The Healthy Enterprise

In this conversation, Michael Friend, Founder and CEO of the Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine, discusses the critical role of precision medicine and CRISPR technology in addressing health disparities, particularly in minority communities. He shares his personal journey, the challenges faced by individuals with sickle cell disease, and the importance of building trust in healthcare. The conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement, youth involvement, and advocacy to drive change in the healthcare landscape.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Precision Medicine and CRISPR
03:00 Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Its Challenges
06:00 The Role of CRISPR in Healthcare
09:02 The Importance of Trust in Healthcare for Minorities
11:59 The Coalition's Mission and Community Engagement
14:56 Overcoming Skepticism Around Precision Medicine
18:01 The Tipping Point for CRISPR and Public Awareness
21:12 Future of Precision Medicine and Business Models
23:49 Advocacy and Personal Motivation
27:03 Engaging Youth in Healthcare Conversations
30:05 Advice for Aspiring Change-Makers
33:11 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Guest Information:
  • Guest's Name: Michael Friend
  • Guest's Title/Position: Founder & CEO
  • Guest's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-friend-/
  • Company / Affiliation: Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine
  • Guest's Bio: Michael Friend is a U.S. veteran and founder of the Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine (MCPM), dedicated to ensuring precision medicine serves all communities, not just the privileged few. Inspired by his East Baltimore roots and the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, Michael fights for health equity through coalition-building, youth education, and advocacy in areas like CRISPR, sickle cell disease, and microbiome science. His work is a mission of justice, remembrance, and redemption, amplifying voices long ignored in healthcare.
Takeaways:
  • Michael Friend is the CEO of the Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine.
  • The coalition aims to reduce health disparities in minority communities.
  • Sickle cell disease is a painful and complex condition.
  • CRISPR technology has the potential to reshape healthcare.
  • Building trust in healthcare is crucial for minority communities.
  • Community engagement is essential for awareness and education.
  • Skepticism around precision medicine exists but is changing.
  • Youth involvement is vital for the future of healthcare.
  • Private-public partnerships are necessary for innovation.
  • Advocacy and personal motivation drive change in healthcare.




Creators and Guests

Host
Heath Fletcher
With over 30 years in creative marketing and visual storytelling, I’ve built a career on turning ideas into impact. From brand transformation to media production, podcast development, and outreach strategies, I craft compelling narratives that don’t just capture attention—they accelerate growth and drive measurable results.
Producer
Meghna Deshraj
Meghna Deshraj is the CEO and Founder of Bullzeye Growth Partners, a strategic consultancy that helps businesses scale sustainably and profitably. With a background spanning corporate strategy, IT, finance, and process optimization, she combines analytical rigor with creative execution to drive measurable results. Under her leadership, Bullzeye has generated over $580M in annual growth and more than $1B in client revenue, guiding organizations through large-scale integrations, business transformations, and organizational change initiatives. A Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Meghna’s superpower lies in strategic marketing and growth consulting, helping businesses grow through innovation, efficiency, and strong, trusted partnerships.
Guest
Michael Friend
Michael Friend is a U.S. veteran and founder of the Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine (MCPM), dedicated to ensuring precision medicine serves all communities, not just the privileged few. Inspired by his East Baltimore roots and the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, Michael fights for health equity through coalition-building, youth education, and advocacy in areas like CRISPR, sickle cell disease, and microbiome science. His work is a mission of justice, remembrance, and redemption, amplifying voices long ignored in healthcare.

What is The Healthy Enterprise?

Join host Heath Fletcher on The Healthy Enterprise as he explores how healthcare leaders and innovators are transforming the industry from the inside out. Whether you’re a provider, tech entrepreneur, marketing strategist, or industry executive, these conversations deliver actionable strategies, innovative solutions, and human-centered insights to help you grow, lead, and make a lasting impact.

Created and produced by Bullzeye Growth Partners — let’s make something great together.

Heath Fletcher:

Hey there. Welcome to the Healthy Enterprise. Thanks for coming back if you're a return listener. And if you're new to the show, welcome. My guest today is Michael Friend, otherwise known as CRISPR guy, but we'll get into that later.

Heath Fletcher:

Michael is the CEO of a organization called the Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine. Their dedicated efforts aim to diminish health disparities through the utilization of precision medicine focusing on minority communities. I'd like you to meet my new friend, Michael Friend. Okay. So, Michael, thanks for joining me today for this episode.

Heath Fletcher:

I'm looking forward to hearing more about the minority coalition for precision medicine and a little about your journey into this, into this role. So, yeah, why don't you start by introducing yourself and to our listeners and, yeah, let's hear your story.

Michael Friend:

Thank you. Thank you so much for having me today. I'm excited to have this conversation. As I said prior to us recording, I think it's a critical time to have these discussions. I'm Michael Friend, founder of Minority Coalition for Precision Medicine and I also have a co founder by the name of Shakira Cannon who lived with sickle cell disease who passed away unfortunately from sickle cell disease a few years ago.

Michael Friend:

Our work started very at the beginning of President Obama launch of what was, what is known now as the All of Us program, but I know it as a precision medicine initiative and where my organization had worked with the Office of Science, Technology, and Policy to talk about how they would roll out what we know today as the All of Us program. And so that's sort of where the work started as an organization. And one of the main reasons to start the organization was to ensure that as minorities, African Americans, and others, is to ensure that we are, you know, as these new technologies were emerging, that we would be a part of conversations, which we were, and so I'm excited about that. And so we've come a long way, and I'll just close with this part of the introduction. And so it's been ten years since that meeting at the White House this month, I believe.

Michael Friend:

And so we're celebrating ten Yeah. Wow. Congratulations. You so much.

Heath Fletcher:

And so what was the catalyst for this for you? What got you, going in this direction with your career?

Michael Friend:

Yeah. Good question. A very challenging disease, which we know today is, basically leading some of the innovations around CRISPR gene editing technology is sickle cell disease. And so I got involved as a result of sickle cell disease, a very complicated disease for adults living with sickle cell, a lot of suffering and a lot of challenges they face due to the amount of opiates they need to manage their pain. And so there was a lot of stigmas and stereotypes associated with those adults.

Michael Friend:

So through that work, my ex wife living with sickle cell disease and both, as I mentioned earlier, Shakira Cannon, who passed away from sickle cell disease. So that was the motivation behind what I do today.

Heath Fletcher:

Really? I guess give listeners a little bit more on what sickle cell disease actually is and, you know, what where does it originate?

Michael Friend:

Absolutely. Well, it's it's it's a blood disease that is is inherited disease, meaning that both parents must have the trait, a sickle cell trait, and it's a one in four chance that the child would be born with an actual disease. So it's a disease where their cells clog up very bad from the lack of oxygen and causes excruciating pain. It also damages organs as well. It's a disease that is daily and from my experience with both Shakira and Dominique, it just comes on, those crises come on without notice.

Michael Friend:

So it's a very devastating disease. To that fact, it was right around the time that we were having CRISPR conversations that Shakir was living at the time, and he was very hopeful around CRISPR, but unfortunately he passed away prior to the FDA approving it, and now what we see is individuals being treated for the technology. We're so excited for those who come to benefit from it. Very expensive though, I would say that.

Heath Fletcher:

Is that right? So CRISPR is the treatment?

Michael Friend:

Yeah, it's this

Heath Fletcher:

Is that right? Is that an acronym

Michael Friend:

Yes, yeah. Yes. And let me tell you something. I don't even wanna try it. But it is c r I s p r.

Michael Friend:

You know the way I describe it is, and CRISPR is both on the health side and the agriculture side, and it's an incredible technology that I believe is going to, and is reshaping healthcare because it has the ability, it works like a light switch, right? They go in, find the badging, cut it off like a light switch. Just

Heath Fletcher:

deregulates it. Powerful. Wow.

Michael Friend:

Very powerful.

Heath Fletcher:

Wow.

Michael Friend:

And when you're talking about designer babies and that conversation, that's where the intersects with CRISPR. So

Heath Fletcher:

Gotcha.

Michael Friend:

Can do a lot of good, but it's also can do some things.

Heath Fletcher:

You're taking advantage of.

Michael Friend:

Yeah. For sure.

Heath Fletcher:

So this is now the treatment for sickle cell disease?

Michael Friend:

Yeah. It was just approved last year by the FDA. Wow, It is one of what we know as one of the cures. I believe at the time of the approval they probably served somewhere close to one hundred patients per se, so it's been very, very successful. I would encourage listeners to really look it up and to be factual.

Michael Friend:

It is going to be the conversation moving forward in healthcare because when you talk about, you know, I don't want to get too far ahead, you talk about AI and gene editing, you know, is where we are today. And so I was excited to be a part of that conversation back then. Yeah. But we're here.

Heath Fletcher:

Yeah. Ten years ago. Yeah. And now you're seeing it actually come to fruition.

Michael Friend:

That's Yeah.

Heath Fletcher:

That's pretty cool. Yeah. We can get into AI, whatever yeah. For sure.

Michael Friend:

Yeah.

Heath Fletcher:

It's a it's a it's a fascinating subject, and Mhmm. Obviously, it's been a crucial part of of this journey. I had a question. Is CRISPR a brand name, or is it just an or is that is that the company that developed the drug?

Michael Friend:

No. It's actually an acronym as you said, but I

Heath Fletcher:

know Okay.

Michael Friend:

I can tell you what the first word is, cluster.

Heath Fletcher:

Okay. But People can do their

Michael Friend:

own research. It's fine.

Heath Fletcher:

They can figure that out.

Michael Friend:

And let me tell you, when when folks take a look and and and start to read and look at it, I think they're gonna be amazed. It it's something how these technologies come about and and it's you know, the time it takes to bring the public into these conversations. Right? And so Yeah. And so reason why I'm giving, like, a kinda heads up is, like, I'm saying America get ready because it's a fascinating technology on both sides for agriculture and for health and it's going to I am going to say it has the potential to cure every single disease.

Heath Fletcher:

Well, mean, if you're if you're turning on and off genes, then that is from my what I've been hearing is where diseases begin and end, I suppose. But, yeah, it's the whole the whole conversation around precision medicine around treatment and customized pharmaceuticals for the process to, you know, improve outcomes and reduce side effects. You know? When you start hearing stories about that, it's it's pretty exciting. It it's and now if you're talking about actually changing genetic behavior Absolutely.

Heath Fletcher:

That's that's really huge.

Michael Friend:

Yeah. Mean, we're here. And in America, you know, we we have to lead. You know, we have to lead in these areas, and and that's why it's important, you know, as these dynamics, so rapidly change that all of us, you know, keep that as a focus that there there's a global competition out there. Don't I call out no names just yet, but there's competition out there.

Michael Friend:

So I wanna encourage us to really work together, involve our young people early in the conversations. I talked about a project and work with high school students out in California on deep dives around CRISPR. And so there's there's a group out there that's already ready California, and, I just feel like that's one of the other things that's important is that we really gotta start a lot earlier in in our schools, in our education system, you know, when it comes to educating around these technologies. And so I'm I'm looking forward to seeing some of those things happen. The reason why I'm so confident is that over ten years, we've done a lot of groundwork.

Michael Friend:

Right? And we've done a lot of groundwork. And so now we're here and exciting part I don't wanna forget. I'm not gonna say, but I've been, recognized as one of the, and I don't wanna sound like I'm boasting, but, but one of the leading

Heath Fletcher:

Go ahead. Do it. Persons

Michael Friend:

in the field of of advocacy and and this type of work, of course, for ten years. And there's a huge conference where African Americans gather millions, and they're taking this conversation on July 3, and I'm gonna be there in that room. And so I know we're here.

Heath Fletcher:

And where is that happening?

Michael Friend:

It's if I say where it's happening, they'll figure it out, but it's happening in

Heath Fletcher:

Oh, okay.

Michael Friend:

It's fine. It's happening in New Orleans. Yeah. But it's exciting because it's exciting to see what president Obama during that time, which most didn't know most people didn't know that he even launched this initiative and and the and the importance of it. And and ten years later, as we're bringing the public into this conversation more rapidly, expect things to move fairly quickly.

Michael Friend:

So just it's a it's an exciting time, I think. As much as it challenges, there there there are a lot of things that, you know, as Americans, we we could be very proud of the work that we've been doing around health care and the advances.

Heath Fletcher:

Yeah. Okay. So tell me more about the coalition then in in relationship to this. So we've had these incredible advancements with CRISPR and the technology to to basically cure sickle cell disease. Right?

Heath Fletcher:

Where does the coalition fit in, and and where where was the idea that started this you creating this coalition? And I that that was with your cofounder too that you started this organization. Right? Shakir. Yeah.

Michael Friend:

We we felt, you know, the conversation around trust and African Americans has always been an issue for the most part in healthcare. And so one of the places where we felt the conversation needed to be was in the African American church. And so that is where we started in 2015, 2016, going through I think about three years. We formed what you call the Health Ministry Network to really, early on we had African American researchers and scientists paired up with African American clergy and that conversation was important because we were giving the church the foundation of what's to come. And there's a lot of work that was done there, a lot of interviews, some things in some very important Christian magazines as well because we were working with Harvard, Personal Genetics and Education Project.

Michael Friend:

And so they were a very important part of those discussions. And so early on was the church, which was significant. And so we've got a nice footprint there, and we'll be returning there to begin to even expand that conversation as we move forward over the next ten years.

Heath Fletcher:

Right. Right.

Michael Friend:

So

Heath Fletcher:

What was one of the key issues that you were trying to achieve with the coalition? Was it, you know, accessibility, you know, that this was gonna be available to everybody and affordability and those kinds of issues?

Michael Friend:

I think initially it was just awareness. Right? Because awareness and understanding that and this will be true. This statement will be very true. Understanding that we had no network of moving could not move information.

Michael Friend:

And COVID nineteen showed us that we could not move information or, you know, or miss well, misinformation was moving quite a bit.

Heath Fletcher:

Information correct or incorrect.

Michael Friend:

Yeah. We discovered that the faith based organization was very critical to that conversation, and I'll say, honestly, terms of challenges. But one of the challenges with the faith based community, and I hope they hear me today, is that I describe them as, like, horse and buggy. Like, just wasn't able to move in terms of technology. We were very limited in terms of their social media presence.

Michael Friend:

And you know what happened? COVID nineteen. Alright? And they and they didn't have the choice at that point to really ramp up the way they were delivering their messages. And so and now that that has been somewhat corrected, I I feel like that we would be more successful in that space.

Michael Friend:

And so early on again, was really about awareness and education of these technologies that are at the time, they were ideas and basic concepts. And question was, you know, was it gonna is it gonna work? And and is it ever gonna be approved by the FDA? Right? And so that that was the conversation then.

Michael Friend:

And, I was serving as an adviser, on, organization that was formed called CRISPR Con for CRISPR Conversations. And those conversations were taking place at, like, UC Berkeley, Harvard, few, out of the country. And we're very, happy to have one of those conversations take place at Howard University at one of the HBCUs. It was going to be an in person event, but right during COVID, during the middle of our planning, and so we had to change to a virtual format. But the beautiful thing is that it's on record and we had those important discussions and talked about some of those challenging issues around trust and ethics and things of that nature.

Heath Fletcher:

When you were first having these conversations with people, was there a lot of skepticism around precision medicine and fear and maybe some disbelief? And is that what you were trying to kind of resolve?

Michael Friend:

Oh, yeah. For sure. I mean, e even at the time, working with some scientists that that was even a part of working with my organization had their doubts when it came to CRISPR. It wasn't like I was trying to sell it, but this wasn't And because it wasn't, I'll just say flat out that I I think Howard University at the time missed an opportunity to probably lead those where we are today. And their hesitation, you know, did play a role in in terms of how that information could have been disseminated years ago.

Heath Fletcher:

Mhmm.

Michael Friend:

So to answer your question, yeah, there was there was a lot of skepticism skepticism and and and kind of pushback. Right? Because you knew.

Heath Fletcher:

Right.

Michael Friend:

And but now we we're here, and I'm I'm happy about it. Again, CrispAcon, there are a lot of videos out there which which your listeners can look at, but the goal of CRISPR con was not to promote CRISPR technology. I'm talking a lot about CRISPR because it's such a passion of mine as it relates to self. But it was to really have those conversations so that you can hear both sides and all sides of the of the conversation. Right?

Michael Friend:

And and so no, what we call shade to the researchers at at Howard, but I could, you know, understand their position at the time, but still felt very strongly that that they needed to, still be a a critical part of as this continues to move forward. And it's one of those things looking back, I would say, that was a missed opportunity for Howard University for sure.

Heath Fletcher:

Yeah. Sounds like it. Yeah. What was the was the tipping point? Like, I mean, there you are.

Heath Fletcher:

You you know, the the the the bowlers going up the hill. What was the tipping point when it it started to take a life of its own?

Michael Friend:

Wow. That that happened very late, and I I I think we're just beginning to see the light. Right? Give you an example. So when we have these conversation early on, Hollywood is actually in the room.

Michael Friend:

Right? Big part of the conversation is National Academy of Science Entertainment Exchange. That's when I learned that, wow, Hollywood actually does create these narratives in certain conversations. I believe that that is what's going to be the tipping point because we, Shakira and I and Doctor. George Church, which listeners may know, at Harvard, a very prominent scientist, we had the opportunity to speak to probably about 200 writers and film executives out in California.

Michael Friend:

And the conversation was around CRISPR. And so Really? This was year this is years ago. I wanna say Wow. 20 wow.

Michael Friend:

20 I I would be guessing and say, but I I have the information. But I'm I'm gonna say around 2038. But just to go show how how advanced these conversations be at a certain level, and now, for sure, we're gonna see it in film. You're gonna see it on TV, and it's it's gonna be a a record conversation for sure. Because they're they're in early and, you know Yeah.

Michael Friend:

Yeah.

Heath Fletcher:

They want they wanna be ahead of the Hot Topic game. Right?

Michael Friend:

Yeah. Absolutely. And so I I believe that we're we're at that place now. And given, you know, what's happening in New Orleans, that is a true testament of of where where we are because even that organization recognizes very important how important this is to to to be in place and to to to leverage and and to create these new partnerships. And I think that for for us as an organization, there are always several sides to it.

Michael Friend:

There were know, there's an advocacy education, but there's also the business side. There's economic factor. Right? It's starting new biotech companies and creating these biotech companies. And so that's kinda that to me is the tipping point right there.

Heath Fletcher:

Right. Right. So because you you started in business. You studied business. Right?

Heath Fletcher:

That was what you went to school to do. Right?

Michael Friend:

You know what? Actually, no. Right? I would say that this is all, like, passion work. Right?

Michael Friend:

And just being, I don't know if being in the right place at the right time, but the work around sickle cell disease, I'll back up a little bit to give you a little bit how that kinda happened. So at the time, I was advocating for the White House under the Obama administration to do a gala for sickle cell disease. And so and we were working with one of the offices out of the White House. Well, we didn't get the gala. We still didn't get it.

Michael Friend:

Still waiting on it for sickle cell. Really? Yeah. Never got it. It's very unfortunate, and I I I was I was not happy about it.

Michael Friend:

I said, you know, they light the White House up for everything else. I'm not gonna name no colors, right? But they light it up, and I just felt like that was very unfortunate. But through that effort is where we were able to land, I believe, the invitation to be a part of Precision Medicine, the Precision Medicine Initiative, not knowing what And it so that's what began to shape my efforts. So not so much from an education standpoint, but more just believing, fighting on behalf of those that didn't have strong voices and navigating policies and working with politicians around, you know, pain and the opiate crisis that we were dealing with.

Michael Friend:

So it was all happening during that time. So that sort of was the beginning of the work and then it just kind of grew from there And so we're here and now we're ready to reshape some things just nationally and globally, I believe. Very exciting time for us as in this space in particular. Those

Heath Fletcher:

Well, maybe explain a little bit what you see coming. Like, what do you see is coming our way that we're that you're so excited about?

Michael Friend:

Yeah. I think that, you know, people would look at, you know, not you being too political, but I I think there there's a a feeling of of, like, this pullback and, you know, this is getting cut and that's getting cut and, you know, and and truth be told, I can tell you some of that actually needed to happen because but in saying that, I think the the dynamics and the the where we are, the the private partnerships because relying so much on the government to solve these problems is is not a good strategy. We need strong private public partnerships because the technology is very expensive. Right? You think CRISPR right now is one company, I think, is, what, 1,800,000.0.

Michael Friend:

The other one per person is, like, 3,000,000. So

Heath Fletcher:

Wow.

Michael Friend:

It's it's it's important that that whole the way we've been doing things be restructured in a way that it's not about price as much as it's about saving lives. And so that's the part where you're gonna see a different new dynamics, new business partner, and new strategies. Innovative Genomics Institute, is Jennifer Dautner, who is one of the founders of the technology, they're working very hard to create I know for sure that they are part of creating these new, business slash, looking at how they can lower the cost of this, technology. Because right now, this is not it's not affordable. Right?

Michael Friend:

No. And if you think about there are only one hundred thousand estimated individual sickle cell disease in The US, but globally, there's millions. Right? So you think about Africa and Saudi Arabia and all those countries over there, it's just not affordable if we're thinking global. After And all, we're in a society where we have to think global.

Michael Friend:

Everything we build is about, you know, these global relationships. And so in saying all that, I can see frontiers being formed, new new business models in the health care sector. As it relates to precision medicine, it's it's it's gonna be different because it has to be, and the technology is gonna call for it. Right.

Heath Fletcher:

Did you I mean, you had a lot to learn, you know, through all of this. So you you you started off and and then you find yourself working with government policy and advocating. And and did you have experience with doing that before, or would did you kinda just jump in with both feet?

Michael Friend:

Both feet. Both feet.

Heath Fletcher:

What surprised you the most about that world? Because it's a different world What entirely.

Michael Friend:

What was the lack of investments in in in in advocacy. Right? That that, unfortunately, that comes very late in the game, meaning that those conversations don't take place until these companies have a partner. And and, you know, doing that discovery process, always felt like, no. Bring bring bring everyone along.

Michael Friend:

You know? Bring bring people because it does inspire hope at the same time. Right? And so that's what I'm I'm looking to do different is that let's not wait until the baby is here. Right?

Michael Friend:

I mean, who does that anyway? Right? So I just think it's important that a new design is needed, and that's what I'm looking forward for to, and and that's what I'm I'm pushing for over the next couple months. So we have a plan that we'll be putting forth, and we we hope that it will be embraced at the at the level that and kinda wildfire effect.

Heath Fletcher:

Right. What is it about your character that you bring to this role? Like, what is it about you that you tap into that gets you up every day and moves you in the in the in the in in the same direction without saying, ah, this is too hard. I gotta try something else.

Michael Friend:

Well, I think the first debt what it's not about a paycheck, and and I've I've proven that. You know, it has not been about a paycheck. It's been about a lot of suffering personally as well and sacrifice, and and I know the pain that exists in the community. And I know the hurt and the disappointment when it comes We didn't just focus on sickle cell disease. We had projects around cancer.

Michael Friend:

There were projects around mental health. We focus on those nine diseases that primarily impacts the minority community. And so we heard stories in Baltimore, had a con a a with Broad. Right? And Broad had a cancer project.

Michael Friend:

So

Heath Fletcher:

Sorry, what was that again? Say Broadd, Broadd, you

Michael Friend:

b r o a d. Yeah, out there in Boston. I think they're affiliated with Harvard. But they have a very important project around cancer. I did a community event at a place and there were probably about 200 people there, but there were a mixture of clergy, but there are a lot of cancer patients here.

Michael Friend:

I think what was so challenging was to hear a woman diagnosed with breast cancer and at the same time her son was murdered, right? And so what I learned that in these communities, there is a lot happening unfortunately, you know. And that's where I really discovered how important this is because there's there's a lot of pain out there, and some of it we can, not so much avoid, but we can be a better support to to one another. And I think that's what these times are for me, and that's why I'm excited because I think that even as as things happen at at the you know, within our government, we're very strong when it comes to crime. We've got a lot of great companies out there, and we've got a lot of resources.

Michael Friend:

Right? We got a lot of folks that that are doing well in our community. We've got a lot of folks with a lot of money, and we need to bring some of those folks to the table because now is the time for the private private investments to really kick in, I believe, and and take us to the the the next generation, the next fifty years, I would say. I'll just say that, you know, kinda like follow the Bill Gates model. Right?

Michael Friend:

Reading about what he wants to do with his money, you know, as as he think about not being here, you know, and how he wants his money to be utilized. So Mhmm. I just think that that's where we are, and I think we're gonna honestly see more of that. And so that that's what makes me excited because now I think we're gonna see individuals step up and less government, more people.

Heath Fletcher:

And what will the what will the coalition do? How will you continue to spread the word and the message? What are some of the methods that you use to to connect and find find a place to inform others of what's going on?

Michael Friend:

Well, I'll tell you, we're totally right now, we're gonna go back to the churches, but I'm a tell you, the real power is the young people. And so for four years I've been working with school districts out in California doing deep dives on Chris Script with hundreds of students over the years. And so that is to me where we need to focus, and that group cannot be left out because at the end of the day, they're the ones who's gonna have to make decisions as it relates to this technology. So let's not leave them out of the conversation and look ten years from now and and, you know, this should reach. So I'm locked in right there.

Michael Friend:

We've got a project, called the next generation CRISPR project, and it's really around, careers in biotech with a strong emphasis on CRISPR. And so that is what we one area that we're really gonna be pushing for. We we did a pilot, I wanna say, out in California, and this is what we discovered. The kids will learn it, but there were, like, 20 let's say 2,000, plus schools in California. Right?

Michael Friend:

And and I don't want to throw California in the bus, but I can promise you 90% of those schools had no idea what CRISPR was. That's powerful. And that's, you know, California. Right? So Yeah.

Michael Friend:

And that's not acceptable. You know what saying?

Heath Fletcher:

Well, this is the first I've heard

Michael Friend:

of it. Right. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I'm saying.

Michael Friend:

It's it's yeah. It's a very powerful technology and and I it's it's because of how we how we roll out information, you know. Sure. And and we need to work on that to to be more.

Heath Fletcher:

But every conversation you have is is one one group of people closer to spreading that word. Yeah. But you're right. I think the youth are it's important. I mean, it's important for them to know Yeah.

Heath Fletcher:

You know, also what careers are there that they have to look forward to? You know? Like, I think a lot of them are really quite disillusioned by by what career options there are out there. A lot of the same old stuff they've grown up with, and I don't think they're interested in that. They do wanna make a difference.

Heath Fletcher:

Yeah. And they wanna impact the world.

Michael Friend:

So so true. And I wanted to make mention that we're doing a a CRISPR career guide that was developed by these young folks, and so we have that already in the bucket. And so it'll be able I don't have a release date, but it's definitely gonna be this year. And, it's gonna be a beautiful guide that you can download for free, and we hope to, you know, get that into most schools and continue to have these conversations around CRISPR and and and and careers in CRISPR as this technology continues to emerge. And so I I believe we've got, like, a, you know, strong footprint, and, we've done, work with a lot of the experts in this area as well on record.

Michael Friend:

And so, I think that's a very important, piece that that we just need to focus on, our young people. I wanna say a little more, I wanna say a lot more when it comes to these technologies. What

Heath Fletcher:

kind of advice do you give to people who are trying and striving to drive change and innovation in this industry?

Michael Friend:

I think the advice would be all of us are impacted by something to some extent, right, through our family, friends, and just listen, pay attention to what's happening in your own network, own circle, right? And become an advocate, and advocate on behalf of that individual. So many people suffer in solid, and so we need more activists, we need more advocates in these spaces, as you know, a lot of diseases, and so there's a lot of ground that we have to cover. And so I would just say I'm just one that believes that everyone should have a footprint somewhere as it relates to some disease. Whether you're given time or money, find a way to connect.

Michael Friend:

More important now than more than ever, right, encourage I you to see.

Heath Fletcher:

That's great advice. And I mean, you brought this up a little bit earlier. You're talking about how some people have multiple tragedies happening within their families, within their within their social networks. And so that those kinds of, you know, tragedies that are stacked on and those traumas that are collective are really I mean, they do that's what has the major impact on mental health. Right?

Heath Fletcher:

Because not only you're dealing with an illness and trying to recover or get through treatment, but, you know, there's a there's an emotional impact of disease and whether people recover or or don't make it. There's a huge impact emotionally and mentally for people, isn't there?

Michael Friend:

I I would agree. And one of the things I think, you know, is important too is that I think most times we as as a people don't really know what's going on with the next person. And sometimes not even our neighbor, right? But I just want to encourage us overall to talk more and to listen more to each other, right? And to really because as much as there's exciting times happening in healthcare, there are some technologies out there that's doing great things and folks don't know about it just yet.

Michael Friend:

And so let's keep talking. Podcasts, this format is extremely important for individuals like myself. And thank you so much, you know, for taking that time out because I just believe that this is the way moving forward is through conversations and then action.

Heath Fletcher:

Absolutely. That's great. Great way to end. Any last thoughts or takeaways? And I'll maybe also let listeners know how they can connect with you and learn more about your coalition as well, Mike.

Michael Friend:

Oh, yeah. For sure. Right now, we're on link I'm on LinkedIn. My name, Michael Friend. Our website is being rebuilt, and so we won't add that up for maybe another a few weeks or so.

Michael Friend:

But we'll it will certainly be a part of the I'm sure the final product once it's released. And so, hopefully, we can share that information to to your network as well.

Heath Fletcher:

And you had a couple of events you mentioned earlier too. Will you kinda those will be sort of listed on your website where where you're doing things and speaking and and showing up in public. Right?

Michael Friend:

Yeah. For sure. That that'll be there. And and definitely, we're looking for individuals who would definitely wanna be a part of the next generation CRISPR project as it relates to students. If you're a teacher, you're an educator, or someone who just want to be involved the because the guide is more like that final draft, but there's still some space in there.

Michael Friend:

And so if you have interest in career development as it relates to students, then definitely reach out to me. That that's very important part right now of our work.

Heath Fletcher:

Awesome. K. And we'll make sure those links are accessible for everybody as well. So, Michael, thank you so much for spending some time with me this afternoon. I really enjoy hearing about your journey, about the coalition, and certainly about CRISPR and what's happening in the future.

Heath Fletcher:

It sounds very exciting. And I look forward to seeing what comes up next. And, maybe we'll talk again.

Michael Friend:

Thank you. Appreciate you.

Heath Fletcher:

Okay. So I learned a new word today, CRISPR. So if you haven't already looked it up, it is an acronym which is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic peds. So I'm reading that in case you didn't know. That's a revolutionary gene editing technology that was initially discovered in bacteria as part of their immune system against viruses, but was adapted for use in laboratory to precisely modify DNA in living organisms.

Heath Fletcher:

It allows scientists to target specific DNA sequences and edit them with a high degree of accuracy, making it a powerful tool for research and potential therapeutic applications. This has a this has a potential to reshape health care. So building trust in health care is crucial in minor communities, which is what Michael's focus is. And of course, moving forward, engaging youth in conversations about health care is vital for the future. I hope you enjoyed this episode.

Heath Fletcher:

It was fascinating. Never get tired of learning new words, and there's never a shortage of them in this, industry. So, I wanna thank you for listening, and, please, stay healthy, and we'll talk again soon.