Health Tech: Ludmil B Alexandrov Of io9 On How Their Technology Can Make An Important Impact On Our Overall Wellness

An Interview With David Leichner

Be Resilient and Adaptable: Developing technology that impacts society positively requires resilience. From adapting to a new culture to overcoming personal and professional challenges, resilience has been critical in staying focused on the mission to improve cancer care and patient outcomes.

In recent years, Big Tech has gotten a bad rep. But of course many tech companies are doing important work making monumental positive changes to society, health, and the environment. To highlight these, we started a new interview series about “Technology Making An Important Positive Social Impact”. We are interviewing leaders of tech companies who are creating or have created a tech product that is helping to make a positive change in people’s lives or the environment. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ludmil B. Alexandrov, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder, io9.

Dr. Ludmil Alexandrov is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Alexandrov received his Ph.D. in 2014 from the University of Cambridge researching mutational processes and signatures in human cancers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Dr. Alexandrov then went on to research as an Oppenheimer Fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory from 2014 to 2017 before becoming an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UCSD in 2018. He was appointed as an Associate Professor at UCSD in 2021.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?

Thank you for having me and inviting me to share my story. I was born and raised in Bulgaria, where I lived until I was 17. In 2003, due to economic and political instability, my parents made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States for better opportunities.

We arrived in the U.S. with hope, but adapting to a new culture, language, and education system required resilience and determination. My parents worked tirelessly, instilling in me a strong work ethic. Financially, times were tough, and I worked night shifts as a caregiver in an assisted living facility during my late teenage years to help support the family.

Despite the cultural shock and financial pressures, I excelled academically, completing my undergraduate degree with honors in just 2.5 years. This success led me to pursue fully funded graduate studies at the University of Cambridge in 2009. After earning my PhD, I returned to the U.S. for postdoctoral training and began my independent research career. My graduate studies deepened my commitment to scientific excellence, particularly in cancer research, which shaped my career direction and led to the co-founding of io9 a company dedicated to improving cancer care worldwide.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

One of the most impactful experiences in my career occurred before it officially began, during my night shifts as a caregiver in an assisted living facility. I interacted closely with residents who, despite their wealth and success, faced their final days in loneliness. This experience profoundly influenced me, highlighting that achievements alone don’t measure a life well-lived. It underscored the importance of relationships and empathy. This lesson has guided my career, inspiring me to make a meaningful impact through both scientific work and fostering genuine human connections. The stories from those quiet nights continue to shape how I approach my work and what truly matters.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

You’re right; none of us achieve success alone, and for me, that person is my father. From a young age, he instilled in me a deep curiosity about the world, always encouraging my questions, big or small. I fondly remember the evenings when he explained scientific concepts to me, sparking a lifelong fascination.

My father believed that science could be a force for good, a way to change the world. He taught me that knowledge comes with responsibility — not just to understand the world, but to use that understanding to make a difference. His guidance shaped my passion for science and my desire to contribute meaningfully to society. Even during challenging times, his belief in education and discovery motivated me to pursue my dreams. I’m deeply grateful for the foundation he provided, which continues to inspire my work every day.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite life lesson quotes is, “Adversity is the mother of progress.” This quote resonates deeply with me because it reflects the journey I’ve taken. Moving to a new country, facing cultural and financial challenges, and adapting to a completely different environment required resilience and perseverance. Every obstacle I faced became an opportunity to grow, learn, and ultimately achieve things I never thought possible. This quote reminds me that it’s often through overcoming difficulties that we find our greatest strengths and make our most significant progress. It’s a perspective that has guided me in both my personal life and professional career, pushing me to keep striving for excellence no matter the challenges.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Thank you for the kind words. Reflecting on my journey, three traits have been most instrumental to my success: resilience, curiosity, and empathy.

Resilience: From the moment my family immigrated to the U.S., resilience became essential. We faced cultural adaptation, financial difficulties, and learning a new language and education system. During this time, several close family members battled cancer, adding emotional strain. This period taught me the importance of pushing through adversity and staying focused on my goals, deepening my commitment to improving cancer care and enhancing patients’ lives.

Curiosity: My father sparked my love for learning and understanding the world, while my graduate studies deepened my desire to uncover the underlying causes of cancer and find ways to improve treatment and patient outcomes. This curiosity has driven my career, from my early scientific endeavors to my current role as part of io9. It fuels my determination to delve into the complexities of cancer, innovate in research, and develop solutions that can profoundly impact patients’ lives. This relentless quest for knowledge and answers keeps me engaged and passionate, especially in advancing cancer care.

Empathy: Witnessing close family members suffer and die from cancer profoundly shaped my perspective on life and human connections. Seeing their struggles and the emotional toll it took on them and our family taught me the importance of empathy — not just in personal relationships, but also in my professional work. This experience deepened my commitment to understanding the needs and emotions of cancer patients and their families. It has driven me to build strong, trusting relationships with my team, ensuring that our work is always centered on improving the lives of those affected by cancer.

Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about the technology or medical devices that you are helping to create that can make a positive impact on our wellness. To begin, which particular problems are you aiming to solve?

In the current landscape of cancer treatment, a significant challenge is the delay and expense involved in genomic testing, which is essential for determining the most effective first-line therapies. The current genomic tests can take weeks, creating critical delays in starting treatment, which can be life-threatening, especially for those with aggressive cancers. Additionally, the high costs associated with these tests make them inaccessible to many patients, particularly in under-resourced or remote areas, further exacerbating healthcare disparities.

Our goal is to tackle these issues head-on by developing an AI platform that can streamline this process, making it faster, more affordable, and more accessible. We believe that no patient should have to wait weeks or be denied life-saving treatment because of where they live or their financial situation.

How do you think your technology can address this?

Our AI platform, OncoGaze™, represents a transformative approach to precision oncology. Instead of relying on time-consuming and costly genomic sequencing, OncoGaze™ utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze routine tumor biopsy slides. This approach enables the rapid identification of clinically actionable genomic biomarkers, reducing the time from diagnosis to treatment from weeks to mere seconds. Oncologists rely on biomarker tests to inform their recommendation for the first-line treatment that a particular patient should receive based on the characteristics of their specific tumor. By integrating this technology into clinical practice, we can ensure that patients receive the correct treatments as quickly as possible.

Furthermore, OncoGaze™ is designed to be accessible and scalable, meaning it can be deployed in various healthcare settings, including those with limited resources. This not only ensures that more patients can benefit from precision oncology but also helps to close the gap in healthcare access, providing equitable care to all patients regardless of their location or financial situation. We recently published data in the esteemed Journal of Clinical Oncology which demonstrated that our AI platform outperformed FDA-approved biomarker tests in detecting HRD. This is an important biomarker that identifies whether patients with specific forms of metastatic breast and high grade serous ovarian cancer are likely to respond to PARP inhibitors and/or platinum-based therapies.

Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?

My passion for advancing precision oncology is fueled by both my innate curiosity to understand this complex disease and the deeply personal impact cancer has had on my family. Watching close family members battle cancer was both heartbreaking and eye-opening. The delays in diagnosis, the uncertainty of treatment options, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness left a profound mark on me. These experiences ignited a determination to make a difference. I became driven to develop solutions that could ensure no one else has to endure what my family did. This commitment led me to focus on creating technologies that can accelerate and improve cancer care. My goal has always been to ensure that every patient has access to the right treatment as quickly as possible, sparing them and their families the anguish of uncertainty and giving them the best chance at a positive outcome.

How do you think this might change the world?

The potential impact of our technology on the world could be both immense and profound. By democratizing access to precision oncology, OncoGaze™ has the power to change the way cancer is treated globally. No longer will patients in remote or under-resourced areas have to wait weeks or even months for genomic testing to determine their treatment options. Instead, they can receive a diagnosis and begin the appropriate therapy almost immediately, improving their chances of a successful outcome.

Moreover, this technology has the potential to reduce the overall cost of cancer care, making it more sustainable for healthcare systems worldwide. By streamlining the diagnostic process and reducing the need for multiple, expensive tests, OncoGaze™ can help alleviate the financial burden on both patients and healthcare providers.

In the long term, I envision a world where precision oncology is not a luxury but a standard of care available to everyone. This would not only improve individual patient outcomes but also contribute to a global reduction in cancer mortality rates, ultimately changing the way the world approaches cancer treatment and cancer care.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

While the OncoGaze™ AI platform has the potential to revolutionize cancer care, it’s crucial to acknowledge the possible unintended consequences that could arise. One significant concern is the potential over-reliance on AI. As the technology becomes more integrated into clinical decision-making, there’s a risk that healthcare professionals might become too dependent on the AI’s output, potentially diminishing the value of human intuition, experience, and holistic patient care.

Based on your experience and success, can you please share “Five things you need to know to successfully create technology that can make a positive social impact”?

1. Understand the Real-World Problem Deeply: My work in advancing precision oncology stems from both personal experience and a deep understanding of the challenges cancer patients face. Watching close family members struggle with cancer highlighted the delays in diagnosis and treatment, motivating me to create technology that addresses these critical issues.
2. Combine Passion with Expertise: Curiosity and a passion for science have been at the core of my journey. My graduate studies fueled my desire to explore cancer at molecular and cellular levels, which were crucial in developing innovative solutions that can truly make a difference in patient care.
3. Focus on Accessibility and Affordability: It’s not enough to create advanced technology — it must be accessible to all. OncoGaze™ was designed to democratize precision oncology, making life-saving diagnostic tools available to patients regardless of their location or financial situation.
4. Collaborate and Build Trust: Building strong, trusting relationships is key to success. In my work, empathy has guided me in fostering collaboration with my team and ensuring that our goals align with the needs of patients and their families.
5. Be Resilient and Adaptable: Developing technology that impacts society positively requires resilience. From adapting to a new culture to overcoming personal and professional challenges, resilience has been critical in staying focused on the mission to improve cancer care and patient outcomes.

If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?

If I could tell young people one thing, it’s this: Your actions can change lives. By focusing on making a positive impact, whether in healthcare, the environment, or any other area, you contribute to something greater than yourself.

The challenges we face need fresh perspectives and passion. When you align your talents with a meaningful cause, you not only help others but also find deep purpose and fulfillment. So, find your passion, and commit to making a difference — the world needs your contributions now more than ever.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone, it would be with Bill Gates. His work through the Gates Foundation has had a tremendous impact on global health and education, and his forward-thinking approach to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges is truly inspiring. I would love to discuss how technology and philanthropy can be combined to address healthcare disparities, particularly in cancer treatment, and explore ways to make advanced medical care more accessible worldwide.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

You can follow my work online through my LinkedIn profile. Additionally, you can visit our company’s website for the latest news and developments: https://io9.ai/

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.

Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to share my journey, and I’m grateful for your kind words. I wish you all the best, and I look forward to continuing this important work.

About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.