Bridging Academia and Biotech: Creating Innovators of Tomorrow with Jonathon Hill

Transformation in Trials

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Jonathan Hill takes us on a fascinating journey through the cutting-edge world of DNA sequencing and its revolutionary potential for early disease detection. As both an academic professor at Brigham Young University and co-founder of Wasatch BioLabs, Hill shares how third-generation sequencing technologies are transforming our ability to identify diseases years before symptoms appear.
The conversation centers on a groundbreaking approach using native methylation calling—a method that identifies specific chemical modifications to DNA—to detect neurodegeneration in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Hill explains how these diseases damage the brain for up to a decade before symptoms emerge, creating a critical window where treatment could be most effective. By detecting the unique methylation signatures of dying neurons from cell-free DNA in the bloodstream, Wasatch BioLabs' technology aims to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
What makes this platform particularly powerful is its versatility. The same technology that identifies dying neurons can be adapted to detect signatures from other dying cell types, potentially offering early diagnostics for autoimmune diseases, various cancers, and other conditions—all from a simple blood draw.
Beyond the science, Hill reveals his passion for nurturing the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs. He's created a unique ecosystem at BYU where students with innovative ideas receive the mentorship, lab facilities, and business connections needed to translate academic discoveries into real-world applications. Drawing parallels to the tech boom of Silicon Valley, Hill emphasizes that biotech is experiencing its moment of explosive innovation, though with unique regulatory and infrastructure challenges.
The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion on regulatory hurdles in life sciences and how streamlining these processes—while maintaining safety standards—could accelerate innovation and save countless lives. For anyone fascinated by the intersection of cutting-edge science, entrepreneurship, and healthcare transformation, this conversation offers an inspiring glimpse into the future of medicine.

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Chapters

1. Bridging Academia and Biotech: Creating Innovators of Tomorrow with Jonathon Hill (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to Transformation in Trials (00:00:19)

3. Third Generation DNA Sequencing Trends (00:01:32)

4. Wasatch BioLabs' Methylation Platform (00:04:44)

5. Early Neurodegeneration Detection (00:05:08)

6. Platform Benefits for Multiple Diseases (00:07:36)

7. Building the Bio-Innovations Program (00:12:16)

8. Mentoring Student Entrepreneurs (00:16:15)

9. Bridging Academia and Industry (00:23:00)

10. Reshaping Life Sciences Regulation (00:29:35)

11. Episode Closing (00:31:39)