Discover how cutting-edge metabolic science is transforming mental health care in this panel on Metabolic Psychiatry, an emerging field that bridges the connection between metabolic health and mental well-being. Our distinguished panelists—leading experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, and clinical innovation— explored how metabolic interventions, including nutrition, precision medicine, and whole-person care, are revolutionizing the treatment of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.
Panelists
Shebani Sethi MD, PhD is the CEO/ founder of Metabolic Psychiatry Labs and the founding director of the flagship Stanford Metabolic Psychiatry Program and Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University. With dual board certifications in Psychiatry and Obesity Medicine, she merges expertise in adult eating disorders with cutting-edge research on the intersection of metabolism and mental health. Her unique approach called Metabolic Psychiatry, a term she coined, has garnered national and international attention from the media and scientific communities. Dr. Sethi's contributions include extensive research in the field of Metabolic Psychiatry, along with advising numerous startups and serving as the former CMO of a health tech company. Dr. Sethi's unwavering dedication lies in advancing research, improving patient care, and has launched a new start-up venture, Metabolic Psychiatry Labs, Inc., to increase access to Metabolic Psychiatry services for patients with serious mental illness.
Shebani Sethi MD, PhD
Stanford
Scott Fears MD, PhD is the Chief Medical Officer for Amae Health and Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA. His clinical career has focused on the treatment of serious and persistent mental illness in homeless and Veteran populations in Los Angeles. He has also developed a basic science program at UCLA focused on mapping genes associated with neuroimaging, neurocognitive and physiologic phenotypes in psychiatric populations. As the CMO of Amae Health, he has developed a whole person approach to treating SMI using a range of approaches including ketogenic diets in combination with emerging precision medicine methods to integrate objective measures of behavior into treatment planning.
Scott Fears MD, PhD
UCLA
Kirk Nylen PhD directs Baszucki Group’s strategic approach to neuroscience research and discovery. He has extensive experience in the health and research sectors, most recently serving as the Deputy Scientific Director and Vice President of Research and Informatics at the Ontario Brain Institute where he led the Institute’s approach to collaborative research networks, informatics and analytics, and knowledge translation. His previous experience involves writing healthcare strategy and business plans for Ontario’s provincial cancer agency. Kirk is a recent alum of the Milken Institute’s LeadersLink program, a Fellow of the European Union's Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT Health), and has advised both national and provincial governments at research and data governance policy tables. He is a recipient of the Van Gelder Savoy Award for epilepsy research and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Research Award, and led work that received the Changemaker Award from the Neurological Health Charities of Canada. He serves as an adjunct professor and lecturer at the University of Toronto. Kirk holds an MSc and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and a BA in psychology from the University of Saskatchewan.
Kirk Nylen PhD
Baszucki Group
Marine is a French tech entrepreneur with two exits, a business data platform with global footprint (GIA) and an Asia wide business expert platform (Fusion). She is an early-stage investor in health innovations globally and a Venture Advisor to Noetic fund which has funded mental health solutions across therapeutics, AI, digital, and devices. Marine is keen to advance the affordability of mental health innovations. She is also building a novel economic model that will bring institutional investors to mental health and reward companies which preserve our mind and bodies. She enjoys scaling science and data centric businesses and serves on the board of growth stage organisations. She co-founded and was the CEO of a gamified and AI powered social network for cancer patients in China (MedAnt) and an international video Q& A platform (YurOn). She started as an investment banker in 1994 in Tokyo where she also managed the editorial team of a Japanese publishing house She is a Board and Founding Member of the non-profit Asia Society France and an advisor to Global Women Asia.
Marine Mallinson - Moderator
Sanem Alkan, known as Sam, is a distinguished advisor renowned for her dedication to fostering the growth of emerging ventures and family-owned businesses. With a career spanning diverse sectors including investment management, technology, and philanthropy, Sam specializes in strategic growth and sustainable development.
Currently serving as Senior Impact Advisor to Sobrato Philanthropies Executive Committee member, donor and impact advisor, Sheri Sobrato, Sam offers strategic counsel and hands-on support in impact investing and philanthropic grantmaking. Her key initiatives involve evaluating new funding opportunities and building funder partnerships, with a particular focus on accelerating ventures in critical, funding-constrained areas such as rare pediatric disease care and youth mental wellness.
Sam’s career foundation is built on risk management and wealth advisory experience from her time at Marsh and Goldman Sachs. Her trajectory has seen her lead groundbreaking ventures across various sectors. Notably, she has spearheaded the launch and growth of several successful businesses, collectively raising $5 billion. Her notable achievements include the development of two hedge fund incubation platforms for JH Whitney, one of the oldest private equity firms in the U.S. In philanthropy, Sam significantly contributed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by cultivating new donor relationships, resulting in multi-million-dollar revenues in the organization’s new market of Silicon Valley. Additionally, her co-founded software company was among the first to be featured on app marketplaces by Facebook and Mozilla, alongside prominent peers like Spotify.
Sam’s leadership extends to prestigious board roles at renowned institutions such as The Juilliard School, New York University, and Rotary Clubs, highlighting her strategic acumen and commitment to impactful governance. She holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Sam is an active member of Rotary, 100 Women in Finance, and Financial Women of San Francisco. Her global perspective is enriched by her formative years in Istanbul and a lifelong passion for sports.
Sanem Alkan - Organizer
The Sobrato Organization
About the Braingels
Braingels is a dynamic team of innovators, mentors, investors, and thought leaders at the forefront of neurotechnology, AI, medical devices, and mental health. They are working to unlock the next generation of brain-related science and technology to foster human flourishing. Learn more here.
Details
When: Wednesday, March 19th, 1:00 - 2:00 PM PST
Where: Zoom