Science Ama Series: Hi Reddit! I’m Brian Hanley, PhD and CEO of
Butterfly Sciences. I work on gene therapies (and vaccines) and I am a
subject in my GHRH clinical trial. AMA!
Abstract
Hi Reddit! I’m Brian Hanley, PhD and CEO of Butterfly Sciences, in Davis
CA. I work on gene therapy approaches to aging, HIV/AIDS, adaptation to
space, and the future. I designed a system that should be able to rescue
late-stage AIDS patients, and GHRH was part of that. However, VCs told
me that pharma wouldn’t buy the company because they had drugs for
HIV/AIDS and the pharma business model is daily consumption of drugs.
Pharma does not like the “surgical model”. I was aware of the
potential for health-span extension from the start, and decided to
emphasize that. This trial is in its 2nd year, and results look quite
promising. However, the same pharma business model issues apply to most
of gene therapy. I was recently featured on MIT Technology Review
magazine
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603217/one-mans-quest-to-hack-his-own-genes/
I have other motivations for thinking gene therapy is important. I think
that we will need it to adapt to settlement of space and other planets.
From radiation adaptation and virtual elimination of cancer, to
preventing osteoporosis and muscle breakdown, space will be a frontier
for gene therapy. I also think it is a way we can use to change our
age-bulge demographic problem. When social security was first created,
there were around 6 working adults for every retired person being
supported. Now, we are heading towards 2. Gene therapy has the potential
to change the infirmities of old age and make people strong for life.
Ask me anything about gene therapy and how it can be used in space
settlement, to treat age-related health issues and HIV/AIDS. (Caveat - I
cannot respond to personnel questions, nor can I give out proprietary
information.) AMA is now over. It was fun.