loader from loading.io

Repository

Science Diction

Release Date: 08/23/2023

Neurodegeneration show art Neurodegeneration

Science Diction

What happens when the cells of the nervous system, which are called neurons, die? As approximately 86 billion of these cells are found in the brain, spinal cord, and throughout the body, their failure can be devastating. On this episode, we discuss how our nervous system functions like an electrical grid, nature's impact on the nervous systems of the living and the unborn, and where you might first experience signs of neurodegeneration.

info_outline
Generic Drugs show art Generic Drugs

Science Diction

Generic pharmaceuticals make up nine out of every 10 prescriptions in the United States and in 2025 drugs for COPD, hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer, and many other disease conditions have expiring patents, so can be produced as generics. These drugs are as effective and work the same as the name brands, but typically cost consumers significantly less. On this episode, we discuss how they're formulated to be effective, how they're scaled from laboratory to manufacturing, and why they're so important in improving access and affordability.

info_outline
Antimicrobial Resistance show art Antimicrobial Resistance

Science Diction

There are potentially billions of different types of bacteria, which are found almost everywhere. Some are friends while others are foes. For the few microbes that have the potential to make you sick, you can try to kill them with an antimicrobial cleaner or soap, or an antibiotic. But those that survive may actually become stronger. In this episode, we discuss the threat presented by antimicrobial resistance, why it's becoming more of a problem, and why there is reason for hope.

info_outline
Agnostic Detection show art Agnostic Detection

Science Diction

New pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi are emerging at an unprecedented rate and spreading faster than ever before. This makes the ability to detect these threats – even unknown ones – more critical than ever. In this episode, we discuss how agnostic detection methods translate customer needs into panel design, their importance in pandemic preparedness, and the trade-offs associated with agnostic targeting.

info_outline
Environmental Exposure show art Environmental Exposure

Science Diction

Chemicals are all around us, from the foods we eat to flame retardants in the carpet. But how do we know that they’re safe? In this episode with Dr. Kristin Aillon, we discuss the data that supports public health, whether eliminating risk is possible, and how researchers keep up with an estimated 2,000 new chemicals that are introduced each year.      

info_outline
Fentanyl show art Fentanyl

Science Diction

The majority of synthetic opioid overdose deaths in 2023 were due to one drug – fentanyl. On this episode, we discuss why it’s so potent, the scale of the problem, and how MRIGlobal is helping first responders do their job safely and effectively when putting themselves in harm’s way.

info_outline
CRISPR show art CRISPR

Science Diction

Research scientists are putting CRISPR gene editing to work in agriculture, diagnostics, disease therapeutics, and even in the fight against climate change. Dr. Julie Lucas offers insight into why ensuring its responsible use is critical and how it may help us find new pathogens before they impact human health.

info_outline
Sleep show art Sleep

Science Diction

Sleep is an incredibly important process that involves multiple states and stages, each with different functions for health. It is also not a single homogeneous state, but a period that involves the complex interplay of neurotransmitter systems and physiological processes. Dr. Ian Colrain shares his expertise on its complexity and the impacts of sleep deprivation, being a teenager, and even alcohol consumption.

info_outline
Field Forward show art Field Forward

Science Diction

Infectious diseases can emerge from anywhere in the world, and when they do, it's critical that officials are prepared with detection and diagnostic methods for use in environments that have space, time, and resource constraints. Jennifer Stone shares with us how field forward detection and diagnostic devices are developed and their role in providing care to remote communities around the world.

info_outline
Point of Need  show art Point of Need

Science Diction

Have you ever swabbed inside your nose and used that sample to help diagnose if you have the flu or COVID-19? Or maybe you peed on a pregnancy test. The technology that makes those and other diagnostic tests like them possible is rooted in chemistry. Dr. Karen Peltier shares with us how the pandemic helped improve access to diagnostics and the chemistry that provides you an accurate diagnosis.

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Before therapeutic pharmaceuticals go into clinical trial to ensure their safety, they must be received from the manufacturer and precisely stored and managed and then shipped to their destination for use in that trial. As director of pharmaceutical sciences at MRIGlobal, Dr. Jon White leads a team that facilitates this critical step of the supply chain.