The Straight from a Scientist Podcast
We want your updates on today's scientific research directly from the source: straight from the scientist working hard to make new discoveries about our world. We’re here to help you learn the what, the why, and the how of the research we produce every day. Informal interviews probe deep into how science is done, and why the how matters when it's time to interpret the results. Roundtable discussions introduce you to hot new fields of study or investigate the darker sides of science. To keep your science fresh, subscribe below or follow us on social media @straightfromascientist on instagram and twitter
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Risk and Reward in Alzheimer's disease
12/13/2023
Risk and Reward in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's Disease Risk and Reward When they hear about my work as a neurodegeneration researcher, people always ask me about Alzheimer's disease risk factors. What really causes Alzheimer's disease? Plaque and tangle buildup The truth is there's no one secret to staving off dementia, other than living your best life. This doesn't mean following every impulse, but rather thinking clearly about your habits and consciously making those good habits easier to access. Better lucky than good, but in this case it helps to be both. The kicker is that stress is also a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, so you'll want to be careful about that too. Dr. Benton has a refreshing and practical approach about all these thoughts and more.
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Deep Brain Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Lea Grinberg & Research Team
05/30/2023
Deep Brain Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Lea Grinberg & Research Team
Deep Brain Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Lea Grinberg & Research Team Losing Control from the Locus Coeruleus, starring Jonathan Chen, Felipe Pereira, and Ian Oh This episode kicks off a series all about my recent work in neurodegenerative disease, with a an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating and complex dementia and a major focus of my (Dr. Connor Wander’s) dissertation at UNC Chapel Hill. And where better to start than where the first major pathological changes of tau, a disordered protein that goes dysfunctional in the brain, begins to accumulate and kill neurons. This ground zero may be in neurons in the deep recesses of the brain act as central regulators of blood flow, inflammation, and neural network dynamics and seem particularly vulnerable to tau in those early, PRe symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease. I caught up with Dr. Lea Grinberg, Jonathan Chen, Felipe Pereira, and Ian Oh, members of her research team to define the current cutting edge in these studies. Dr. Lea Grinberg is an Endowed Professor at UCSF with a very active research group focused on early pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Grinberg was and is a pioneer in identifying early pathological changes in AD tied to tau aggregation in the locus coeruleus, or LC. We touched on the network modulatory function of the LC in the most . Loss of the LC and other brainstem nuclei is associated with a host of mood and sleep disorders that could be the key to understanding early Alzheimer’s disease. Check the link below for more from Dr. Grinberg on the links between sleep, Alzheimer’s, and the loss of these brainstem nuclei. Keep listening for great details on how these studies are conducted, and what’s next on the horizon for research into AD therapeutics and disease processes. Full show notes at
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Season 2 Episode 1: Neural Networks on Noradrenaline
01/18/2022
Season 2 Episode 1: Neural Networks on Noradrenaline
This episode is about neural networks on noradrenaline- the key neuromodulator known to flip almost every switch in the brain! Drs. Esteban Oryarzabal and Connor Wander break down how noradrenaline, or norepinephrine help regulate brain states useful for attention and task-switching. The studies here cover a whole new way to interpret brain imaging studies, which could have huge implications for neuroscience everywhere! Youtube link: https://youtu.be/NyMQhw5NpG4 Please note that this episode is special- it's a preview from research that hasn't fully undergone peer review. This means that the findings discussed are still highly preliminary, and could be subject to change. That being said, it's an incredible body of work, and fascinating at a minimum! Source Paper: "Chemogenetic Stimulation of Tonic Locus Coeruleus Activity Strengthens the Default Mode Network" From <> 2022 Brings new season for Straight from a Scientist Podcast. Connor has graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and is now embarking on a scientific industry career, where he explores the biology of aging. If you missed it over 2020 and 2021, check back for our Science Web Games-- Including two neuroscience games and a Coronavirus explainer:
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Ep56- Unlocking Genetic Regulation
04/03/2020
Ep56- Unlocking Genetic Regulation
How did you get so put together? DNA is the blueprint, but it doesn't determine everything. DNA gets turned into RNA, and then finally into proteins that help build your body and brain. But there are SO many steps in that process that affect the final product- you. The sum of these steps is a process called genetic regulation. Genetic regulation makes sure that not all of our genes are expressed and turned into protein at the same time and same place- that would be a mess! This episode is all about genetic regulation by long, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs, pronounced "link-R N A"). LncRNAs are long segments of RNA that serve non-traditional functions in the genome. Although recently discovered, lncRNAs seem to be involved in everything from the genetic regulation of development to diseases like cancer. LncRNAs could help rewrite the field of genetic regulation, and might be the biggest shift to understanding genetics since epigenetics became a hot topic. Rachel is also highly involved in other forms of science communication! Check out the and UNC SWAC for more info! If you're at UNC, make sure to check TIBBS for career training and opportunities. Specific visual references and their approximate timestamps are listed below. Make sure to watch the 5:00: DNA vs RNA vs Protein - (image in video) 7:30: Alternative splicing - (image in video) 9:00: Jimena giudice lab at UNC - (Alternative splicing and intracellular trafficking in development and diseases) 9:30: It's estimated that >90% of proteins undergo alternative splicing 13:30: protein coding gene structure (image in video) 15:30: Additional note: smaller ncRNAs have more defined structure than lncRNAs, their functions are better known 17:33: dosage compensation - calico cats (image in video) 20:50: An example of a motif that proteins recognize (, figure 3 ) 21:00: xist repeat structure (, figure 2, human vs mouse xist) 23:00:in cis lncRNA function (, figure 2 b and c) 25:05: Markers are placed on histones, rather than DNA. Histones are proteins that DNA wraps around to compact dna into cells (image in video) 25:30: A note: polycomb complexes are conserved to plants and even fungi. lncRNAs can be found in plants* 28:15: immunoprecipitation pipeline (image in video) 31:30 -33:35: Examples of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (image in video) 35:00: Enhancer rnas ( figure 1 38:30: single line RNA vs double line DNA, 3DRNA structure (image in video) 41:00: xist vs rsx (, figure 6b ) 42:30: SWAC /pipettepen,com - link to swac article that prompted this podcast - 44:30: TIBBS -
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Ep55- Fetal Vulnerability to Cannabis and Alcohol
03/12/2020
Ep55- Fetal Vulnerability to Cannabis and Alcohol
Marijuana and other cannabis products are becoming increasingly available across the country, and while compounds like CBD have been shown to be safe and even helpful in adults, the side effects of cannabis products are relatively unknown when it comes to the developing fetus. We've known that alcohol causes birth defects for over 40 years, causing a condition called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and the greater spectrum of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders . But alcohol isn't the only commonly used substance to cause birth defects. Dr. Parnell's lab and others shows that CBD and THC, the two most well-studied compounds in marijuana can also be harmful to the developing brain. His research points to a possible fetal cannabis syndrome that could have very similar effects to alcohol. It seems that both alcohol and mariujana could hit the developing brain at the same stage- but listen in for the details! Neurulation in embryonic development[/caption] we discussed. UNC broke this story late last year
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E54- Supermassive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies
02/18/2020
E54- Supermassive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies
This week's episode is about the big things in life- specifically, supermassive black holes in dwarf galaxies! Connor Wander sits down with Mugdha Polimera from UNC to talk about her work studying supermassive black holes and how their frequency in dwarf (smaller) galaxies can teach us about the formation of the universe. She quite literally looks back in time! Mugdha explains how she studies such huge elements so far away, what her studies could mean for our understanding of the universe, reviews her journey to be an astrophysicist, comments on some popular science myths, and more! Her research could hold the secrets to how our own galaxy, the milky way, formed eons ago. https://www.straightfromascientist.com/mugdha-polimera-unc Here's a great reference for scale, so you can see just how big some of these things are! Supermassive black hole to scale with giant stars[/caption] https://neal.fun/size-of-space/ Questions about supermassive black holes or dwarf galaxies? Visit Mugdha's bio to ask about them!
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Ep 53 - How Bacteria Survive the Immune System
01/05/2020
Ep 53 - How Bacteria Survive the Immune System
This episode is all about bad bugs. Specifically, a flesh-eating bacteria strain called Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). S. aureus is a very common bacteria that's best known for becoming resistant to antibiotics, and becoming MRSA. Bacteria and the immune system are always at war with each other. Antibiotics can give the body the edge in this battle, but common resistance is making this much harder in hospitals and homes across the world. Bacteria survive these antibiotics and the immune system is left to clean up the mess. Currently, S. aureus is a major cause of death for bacterial infections. To make things worse, S. aureus and other bacteria can survive more than just antibiotics: Jenna Beam and the Conlon Lab study how bacteria escape and survive the immune system, and what we can do to stop bacteria in general. All that and more on this episode! Make sure to check out the on our new Jenna and the Conlon Lab just published a You can hear more about bacterial resistance mechanisms in general from a recent episode Dr. Brian Conlon did with Curioscity- check it out .
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Ep 52 - Diabetes and Placental Epigenetics
12/01/2019
Ep 52 - Diabetes and Placental Epigenetics
This weeks episode combines several topics you may have heard of, but never thought about in the same context! Diabetes and epigenetics are two well-researched topics, but not in the context of fetal development. During pregnancy, the placenta is the highway that connects a mother and fetus, so when epigenetics act on the placenta, they could have huge effects on development of the fetus and/or the mother. We break it down straight from a scientist in this episode with Laetitia Myeyruix from in the . I learned a LOT from this episode, and I'm sure you will too! Laetitia makes it really easy to understand everything, you don't even need me there! This is another VIDEO episode! Check it out on Youtube, and please subscribe to Laetitia is studying the effect of diabetes on epigenetics- the gene access regulators that can ultimately determine which genes go on to be expressed and affect the body. Laetitia is working with scientists and clinicians in South Africa to determine how diabetes risk in pregnant mothers affects the placenta. Additionally, we talked about , the blog Laetitia edits for-- go check it out for some sweet nutrition advice from the experts! Also mentioned in the podcast: , the book Laetitia mentioned she was reading and highly recommended!
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Ep. 51 – New Cancer Therapies & Targeting Cancer Biology
11/05/2019
Ep. 51 – New Cancer Therapies & Targeting Cancer Biology
Join Lebaron (Lee) Agostini and Connor Wander in our FIRST VIDEO episode! This episode is all about Cancer Biology. Lee studies experimental cancer therapies for pancreatic cancer. New cancer therapies called combination or synergystic cancer therapies use multiple drug types to shut down, corner, and eliminate cancer cells in the body. The of this episode is available on Nov 5th at 7PM EST ! Head on over to our check it out there! Also streaming (audio only) on all the usual platforms. Further information Here's a recent paper from Lee and his lab at Jefferson University: Any other questions for Lee? Ask him on or
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Ep.50 - Alzheimer's disease FAQ
10/02/2019
Ep.50 - Alzheimer's disease FAQ
What is Alzheimer's disease? Who can get Alzheimer's, and how does the disease progress? Maya Gostyla and Connor Wander break down the state of Alzheimer's disease treatments, risk factors, and potential breakthroughs in the field. Related Episodes If you like this episode, we have tons of You can hear more about Further Reading about Alzheimer's disease from the experts on where Alzheimer's research and therapies are today. For more in-depth analysis of developments in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, check out for Alzheimer’s disease background reading. Read about and see images of that help identify markers of brain disease. Any other questions? We appreciate your feedback. You can now support the podcast at . Many thanks to our past and present supporters! Thanks to for their support. Use discount code SFS10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of plant-based protein.
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Ep. 49 - Alzheimer's disease overview with Konner Blunt
09/08/2019
Ep. 49 - Alzheimer's disease overview with Konner Blunt
This week's episode is with the host of The Blunt Report podcast: Konner Blunt. Connor and Konner talked about ALzheimer's disease, the experience of podcasting, science communication, and Jiu Jitsu among other things. Check out The Blunt Report here: More about Alzheimer's disease:
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Ep. 48- Are Herbal Supplements Effective? Using Modern Science to Investigate Ancient Medicines with Tayler Catherine
06/15/2019
Ep. 48- Are Herbal Supplements Effective? Using Modern Science to Investigate Ancient Medicines with Tayler Catherine
Tayler is a PhD candidate in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. Her research focuses on the pharmacology and toxicology of supposed ‘fertility-boosting’ herbal supplements on sperm cells, using flow cytometry to elucidate their effects at a cellular level. She is also a science communicator in her spare time, and posts regular pharmacology-based series online. You can find her on Instagram at Link to a good general review on oxidative stress: Link to a review of herbal medicine safety issues:
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Ep. 47- Genetic Big data for Personalized Medicine with Sean Jackewicz
06/15/2019
Ep. 47- Genetic Big data for Personalized Medicine with Sean Jackewicz
In this episode, we chat with Sean Jackewicz. Sean's research in the lab has focused on cancer development and cancer therapies, while his work outside of the lab focuses on the role of genomics in people's lives. Sean is currently leading the development of a clinical genotyping tool that he hopes will give health practitioners the ability to personalize treatment plans for patients like never before. Sean is also passionate about communicating the upcoming changes in genetic technology.
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Ep. 46- Stimulate Your Brain for Better Mental Health
05/31/2019
Ep. 46- Stimulate Your Brain for Better Mental Health
Alzheimer's disease is a terrifying neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired memory, cognitive deficits, and neuronal loss. With few treatments and no cure after decades of research, scientists are starting to think outside the box for better ways to ward off Alzheimer's disease. In this episode, we discuss the links between mental health and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, and how common strategies for better mental health have great promise for Alzheimer's disease treatment. In general, the best protective strategies for Alzheimer's disease are things that improve mental health, such as trying new things and staying active. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Harry Steinbusch from Maastricht University. Dr. Steinbusch has a wide array of research interests centered mostly around how everyday activities might help protect against neurodegenerative disorders, and how genetic modifications like epigenetics are important in disorders like Alzheimer's disease. We also talk about how Dr. Steinbusch runs his lab from all over the world, and his founding of the AD Fast Track conference Some actionable tips for better mental health: Use it or lose it - an active brain is a healthy brain! Learning new things and traveling to new places stimulates adult neurogenesis, the birth and development of new neurons in the brain Exercise, particularly group exercise, was found to be most beneficial Learning more than one language is also linked to better mental health Citations and further reading: Andrew Crowther, soon to be PhD from the Song Lab talks with Connor Wander about his research- Some other This episode marks the final part of the AD Fast Track series. Check out all previous episodes, and stay tuned for more some summary episodes on Alzheimer's disease.
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Ep. 45: Applications and Limitations of GWAS with Dr. Liz Tunbridge
04/21/2019
Ep. 45: Applications and Limitations of GWAS with Dr. Liz Tunbridge
Genome-wide association studies, or GWAS, are very helpful in telling researchers where to focus their attention. GWAS identify genes or clusters of genes associated with greater risk for diseases and disorders. But GWAS aren't a silver bullet...
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Ep. 44: Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton and Connor Wander
04/09/2019
Ep. 44: Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton and Connor Wander
Women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as men. However, this is NOT because they live longer. When we look into the aging brain, males and females experience different timelines. The molecular underpinnings of these sex differences could make a huge impact on our understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton is spearheading research into sex differences in Alzheimer's disease.
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Ep. 43: Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Elizabeth Head and Connor Wander
03/27/2019
Ep. 43: Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Elizabeth Head and Connor Wander
This week's episode features another throwback recorded in San Diego, CA, where Connor Wander attended the BrightFocus Alzheimer's Disease Fast Track conference, followed by the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. We talked with Dr. Elizabeth Head, who studies the link between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's disease with the hopes of improving lives for both patient classes. Listen to hear about this super interesting and very promising work!
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Ep. 42: Neuronal Apoptosis- The Cautious and the Willing with Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh and Connor Wander
02/10/2019
Ep. 42: Neuronal Apoptosis- The Cautious and the Willing with Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh and Connor Wander
This episode is all about neuronal apoptosis. In Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh's eyes, some cells are willing to undergo through apoptosis, while others are very cautious. Understanding these differences could be the key to understanding, treating, or curing diseases that haunt us in modern times. Research in Dr. Deshmukh’s lab at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, focuses on pathways for neuronal apoptosis and the ways that survival and death work in different cells.
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Ep. 41: Alzheimer’s Disease Research roundtable with Drs. Cynthia Lemere, Charles Glabe, and Lea T. Grinberg
12/20/2018
Ep. 41: Alzheimer’s Disease Research roundtable with Drs. Cynthia Lemere, Charles Glabe, and Lea T. Grinberg
This week’s episode marks the 2nd of a series focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research recorded by Connor Wander at the BrightFocus Alzheimer’s conference and the SfN annual meeting. Listen in to a roundtable with Drs. Cynthia Ann Lemere, Charles Glabe, and Lea T. Grinberg to learn about current research on the causes and possible treatments for Alzheimer's Disease. We also discuss possible misrepresentations of the Amyloid cascade hypothesis, and applications of 3D printing in brain scan mode
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Ep. 40: Roundtable on the Importance of Science Communication with Dan and Gabe from TheSciCommunity
12/13/2018
Ep. 40: Roundtable on the Importance of Science Communication with Dan and Gabe from TheSciCommunity
To honor our recent collaboration with TheSciCommunity, we sat down with the founders Dan and Gabe and discussed the importance of science communication. Dan and Gabe share their values and mission to spread science in a transparent and direct way. Also in this episode, we discuss our pathways into science, how to improve the dialogue between scientists and the public, fake news, and the Skype A Scientist program. Finally, we answer the question: Is scicomm enough?
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Ep. 39: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Part I with Drs. Diane Bovenkamp, Frank LaFerla, and Bruce Lamb
11/27/2018
Ep. 39: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Part I with Drs. Diane Bovenkamp, Frank LaFerla, and Bruce Lamb
This week’s episode marks the 1st of a series focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research. All episodes were recorded in San Diego, CA, where Connor Wander attended the BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Fast Track conference, followed by the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting.
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Ep. 38: Wood Thrushes and Canadian Wildlife Ecology with Alex Israel
11/14/2018
Ep. 38: Wood Thrushes and Canadian Wildlife Ecology with Alex Israel
For Part Two in our wildlife ecology series, we talked with Alexandra Israel, a Master's student at York University. As a field biologist, Alex works in Canada researching species like the Wood Thrush and the worrying decline of songbird populations. So listen in to hear about her experience with field work, as well as issues such as nest predation and bird parasites. We also talk about forest fragmentation, the process by which urbanization breaks up forests with fields and human spaces.
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Ep. 37: Conservation and Rainforest Ecology with Stephanie Martin
11/06/2018
Ep. 37: Conservation and Rainforest Ecology with Stephanie Martin
This week we kick off part one of a two part series on conservation and ecology. We talked to Stephanie Martin, a Tropical Rainforest Ecologist. So listen in to hear about Stephanie's field research in rainforests around the world, as well as what individuals can do to aid in conservation efforts. Also, we talk about the ethics of ethnobotany and a recent World Wildlife Fund study on extinction levels.
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Ep. 36: Behavioral Nutrition and Weight Management with Rachel Paul
10/17/2018
Ep. 36: Behavioral Nutrition and Weight Management with Rachel Paul
For this episode, we talked to Dr. Rachel Paul, also known as The College Nutritionist, about her work in behavioral nutrition. Listen in to hear about practical strategies Rachel uses with her clients to manage weight effectively. Rachel dispels some myths and misconceptions about healthy eating and weight management. We also talk about different types of diets and whether or not current scientific research recommends them.
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Ep. 35: Meta Roundtable with Learning With Lowell and Connor Wander
10/15/2018
Ep. 35: Meta Roundtable with Learning With Lowell and Connor Wander
Another special episode for the SFS podcast this week: a collaborative show between Lowell Thompson, the host of the Learning with Lowell Podcast, and Connor from Straight from a Scientist. Listen in to hear a relaxed discussion about the motivations behind and the ups and downs of podcasting. We also talk about our backgrounds, personal histories and interests, and cool things planned for both the Learning with Lowell and Straight from a Scientist Podcasts!
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Ep. 34: Lab to Life 1 with Dr. Lisa Crose from Camargo Pharmaceutical Services
10/10/2018
Ep. 34: Lab to Life 1 with Dr. Lisa Crose from Camargo Pharmaceutical Services
This episode is part of a new series put on by UNC Pharmacology. Lab to Life exposes students, staff, and faculty to the journey of alumni as they navigate their career post-PhD. Special thanks to Nicole Arnold at UNC Pharmacology for letting us record, and of course to Lisa for coming to talk with us! Lisa is a Scientific and Regulatory Specialist at Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, a full-service drug development consulting company that specializes in the 505(b)(2) pathway.
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Ep. 33: Brain Imaging of Chronic Pain with Anton Rogachov and Connor Wander
09/02/2018
Ep. 33: Brain Imaging of Chronic Pain with Anton Rogachov and Connor Wander
This week we talked with Anton Rogachov, a 5th year PhD student in Dr. Karen Davis’s Lab at the University of Toronto. We discuss Anton's recent paper, Abnormal Low-Frequency Oscillations Reflect Trait-Like Pain Ratings in Chronic Pain Patients Revealed through a Machine Learning Approach. We cover what it's like to work directly with patients and to both administer and be tested via fMRI. We also talk about important caveats and considerations with work such as ours.
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Ep. 32: Search and Destroy in HIV Therapy Part II - with Aaron Devanathan and Connor Wander
08/20/2018
Ep. 32: Search and Destroy in HIV Therapy Part II - with Aaron Devanathan and Connor Wander
In our second interview with Aaron Devanathan, a PhD student in the Kashuba Lab at UNC Pharmacy, we dive deeper into the strategies researchers use on the cutting edge of HIV research, including the technical challenges, tools, and model systems that make the science possible. We explore the innate immune system in aging and within the context of AIDS. Next, Aaron discusses his recent experience in his clinical rotation at UNC hospitals, and his thoughts on being a PharmD vs a Pharmacy PhD student.
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Ep. 31: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: From eubiosis to dysbiosis and back: useful biomarkers for clinical treatment with Miguel Mateas
08/05/2018
Ep. 31: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: From eubiosis to dysbiosis and back: useful biomarkers for clinical treatment with Miguel Mateas
Today, back by popular demand is Miguel Mateas, a Clinical Nutritional Neuroscientist who studies how the microbiota affects the brain. Diversity and abundance in gut microbiota leads to a healthy and balanced system, called eubiosis. When that balance is lost, the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients suffers, called dysbiosis. Listen in to learn about his review article, practical strategies to fix dysbiosis, sex and the microbiome, and how clinicians study something as complicated as the microbiota.
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Ep. 30: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Pain and Addiction with Waylin Yu
07/19/2018
Ep. 30: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Pain and Addiction with Waylin Yu
We talked to Waylin Yu about his research in the overlap of pain, negative emotion, and addiction. Waylin studies the fundamental roles of neurons in different areas of the brain, such as the amygdala, that may be responsible for these reactions, both independently and in relation to each other. This includes chronic pain, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependence, looking at activity in dopamine pathways, which play a role in reward-motivated behavior, and GABA, an important inhibitory neurotransmitter
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