Scientists and CEOs share big ideas at Vatican ethical innovation summit

Dr. Todd Ovokaitys speaks at the World Changers Ethical & Innovation Summit at the Pontifical Lateran University in Vatican City, Nov. 26, 2024 / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA Vatican City, Nov 27, 2024 / 13:35 pm (CNA). Against the dramatic backdrop of a massive mosaic of Christ enthroned, entrepreneurs, researchers, and civil society leaders spoke at the Vatican’s Pontifical Lateran University this week about their big ideas for ethical innovation.Dubbed the “World Changers Ethical & Innovation Summit,” the Nov. 25-26 event showcased groundbreaking ideas spanning artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine, ethical technology, and environmental sustainability.From left: Sister Myriam Castelli, Karen Floyd, Patrizia Marin, Bonnie Carroll, and Sait Saiti speak at the World Changers Ethical & Innovation Summit at the Pontifical Lateran University in Vatican City, Nov. 26, 2024. Credit: Courtney Mares/CNAAmong the featured speakers was Dr. Todd Ovokaitys, a Johns Hopkins-trained medical doctor and researcher, who presented his pioneering work in regenerative medicine. Ovokaitys highlighted the potential of Very Small Embryonic-Like stem cells (VSELs) — which are not the ethically fraught embryonic stem cells — to reverse spinal cord injuries and other degenerative conditions. “We focus on issues in the nervous system, which are often irrevocable, irreversible and permanent for life, but no longer,” he said.The doctor shared the story of a chief of police in Mexico who was shot four times, resulting in a complete mid-thoracic spinal cord injury that left him without any feeling or movement from the chest down. After being treated with VSELs using state-of-the-art Strachan-Ovokaitys Node Generator (SONG) Laser Technology and physical therapy, the police chief was able to recover the full ability to walk.Another speaker, Karl Nagy, CEO of Kabena Group, unveiled his vision for an ambitious biorefinery project on Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, that is designed to provide clean water, organic fertilizer, and electricity to over a million householdsThe summit also featured Tim Johnson, CEO of Health In Tech, who shared how he started his own insurance and medical management company to help Americans have access to all of their medical records in one place. Dr. Christina Rahm, a mother of four, scientist, and cancer survivor, presented some of her patented technology to create toxin-free seed patents aimed at rethinking the global food supply.“As a scientist, I wanted to do a lot of things in my life. As … a mother of four, it became very clear to me once I had cancer, and once I lost a child, that I needed to do even more,” said Rahm, the CEO of DRC Ventures and chief science formulator at The Root Brands.“So we launched some of the formulations that I had developed that got rid of nuclear waste and got rid of microplastics and mycotoxins that were in our seeds and in our soil,” she said.Another innovative project was the OCEANIX initiative, presented by Manuel Rocamora. Set in Busan, South Korea, OCEANIX is developing a prototype for a sustainable floating city that could serve as a model for densely populated coastal areas.The World Changers Summit is the brainchild of Professor Gabriele Pao-Pei Andreoli, the honorary president of the Institute for Advanced Studies and Cooperation. Since its inaugural event in 2023 at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, four World Changers summits have been hosted by the Vatican.The November 2024 summit’s theme, Social Responsibility: Cultivating Practices for Enhanced Welfare and Justice, underscored the need for innovation grounded in human dignity.A future World Changers summit is scheduled to take place November 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.