Science and Research Show: Recent Episodes
The Scope Radio, University of Utah Health
The Scope Health Sciences Radio “Science and Research” podcast reports on the latest medical discoveries and breakthroughs in addition to discussing in-depth health topics. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of The University of Utah.
There are 26 million Americans with diabetes, and nearly 80 million with pre-diabetes. Though pre-diabetes may sound relatively harmless, it’s not. Patients with the condition are at risk for developing not only diabetes, but also heart disease and stroke. Dr. Timothy Graham, Director of the University of Utah Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention Clinic describes what pre-diabetes is, why there has been a rise in the condition over the past twenty years, and how he is working both in the clinic and the laboratory to reverse its effects in patients.
MacArthur Fellows, recipients of the highly-regarded “genius grants”, are chosen for their extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits. So, what makes someone a “genius”? In a conversation with 2020 fellow and U of U Health evolutionary geneticist Nels Elde, PhD, he explains his scientific research and how it unleashes his creativity.
Headlines are talking about a new one-size-fits-all type of cancer treatment. Are these claims real or are they just hype? Dr. John Phillips, professor of hematology at University of Utah Health has been involved with the potentially groundbreaking research. Learn more about what this study really means for cancer treatment and patients.
Millions of Americans with diabetes inject themselves with insulin every day, or multiple times a day, to manage their disease. While that’s hard enough the soaring price of the drug has made things that much harder. Nurse practitioner and researcher Dr. Michelle Litchman discusses the plight of people with diabetes who are having to undergo extremes such as foregoing basic needs and taking part in underground trading just to stay healthy.
Sedation is commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to make patients who require mechanical ventilation more comfortable, and less anxious. But sedation can have serious side effects, including delirium, that can endanger a patient’s life. Dr. Richard Barton, Director of Surgical Critical Care at University of Utah Health, and Nick Lonardo, Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, describe the hazards and how to avoid them. The research behind their recommendations was published in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine.
Anyone who has had back pain—and that’s nearly all of us—knows how debilitating it can be. Even more frustrating is that for many, that pain comes back, again and again, no matter what they try. Julie Fritz, Ph.D., associate dean for research in the College of Health talks about what makes back pain, and back pain treatment, different. She explains why the way to make progress is to match the right methods—be it physical therapy, mindfulness, or a combination of approaches—to the right person.
Despite major advances in treating and preventing heart disease, the condition is still a leading cause of death in the U.S. At the Utah Cardiac Recovery Symposium, Dr. Gary Gibbons, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, outlined the institute’s strategic vision for improving the health of Americans in a conversation with Dr. Stavros Drakos, a cardiologist and professor of Internal Medicine at University of Utah Health.
Photo credit: National Institutes of Health
The United States infant mortality rate ranks among the worst for wealthy nations, a clear sign that our nation’s health needs improving. This year’s Frontiers in Precision Medicine III symposium will focus on combining the best approaches from two seemingly disparate disciplines—population health and individualized medicine—to pave the way toward a brighter future. Symposium organizer and assistant professor of Population Health Sciences Adam Bress, Pharm D, explains controversies that will be addressed in dynamic and interactive panel-based discussions led by national experts in the fields of health disparities, big data, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and more. The symposium will be held on March 16, 2018 on the University of Utah campus. Registration is free, and CME credits are available.
A new study reveals that patients receiving radiofrequency catheter ablation compared to traditional drug therapies for atrial fibrillation (AF) have significantly lower hospitalization and mortality rates. The findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study's lead author, cardiologist Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, discusses the research and what it means for patients.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and can lead to potentially life-threatening heart attacks and strokes. A clinical trial called SPRINT has changed the way doctors look at blood pressure for long-term patient health. The Scope Radio's Julie Kiefer speaks with Dr. Brandon Bellow and Dr. Natalia Ruiz-Negrón about their new research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, supporting new guidelines to lower blood pressure for long-term health-related quality of life.
There’s a real problem within the medical science community regarding reliability. Today, more and more science articles are being published, but many lack the reliability we can rely on. The Scope Radio’s Julie Kiefer talks with Melissa Rethlefsen and Melanie Lackey from University of Utah Eccles Health Science Library to discuss the problem of unreliability in modern science and the collaborative ways the University is working to address the problem.
Infection from a common virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), is the leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss in U.S. newborns. Even though the virus is far more prevalent than Zika, it remains relatively unheard of. ENT specialist Dr. Albert Park explains what can happen when infants are exposed to CMV while in the womb and steps that pregnant women can take to avoid infection. Park is carrying out a national clinical trial to determine whether he can lessen the impact of CMV in infants by treating them with antiviral medications.
Building a road map of all the nerve connections in the brain, including in the eye, is key to understanding what makes us who we are. Bryan Jones, Ph.D., an investigator at the Moran Eye Center, talks about his research building a connectome of the retina. He explains how he and his colleagues are approaching the massive project and how such work will inform an understanding of the way that the brain makes sense of the outside world and what goes wrong during disease.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a big public health concern. These so-called superbugs are resistant to life-saving drugs that we take for granted. Dr. Barbara Jones, a pulmonologist with University of Utah Health and the VA IDEAS Center for Innovation, explains how the habits and attitudes of some doctors are fueling the problem and what can be done to change things.
Mice destined to get cancer live longer when they have plenty of social interactions, mental activity, and exercise. Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator Dr. Melinda Angus-Hill led a research study that revealed this surprising finding. She explains how an enriched lifestyle impacts cancer, what changes biologically, and the potential implications for people with cancer.
Recent studies show the majority of published research cannot successfully be replicated. This could potentially question the validity of tens of thousands of scientific studies. Hilda Bastian, chief editor of PubMed Commons, talks about what this means to the scientific field and how it could impact the general public.
For most people, a diagnosis of advanced heart failure signals an inevitable decline with no chance for recovery. However, a few years ago, doctors found a small yet signiLicant proportion of these patients can bounce back if their heart is given a chance to rest with help from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Scientist Sarah Franklin is investigating the responses of different sets of patients. She explains what she's searching for and how what she Linds may one day beneLit patients.
The White House has proposed a major budget cut in government agencies that fund scientific research, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bryan Jones, Ph.D., a scientist at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, says the mere idea keeps him up at night. “I’m terrified,” he says. “The prospect of a 20 percent cut to the budget would be devastating to science and careers.” He explains why supporting scientific research is an investment in our future.
An aquatic snail from the Caribbean Sea could hold the secret to a new type of pain killer in its venom. Dr. Michael McIntosh, a scientist at University of Utah Health, is working to isolate pain-killing compounds that could serve as a non-addictive replacement for opioids. In this episode, Dr. McIntosh talks about what his early research has found, how these venoms work and the major changes it could make in the way doctors treat pain.
A three-foot shelled “worm” that looks like a unicorn’s horn? It just goes to show that the great blue planet we live on still holds some surprises. Naturalist Margo Haygood from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah tells the tale of how she and her colleagues came upon the odd beast and what it has taught them about the diversity of life on Earth. Learn more here.
In science, you may never know where your research will take you, and the results might be a surprise. Wesley Sundquist, Ph.D knows this as well as anyone. Dr. Sundquist is a University of Utah Professor of Biochemistry, and his research on how viruses function may hold the key to a new “delivery system,” which could allow for the transfer of small molecules between cells. On this episode of The Science and Research Show, we’re discussing how the research and understanding of viruses could lead to the next generation of nanomedicine and gene therapy.
It seems like every week there is some new health study in the news. One week coffee is good for your health. It’s causing cancer the next. Is it all right for scientists to get things wrong? According to Christie Aschwanden, lead science writer for FiveThirtyEight, there are always uncertainties in science. Being proven wrong is just part of the process. On this episode of The Scope, how to best approach science reporting and make informed decisions.
For years, scientists have known that someone who is thin could still end up with diabetes. Yet an obese person may be surprisingly healthy. Scott Summers, Ph.D., chair of nutrition and integrative physiology, and Bhagirath Chaurasia, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Utah College of Health explain their new research that points to an answer to that riddle: Accumulation of a toxic class of fat metabolites, known as ceramides, may make people more prone to type 2 diabetes. Their work was recently published online in Cell Metabolism; learn more here.
A factor found in umbilical cord blood could become the basis for a new therapy to fight sepsis, a leading cause of death in hospitals, explains Christian Con Yost, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah. He is corresponding author on a study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, showing that when given to mice, the newly discovered factor countered signs of sepsis, such as fever, fluctuations in respiratory rate, and death. Yost explains the research and next steps.
When we rise out of bed in the morning, the pressure within our eyes changes massively - by 100-fold - and yet no damage is done. David Krizaj, Ph.D., Moran Eye Center investigator and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Utah, has discovered mechanisms that protect cells within the eyes from fluctuations in pressure, and has found that a drug that targets the so-called mechanosensor also blocks signs of glaucoma, a disease linked to high eye pressure and a leading cause of blindness. Krizaj explains how the work is leading to a new understanding of how the eye works, and how this knowledge could lead to a new therapy for the disease. Learn more about the research in Scientific Reports.
Genome sequencing - reading our complete set of DNA instructions - is a powerful tool for understanding and diagnosing disease, and has become integral to precision medicine, a movement to bring the right treatment to the right person and the right time. Does that mean that everyone should have their DNA sequenced? Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, discusses this and other questions brought forth by the rapid rise of genomic technologies with Lynn Jorde, Ph.D., chairman of the department of human genetics at the University of Utah and executive director of the Utah Genome Project.
Some diseases are so rare and unusual that doctors have never seen anything like it. An excruciating journey for both families and doctors, figuring out what’s wrong can take years, if an answer is ever found at all. Using a computer tool developed by Aaron Quinlan, Ph.D., he and his team recently uncovered the genetic causes behind nearly one dozen previously unsolved cases, all infants with severe seizures. Quinlan describes GEMINI, and how it is helping he and his colleagues at the USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery to understand rare disease genetics.
The unexpected death of a child is tragic under any circumstance, but it becomes even more so when the reason why is unknown. Martin Tristani-Firouzi, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at the University of Utah, leads the Sudden Death in the Young Center which is searching the DNA of the deceased for an explanation of why they died unexpectedly. He explains what they are searching for and how results from a genetic autopsy could also save other members of the family.
If you're a scientist, systematic reviews - a survey of published results to answer a specific research question - may not be as easy to carry out as you think. Melissa Rethlefsen and Mellanye Lackey from the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Systematic Reviews Core explain common pitfalls and ways to avoid them. They discuss the full timeline of the process, from making sure to ask the right question to begin with, to carefully thinking through methodologies, to registering guidelines, and finally publishing the report.Links mentioned in the podcast:
Prospero
Cochrane
PRISMA
MOOSE
Nearly anyone who has worked in research is familiar with the frustrating scenario: a postdoc leaves for another job, and with him goes all sorts of valuable knowledge. It’s become loud and clear that results from many published scientific studies are unreliable. While ethical violations like fraud clearly contribute to the problem, so does a seemingly more benign and much more common issue, poor data management. Darell Schmick, research librarian at the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah, describes scenarios that could happen as a result of poor data management, and ways to overcome them. Learn more at the upcoming Research Reproducibility Conference.
All too often an answer to the simple question of “what is making me sick?” does not come easily. Current methods for figuring out what viruses or bacteria are causing infection come with the risk of being too slow, or failing to find the culprit altogether. Taxonomer is a genomics-based pathogen surveillance tool that could provide the basis for a new way of diagnosing infectious disease. In this podcast Scope Radio talks with Gabor Marth, D.Sc., co-director of the USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery, and creator of iobio, software that gives Taxonomer characteristics that make it accessible and intuitive. Marth explains the advantages of Taxonomer over current clinical tests and the number of other ways in which it can be used. Learn more.
There’s more than one good reason to get a flu shot while pregnant. Julie Shakib, D.O., M.P.H., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and medical director of the Well Baby and Intermediate Nursery, describes her research showing that the flu vaccine not only benefits the mom, but the baby, too. She explains how it works, and why that is a crucial time for the baby to receive the benefits of the flu vaccine. Learn more.
It’s been estimated that up to half of scientific studies are irreproducible, they can’t be replicated, and this is a big problem. A new study illustrates a case in point, calling into question previous results suggesting that cancer prevents Alzheimer’s. Heidi Hanson, Ph.D., M.S., a Huntsman Cancer Institute research associate and research assistant professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, discusses the research and reasons behind the contradictory findings. She also talks about why irreproducibility in research is pervasive and suggests some ways for overcoming it. Learn more about the research published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.
Mitochondria, tiny organelles within our cells, pack a big punch. They function as powerhouses that generate energy for the cell. Malfunctioning mitochondria, explains Adam Hughes, assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, impacts a number of processes, such as aging and development of disease. He describes his latest research, published in eLife, discovering a never-before seen cellular structure dedicated to remodeling mitochondria that might be called into action in response to stress or other environmental cues.
When parents of autistic teens have high expectations, they are more likely to have the skills they need to live independently, reports a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The transition to adulthood can be difficult for people with autism. Suddenly, subsidized educational and social supports disappear, and they and their families are left on their own. “Many describe that period as ‘falling off a cliff’,” says Anne Kirby, Ph.D, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the University of Utah. She explains her search for factors that predict who will succeed on their own as adults, and how parents’ expectations might influence their child’s outcomes.
A randomized clinical trail led by Huntsman Cancer Institute investigators finds that a combinatorial chemotherapy reduces precancerous polyps by 75 percent in patients at high-risk for cancer. This advance represents the first prevention therapy against the leading cause of death, cancer of the small intestine, for patients with a genetic condition that leads to a 100 percent lifetime risk for developing cancer. Co-author of the study published in JAMA, and Utah Genome Project investigator Deb Neklason, Ph.D., explains how an investigation of families represented in the Utah Population Database identified the genetic cause of the disorder, making this work possible. She also describes how discovery of the new therapy could inform prevention strategies against other types of cancers, including sporadic colon cancer.
Imagine this: during a skin self-exam you notice a growth or mole that looks suspicions but you aren’t sure. You take a picture of it with your phone using a special app that allows others to vote whether or not they think you should do something about it. The next day, you wake up and learn that 38 percent of the people that looked at it you should see a dermatologist. Sound crazy? Maybe, but it works. Jakob Jensen is a communication researcher at University of Utah who won a $2.2 million National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Grant to implement a system just like that. He talks about how he came up with the idea and why it works.
Just as our immune system kicks into gear to fight off the cold or flu, it can also mount a defense against cancer, but typically isn’t strong enough to defeat it. Mingnan Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Utah, is developing a system to boost our body’s own defenses that he anticipates could one day become the basis for a cancer vaccine. He and graduate student Peng Zhao describe their approach, recently published in Theranositcs, their progress, and its advantage over other therapeutic strategies.
Researchers have unexpectedly found that a drug that has been used for the past 50 years to treat heart failure and high blood pressure also inhibits infection by the Epstein Barr virus, which causes mono and is associated with several cancers. Lead author of the study, Sankar Swaminathan, M.D. chief of infectious disease at University of Utah Health Care, discusses how he came upon this chance finding, and the potential broader implications for treating other illnesses caused by herpes virus, including shingles, mono, herpes, and meningitis. Read the study in PNAS and learn more here.
It may be unsettling to realize, but roughly eight percent of our DNA is viral in origin, meaning it came from infections our ancestors battled long ago. New research published in the journal Science by University of Utah geneticists Cédric Feschotte, PhD, Nels Elde, PhD, and Edward Chuong, PhD, looks at how our bodies have repurposed the viral remnants to defend ourselves against infections by viruses and other pathogens. Feschotte and Chuong explain the research and why our defenses, and those of other mammalian species, may have arrived upon this solution repeatedly throughout evolution.
With so many tasks vying for your attention, why spend precious time sending out short 140 character Twitter messages? Sara Yeo, PhD (@sarakyeo), assistant professor of communication, explains the advantages of communicating via Twitter, who you can expect to reach, and how you can use it to your advantage.
Medical advances have improved outcomes for heart attack patients, even for the sickest patients who undergo cardiogenic shock, a condition where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Yet a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that over half of all heart attack patients either die or are rehospitalized within one year after being discharged. Among those who experienced cardiogenic shock the outlook is particularly poor within the first 60 days after initial treatment, with 34 percent of these patients either dying or returning to the hospital within that period. Study author Rashmee Shah, M.D. , assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, talks about what these findings mean, and what needs to happen next.
For the first time, the Anticoagulation Forum has published clinical guidance statements for managing blood clots in the veins, or venous thromboembolism. Dan Witt, PharmD, Professor of Pharmacotherapy at the University of Utah, is a lead author on statements regarding warfarin management. He explains what prompted the new set of guidance statements, how they differ from existing guidelines, and why they will be of value to practitioners who encounter this condition.
Older adults who are otherwise healthy are at earlier risk for death if they have low blood levels of bicarbonate, a main ingredient in baking soda. Kalani Raphael, M.D., an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah and nephrologist at the VA Salt Lake Health Care System, explains the surprising results of his research. Why might low bicarbonate levels indicate poor health, and how might doctors use this information in the future? Read the study in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Some estimates say that as many as half of the scientific discoveries made in certain disciplines cannot be replicated. Irreproducible research is a big problem that could be undermining credibility in science. Tom Parks, Ph.D., vice president for research at the University of Utah, describes factors that have brought us to this point, and steps toward resolving them.
At the heart of precision medicine is taking into consideration that each person is unique. Two people with the same disease can have very different outcomes depending on their specific genetic milieu, a complication that is largely overlooked in research and therapeutics. Clement Chow, Ph.D., assistant professor of human genetics at the University of Utah, explains why science has been slow to acknowledge genetic variation, and describes his research on how an individual’s overall genetic makeup influences manifestation of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease that causes blindness. Learn more in his review “Bringing genetic background into focus” and read about his retinitis pigmentosa research in Human Molecular Genetics.
Though it may be hard to get past the “ick factor”, fecal transplants—putting fecal matter from a healthy donor into a patient’s intestine—is proving to be a surprisingly effective way to treat serious infections such as Clostridium difficile. However, so far the therapy has not been as successful in treating chronic conditions such as Chron’s or inflammatory bowel disease. June Round, PhD, assistant professor of pathology at the University of Utah, describes her research demonstrating that not all fecal transplants are the same. She explains the biological reasons behind why some are better than others, and how these findings may improve fecal transplant therapy in the future. The work was recently published in the journal, Nature Communications.
New research suggests that small changes in brain connectivity early in life may lead to big changes that contribute to autism and intellectual disabilities. The study, which explores how disruption to the gene Kirrel3 affects the developing brain, could help explain why some people with mutations in the gene develop these conditions. Megan Williams, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah, explains the research and what's next. The work was published in the journal eLife on November 17, 2015.
We’re all familiar with the power of smell: a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven may lure you into the kitchen, while the stench of rotting trash can cause you to run the other way. However little is known about how odors can trigger very different neurological responses and behaviors. Matt Wachowiak, USTAR professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah is collaborating with a large, interdisciplinary team to crack the olfactory code. Wachowiak explains the barriers he and his team are facing, how they are approaching the problem, and what they hope to accomplish.
Imagine being thrown together with a group of strangers and coming up with a fundable scientific proposal in less than a week. That’s the basic nuts and bolts of the National Science Foundation Ideas Lab, a relatively new mechanism for encouraging big thinking in science and out-of-the box interdisciplinary collaborations. Interesting idea, but does it work? Matt Wachowiak, Ph.D., USTAR professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah relays his experience, and his views on whether this will become the norm for scientific funding.
Many scientists would argue that some public policy does not reflect the current state of scientific knowledge. Arguably, some of this misrepresentation can be attributed to a disconnect between scientists and policy makers. Christy Porucznik, M.D., associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, gives real examples of misunderstandings that have taken place at the local level. She describes her own experiences in interacting with policymakers and gives tips for engaging with them and with the public.
A study led by the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah could explain why elephants rarely get cancer. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the results may lead to new strategies for treating cancer in people. Pediatric oncologist Joshua Schiffman describes the research and tells the story of exploring how elephants evade the deadly disease.
Michael Cohen was told that a pain in his chest was indigestion, and it wasn’t until two years later that he learned it was actually caused by a lung tumor. By that time the mass had grown considerably, and is now undergoing tough medical treatments that may have been avoided if the cancer were caught early. Everyone will be subject to a medical misdiagnosis at least once in their lives, sometimes with serious consequences, according to a new report issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Cohen is not only a victim of a diagnostic error, but was on the panel that issued the report and is a professor of pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He tells his story and explains the committee’s recommendations for avoiding unfortunate situations such as his.
Most of us are familiar with the health risks associated with exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA), found in most plastics, but there is still a lot that we don’t understand. Christy Porucznik, PhD, associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah, is researching whether BPA may make it more difficult for some couples to get pregnant. She explains why most studies up to this point haven’t sufficiently addressed the question, how she is overcoming those setbacks, and what the research will teach us. Read the study in Environmental Health Perspectives.
The question comes up every few years but seems particularly relevant today as funding for scientific research gets tighter and the numbers of academic jobs decrase. Richard Dorsky, Ph.D., director of the neuroscience graduate program at the University of Utah, talks about how graduate programs are responding to this issue, and what could happen if these programs decrease the number of PhDs they produce.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility in reproductive age women. A new study reveals genetic changes that lead to PCOS, findings that are helping to explain why the disorder occurs. Endocrinologist Corrine Welt, M.D., a clinician at the Utah Diabetes Center, describes what the study shows and what it might mean for women with the condition.
Most people don’t think of pharmacists as being involved with primary care at the clinic, but Dr. Carrie McAdam-Marx, associate professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of Utah, thinks that needs to change. She talks about her research showing that patients with type 2 diabetes who consulted with pharmacists in the primary care setting had lower overall medical costs than those who didn’t. She explains how a pharmacist helps patients and physicians, and why she thinks pharmacists will be seen in the clinical care setting more often in the future.
Women may come to expect pelvic pain with their menstrual cycles, but a study by researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine and National Institutes of Health suggests even though discomfort may be common, it should not be ignored. Study author Dr. C. Matt Peterson, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the U of U, talks about how undiagnosed pelvic pain may indicate a condition such as endometriosis, which can cause infertility. He talks about the study and the importance of women, and their doctors, to discuss pelvic pain. Learn more.
PCR-based diagnostic tests are becoming increasingly common in clinical settings because they are much more sensitive and accurate than older tests, and provide results within hours, not days. Yet a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that half of those who tested positive for respiratory viruses did not report feeling ill. These findings suggest that some test results should be interpreted with caution. Co-first author Dr. Carrie Byington, professor of pediatrics and co-director of the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science, talks about the results and how clinicians can use the information to improve patient care. Learn more.
It’s no secret that kids get sick- a lot, but a study led by faculty at the University of Utah School of Medicine shows that they are also a source of viral infections for the rest of the family. People in childless households were infected with viruses that cause cold and flu for 3-4 weeks during the year. By contrast, families with six children were infected for up to 45 weeks – 87 percent of the year. Dr. Carrie Byington, professor of pediatrics and co-director of the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science talks about the findings and what they mean for families and physicians. The results were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Learn More about the study.
Not all fat is bad for you. Unlike white fat, which stores energy and unwanted pounds, brown fat dissipates that same energy into heat when we’re cold. Claudio Villanueva, Ph.D. assistant professor in biochemistry and investigator at the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Utah, talks about his research investigating how to convert white fat into good, brown fat. Doing so could be the first step toward developing novel therapeutics to combat obesity.
Cancer is thought to typically start from an accumulation of harmful genetic mutations that cause cells to break from their routine and divide uncontrollably. Charlie Murtaugh, Ph.D. published a study in the journal eLife showing that sometimes an accumulation of mutations is not enough. He and first author Nathan Krah talk about their results suggesting that in the context of pancreatic cancer, what pushes cells over the edge is a loss of cellular differentiation: mature cells lose the instructions that tell them how to do their designated job in the body. The authors describe their findings, how they might apply to other cancers, and how their work could potentially lead to a new approach toward cancer therapy.
For over fifty years, University of Utah has been a leader in human genetics, a field that is making precision medicine possible today. Ray Gesteland, Ph.D., professor emeritus in human genetics, describes the perfect storm of people and resources at the University of Utah that have since spurred discoveries of the genetic causes behind cystic fibrosis, colon cancer, and many more. In a second interview, Gesteland talks about the Alta Meeting and other events that led to the discovery of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), a tool that made mapping the human genome possible.
In 1980, a landmark paper described restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), a method predateding high volume DNA sequencing, that could be used to identify disease-causing genes. Ray Gesteland, Ph.D., professor emeritus of human genetics at the University of Utah, remembers hearing about the technology from his colleagues as they were still working it out. He explains how the idea came about, what it is, and how it made modern genetics possible. In a second interview, Gesteland talks about what brings some of the world’s best geneticists to the University of Utah.
Grocery stores may not realize it, but they wield unparalleled insight into their customers’ eating habits. Each swipe of the loyalty card records food brought into the household, which makes up 60 to 70 percent of a person’s calories. John Hurdle, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Utah, has developed QualMART, a tool that translates bar codes into USDA-based dietary data that gauges the healthfulness of what’s in a shopping cart, and how diets change over time. He is developing an opt-in program where customers with an eye toward improving their health can evaluate their choices and monitor their progress. Hurdle explains how such programs can be a smart way for health care providers, wellness programs, health insurance companies, and grocery store chains to provide incentives to encourage healthy living.
A child comes into the emergency room in with fever, coughing, and chest pain. What’s causing her illness? A new type of test promises to take the guesswork out of making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate treatment. Robert Schlaberg, M.D., an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Utah and medical director at ARUP laboratories, describes the tool, Taxonomer, which classifies the genomes of every microbe in a patient sample. He explains the significant advantages over current diagnostic methods, and new ways in which the tool may be used in the future.
Simple conversations can become an exercise in frustration when a loved one begins to lose hearing with age. Sarah Hargus Ferguson, PhD, associate professor of communications science and disorders, explains why certain sounds are harder to hear than others, and gives tips for communicating clearly with the hearing impaired. She also describes her research investigating acoustical characteristics that make clear speech, clear.
How might your neighborhood pharmacy be different five or ten years from now? Dr. Mike Feehan, visiting professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah talks about how one day, you may be more likely to visit your local pharmacist for routine acute care than you would your doctor. He is conducting the largest survey of its kind to determine a new model for pharmacies that works best for consumers, pharmacists, and insurance providers. The research is being done in collaboration with Mark Munger, PharmD, and is supported by the Skaggs Foundation for Research.
Geneticist Gabrielle Kardon, Ph.D., never thought that she would be explaining her research to patient advocacy groups, but that’s where her science led her and she has not shied away from it. Her work, published in Nature Genetics and highlighted in the New York Times, brought forth a new understanding behind the mechanisms of a common birth defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since then she has been getting to know the CDH community and advocating for their cause. She explains what they have taught her, how she has helped them, and what basic scientists can get out of developing relationships with patients.
Some of our health decisions are at least in part a product of where we live. For example, it might be more tempting to buy a fast food burger if there are few restaurants and grocery stores with healthy choices nearby. But historically it has been difficult for epidemiologists to get a handle on factors that influence the health within specific neighborhoods. In a project called Hashtag Health, Quynh Nguyen, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of Health Promotion and Education at the University of Utah, is using Twitter to track some of these factors and how they impact communities. She talks about what she is looking for, and why it is important to gauge their impact on overall happiness, as well as health.
When scientists uncovered a genetic defect that was causing colon cancer in a large family, they were faced with the decision of what to do next. The researchers and family have developed a close, long-term relationship that has helped family members understand their condition and what they can do about it. Deb Neklason, Ph.D., program director of the Utah Genome Project tells the remarkable story, how it has impacted the family, and how researchers are connecting branches of the family tree so that extended family members also have the chance to outlive their family history.
Representing 8 million people connected to over 23 million records - including vital statistics, medical records, and genealogical information - the Utah Population Database is the largest database of its kind in the U.S. Dr. Ken Smith, director of UPDB, explains how the database accelerates discovery of causes of genetic diseases and epidemiological phenomena, what makes the database unique, and how it figures in a rapidly changing genomics landscape.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is not as well known as muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, but like them it is a life-threatening birth defect, and is just as common. Occurring in one in 3,000 births, CDH causes the guts and liver to protrude through a defective diaphragm and into the chest cavity, where they interfere with the lungs. A new study led by Gabrielle Kardon, Ph.D., associate professor of human genetics at the University of Utah is the first to demonstrate how genetic defects cause a physiological mechanism that gives rise to defects in the diaphragm. She describes her research and how it may lead to new approaches for therapeutic interventions. Learn more.
Genetically modified plants and livestock are already a controversial reality. But what about genetically modifying humans? The technology could potentially eradicate certain diseases that run in families such as inherited cancers or debilitating Huntington’s disease. Dana Carroll, distinguished professor of biochemistry, and pioneer in the field of genomic engineering, has joined a group of 18 scientists who are calling for a ban on human genomic engineering until scientists, clinicians, and the public can agree on prudent safety and ethics measures. He discusses recent events that have sparked the current debate, and what is at stake if things aren’t handled properly. The group of scientists published their commentary in the journal Science. Read more.
The Intermountain West has some of the rates highest of suicide and depression in the U.S. Studies suggest that the statistics may result from changes in brain chemistry that occur when living at high altitude. Psychiatrist Dr. Perry Renshaw investigated whether dietary supplements can alleviate high altitude depression that is resistant to treatment by standard SSRI antidepressants. He discusses what he has found so far, and the surprising remedy his group is pursuing. His work is open for crowdfunding at Experiment.com.
In a perfect world, everyone would receive the same quality of medical care. But in reality, many factors get in the way, including a patient’s ethnicity and cultural upbringing. Debra Penney, an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Utah, conducted research to identify barriers that prevent Iraqi Muslim refugee women from receiving equal healthcare. She found problems ranging from how the visit to the clinic is structured to assumptions made by health care providers. She explains the obstacles, and ways to overcome them.
For the 35 million people worldwide who are living with AIDS, antiretroviral therapies are lifesaving medicines that can slow or halt the disease. But in some developing countries where these drugs are most needed, culture can impact the effectiveness of treatment. Lou Barrows, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Utah is investigating interactions between commonly used traditional medicines in Papua New Guinea and antiretroviral therapies for treating AIDS. He explains his research findings and how they could impact people in Papua New Guinea, as well as in the U.S.
For patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the burden of constantly judging when and how much insulin to self-inject is bad enough. Even worse, a miscalculation or lapse in regimen can cause blood sugar levels to rise too high, potentially leading to heart disease and other long-term complications, or to plummet too low, which in the worst cases can result in coma or even death. Danny Chou, Ph.D., USTAR assistant professor of biochemistry, has helped develop a “smart” insulin that automatically adjusts blood sugar in mice with a diabetes-like condition. He discusses his research results and what it could mean for diabetes treatment in the future. Learn more about the research.
Greg Clark, PhD, associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Utah is working with a team to develop a prosthetic hand that amputees can move with their thoughts, and that allows them to feel sensation. He talks about what will be capable with the new technology, how it works, and the emotional impact of providing patients with a prosthetic that feels like a part of their body. Learn more about the research
Academic pressures have led to a nationwide trend to cut back on physical education and recess in public schools. Timothy Brusseau, Ph.D., assistant professor in exercise and sport science at the University of Utah talks about how this impacts kids, and how it will impact them as adults. He describes research that shows why even teachers and administrators focused on academic achievement should embrace an education that nourishes the whole child.
Our bodies are home to thousands of species of good bacteria that keep us healthy by aiding with digestion, defending against harmful bacteria, even possibly promoting mental health. A recent study shows how our body has adapted to help these microbes flourish. And what happens when things go wrong. An interview with three of the study’s authors including June Round, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology, explores how the research was done and the implications of their findings for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Link to the study published on Jan. 22, 2015, in Cell Host and Microbe
Experiment.com and petridish.org are websites that host crowdfunding campaigns designed to raise money for scientific research from large numbers of people. It sounds like a great idea, but does it work? Shelley Minteer, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the University of Utah talks about her crowdfunding experience and explains what types of projects she thinks are best suited for this style of fundraising.
A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence shows that methamphetamine users are more likely to get Parkinson’s disease than the general population. Senior author Glen Hanson, D.D.S., Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Dentistry and Dean of the Utah Addiction Center at the University of Utah, explains the reason behind the findings, and the implications for long-term use of other drugs, including prescription drugs.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals has developed a new method of drug discovery that they claim will lead to 100 new treatments for hard-to-treat rare genetic diseases within 10 years. Christopher Gibson, Ph.D., CEO of Recursion, explains the technology that allows them to rapidly screen through hundreds of candidate treatments for nearly any genetic disease. He also describes why they are opting to screen through old, already existing drugs, instead of developing new ones. Their approach has already led to identification of a potential therapeutic for cerebral cavernous malformation, a finding recently published in Circulation .
Examination of DNA from 21 primate species – from squirrel monkeys to humans – exposes an evolutionary war against infectious bacteria over iron that circulates in the blood. Published in Science, these findings demonstrate the vital importance of an underappreciated defense mechanism, nutritional immunity, in fighting infectious disease. Matthew Barber, Ph.D., first author and postdoctoral fellow in human genetics at the University of Utah, describes the study and how it models an approach for uncovering reservoirs of genetic resistance to bacterial infections, knowledge that could be used to confront antibiotic resistance and emerging diseases.
A study published in the journal Nature suggests there are mutations in over 1,000 genes that could contribute to development of autism. Hilary Coon, Ph.D., an author on the paper and research professor in psychiatry at the University of Utah, describes the research, the different ways that the multitude of genetic changes could lead to the disease, and what these findings mean for designing genetic tests for diagnosing autism.
Bam.iobio is the first app of its kind that allows scientists to analyze genome sequence data on their web browser, interactively, and in real-time, without having to rely on terabytes of storage and vast sources of computing power. The resource, developed by a team led by Gabor Marth, DSc, co-director of the USTAR Center for Genetic Discovery and human genetics professor at the University of Utah, was published in the journal Nature Methods on Nov. 25. Marth explains bam.iobio, its features, another ready-to-use app – vcf.iobio - for analyzing variant call format files, and plans to allow developers to build off the IOBIO operating system. Learn more about bam.iobio.
The tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean are one of the richest sources of biodiversity on Earth. It not only teems with life, but also with extraordinary chemical compounds not found on land. Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Utah, searches marine organisms for novel compounds that could be transformed into therapeutics, such as medicines to combat pain or cancer. He discusses why there is chemical diversity underwater, what he has found, and what marine life is teaching about synthesizing compounds with new therapeutic potential.
Black children are less likely to be diagnosed with and less likely to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics for ear infections than white children are, a new study has found. But the discrepancy in prescribing fewer broad-spectrum antibiotics means black children actually are more likely to receive care that aligns with the recommended guidelines for treating ear infections. Adam Hersh, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah led the study. He discusses the findings and their implications. The work appears in Pediatrics online on Nov. 17.
Willard H. Dere, M.D., brings 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to his new role as executive director of the Program in Personalized Health at the University of Utah. He is leading a team of researchers in transforming genetic discoveries into customized diagnostics, therapeutics, and tools for screening and prevention. He discusses the goals of the program and how he expects his experience in the private sector will help to reach them.
Cancer is an unwanted experiment in progress. As the disease advances, tumor cells accumulate mutations, eventually arriving at ones that give them the insidious power to grow uncontrollably and spread. A study led by Jared Rutter, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, reports that cancers select against a protein complex called the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), and re-introduction of MPC in colon cancer cells impairs several properties of cancer, including growth. The research appeared online on Oct. 30 in Molecular Cell. Rutter explains how the work implicates changes in a key step in metabolism – the way cellular fuel is utilized – as an important driver of cancer, and how the findings may be exploited to develop new cancer therapies.
Imagine knowing whether your child is at risk for developing cancer. There would be the chance to stop the disease before it even starts. Joshua Schiffman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah, and pediatric oncologist at Primary Children’s Hospital, is part of the first initiative of its kind – the Primary Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cancer Program - that promises to do just that. He explains the program and how it will further a mission of eradicating childhood cancer.
Life with diabetes is hard enough but those who take medicine to control their symptoms can experience hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, that if left untreated can lead to, seizures, coma or even death. While most diabetics experience warning symptoms, such as shakiness or hunger, 20% of type 1 diabetics do not, meaning they don’t know that they need to take action to raise their blood sugar to safe levels. Dr. Simon Fisher, co-director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Center at the University of Utah, describes hypoglycemia unawareness and his search for drugs to alleviate the problem. He also explains why support from nonprofit organizations such as JDRF, which supports his work, has become increasingly important in recent years.
What is genome sequencing? How is it different from other kinds of genetic testing? And what can it really tell you about your health? Wendy Kohlmann, a genetic counselor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, answers these questions and explains who should get it done, and where the technology is heading.
Women who inherit certain mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at high risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer at a young age. So why don’t all women undergo genetic testing to see if they are carriers? Wendy Kohlmann, a genetic counselor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, explains why the suggestion, published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is controversial. She compares the idea to current recommendations, and discusses her viewpoint on the matter.
Patients routinely choose between health care procedures without knowing how much they cost. At the same time, it would be unthinkable to shop for a car without being able to do a price comparison. Dr. Eric Scaife, pediatric surgeon at Primary Children’s Hospital and associate professor at the University of Utah, took the unorthodox approach of telling patients the cost difference between two equally effective appendectomy procedures. Armed with that information, patient choice changed dramatically. Scaife explains how these results have changed his medical practice, and how cost transparency could alter the American health care system. Read more about the study, published September, 2014, in the Annals of Surgery .
Alzheimer’s, autism, Fragile X syndrome, and memory loss all have something in common. There is a protein in the cell, called Arc, which is thought to play an important role in all of these syndromes. Jason Shepherd, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Neurobiology and Anatomy, is investigating what Arc is telling us about connections between mechanisms of learning and memory, and the development of cognitive disorders and even psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
Cancer is generally thought of as an acquired disease resulting from an accumulation of genetic mutations that causes things to go terribly wrong. Huntsman Cancer investigator and University of Utah professor of oncology, Joshua Schiffman, M.D., is on a mission to let physicians and patients know that in the case of childhood cancers, there is a good chance that some are inherited. Knowing this information can make a big difference in patient care and in preventing cancer in family members.
When you look in the mirror, your reflection is essentially the same but everything is reversed. Published in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences University of Utah professor of biochemistry Dr. Michael Kay has discovered how to make mirror images of the proteins in our bodies. These small changes can have big impacts. He discusses how mirror image proteins, and even mirror image organisms, may accelerate drug discovery for many illnesses, including Ebola.
In an environment where others struggle to survive, Tibetans thrive in the thin air on the Tibetan Plateau, with an average elevation of 14,800 feet. A study led by University of Utah scientists is the first to find a genetic cause for the adaptation – a single DNA base pair change that dates back 8,000 years – and demonstrate how it contributes to the Tibetans’ ability to live in low oxygen conditions. Senior author Josef Prchal, M.D., professor of internal medicine, native Tibetan and author Tsewang Tashi, M.D., and first author Felipe Lorenzo, M.D., Ph.D., describe their work published online in the journal Nature Genetics. on August 17.