Episode 21 — AI, Precision Medicine & Rare Disease Innovation
Welcome to the Autism Spa Podcast, brought to you by the Autism Innovation Lab — where stories, science, and solutions meet.
In this episode, host Shahriar Afshar, Founder of Autism Spa and the Autism Innovation Lab, speaks with Gavenraj Sodhi, Founder & CEO of Maddie Bio and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Autism Innovation Lab. Gavenraj shares his journey as a startup builder and autism dad, inspired by his daughter Maddie, who was born with a rare genetic condition that caused seizures and required heart surgery at eight months old. After traditional diagnostics failed to provide answers, he turned to AI, creating an algorithm that combined genetic data, medical records, and scientific literature to predict seizures and uncover root-cause mechanisms. This work led to Maddie Bio, which now partners with six leading institutions—including UCSD and Baylor University—to build a precision-medicine platform using patient-derived cell lines, organoids, and an automated “biological computer” to simulate drugs before they ever reach a patient. Gavenraj discusses plans to raise $5 million for a clinical mini-trial supporting 10 families, the possibility of creating a new therapeutic indicator for autism, and the long-term goal of reducing treatment costs from millions to tens of thousands. He emphasizes improving quality of life—not searching for a cure—and highlights how Maddie Bio’s platform is already being used in cancer trials, rare disease modeling, and future autism-focused therapeutics.
About Gavenraj Sodhi:
Gavenraj Sodhi is the Founder & CEO of Maddie Bio and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Autism Innovation Lab. With a background in AI systems, software architecture, and startup development, he applies deep technical expertise to accelerate breakthroughs in rare disease and autism-related medical research. Motivated by his daughter’s medical journey, Gavenraj has become a leading voice in computational biology, precision medicine, and automated drug discovery workflows. His mission is to democratize access to personalized treatment pathways by combining AI, organoid modeling, stem cell science, and multi-institution collaboration.
📞 Contact Gavenraj Sodhi:
📧 gavenraj@maddiebio.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavenraj
📞 Contact Maddie Bio:
🌐 https://maddiebio.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maddie-biogenetics
About Autism Spa:
Autism Spa is a service of The Afshar Group, a public service advisory firm. We engage experts, innovators, and advocates reimagining autism housing, business, technology, and community life.
🌐 Learn more:
Autism Spa → https://autismspa.com
Autism Innovation Lab → https://autisminnovationlab.com
Afshar Group → https://afshargroup.com
🎙️ Hosted by Shahriar Afshar
📧 Contact: info@autisminnovationlab.com | info@autismspa.com
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