues' of human phenotype, so that we can live to 90 years old." On July 3, the third Pujiang Science Masters Forum was held in Xianghui Hall of Fudan University, and Leno Hood, academician of the Fourth American Academy of Sciences, foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Rasker Prize winner, and co sponsor of the Human Phenotype Group Program, delivered a keynote speech. He mentioned that for example, blood routine is a common phenotype group that can objectively describe our physiological situation.
"Treating diseases before they occur" can inspire each other between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine
As the CEO of the American Phenotype Group Health Organization, a project led by Leno Hood has generated a health data cloud for more than 5000 people. Its short-term goal is to start with type II diabetes and carry out observational research on four major chronic diseases. Its long-term goal is to plan to create a science of "health and disease prevention" through research on a population of one million people over 10 years.
He mentioned that 86% of healthcare expenses in the United States are spent on chronic diseases. "In fact, one to four years before being diagnosed with cancer, there will be a certain biomarker in the human body that behaves differently. If we have enough individual samples, we can use big data analysis to study the risk of different people developing a certain disease and provide personalized intervention plans." For example, researchers have found a strong correlation between protein PCSK9 and high blood lipids, and blocking it may lower blood lipids.
When it comes to "preventing illness", Leno Hood believes that traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine can inspire, collide, and learn from each other. "At present, the world's most advanced phenotype group research and development centers are located in the United States, Israel, and Shanghai, China. Shanghai has great technological advantages, while the United States is more powerful in biological data analysis. In the future, we hope to find a starting point to further deepen international cooperation among the three parties."
It is reported that with the support of major science and technology projects at the municipal level in Shanghai, a team of Chinese scientists led by Fudan University has built the world's first cross scale, multi-dimensional, and one-stop precision measurement platform for human phenotype groups; Complete the world's first natural population deep phenotype queue with over 24000 phenotypes measured per person; The first human phenotype group navigation map was drawn, revealing strong associations between over 1.5 million phenotypes.
In the next 15 years, people can use their phones to check their health at home
"I have witnessed seven paradigm shifts in the field of biology, each of which has brought enormous challenges to research architecture, organizational methods, and thinking. I also have a profound understanding that these shifts have initially raised doubts." Leno Hood explained that in the 1970s, engineering was introduced into biology, which brought about engineering biology; In the 1990s, the Human Genome Project sequenced and synthesized proteins; During the same period, interdisciplinary studies emerged, breaking down disciplinary barriers; Entering the 21st century, the paradigm of systematic biology research has emerged; At the same time, predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory research has emerged in the fields of health and disease; Since 2015, precision health research has emerged, and blood has become an important "window" for understanding health and diseases; Since 2020, artificial intelligence has been introduced into individual big data analysis to evaluate the health trajectory of an individual's body, brain, and intestines.
In these seven paradigm shifts, Leno Hood founded the Department of Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Washington and served as the department head, which was the first academic department dedicated to interdisciplinary biology. During this time, he also co founded 17 biotechnology companies.
Leno Hood emphasized the data-driven nature of artificial intelligence, believing it to be an important trend and direction for the future, just a matter of time. Take the familiar "traditional BMI index" as an example, which is a simple indicator derived from height and weight, with limited ability to capture complex metabolic and physiological differences; The Biological BMI Index integrates various molecular big data to capture heterogeneity in metabolism and gut microbiota structure, identify multidimensional characteristics of obese individuals, and provide recommendations for lifestyle interventions.
"In the next 15 years, the cost of data collection will be greatly reduced, and people can use their phones to check their health at home, benefiting everyone," predicted Leno Hood.
Leno Hood. Photo by Huang Haihua
[Suggestion for young students: When entering a plateau in life, one should switch tracks]
How to live longer and happier? "Be sure to do more aerobic exercise." Leno Hood, 85, gave his "secret". He loved various sports when he was young and still does 100 push ups every day. "Adequate sleep is important, as well as stress management and meditation. Don't eat too much, exercise more, and struggle with your body."
When it comes to advice for young students, Leno Hood said that life trajectories generally go through upward, plateau, and downward phases. He suggested that when entering the plateau phase, one must switch tracks in order to maintain continuous upward and accelerating growth. As for how to make directional choices during the platform phase, he believes that no one can tell us the answer. "You are a sensor yourself, as long as you integrate your interests and energy, it will truly inspire you. When I was pursuing my PhD, I received two suggestions: first, to stand at the forefront of science, and second, to change a certain discipline, new technologies need to be invented. When I started my career at California Institute of Technology, I adopted this suggestion."
