Davos, Switzerland | January 2026
The second feature in SCC’s Women Leading the Way @ WEF Davos 2026 series turns to leadership forged through lived experience, and the courage to turn personal loss into global impact.
Indu Navar, Founder of EverythingALS, represents a new model of systems leadership: one where patients are partners, data is shared responsibly, and AI accelerates discovery rather than widening divides.
Indu’s work demonstrates how open, patient-led data ecosystems can transform not only disease research, but the way institutions collaborate, innovate, and govern. Her leadership offers powerful lessons for cities navigating complex health, data, and trust challenges.
As part of the SCC delegation at WEF Davos 2026, Indu’s story underscores a central theme of this series: when women lead with purpose, they don’t just break barriers, they build the systems that enable others to follow.
At WEF Davos 2026, the conversation around AI, data, and human-centred health systems took on a profoundly human dimension with Indu Navar, Founder and CEO of EverythingALS, a pioneering nonprofit uniting patients, researchers, technologists, and clinicians to fundamentally change how neurological disease research is conducted.
In her presentation, Navar shared the powerful personal journey that led her to this mission: after losing her husband to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), she committed herself to reshaping the research landscape for the disease, and in doing so, creating a model that could be applied to many rare and neurodegenerative conditions.
“Time wasn’t on his side, and we realised that the traditional paths through clinical research, diagnosis, and treatment were far too slow,” Navar explains, emphasising how lived experience informed EverythingALS’ mission to accelerate progress through openness, data, and machine learning.
The Power of Data, AI, and Community
Under Navar’s leadership, EverythingALS has built a patient-centric, open data ecosystem designed to break down the barriers that have historically impeded research on ALS. The organisation’s work includes large-scale AI-powered studies, citizen-driven data collection, and collaborative networks with leading institutions, all aimed at detecting, understanding, and ultimately curing ALS faster than conventional models permit.
EverythingALS recently launched the Vision 2030 AI Hub, a platform that unites researchers, clinicians, technology partners, and biotech firms to harness AI and machine learning for breakthroughs in ALS research, from early diagnosis to treatment development, and to reduce bottlenecks in therapeutic discovery.
Navar underscored that this work matters not just for ALS, but for the broader innovation ecosystem: better data, stronger digital infrastructure, and ethical AI are essential for advancing health outcomes and for cities and societies striving to be healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive.
A Model for Healthspan and Innovation
At its core, EverythingALS reflects a shift in how healthcare problems are approached, one rooted in collaboration across sectors, empowered patients, and data-driven acceleration. As Navar puts it, “AI doesn’t replace human insight, it magnifies it,” highlighting how technology can amplify the voice of the patient and the pace of discovery.
Her story, from personal tragedy to transformative leadership, not only illustrates the promise of healthspan and AI-enabled systems but also aligns with Smart Cities Council’s focus at Davos on creating cities and societies that prioritise wellbeing, data governance, and inclusive innovation.
Indu Navar’s work stands as a reminder: when data, technology, and community unite, the future of health becomes not only more hopeful, but more achievable.
Catch more of what Indu has to say here.
Media interested in attending or scheduling interviews should contact:
Karen Norden karen.norden@smartcitiescouncil.com
About Smart Cities Council
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