Health and Medicine (Audio)

CRISPR gene editing grew out of curiosity-driven research into how bacteria defend themselves against viruses. Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna and Kit Pogliano, dean of UC San Diego's School of Biological Sciences, discuss how that discovery became a powerful research tool. Doudna describes the Innovative Genomics Institute's partnership with UC San Diego and potential work on rare diseases and...

Why does glioblastoma often return after treatment? Joe Costello, Ph.D., of UC San Francisco, examines two connected processes underlying this aggressive brain cancer: tumor evolution and the ability of cancer cells to keep dividing. Using three-dimensional sampling across multiple regions of brain tumors, his research investigates small populations of early ancestral cells that appear to survive...

Blood-forming stem cells replenish the blood and immune system, making them important targets for gene therapy and transplantation. Cynthia Dunbar, M.D., explains how genetic barcodes let scientists track individual stem cell clones over time. Long-term studies in nonhuman primates reveal stable contributions from blood stem cells and unexpected persistence among certain natural killer immune...

Heart repair is moving beyond a single strategy. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., Ehtisham Mahmud, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Eric Adler, M.D., Karen Christman, Ph.D., and set designer Robert Brill discuss approaches to preventing and repairing heart damage. Mahmud describes a model linking cardiovascular care, training and clinical research. Adler explains how patient skin cells can be turned into...

As we age, experiences of loss often become more common, but so can our capacity for resilience. Danielle Glorioso, executive director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, explores the psychological and emotional processes that help older adults adapt to bereavement and other significant life losses. Drawing on current research and clinical insights, participants will learn how...

A federally funded clinical trial played a pivotal role in Tom Mugno’s journey after a diagnosis of lymphoma that was not responding to chemotherapy. With guidance from Dr. Joseph Tuscano at ‪UC Davis Health‬, Mugno enrolled in a National Cancer Institute–funded study exploring a novel immunotherapy-based research approach. His experience offers a personal perspective on how clinical research can...

UC Davis researcher Christine Nordahl is leading a longitudinal study of children with autism. The Autism Phenome Project looks for early predictors of later outcomes using brain scans and assessments so that early intervention and targeted support can be provided to children diagnosed with autism and co-occurring conditions. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41738]

Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D., is a UC San Diego Health perinatologist and professor who cares for patients with complex pregnancies, including those affected by diabetes. She explains how immigrating from Peru, learning from her grandmother and wanting to serve Spanish-speaking communities shaped her work. Ramos also describes feeling out of place in college and not getting into medical school on...

Vaginal microbiome research may offer new ways to understand infections, fertility, preterm birth and other areas of women’s health. Pita Navarro, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Evvy, joins Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, M.D., M.S., of UC San Diego Health, to explain how patient-contributed samples and health information can support research and product development. Navarro describes...

Sacramento is working on the largest water recycling project on the West Coast, and UC Davis research is behind the technology used to filter and recycle wastewater for such projects. Mike Falk, received his Ph.D. from UC Davis, and was a consultant for the project. He works on large civil infrastructure projects for public utilities like Sacramento Sewer. Falk said federal funding helps advance...