How can you be more in control of your health diagnostics?
In this InTechnology video, Camille talks with episode co-host Srini Ananth, Managing Director at Intel Capital, and guest Michael Dubrovsky, CPO and Co-Founder at SiPhox Health. They get into the advantages of silicon photonics, SiPhox’s scalable and personalized diagnostic solutions, and keeping health data private and secure.
Learn more about Intel Capital here.
Advantages of Silicon Photonics
Camille begins by asking Michael to explain the concept of silicon photonics. Michael describes how traditional fiber optics work by channeling light through glass or other fibers using differences in the refractive index. He compares this to the evolution of transistors, which once relied on bulky vacuum tubes and lenses. Silicon photonics, however, performs this process within silicon or other chip-scale structures using lithography, enabling more precise alignment and significantly reducing costs.
SiPhox’s Scalable, Personalized Diagnostics
Michael shares how SiPhox has innovated silicon photonics for healthcare, specifically in biomarker testing and personalized medicine. SiPhox’s at-home test kits analyze proteins and hormones in blood samples. By attaching proteins to a small component on a silicon chip, the test detects shifts in resonant frequency when the target proteins are recognized, providing detailed health insights.
SiPhox’s at-home tests stand out due to their affordability, scalability, and convenience compared to traditional lab-based protein and hormone tests. Srini adds that Intel Capital sees great promise in SiPhox’s approach to personalized diagnostics, noting the broader success of at-home health monitoring devices like continuous glucose monitors, Apple Watch, and Garmin. Michael also emphasizes that SiPhox’s quantitative tests offer more detailed results than binary tests, such as those for pregnancy or COVID-19.
Keeping Health Data Private and Secure
When asked about potential privacy risks related to cyber hacking, biohacking, gene editing, and
AI, Michael assures that while DNA carries more risk, blood tests are less likely to reveal personally identifiable information. He maintains a positive outlook on the use of AI in healthcare, highlighting its potential to securely automate data management and help doctors treat more patients efficiently. Srini echoes this sentiment, believing the benefits of AI in health data management far outweigh the risks.
Srini Ananth, Managing Director at Intel Capital
Srini has served as Managing Director at Intel Capital since 2015, leading investments in deep tech, cloud infrastructure, and AI applications. He currently holds board positions or observer roles with companies including Astera Labs, IRE Labs, Common Sense Machines, Eleon, Inworld AI, VeriSIM Life, and SiPhox. Srini originally joined Intel Capital in 2012 as an Associate Investment Manager, following his role as Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Development at Intel. A Kauffman Fellow, he holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.
Michael Dubrovsky, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at SiPhox Health
Michael Dubrovsky is the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at SiPhox Health, a company he co-founded with Diedrik Vermeulen in 2020. He is also the Co-Founder of PoWx, a non-profit organization focused on using open-source hardware and software to enable energy-efficient Proof of Work cryptography via photonic integrated circuits. Michael’s research experience includes positions as a Visiting Researcher in the Solid State Thermodynamics Lab at Technion and an Advanced Study Program Fellow in Materials Science at MIT. Prior to SiPhox, he founded Simply Grid, which Fast Company recognized as one of the World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Energy. Micahel holds a joint BS in Chemistry, specializing in Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry, from SUNY ESF and Syracuse University.
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#siliconphotonics #personalizedmedicine #personalizeddiagnostics #SiPhox #IntelCapital
The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Intel Corporation.
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