Breakthrough Healthcare Moonshots Changing The World

Computers, software, and AI seem to be moving at a rapid pace. But improvements in healthcare and general life expectancy appear to be lagging behind. 

However, this could soon come to an end because of the sheer force of technology now available to medics and hospitals. Innovations in biological sciences combined with artificial intelligence are leading to breakthroughs that were scarcely imaginable even five years ago. 

We look at some of the most audacious moonshots out there in terms of health and well-being in this article. These are right on the forefront of what’s currently scientifically possible and what may soon become available during the late 2020s and early 2030s. 

Generative Drug Discovery

One of the most exciting technologies is generative drug discovery. Labs and researchers all over the world are using AI to simulate drug molecule combinations in the human body to determine which have the highest likelihood of success when translated to clinical trials. 

Elsevier’s ClinicalPath is now using biomarker data at the point of care. The hope is to combine this with drug discoveries so that new candidates can be found quickly and easily based on existing research. AI isn’t necessarily starting from scratch and doesn’t require quantum computing to perform every single protein fold that occurs. Instead, it is using data already available to search for candidates in the nearby chemical space that might hold promise. 

Precision Nutrition

At the same time, lifestyle interventions are going to see a significant upgrade in the coming years with Precision Nutrition. Precision Nutrition uses genomic data to determine the optimal diet that somebody should eat. It enables them to receive a personalized nutrition plan based on their DNA results, leading to lower risks of conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

When it comes to food, everyone’s preferences and requirements are slightly different. While the general pattern is towards less processed food and more unprocessed food, the specifics of that transition require knowing more about a person’s DNA and overall biology. 

Now that there are various labs working on this, it is becoming possible for people to tailor their nutrition to their specific requirements. This could have a significant impact on reducing the trillion-dollar global chronic disease cost. Giving communities the data that they require to live competently and well and in a full state of wellness will help. 

Drone Medical Deliveries

Drone-based medical deliveries may also see an increase in uptake in the coming years. So far, there are a few trial projects around the world designed to deliver supplies to rural and remote communities in places like Africa and Southeast Asia. However, cutting delivery times in other parts of the world would also be beneficial, particularly when it comes to things like keeping antibiotics and vaccines fresh. 

Many technology companies see drone delivery as a moonshot medical innovation that will save up to a million lives in underserved regions by the year 2030. 

The downside of this approach is the risk. However, drones are likely to be deployed in parts of the world where air traffic is minimal, and the skies are mostly free and open. 

Personalized Cancer Vaccines

Personalized cancer vaccines are another exciting area of research. These vaccines build on the mRNA success seen during the Covid pandemic when new vaccines were able to specifically target the spike proteins on the surface of the virus.

Cancer vaccines will provide cells with the proteins that they need to fight off the elements that lead to the development of cancer, allowing cells to either destroy themselves or deal with carcinogenic elements proactively. 

There is even discussion that mRNA technology could reduce the impact of multiple diseases. And there may even be a possibility of developing a universal vaccine that can target virtually any disease, including non-communicable diseases like cancer. 

Smart Surgical Instruments

In the future, smart surgical devices may also play a role. With the developments in robotics in recent years, these tools are becoming exponentially more powerful and may be ready for the clinic within five years. 

These solutions work because companies embed them with AI. Equipping them with sensors and a sort of limbic system allows them to make their way around the body and determine the best way to make incisions and to remove tissues where necessary. Research shows that robotic systems that make use of artificial intelligence are significantly less likely to make mistakes, including accidentally causing a patient to bleed internally. 

Hearing Tech

Emerging innovations in hearing care are also generating excitement. The ability to pack more features on hearing aids is leading to the possibility that people may be able to deal with hearing loss more efficiently. 

Again, the critical technology here is artificial intelligence. A.I. can process incoming sounds and make them more understandable to patients with hearing loss. A.I.s are able to clear up noise and background information, feeding only the sounds that the wearer wants to listen to. Artificial intelligence is also able to provide improved directional hearing, which was something that was very difficult to achieve on standard hearing aids in the past. 

GLP-1 Blockers

Obesity is a significant global health problem, now affecting more than a billion people. Rising obesity rates increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic syndrome conditions, like heart disease and even cancer. 

However, GLP-1 drugs are enabling many people to lose up to 20% of their body weight. This reduction can reduce someone’s BMI from an extremely dangerous 30 to a more acceptable 24-26. While most people don’t return to their ideal weight, they can get closer to the normal weight range when taking these drugs. 

By 2030, new versions of GLP-1 inhibitors are likely to be on the market. These may provide fewer side effects and offer more exciting results for patients wanting to use them. 

In general, the future of health looks bright. While the last 20 years have been a little bit quiet, and we haven’t seen the breakthroughs that many expected, technologies are now converging in a way that makes them possible. The combination of AI and biological sciences means that health and lifespan extension is almost inevitable.