Future Tech: Almost Here, Round-the-corner Future Technology Podcast

Only recently do scientists understand the prevalence and importance of fungi in our digestive system anatomy. Dr. Iliev tells listeners about: How fungal microbiota, or mycobiota, changes under conditions of inflammation in the bowel. What this might mean regarding the relationship between fungi, bacteria, and bowel disease. Why a mutation of cells with a receptor sensitive to fungi might hold a key to Crohn's Disease. Dr. Iliyan Iliev is Assistant Professor of Immunology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. As a mucosal immunologist, he and his lab are focusing specifically on how mycobiota impacts bowel inflammation. Their work has lead them to examine how components of fungi, bacteria, and cell interaction may lead to relief from immunological bowel diseases. The balance between fungi and bacteria appears to be important in the suppression of these diseases, but more work needs to be done. The presence of gut fungi made itself known after detecting a fungal message while undergoing cellu

Dr. Poon's research into the mechanism of cell death reveals that what was long thought a random process actually has signs of regulation. In this podcast, you'll learn: What about the process signifies regulation. What cells release in these extracellular vesicles when they die. Why understanding the process of cell death in disease settings may lead to disease-fighting drugs. Dr. Ivan Poon of La Trobe University is a Senior Research Fellow in biochemistry and genetics. He specializes in extracellular vesicles and cell turnover, or the mechanisms of cell death. In this discussion, he explains his focus on trying to understand what happens when cells die. The amount of energy a cell puts into generating small vesicles, or apoptotic bodies, during turnover is significant. Therefore, he and other researchers are studying why cells invest in this process. While researchers have known the basics of cell death for decades, only recently has this mechanism of cell death process been understood as highly re

In this podcast, the principal investigator at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Stephen Boppart, details the development of a novel portable imaging system with research and clinical applications. He discusses: How the laser they’ve developed is able to scan tissues and produce images without the use of potentially toxic dyes and contrast materials In what capacity this new imaging technology can be used in vivo and in the operating room, and how this could allow for a real-time determination of how aggressive a tumor is Why standard procedures in histology miss critical information about tissues and metabolic activity, and how this new technology can bypass the problem Dr. Boppart expounds on the many research and clinical applications of this new technology, which include exploration of fundamental questions in biology and carcinogenesis, and detection of biomarkers leading to earlier cancer diagnosis. One of his main f

Neuroepigenetics entails processes that involve the neuro system. Dr. Isabelle Mansuy explains her research by exploring: How epigenetics determines cellular formation and is therefore fundamental in development. How life experiences can affect germ cells and how this is transmitted across generations. Why experiencing trauma at a young age will cause the strongest epigenetic effect. Dr. Isabelle Mansuy runs the Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics at the University of Zurich. Her lab is interested in the long-term effects of stress through the epigenetic carryover. Their studies on mice have shown that young individuals exposed to trauma at a very vulnerable time, a time when their germ cells are less protected, can retain dramatic effects. These stress-induced traumas modify the germ cell epigenome and the traces left on the brain sometimes carry over across generations. Through these studies, her lab has made a solid model that is reproducible where they can screen these epigenetic changes and plot whic

Quantgene combines deep genomics with AI to detect cancer very early. When you listen, you'll hear Mr. Bhakdi explain: What information they are able to glean from a blood test regarding cancer presence. The difference and benefit of a "liquid biopsy" or blood test compared with a conventional tumor biopsy. How this test is able to recognize mutational expressions despite the heterogeneity of most tumors. Quantgene founder and CEO Jo Bhakdi discusses the company's focus on early cancer detection through blood testing to find its earliest markers. With a human genome sequence software-driven technology that also engages chemistry, machine learning, and laboratory processes, Quantgene is able to sequence and investigate cancer DNA one by one. This increases the accuracy and speed by an exponential degree compared to other detections that were based on protein marker identification. The test can pick up somatic DNA mutations in the blood caused by tumors with a whole new level of precision by detecting

On today’s episode, Dr. Price shares his insight and information on a range of fascinating topics, including the following: How microbiota and viruses interact How oral microbes in mice have been shown to produce different phenotypes What purpose is served by each of the two separate lifestyles carried out by viruses in bacteria Whether or not viruses are considered to be alive, and whether or not it matters for Dr. Pride’s research aims How bacteriophages might function as antibiotic alternatives The human virome is the collection of all of the viruses in and on the surface of the body. There are trillions of these viruses, and many of them are bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Over the past 15 years or so, there has been a lot of research and effort in trying to understand the function of microbes in the body and how they relate to states of health and disease. At UC San Diego, Associate Director of Microbiology and Associate Professor of Pathology and

“One of the unanticipated developments that really came from nano is that we evolved from chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, toxicology, and so forth, and we learned to adopt each other’s approaches and adopt each other’s problems,” says Dr. Paul Weiss, UC Presidential Chair, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Distinguished Professor of Material Science & Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He continues by explaining how the communication and collaborative approaches in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology have served the world of microbiome research, and how they might impact other fields of research as well. After developing the BRAIN Initiative under the Obama Administration, Dr. Weiss and his team were asked to lead the technological roadmap effort for the National Microbiome Initiative, which gathered scientists and engineers from around the world with a common goal: to understand what technologies can be used to understand how dif

Greg Paulsen, Director of Applications Engineering at Xometry (xometry.com), discusses the work they do at Xometry, including an overview of on-demand manufacturing services. Paulsen heads the Applications Engineering team that is responsible for handling special case projects that demand specialized attention to material selection, design-for-manufacturing, and technical engineering resources as well. Paulsen discusses Xometry, and how they came to their company’s name. He provides an overview of what they do—making manufacturing easier. He discusses how they have sought to revolutionize the established manufacturing industry by introducing AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning. Their system allows customers to procure parts in one location, yet still take advantage of the talents of thousands of people in a gigantic manufacturing network. He discusses sourcing of parts, technical data packages, communications, and the entire process from start to finish as manufacturers bring all the necessa

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers such as esophageal and stomach cancer are on the rise worldwide, with under-resourced populations being particularly affected. Early detection of GI changes that can lead to cancer requires endoscopy, a procedure that involves the insertion of a thin tube into the body to image the tissues, identify signs of disease, and deliver treatment. When endoscopy is either too expensive or simply unavailable in certain populations, otherwise preventable cancers can emerge. In her work, gastroenterologist and director of the Baylor Global Innovation Center in Houston, TX, Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, has two primary research interests: how to better prevent the development of GI cancers, and how to make early detection and treatment more accessible to underserved populations around the world. In order to address this very issue, Dr. Anandasabapathy and her team have developed an affordable, portable endoscopic tool capable of detecting precancerous cellular changes and acting as the mediu

Is natural talent a real thing? Are human beings fundamentally different in that some are born with special capabilities, and others just aren’t? How are very high levels of performance attained? And how would the answer to these questions impact who receives access to limited resources? These are a few of the questions that Karl Ericsson has been researching for almost 40 years now. Ericsson joins the podcast to talk about a number of topics in this field of research, including child “prodigies,” possible hallmarks of continuous success from childhood into adulthood in a particular domain, savants, in what ways certain abilities might actually be “natural” (or not), and the lack of overall evidence suggesting that genetics play a role in high levels of performance. On today’s podcast, you will discover: How purposeful or deliberate practice differs in significant ways from simply “putting in the hours” Why it can be hard to find a good measure of current performance and how to become more successful

Ben Atkinson, of the Functional Health podcast (FunctionalHealthInfo.com), is a nutritionist and health enthusiast. In this informative podcast, Ben talks about holistic wellness, functional medicine, and overall holistic health.  Ben’s podcast, and site, is a complete resource guide for all kinds of important information regarding professional recognition, health events, training, and more—happening across the country—for clinicians in the field, as well as trainees and the public. Ben discusses his background and how he came to be interested in nutrition. As an overweight child, Ben became interested in body building at the age of 16, and this interest led him to learn about high protein diets—low in carbs and low in fat. When he saw fast results he became excited about this power of nutrition and decided to make it a part of his ongoing work. But over time he added in carbs and fats to increase energy, which provided clarity of mind. Taking from everything he learned, he began to see that nutrition was

Renowned herbalist and nutritionist Donnie Yance talks about plant-based treatments with a focus on cancer management specifically. When you listen, you'll better understand How plants, by enduring stress during growth, develop compounds that help humans bodies handle their own stress. Why plant medicine can work together with traditional cancer treatments for more effective care, combatting issues such as drug resistance and nutritional deficits. What plant medicine can offer you in terms of tips to live longer through Mederi's five-stage system. Founder, President, Chairman, and Lead Clinician at the Mederi Center, Donnie Yance has been involved in plant medicine for decades. He founded the Natura brand to make high quality botanical medicine.  At the Mederi Center, Yance works with cancer patients and their doctors from a quality of life and healthcare perspective under a specific order: first, they focus on the health of the patient with plant medicine to strengthen their healing capacity; then,

Consumer wireless broadband connection uses better technology than the industrial sector. Mr. Kantor explains why and how Ondas is changing this through software defined radio projects and other technologies. When you listen, you'll hear: Why consumer and industrial networks can't work with the same technology for wireless broadband connections. Why improvements in communication technology for first responders and electric companies will help consumer networks function in times of emergencies as well. How this technology comes from "licensed radio frequencies" and why that makes a difference. President, CEO, and cofounder of Ondas Networks, Stewart Kantor, discusses "mission critical IOT" (internet of other things) for the industrial sector. Ondas focuses on network connectivity for the industrial sector, including utility, natural gas, transportation, and commercial drone companies.  He explains that the technology in use by industrial companies has not been upgraded as it has for consumers because

P. Shannon Pendergrast, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Ymir Genomics (ymirgenomics.com), discusses his company’s work in biomarker identification techniques. Dr. Pendergrast holds a PhD from the Rutgers University Waksman Institute of Microbiology in Molecular Genetics. He completed his post-doctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. Dr. Pendergrast has over 12 years of experience as a scientist, executive, and entrepreneur. Ymir Genomics seeks to provide new and innovative tools to facilitate the discovery of biomarkers from biofluids, to assist in the ongoing fight against human diseases. Dr. Pendergrast discusses the primary objectives of Ymir Genomics. Dr. Pendergrast talks in detail about their accomplishments and discoveries, including their efficient, rapid method for isolating extracellular vesicles, extracellular RNA, and/or extracellular protein directly from urine samples. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived vesicles that can be released via different cell types, including

Dr. Annila, biophysics professor, explores the time and space relationship in this podcast. When you listen, you'll hear him discuss: Why he thinks Darwin's theory of natural selection can be approached through physics. How questions we ask about aspects of human existence change if we consider that everything is quanta (photons). If everything is about motion, we can approach life and non-living factors the same way. Early in his days as a new professor of biophysics, Dr. Annila of the University of Helsinki asked why there was no equation for evolution yet. After all, life is all about motion. That question took him on this voyage he explores in his book and in his research. He looks at the theory of evolution in terms of physics. For example, he explains the time and space relationship like this: losing heat takes place over time. Photons that we lose as we cool off are not only carrying energy but also time. This means energy is carried over a period of time: energy and time go hand in hand and t

Dr. Robin Smith, Lecturer in Physics at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, delivers an insightful overview of his work in nuclear physics research topics and experiments in nuclear physics. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. in nuclear physics at the University of Birmingham under the guidance of Dr. C. Wheldon and Prof. M. Freer. He is a distinguished lecturer in physics and specializes in multiple fields, including the following: nuclear data, nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, radiation detection, atomic nuclei and more. Dr. Smith talks about nuclear physics and general physics and how he came to his areas of specialty. As he explains, he undertook projects in his senior year at university that involved smashing nuclei, which really got his interest moving in the direction of nuclear physics. Dr. Smith explains why he studies the atomic nucleus in detail, discussing the building blocks—atoms, and historical perspectives on the atom. He explains the atom’s structure and the density of the atomic nucleus, citi

Anita Öst, Medical Faculty at Linköping University, provides an overview of the current state of epigenetics research as she discusses epigenetic inheritance in humans. Anita seeks to understand and thereby manipulate epigenetic metabolic programs that are set up by parental cues as well as early life events in an effort to design new treatments for obesity and obesity-related diseases, etc. Anita discusses the concept of epigenetics, which is the study of changes in organisms that can be caused by a modification of gene expression, as opposed to an alteration of the genetic code. She details the specific area of epigenetics she focuses on, which looks at how offspring will inherit information or change their phenotype based on their parents’ environment, or stress. She explains why starvation or stress may lead to changes, and talks in depth about experiments with fruit flies that provided further information on theories related to epigenetic inheritance. She discusses how weight affects flies, and how t

Michael D. West, PhD, founder and CEO of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (agexinc.com), delivers an insightful overview of the effects of aging and the cellular aging mechanism. Dr. West received his PhD from Baylor College of Medicine with a concentration in the biology of cellular aging. He has spent the better part of his academic and business career focused on the application of developmental biology to various age-related degenerative diseases. Dr. West discusses the premise of his company, AgeX Therapeutics. As he explains, aging is a national and international priority. He explains how the post WWII population surge has made chronic degenerative diseases a major focus. And the goal at AgeX Therapeutics is to develop new and innovative therapies to combat these chronic degenerative diseases. AgeX Therapeutics is interested in the development and commercialization of unique therapeutics that will target human aging issues. Working forward from their current proprietary technologies, such as PureStem® and induc

It’s a belief that can be traced to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians: the gut is the seat of emotion. Until recently, however, this idea hasn’t been given much attention in the world of modern science and research. On today’s podcast, gastroenterologist, author of over 320 peer-reviewed articles, and professor of physiology at the UCLA Microbiome Center, Dr. Emeran Mayer, gives us a look into his current work on understanding how the microbiome lends itself to brain-gut interactions, influences emotion, and even paves the way for the development of obesity. Tune in for the details on all this and more, including: How microbes might synthesize serotonin, and what effect serotonin might have on microbial behavior and gene expression What causes us to feel “full” or reach satiety while eating, and how microbes may influence the mechanism of satiety What Dr. Mayer believes will happen in the world of microbiome research and applications within the next 10 years How Dr. Mayer’s current research seeks to

In this podcast, Dr. Jose Colon explains The different types of sleep interferences we may face. The efficacy of home-sleep studies versus sleep facility studies. Short and long-term sleep health benefits like significant concentration improvement. Triple board-certified author Dr. Jose Colon brings his expertise to this podcast by addressing many common questions about the current state of sleep science. He describes different types of sleep disorders treatment from C-Pap machines to oral devices and when one may be more beneficial than another. Dr. Colon practices full time sleep medicine for adults and children, incorporating a holistic outlook that includes mindfulness and science-driven approaches. In an effort to bring his ideas together, he wrote Sleep Diet: A Novel Approach to Insomnia for adults and The Magic Ice Cream Palace for kids, both of which are more creative approaches to the issue rather than to-do lists. He explains some of the most common sleep disorders like obstructive sle