DNA sequencing, which is the foundational technological enabler of things like precision medi-cine and genetic testing has seen one of the most staggering cost decline curves in history. With the genetic testing landscape evolving so rapidly, stakeholders are struggling to keep up with developments. Today's guest is Rob Metcalf, CEO of Concert Genetics, a company looking to connect the genetic health information network and simplify the often-murky world of genetic test-ing. In this episode, we hear about Rob’s entry into healthcare and his interest in the intersection of tech and real-world problem-solving. Realizing there is potential not only for innovation but al-so for business growth, Concert—with Rob at the helm—has done exciting work to enable prac-tical solutions. Rob does not sugarcoat the complexity and the strides that still have to be made, so we hear about some of the obstacles in healthcare currently. Through a practical example, we gain insights into the complexity of the moving parts of genetic testing. The conversation also touches on direct customer payments and the exciting way this drives costs down. Of course, it is only one aspect of increased affordability, as Rob highlights, but it is an area where great shifts are happening. Along with this, we also unpack the way that COVID is likely to bring about change and the importance of understanding the economic significance of genetic testing devel-opments and innovation. Do not miss out on this incredible, timely discussion.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• The Human Genome Project and the progress in DNA mapping progression since.
• Some of the barriers of translating genomes into clinical practice.
• Rob’s background in machine learning and his transition into the healthcare space.
• That we are coming into an age of personalized medicine where research is being applied.
• Unpacking the major pain points in the healthcare space and the moving parts.
• Understanding the patient experience through the example of non-invasive prenatal screening.
• The complexity that comes with getting paid by an insurer in this space.
• How direct cash payments from patients changes the dynamics of pricing.
• Why the oncology space and treatment are not likely to be shifted by patient payment.
• The exciting developments in the earlier stages of cancer diagnostics.
• The outcomes of testing developments are as much economic and health.
• How COVID and heightened awareness generally is likely to impact testing and diagnostics.
• The digitization of healthcare and some of the opportunities it holds.
• Data struggles are already happening now because of infrastructure constraints.
• Personalized health is a multi-stakeholder problem, which makes it so complex.
• Topics at the Genetic Health Information Network Summit.
• Concert’s approach to finding solutions for practical problems.

Tweetables:

“At a very high level, I think we are, with genetics and personalized medicine, trying to solve some important problems around health. We're trying to find cures for diseases. We're trying to im-prove the health of our follow humans and we’re trying to do that in a way that leverages a grow-ing understanding of the world around us.” — Rob Metcalf [0:07:50]

“We’re trying to enable and advance personalized medicine by building some of the fundamental infrastructure that enables people to do the math.” — Rob Metcalf [0:10:11]

“The question in situations, genetic testing, like that [cancer] is what is the value of the genetic test as it relates to the overall set of outcomes and cost of those outcomes? We're not well-equipped to answer that question today.” — Rob Metcalf [0:28:46]

“We want services that are coming to bear, tech-enabled, Moore’s law driven innovations, that drive down prices in these things where people see value. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to need experts and societies and infrastructure to collect and measure data to do utility studies. It just means it shouldn’t be the only thing, the only horse we’re betting on.” — Rob Metcalf [0:44:05]

“Change does not just come from big organizations and government decrees; it actually comes from people, relationships, understanding the problem, defining the problem, and working to-gether.” — Rob Metcalf [0:48:10]

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