Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How do scientists know if a new treatment actually works?
In Episode 3 of our HealthSpan Explained miniseries, host Dr. Shruti Naik is joined by physician-scientists Dr. Tom Marron and Dr. Fanny Elahi to explore the science behind clinical trials—and why they're the foundation of modern medicine.
As excitement grows around longevity research and anti-aging interventions, separating evidence from hype has never been more important. The team explains how randomized clinical trials, placebo controls, biomarkers, and precision medicine help researchers determine whether treatments are truly safe and effective—and why anecdotes and supplements alone aren't enough.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why randomized clinical trials remain the gold standard in medicine
• The difference between FDA-approved drugs and dietary supplements
• How placebo and nocebo effects influence medical research
• Why biomarkers are transforming the future of clinical trials
• What "precision clinical trials" could mean for personalized medicine
• How the XPRIZE Healthspan Challenge aims to redefine healthy aging
Medicine doesn't move on hype—it moves on evidence. Discover how today's clinical trials are laying the groundwork for tomorrow's breakthroughs in longevity and healthspan.
Learn more about the XPrize Healthspan challenge here: mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-researchers-in-semifinals-of-101-million-xprize-healthspan-a-competition-seeking-innovative-approaches-to-aging-well
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the Mount Sinai Health System. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on philanthropy to advance exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and medical education. Your generosity helps make these conversations—and our mission—possible. Learn more or make a gift at give.mountsinai.org.
00:00 – Why Healthspan Needs Clinical Trials
01:05 – How Do We Know a Treatment Works?
02:04 – Randomized Trials, Placebos & FDA Approval
04:00 – Medicine Before Clinical Trials
05:35 – What Is an "N of 1" Study?
06:05 – Placebos, Control Groups & Evidence-Based Medicine
08:20 – Biomarkers: The Future of Clinical Trials
10:25 – Measuring Healthy Aging in the XPRIZE Healthspan Challenge
13:35 – The Challenge of Testing Anti-Aging Therapies
15:40 – Why Safety Comes First in Clinical Research
18:05 – The Risks of Self-Experimenting with Supplements
20:10 – Why Supplements Aren't FDA Regulated
21:15 – The Placebo & Nocebo Effects Explained
23:10 – Why Personalized Medicine Is the Next Frontier
24:20 – New Blood Tests for Precision Medicine
26:25 – Why Researchers Track Individuals, Not Just Groups
27:35 – What Is a Biotype?
29:45 – Building the Future of Precision Clinical Trials
31:30 – Closing Thoughts: The Future of Healthspan Research
How do scientists know if a new treatment actually works?
In Episode 3 of our HealthSpan Explained miniseries, host Dr. Shruti Naik is joined by physician-scientists Dr. Tom Marron and Dr. Fanny Elahi to explore the science behind clinical trials—and why they're the foundation of modern medicine.
As excitement grows around longevity research and anti-aging interventions, separating evidence from hype has never been more important. The team explains how randomized clinical trials, placebo controls, biomarkers, and precision medicine help researchers determine whether treatments are truly safe and effective—and why anecdotes and supplements alone aren't enough.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why randomized clinical trials remain the gold standard in medicine
• The difference between FDA-approved drugs and dietary supplements
• How placebo and nocebo effects influence medical research
• Why biomarkers are transforming the future of clinical trials
• What "precision clinical trials" could mean for personalized medicine
• How the XPRIZE Healthspan Challenge aims to redefine healthy aging
Medicine doesn't move on hype—it moves on evidence. Discover how today's clinical trials are laying the groundwork for tomorrow's breakthroughs in longevity and healthspan.
Learn more about the XPrize Healthspan challenge here: mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-researchers-in-semifinals-of-101-million-xprize-healthspan-a-competition-seeking-innovative-approaches-to-aging-well
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the Mount Sinai Health System. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on philanthropy to advance exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and medical education. Your generosity helps make these conversations—and our mission—possible. Learn more or make a gift at give.mountsinai.org.
00:00 – Why Healthspan Needs Clinical Trials
01:05 – How Do We Know a Treatment Works?
02:04 – Randomized Trials, Placebos & FDA Approval
04:00 – Medicine Before Clinical Trials
05:35 – What Is an "N of 1" Study?
06:05 – Placebos, Control Groups & Evidence-Based Medicine
08:20 – Biomarkers: The Future of Clinical Trials
10:25 – Measuring Healthy Aging in the XPRIZE Healthspan Challenge
13:35 – The Challenge of Testing Anti-Aging Therapies
15:40 – Why Safety Comes First in Clinical Research
18:05 – The Risks of Self-Experimenting with Supplements
20:10 – Why Supplements Aren't FDA Regulated
21:15 – The Placebo & Nocebo Effects Explained
23:10 – Why Personalized Medicine Is the Next Frontier
24:20 – New Blood Tests for Precision Medicine
26:25 – Why Researchers Track Individuals, Not Just Groups
27:35 – What Is a Biotype?
29:45 – Building the Future of Precision Clinical Trials
31:30 – Closing Thoughts: The Future of Healthspan Research
