Host Kate joins Leo Grady, PhD, founder and CEO of Jona, to explore AI-assisted microbiome analysis, shotgun sequencing, and personalized nutrition. Inspired to build Jona after his son suffered from severe gut issues that kept him out of school—and is now healthy—Grady explains how the platform processes the equivalent of 8 MRIs worth of data per test. They also discuss digital-twin simulations, research transparency, and translating complex stool-test data into clinician-reviewed plans. Guest Leo Grady, PhD, is Jona’s founder and CEO. His background includes AI applications in radiology, cardiovascular assessment, and pathology at Siemens, HeartFlow, and Paige AI. Key Takeaways AI microbiome analysis moves beyond species counts. Learn how combining shotgun sequencing with published clinical research maps functional potential and complex microbial patterns. (Quince 2017) Digital-twin technology informs clinician-led care. Explore how predictive simulations model response to targeted nutrition and personalized supplements while keeping practitioners in control. (Diener 2020) (Porcari 2025) Shotgun sequencing delivers deep functional insights. Discover how processing extensive stool-sequencing datasets translates complex microbial metabolic capacity into actionable clinical guidance. (Quince 2017) Clinical FAQ 1. How does AI-assisted gut microbiome testing analyze stool samples? Shotgun sequencing data is compared against published human clinical studies using advanced AI algorithms to detect microbial patterns and summarize functional potential. (Quince 2017) 2. What is a gut microbiome digital twin and how is it used? A microbiome digital twin is a computational simulation that predicts potential shifts in microbial activity following dietary, lifestyle, or targeted supplement interventions. (Diener 2020) 3. Can AI microbiome testing replace standard clinical diagnosis? No. Stool testing and AI models provide functional insights but do not replace validated diagnostic tools or practitioner oversight. (Porcari 2025) Timestamps 02:57 Grady’s AI and healthcare background 11:39 Why he founded Jona (his son's severe gut health journey and recovery) 22:20 Health domains and report structure 30:09 Functional capacity versus blood measurements 36:17 Digital-twin simulations 55:16 Sequencing workflow and evidence review Ready to elevate your practice? This episode is sponsored by Fullscript , a comprehensive care delivery platform designed to support whole-person, integrative healthcare. Fullscript helps clinicians bring supplement dispensing, lab ordering, and patient education into one centralized workflow. For more practitioner education on supplements, nutrition, and evidence-informed clinical care, visit Fullscript Academy at academy.fullscript.com . Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of Fullscript or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. For your safety, always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine. References Diener, C., Gibbons, S. M., & Resendis-Antonio, O. (2020). MICOM: Metagenome-scale modeling to infer metabolic interactions in the gut microbiota. mSystems, 5 (1), Article e00606-19. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.00606-19 Porcari, S., Mullish, B. H., Asnicar, F., Ng, S. C., Zhao, L., Hansen, R., O’Toole, P. W., Raes, J., Hold, G., Putignani, L., Hvas, C. L., Zeller, G., Koren, O., Tun, H., Valles-Colomer, M., Collado, M. C., Fischer, M., Allegretti, J., Iqbal, T., . . . Ianiro, G. (2025). International consensus statement on microbiome testing in clinical practice. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 10 (2), 154–167. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S246812532400311X Quince, C., Walker, A. W., Simpson, J. T., Loman, N. J., & Segata, N. (2017). Shotgun metagenomics, from sampling to analysis. Nature Biotechnology, 35 (9), 833–844. https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.3935