Ben Lamm Represents The Potential Of Biotech, And Why We Should Keep Supporting Innovators
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in genetic engineering, health care, and medical research could lead to significant improvements in human health and our ecological environment in the decades ahead. But biotech innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide will have to overcome a global political environment that has suddenly become skeptical of science, expertise and public health in general.
Last week, 20,000 scientists, executives, investors and startups descended upon Boston for the BIO 2025 Convention – the largest medical research and biotech convening in the world. The convening took place amidst significant opportunity – and turmoil, in health care worldwide. The rapidly expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence are unlocking new opportunities to develop new drugs, therapeutics, wearables and devices. But BIO also comes at a time of significant declines in government funding for basic science and R&D, as well as a drop in global leadership around public health challenges like pandemic preparedness.
BIO 2025 Exhibition Hall
In 2025, the United States is expected to announce cuts of 40-60% to the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Yet American states are offering biotech's R&D credits, seed funding, lab space and commitments to improve their workforce and academic institutions. Nations around the world, sensing opportunity, are also rolling out the red carpet to attract the top scientists in the world. BIO itself highlighted the importance of building public trust in biotechnology and working with regulatory bodies to streamline approvals for innovative products.
Colossal Biosciences is a great example of a biotech startup at the intersection of these trends and challenges. Founded by legendary geneticist Dr. George Church of Harvard and MIT, and serial AI entrepreneur Ben Lamm, Colossal is pioneering the use of CRISPR technology in the de-extinction of previously lost species, including the Dire wolf. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, nearly 50% of all animal species could be endangered of becoming extinct by 2050. According to Lamm, 'We are the back-up plan. It's like, when we jump out of a plane, we all hope the parachute is going to open, but just in case, we want to have a back-up emergency 'chute. Colossal is that back-up.'
The company defines de-extinction as the process of generating an organism that both resembles and is genetically similar to an extinct species by resurrecting its lost lineage of core genes; engineering natural resistances; and enhancing adaptability that will allow it to thrive in today's environment of climate change, dwindling resources, disease and human interference.
The Dire Wolf, as imagined by Colossal Biosciences
Such ambition and optimism were pervasive across BIO. Scores of startups today are using artificial intelligence for health care delivery, hospital operations, digital health platforms, diagnostics, patient monitoring tools, revenue cycle management, and even regulatory and compliance innovations. Biotech startups are using AI to improve drug discovery, target validation and optimize clinical trials. CRISPR, the ubiquitous gene editing tool now used in drug discovery, continues to improve as more genomes are mapped.
Colossal has developed a set of new software tools and technologies, along with CRISPR gene editing technology to resurrect these specific species but to also build a 'de-extinction toolkit' that can be used for difference animal species as needed. According to Chief Science Officer, Dr. Beth Shapiro, a world-renowned evolutionary molecular biologist and a leading figure in the field of ancient DNA and paleo genomics, 'we are developing a modular system that combines gene editing, cryopreservation, synthetic biology, and cloning to preserve, restore, and recreate species.'
As an example, the team at Colossal uses the genetics of the used the genetics of the closet relative of the team successfully used comparative genetics with its closest living relatives, the gray wolf, to fill in critical gaps in the genetic sequence. That cloning research that came from the project has immediate impacts on red wolf conservation and will serve as a critical tool for all canid restoration in the future.
The biotech industry worldwide continues to grow in importance, and no doubt there will be continued investment in the basic science, R&D and commercialization that drives important companies like Colossal and others. It is less clear whether that leadership will come from the United States or other nations – such as the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Japan or elsewhere? We don't know what areas of innovation those nations will prioritize, and whether or not important moonshots – like bringing back the woolly mammoth, will be on their radar. American leadership – scientific, political and financial, needs to remain committed to improving health of humans and the planet at large.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
10 minutes ago
- Forbes
Recycling Shells For Baby Oysters Reaps Financial, Environmental Gains
Oysters on a table. Recycling oyster shells from restaurants not only provides reef habitat for new oysters and other fish, but it also benefits the marine economy and enables the mollusks to improve the environment by filtering water. People in government and nonprofit organizations are rallying to create oyster habitats especially by collecting discarded oyster shells to return back to the water for new oysters. 'Oysters are remarkable. They provide many benefits to the ecosystem they live in. They are filter feeders—they clean the water as they eat. And they grow in reefs, which provide great habitat for many other species. But in many places, their population has plummeted,' says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today oyster habitats are threatened by water pollution, dredging, lost wetlands, diseases, overfishing and damaged reefs. NOAA and other organizations are working to restore oyster habitat around the country. For example, the NOAA restoration center has provided grants to some 70 oyster rehabilitation projects in 15 states. According to NOAA, because oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay 'are only at about 1-2% of historical levels due to disease, pollution, habitat loss, and overharvesting,' its Chesapeake Bay office is helping groups in Maryland and Virginia restore oysters in 10 bay tributaries by the end of this year. An oyster reef in North Carolina built to dissipate wave energy and slow erosion from sea-level ... More rise. Living in salty or coastal waters, oysters can in shells, along piers and on top of rocks. Because they cluster together, oysters can create reefs and provide habitats for other marine life, including other fish. The reefs can also benefit the environment by preventing erosion along shorelines and creating protective water barriers to deter storms surges during hurricanes. Oysters are also known for their ability to clean water. 1 oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day. 'The clearer, cleaner water can support plentiful underwater grasses, which—like the oyster reef—create a stable bottom and a safe, nurturing habitat for juvenile crabs, scallops, and fish,' NOAA says. To create habitat Oyster fishing in Massachusetts. Oyster sales in the United States during 2023 amounted to $326.9 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Census of Aquaculture. In fact, oysters accounted for the largest (56.8%) share of the $575 million in national mollusk industry sales that year—followed by clams (38.6%), mussels (3.9%), and abalone and other mollusks (both less than 1%). In addition there were 900 oyster farms in the United States in 2023 compared to 701 in 2018. The states with the largest oyster farms were Massachusetts (191), Washington (116), Florida (92), Virginia (87), Maine (79), Maryland (45), Rhode Island (40) and New York (37). The USDA defines an aquaculture farm as a site where at least $1,000 worth of aquaculture products were produced, sold or distributed during the census year. Oyster reefs also create communities for other types of fish that can be caught and sold as food. Oyster shells being moved to stockpile. The nonprofit North Carolina Coastal Federation, founded in 1982, works to restore the state's coastline, which includes oyster restoration. Receiving state federal and other funding the federation has invested nearly $36.2 million during the last 12 years in its oyster sanctuary program to create several hundreds of acres of habitat for oysters. The habitat created is a network of no-harvest oyster reefs to provide larvae to reseed the wild population and support harvested oyster reefs. Commercial and recreational hook-and-line fishing is allows there. 'Oyster populations, worldwide, are at record lows. Despite some recovery in recent years, in North Carolina, it is estimated that oysters are at about 15-20% of historic harvest levels. Oyster harvest is currently the best measure of the oyster population in our state,' says the Coastal Federation. 'In the state of North Carolina, it is illegal to dispose of oyster shells in landfills or use them as mulch for landscaping since they are needed for reef building in our sounds.' North Carolina Coastal Federation sign for oyster shell recycling. Currently, the federation has drop-off sites for recycled Oyster shells at 3 regional offices and locations in 10 counties. 'Every dollar invested in the program—regardless of its source—created a return on investment of $1.71 in economic and environmental benefits,' noted a federation independent study released in 2024 called the 'Economic Impacts of Oyster Sanctuaries: Key Insights (2013–2023).' The study looked at $20 million invested by the state of North Carolina from 2013 for a 10 year period ending in 2023. Findings revealed that investment supported 143 jobs generated $34 million in local business revenue. The state investment also yielded $8.7 million in employee wages/benefits plus $1 million in state and local tax revenue. Furthermore, the study noted that the state investments in oyster habitats brought in $14.5 million in recreational fishing, $11 million in commercial fishing and $12.5 million in environmental services. Commenting in February about the study was Stephanie Krug, a NOAA marine habitat resource specialist: 'Investing in oyster reef restoration means investing in all of the benefits these reefs provide and the benefits of the restoration work itself. This report is vital in telling that story.' In 2023, the federation received a $14.9 million federal grant from NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation to increase by next year the oyster reef sanctuary to 500 acres. At the end of 2023, oyster sanctuaries had been created on 389 developed acres in North Carolina waters. Workers on the Mullica River blast 680 bushels of clam and oyster shells from Atlantic City ... More restaurants to make an oyster reef. In May, members of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shell Fisheries won the Governor's Team of Excellence Award for the department's shell recycling program. Started six years ago, the program has planted 240 tons of shells enabling 24 million baby oysters to live in Mullica River oyster reefs. The program involves recycling oyster and clam shells from partner restaurants in Atlantic and Cape May counties. The shells are collected and cured for at least six months before being planted on oyster reefs. This effort removes discarded shells from landfills and provides materials for oyster habitats. 'With the recent acquisition of grant funding through NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program, the program continues to expand by partnering with new restaurants and installing public shell drop-off locations, thereby increasing the number of shells collected and recycled,' noted a media release about the award. Shells are collected once a week and taken back for storage and curing. Every June and July, the shells are loaded onto a barge and taken to Mullica River oyster reefs. Then the staff uses high pressure water cannons to put the shells back onto reefs. Reef building in North Carolina with recycled oyster shells. This type of little known recycling project involving shells has multiple benefits for not only people and nature. At the same time, this type of effort is one that can be replicated in U.S. waters to improve both marine life and the blue economy.
Medscape
13 minutes ago
- Medscape
US Neonatal Mortality Rate: Unveiling the Perinatal Causes
TOPLINE: The neonatal mortality rate in the US decreased from 1999 to 2022, with deaths from interstitial emphysema and related conditions showing the steepest decline, yet mortality from slow fetal growth and malnutrition rose by nearly 2% annually. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was conducted to examine neonatal mortality rates from 1999 to 2022 using data sourced from CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, with diagnostic codes used to identify the cause of death related to perinatal complications. The top 10 causes of neonatal death were identified based on cumulative frequency over the study period. Mortality rates were stratified by sex, delivery method, birthplace, and age at death. TAKEAWAY: From 1999 to 2022, 283,696 neonatal deaths were reported owing to perinatal complications, with male neonates accounting for 56.2% of deaths. The top 10 causes accounted for 79.8% of the deaths. Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight were the leading cause of neonatal deaths, with a crude rate of 102.10 per 100,000 live births. They were followed by deaths in newborns due to maternal complications of pregnancy and issues related to the placenta, cord, and membranes. Mortality from interstitial emphysema and related conditions showed a steep decline, followed by respiratory distress from the perinatal period, with annual average percent changes of -5.40% (95% CI, -6.20% to -4.64%) and -3.63% (95% CI, -4.45 to -3.00), respectively. Mortality from slow fetal growth and fetal malnutrition increased by 1.91% annually (95% CI, 0.46%-3.82%), whereas mortality due to maternal complications and bacterial sepsis in newborns remained stable. IN PRACTICE: 'US neonatal mortality has generally decreased, likely due to medical advancements, improved prenatal care, and neonatal intensive care interventions.' the authors wrote. 'Vaginal deliveries were associated with nearly three times the neonatal mortality rate of cesarean deliveries, potentially due to complications, such as birth trauma and prolonged labor.' SOURCE: This study was led by Muzamil Khan, MD, of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. It was published online on June 23, 2025, in JAMA Pediatrics. LIMITATIONS: This study could not assess important nutritional factors, such as exclusive breastfeeding rates, which may influence malnutrition outcomes. It focused only on perinatal causes influenced by healthcare and excluded congenital malformations. Each death was assigned a single diagnostic code, limiting the capture of coexisting conditions. DISCLOSURES: No funding source or conflicts of interest were disclosed by the authors. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Associated Press
The first Humanoid Robot Presses the Button at NASDAQ to Launch First AI-Native Curriculum for U.S. Classrooms
NEW YORK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a landmark moment for education and technology, this Wednesday a humanoid robot powered by OpenMind 's OM1, the world's first open-source, AI-native operating system for robots, pressed the button to celebrate an ETF listing on the NASDAQ. The symbolic gesture marks the first time a robot has participated in a financial product launch on behalf of both a technology platform and an educational initiative. The event is the result of a collaboration between OpenMind and Robostore, the largest U.S. distributor of Unitree robots, and signals the beginning of a new era where intelligent machines play a direct role in both financial innovation and real-world education. As part of this partnership, OpenMind and Robostore are proud to announce the rollout of the first widely adopted educational curriculum for the Unitree G1 humanoid robot across K–12 public schools in the United States. The curriculum is designed to be platform-agnostic and adaptable to various robotic form factors, offering students hands-on experience with real-world robotics and AI applications. 'Robots are becoming collaborators in our classrooms, co-workers in our industries, and contributors to our economy,' said Jan Liphardt, Founder and CEO at OpenMind. 'By bringing robotics education to public schools at scale, we're helping students not just use AI, but shape its future.' The curriculum combines foundational STEM concepts with AI programming, applied mechanics, and ethics in human-machine interaction. This collaboration lays the foundation for a scalable, inclusive robotics education infrastructure that aligns with national goals around AI leadership, workforce development, and technological equity. About OpenMind: OpenMind is building the decentralized architecture for intelligent machines to think, collaborate, and act across hybrid environments. OM1 is an open-source operating system for modular robotics. FABRIC is a decentralized network for robot identity, communication, and coordination. Together, they provide the foundation for safe, governable, and interoperable robots. OpenMind enables developers and researchers to build intelligent, networked machines that move fluidly between the physical and digital worlds. Contact: Paige Xu Head of Growth [email protected]A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
