What Can Hibernating Squirrels Teach Us About Aging, Disease, and Human Health?: A Conversation With Dr. Ashley Zehnder
Decoding LongevityShow Notes
What can hibernating squirrels teach us about aging, disease, and human health? In Episode 28 of Decoding Longevity, we sit down with Dr. Ashley Zehnder, Co-Founder and CEO of Fauna Bio, to explore how evolution-driven drug discovery is uncovering new therapeutic opportunities for some of humanity’s most challenging diseases. Ashley explains how animals that naturally withstand oxygen deprivation, prevent fibrosis, rebuild tissues, and resist neurodegeneration may hold the key to future treatments for heart failure, metabolic disease, and age-related decline. We discuss hibernation biology, comparative genomics, AI-powered drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and how nature’s most resilient species are helping scientists identify novel therapeutic targets. Key topics include: • Hibernation as a model for regeneration and tissue repair • Comparative biology and longevity science • AI, genomics, and evolution-driven drug discovery • Brain resilience and neurodegenerative disease • Heart failure therapeutics inspired by nature • The future of biotechnology and healthy aging Guest: Dr. Ashley Zehnder Co-Founder & CEO, Fauna Bio Hosts: Dr. Raghav Sehgal & Dr. Macsue Jacques Fauna Bio: https://www.faunabio.com/ Ashley’s Talks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX-ulloH08w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmowQzL_VjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9cy7vyTUGs
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