International Research Partnerships

New research prototype for Personal Health Agent (PHA), a comprehensive research framework for delivering personalized, evidence-based health and wellness guidance. This system is built on a multi-agent framework that models support after a human expert team, each handled by a specialized LLM sub-agent: ▶️ Data Science Agent: Analyzes multi-modal data from wearables and health records, such as blood biomarkers, to provide contextualized numerical insights. ▶️ Domain Expert Agent: Acts as a reliable source of grounded health knowledge, tailoring information based on the user's specific health profile. ▶️ Health Coach Agent: Supports users in goal-setting and behavioral change through multi-turn, psychologically-inspired conversations. The Orchestrator dynamically coordinates these specialists to synthesize a single, coherent response to complex queries. Evaluations confirmed that this collaborative multi-agent approach significantly outperformed single-agent baselines in overall response quality, clinical significance, effectiveness and usefulness as evaluated by human experts and end-users. This work, including extensive evaluation of all agentic components using the Wearables for Metabolic Health (WEAR-ME) study data, establishes a validated blueprint for the next generation of trustworthy and coherent personal health AI. Read more about this research and the multi-agent framework: https://goo.gle/42kzjvZ Preprint: https://lnkd.in/dfZ96X5c

After $1B invested over 15 years, the Gates-backed Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) promised agricultural prosperity. Instead, AGRA delivered ecological damage, farmer debt, and increased hunger, leaving target countries worse off than before the program began. AGRA began in 2006 with bold targets to double yields and incomes for 30M smallholder farmers while cutting food insecurity in half by 2020. Evaluations reveal what farmers already knew—AGRA failed to meet even its reduced goal of reaching just 9M farmers instead of the original 30M. The productivity gains fell dramatically short—only an 18% yield increase over 12 years against AGRA's promised 100%. Many regions saw growth equal to or worse than pre-AGRA rates. This structural failure hides behind selectively presented data and isolated success stories. Hunger increased by 30-31% across AGRA's 13 focus countries. The very metric AGRA was designed to improve has significantly worsened, exposing critical flaws in their entire approach to agricultural development. AGRA's single-crop farming model caused biodiversity loss by pushing farmers toward maize at the expense of hardy local varieties. Traditional climate-resilient crops declined measurably, with millet production dropping 24% between 2006-2018. Research in Zambia and Tanzania shows farmers trapped in debt after taking loans for fertilizer and hybrid seeds when harvests didn't deliver promised yields. This financial burden from input-dependency affects multiple generations of farming families. Beyond economic impacts, AGRA's chemical-intensive approach has accelerated soil degradation across target regions. Synthetic inputs disrupt soil microbial communities, compromising fertility and essential ecosystem functions like water storage and carbon sequestration. Specific soil contaminants associated with AGRA's model include PCBs, PBDEs, perfluoro carboxylic acids, benzene, and bisphenol A—compounds with documented adverse effects on ecological and human health. While AGRA now acknowledges soil degradation (65% of Sahel land affected), its solutions remain tied to chemical-intensive farming. New programs like ESMS and RE-GAIN show recognition of problems yet still fail to address their root causes. African civil society organizations increasingly call for redirecting funding from AGRA toward agroecological systems that align with both ecological imperatives and the lived realities of farming communities rather than imposing external technological dependencies. AGRA fundamentally misdiagnosed the problems facing African agriculture. After 15 years and $1B, hunger increased by 30%, yields barely improved, soils degraded, and farmers accumulated debt. Real solutions must restore ecological health while providing farmers with a pathway to prosperity.

The world is watching as geopolitical tensions rise, but are we paying enough attention to the hidden battleground of cyberspace? 🤔 In an era of escalating global conflicts, the digital realm has become a theater for new forms of warfare and influence. We see state-sponsored cyberattacks disrupting critical infrastructure, sophisticated espionage campaigns stealing sensitive information, and the weaponization of disinformation to sow discord and manipulate public opinion. The impact of geopolitics on cybersecurity is undeniable, but the questions it raises are complex and far-reaching: How can we balance national security concerns with the need to protect individual liberties and privacy in the digital age? This requires a delicate balancing act, with robust legal frameworks, transparent oversight, and strong encryption technologies playing a crucial role. What role should international cooperation play in establishing norms and deterring cyber aggression? International collaboration is essential. This involves sharing threat intelligence, coordinating responses, and establishing clear rules of engagement in cyberspace. Are we prepared for the potential consequences of a major cyber conflict, and what steps can we take to mitigate those risks? Preparedness involves investing in resilient infrastructure, developing robust incident response plans, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness at all levels of society. The intersection of geopolitics and cybersecurity is a critical issue that demands our attention. I believe that by understanding the evolving threat landscape, promoting international cooperation, and investing in robust cybersecurity measures, we can navigate this complex terrain and build a more secure digital future for all. #cybersecurity #geopolitics #informationwarfare #digitalrisks #cyberconflict

I just got back from a trip to 3 continents in 2 weeks, where I met with global IT and cybersecurity leaders. Here are three big takeaways about our industry: 🖥️ The world is more dependent on technology than ever. ❌ Human errors and cyber attacks are inevitable. 🚨 Outages are warnings of larger cyber threats. In light of these critical components, we concluded that it’s critical we act to protect our systems. And the best way to do that: ✅ Unite around digital and cyber resilience. Organizations, lawmakers, vendors, and companies around the world must collaborate to strengthen digital defenses and recovery capabilities, so that we can avoid the next global IT outage. With global cybersecurity growing increasingly more complex, it’s the only way forward.

Let’s talk about a revolutionary approach to healthcare. Systems science is reshaping how we view health by highlighting the interconnectedness of the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence well-being. In holistic medicine, this framework is more relevant than ever. Here’s why it works: → Holistic Perspective Health isn’t just physical. By embracing the interconnected nature of the body, mind, and environment, we can understand how each part affects the whole person, leading to better care outcomes. → Complex Adaptive Systems Health is complex and dynamic. Genes, lifestyle, and environment interact in non-linear ways—systems science helps us understand how these factors shape overall health, making personalized care more effective. → Dynamic Interactions Health isn’t static. It’s shaped by constant interactions between internal and external factors. By understanding these dynamics, we can prevent diseases before they manifest and provide more tailored treatments. So, how does this impact patient care? → Personalized Plans Systems science enables healthcare providers to create individualized plans that address the root causes of health issues and predict future trajectories that can be optimized or prevented. → Interdisciplinary Collaboration Healthcare isn’t one-size-fits-all. By encouraging collaboration across various disciplines—medicine, psychology, nutrition, and public health—we can create comprehensive care plans for patients that lead to better results. → Preventive Healthcare A systems approach helps identify risks early, allowing for proactive strategies that can prevent diseases from developing. The takeaway? Systems science brings a holistic, interconnected perspective to medicine, enabling us to better understand, treat, and prevent health issues. Are you ready to embrace a more complete, systems-based approach to healthcare? Let’s dive in.

Africa Buys What It Already Has — Just Not From Each Other 💸🚫🌍 Welcome to SADC — the Southern African Development Community, a 16-nation bloc built to promote regional integration, trade, and prosperity. And yet… we’re bleeding billions every year for goods that are already here. Let’s break it down: a) Zambia imports 360 million liters of fuel from Saudi Arabia. ⛽ Angola, next door, offers fuel 25–40% cheaper. But the trade rarely happens. b) Angola spends $500 million on Brazilian beef. 🥩 Yet Namibia, right there, supplies EU-grade beef for less. c) Mozambique pays $312 million for coal. 🪨 Zimbabwe could meet that demand domestically and affordably. d) Malawi imports $48 million in grain from the UAE. 🌾 Tanzania sells maize at nearly half the price. e) Angola buys $57 million in fish from Argentina. 🐟 Namibia exports fish across the world… but not next door. These aren’t just inefficiencies—they’re failures. Failures to coordinate. Failures to trust. Failures to prioritize ourselves. SADC could rotate $32 BILLION annually in regional trade. But we don’t. Because even though it seems simple—it’s not. ⸻ So why can’t we fix it? • Policy Misalignment — Different tariffs, standards, and customs rules slow or block cross-border trade. • Infrastructure Gaps — Broken roads, poor rail links, and port bottlenecks make it easier to import from overseas than a neighbor. • Trade Bureaucracy — Complex approvals, currency conversions, and outdated systems keep deals stuck in paperwork. • Elite Capture — Some benefit from the foreign deals. Local sourcing disrupts the status quo. • And yes… lack of trust. It’s not a supply problem. It’s not just a logistics problem. It’s a leadership problem. Until we fix that—Africa will keep buying what it already has… from someone else. #SADCTrade #AfricaRising #BuyAfrican #IntraAfricaTrade #TrustBarrier #Zambia #Angola #Namibia #Malawi #Mozambique #Zimbabwe #RegionalEconomy #LeadershipGap #FixItFromWithin

What if MSK care wasn’t just a specialty but a gateway to whole-person health? Most healthcare models build multispecialty care from primary care outward -- but what if we’ve been going about it backwards? MSK conditions are one of the most common reasons patients seek care. They’re deeply connected to cardiometabolic and mental health. They drive billions in costs for employers and payers. Could we use MSK care as an on-ramp to a broader, more integrated care model? This week's edition of The Surgeon's Record presented by Commons Clinic offers a vision of multi-specialty care that starts with MSK. In it, I consider: ✅ How VBC has forced orthopedic surgeons to rethink traditional care models ✅ Why MSK pain is often the first signal of broader health decline ✅ A stepwise approach to building a multispecialty clinic—starting with MSK and expanding into metabolic health, behavioral health, sleep medicine, women’s health, and more ✅ How this model naturally evolves into a healthspan and longevity clinic This isn’t theoretical, it’s where healthcare is headed. The question is who’s going to lead it? #msk #multispecialtycare #valuebasedcare #healthcareinnovation #healthspan

The lesson I take from so many dispersed teams I’ve worked with over the years is that great collaboration is not about shrinking the distance. It is about deepening the connection. Time zones, language barriers, and cultural nuances make working together across borders uniquely challenging. I see these dynamics regularly: smart, dedicated people who care deeply about their work but struggle to truly see and understand one another. One of the tools I often use in my work with global teams is the Harvard Business School case titled Greg James at Sun Microsystems. It tells the story of a manager leading a 45-person team spread across the U.S., France, India, and the UAE. When a major client system failed, the issue turned out not to be technical but human. Each location saw the problem differently. Misunderstandings built up across time zones. Tensions grew between teams that rarely met in person. What looked like a system failure was really a connection failure. What I find powerful about this story, and what I see mirrored in so many organizations today, is that the path forward is about rethinking how we create connection, trust, and fairness across distance. It is not where many leaders go naturally: new tools or tighter control. Here are three useful practices for dispersed teams to adopt. (1) Create shared context, not just shared goals. Misalignment often comes from not understanding how others work, not what they’re working on. Try brief “work tours,” where teams explain their daily realities and constraints. Context builds empathy, and empathy builds speed. (2) Build trust through reflection, not just reliability. Trust deepens when people feel seen and understood. After cross-site collaborations, ask: “What surprised you about how others see us?” That simple reflection can transform relationships. (3) Design fairness into the system. Uneven meeting times, visibility, or opportunities quickly erode respect. Rotate schedules, celebrate behind-the-scenes work, and make sure recognition travels across time zones. Fairness is a leadership design choice, not a nice-to-have. Distance will always be part of global work, but disconnection doesn’t have to be. When leaders intentionally design for shared understanding, reflected trust, and structural fairness, I've found, distributed teams flourish. #collaboration #global #learning #leadership #connection Case here: https://lnkd.in/eZfhxnGW

I created a model of understanding Chronic Pain, specially when it overlaps with Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia. I call it the SEC model of chronic pain, and it offers a comprehensive framework that addresses the multifaceted nature of chronic pain by integrating three core dimensions: Sensory, Emotional, and Cognitive. This model emphasizes that effective pain management requires a holistic approach, considering not just the physical sensations but also the emotional and cognitive experiences associated with pain. ⸻ 🔍 Overview of the SEC Model 1. Sensory: This dimension pertains to the physical sensations of pain, including intensity, location, and quality. It encompasses the neurological and physiological aspects that contribute to the perception of pain. 2. Emotional: Chronic pain often leads to emotional responses such as depression, anxiety, and frustration. These emotional states can, in turn, exacerbate the perception of pain, creating a cyclical relationship between pain and mood disorders. 3. Cognitive: This aspect involves the thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes individuals hold about their pain. Negative thought patterns, such as catastrophizing or feelings of helplessness, can intensify the experience of pain and hinder effective coping strategies. ⸻ 🧠 Clinical Implications The SEC model underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management. By addressing all three dimensions, healthcare providers can develop more effective treatment plans. Interventions may include:    •   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Targets maladaptive thought patterns and promotes healthier coping mechanisms.    •   Mindfulness and Meditation: Helps in managing emotional responses and reducing stress-related exacerbation of pain.    •   Physical Exercise: Improves physical function and can have positive effects on mood and cognitive function.    •   Pharmacological Treatments: Medications may be used to address both the sensory aspects of pain and associated mood disorders. I advocate for integrating these interventions to address the complex interplay between the sensory, emotional, and cognitive components of chronic pain . ⸻ 📚 Further Reading For a more in-depth understanding, consider exploring the book 100 Questions and Answers About Chronic Pain, co-authored by Dr. Rakesh Jain, which delves into various aspects of chronic pain management . https://a.co/d/4Me1Iuz ⸻ By adopting the SEC model, healthcare professionals can better understand the multifaceted nature of chronic pain and implement comprehensive treatment strategies that address the full spectrum of patients’ experiences.

The Paris Peace Forum's Paris Call Strategic Foresight Hub recently brought together 20 high-level experts spanning academia and the private sector, policy, and technical circles to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: the use of AI for adversarial purposes — especially in the cyber realm. 📢 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: ✅ Mapping existing international mechanisms and processes for cyber risk management that can be leveraged to govern adversarial AI use risks, while learning from the remaining challenges in multilateral fora. ✅ Analyzing current dynamics on AI-driven cyber threats and offering a structured methodology for global policymakers to prioritize risks effectively. ✅ Proposing a governance approach that builds on existing ICT security frameworks while addressing AI’s most transformative impact on cyber. ✅ Experts call for increased transparency on the actual adversarial use of AI models. Understanding real-world misuse cases is a prerequisite for evidence-based risk governance—both to refine developers' safeguards and to inform effective regulation of end users behaviours. 🔎 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: AI-driven cyber threats are no longer theoretical—they are reshaping the digital security landscape. While AI enhances defenses, it also lowers entry barriers for adversaries and accelerates attack velocity, making robust governance crucial. 💡 This report lays the groundwork for an efficient international cooperation, bridging AI risk governance with global cybersecurity policies developed over the past two decades. It was an honor and an education to be involved in this alongside lead authors Pablo Rice and Charlotte Lindsey Curtet, and lots of other experts: Sebastian Hufnagel (Cloudflare), Krystal Jackson and Nada Madkour, PhD (Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity), Colin Shea-Blymyer (Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)) , Marc Asturias (Fortinet), Frédérick Douzet & Aude GERY (GEODE - Géopolitique de la Datasphère), Jon Tidwell (Mandiant (part of Google Cloud)), INTERPOL, Jennifer Tang and Mariami T. (Institute for Security and Technology (IST)), Nicholas Butts (Microsoft AI), Sam Kaplan (Palo Alto Networks), Josiah Hagen (Trend Micro), Giacomo Persi Paoli (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research) Mikko Hypponen, Ieva Ilves (WithSecure), Craig Jones and Chris Painter