Science Never Sleeps: Recent Episodes
Medical University of South Carolina
Science Never Sleeps explores the science, people, and stories behind the scenes of biomedical research happening at the Medical University of South Carolina. Hear the fascinating, moving, and unexpected as researchers work from bench to bedside in the mission of preserving and optimizing health.
For more information, visit https://research.musc.edu/stories/science-never-sleeps.
The goal of biomedical research is to move healthcare innovations, like evidence-based programs and interventions, to places where patients can access them for their benefit. But there are often challenges to making this happen. One study estimates that less than half of clinical innovations make it into routine practice. This can be due to the time it takes to translate research into practice, a lack of training on the part of researchers about how to move their work closer to patient care, and because often the setting researchers use doesn't reflect the real-world settings where innovations would be delivered. Luckily, there's a special area of research designed to help improve this process called Implementation Science.
In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we're joined by Dr. Caitlin Allen, an assistant professor in the Public Health Science Department in the MUSC College of Medicine. Dr. Allen is a social and behavioral scientist with expertise in the implementation of evidence-based research to advance precision public health initiatives. Her overarching research goal is to support the translation of genomics applications to maximize population health impact and improve health equity. Dr. Allen is also a 2024 MUSC Developing Scholar Award recipient.
Episode Links:
Building trust and saving lives: A community approach to genetic education
We inherit lots of things through our families. Sometimes they’re visible, like the color of our eyes or hair, and other things might not be so apparent, like how you react to caffeine or how athletic you are. These traits come from genes passed to us from our parents – we inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent, and they act as the blueprints for our bodies.
The genes we inherit can also raise our risk for some kinds of cancer. All cancers are caused by mutations in our cells, and most of the time those mutations happen simply because of aging, or because of lifestyle choices like smoking. But sometimes - in about 5%-10% of cancers - mutations are handed down through families. If you have one of these inherited mutations, you can minimize your cancer risk by following established health care guidelines and taking a proactive approach to your health.
In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Hughes, the Director of Cancer Genetics at the Hollings Cancer Center and the McKoy Rose, Jr., M.D. Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology in the College of Medicine at MUSC. Dr Hughes is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in breast cancer, breast disease management, genetic testing and the identification and management of patients with hereditary breast cancer risk. His research focuses on developing tools that make cancer genetic testing simple, safe, and efficient.
Episode Links:
Hollings Cancer Center Hereditary Cancer Clinic
In Our DNA SC community health research project
CDC Tier 1 Genomics Applications and their Importance to Public Health
Have an idea for a future episode? Send us an email at ScienceNeverSleeps@MUSC.edu.
Science Never Sleeps is produced by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Language is the basis for all human connection. It allows us to communicate our ideas, express our feelings, and have discussions with the people in our lives. The language skills we develop as children lay the foundation for how we communicate as adults. Typically developing children begin speaking between 12-18 months and start regularly incorporating verbs around the age of 2. Research suggests that the number of verbs a child knows at age 2 is an indicator of their grammar skills at age 3. But what happens when these language skills are delayed?
In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Horvath an assistant professor of rehabilitation sciences in the College of Health Professions at MUSC shares her research in childhood language development. Horvath is the Principal Investigator for the MACAW Lab, which stands for Methods of Acquiring Concepts and Words. Horvath leads research in child language development and disorder, late talkers, and vocabulary development.
Episode Links:
The MACAW Lab
As we age, our brains undergo changes that can lead to a range of cognitive issues that impact memory, decision-making, and overall mental sharpness. In a world where life expectancy continues to rise, the implications of cognitive decline extend far beyond the individual. The societal and economic consequences are vast, making the pursuit of effective interventions and preventive strategies more critical than ever. According to the 2022 Census, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds, and by mid-century it will be every 33 seconds.
But what exactly causes this decline, and why is it so crucial for us to understand? And how can early detection improve care for patients with cognitive impairment?
In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Aghamoosa, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences Research in the MUSC College of Health Professions, discusses her work on improving the early detection of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Her science underscores the importance of ongoing research in preserving and optimizing cognitive function, ensuring a brighter and more cognitively resilient future for us all.
Episode Links:
Individualized brain fingerprints can help to uncover early signs of Alzheimer’s disease
Redefining treatments for mild cognitive impairment
Have an idea for an episode of Science Never Sleeps? Send us an email at ScienceNeverSleeps@musc.edu.
Potentially traumatic events that children may experience can include psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; community or school violence; racism-related traumas; witnessing or experiencing domestic violence; the sudden or violent loss of a loved one; and military family-related stressors like deployment, parental loss or injury. According to the Substance, Abuse, and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event by the age of sixteen.
Trauma affects us all differently, and the same is true for children. Understanding how we can prevent trauma and reduce the impact of trauma when it occurs, is key to reducing other risky behaviors that can negatively impact children and adolescents into adulthood like substance, use and risky sexual behavior.
In this episode, Dr. Carla Kmett Danielson, a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina shares her research into helping at-risk youth respond to trauma and how that research has led to new approaches in clinic today. Danielson has been selected by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies as the recipient of the 2023 Robert Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement. Through her research as a member of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, she developed both the Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT) and the EMPOWERR Program.
If your child or family needs help, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Episode Links:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT)
EMPOWERR Program
As the highway for messages between the brain and body, the spinal cord is key to how we feel sensation and move our bodies. An injury to this critical pathway can be life-changing. These injuries can impact all areas of a person's life, often causing full or partial paralysis and a range of complications from chronic pain to respiratory failure.
At one point, living 40 years with a spinal cord injury was nearly unheard of, but now, more people are reaching and exceeding that milestone, making understanding ways to improve the quality of life even more important.
In this episode, Dr. James Krause, distinguished university professor and the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina shares his personal story and how it led him to commit his adult life to understanding the long-term consequences of neurologic injury on health, quality of life, employment, and longevity.
Episode Links:
MUSC Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions (CRRNC)
South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
When you think about how to be more healthy, one of the things you might think about is your body weight. When our body weight is higher than what is considered healthy for our height, we might be described as overweight or obese and some common health issues come to mind when we think about being overweight: Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. But body weight and related metabolic conditions like diabetes are also linked to our brain health and, in particular, our risk for Alzheimer's disease. With obesity at epidemic proportions, high economic costs of health-related issues, and an increasingly aging population, understanding the connection between obesity and brain health is critical. Thankfully, researchers are investigating obesity and cognitive decline and what might be done to protect our brains as we age. Guest Notes: Dr. Catrina Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology in the MUSC College of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding the role of metabolic disorders (such as prediabetes, diabetes, and obesity) on brain health and aging, as well as understanding the pathways involved in developing novel therapeutic targets to improve brain health. Show Reference Links: https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/neurology/research/robinson-lab/team (Robinson Research Lab) at MUSC https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/can-diabetes-lead-cognitive-impairment (Can diabetes lead to cognitive impairment?) - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/DISC%20Diabetes%20Impact%202020.pdf (Diabetes Impact in South Carolina) Fact Sheet - Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina
Take a moment to think about the last time when you had an injury you could see. Maybe it was a scratch or scrape on your arm or leg, or even a cut on your finger. You probably knew what would happen next. Once the bleeding was under control, you expected a scab to form, and maybe wondered if you’d end up with a scar. At the center of this healing process was a cell called a fibroblast. Fibroblasts are the most common type of cell found in connective tissue and they play an important role in healing wounds by secreting collagen proteins that repair tissue. But sometimes these fibroblasts become confused about what they should be doing, leading to a condition called fibrosis. Researchers don’t fully understand why fibrosis occurs, but it leads to organs or tissues developing excessive fibrous tissue, which can interfere with multiple organs like the lungs, heart, liver, skin, kidneys, and eyes - ultimately leading to loss of organ function. Inflammation or fibrosis play a role in several diseases, including lupus, cystic fibrosis and scleroderma. There are currently no FDA approved drugs that can halt the progression of fibrosis or reverse it, making it an essential area of focus for research. In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we'll be discussing scleroderma and fibrosis, and research to find treatments and possible cures. Guest Notes: Dr. Carol Feghali-Bostwick is a Distinguished University Professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology at MUSC focusing on fibrosis encompassing disorders such as Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. In addition to research, Dr. Feghali-Bostwick ‘s efforts include mentoring of junior investigators in patient-oriented research and directing the Center for the Advancement, Retention, and Recruitment of Women (ARROW). She also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Scleroderma Foundation. Show Reference Links: https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/dom/divisions/rheumatology-and-immunology/research/labs-and-centers/feghali-bostwick-basic-lab (Feghali-Bostwick Basic Research Lab) at MUSC https://scleroderma.org/ (National Scleroderma Foundation) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis (What is Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?) - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Landing on the moon was the first big step in space exploration, opening a new frontier beyond our own atmosphere. Since then, researchers have been exploring the effects of space flight and micro-gravity on the human body. To stay in space for longer periods we need to understand the effects of space on our bodies. But can the things we’re learning about space flight and the human body provide any lessons we can use here on Earth? How can the goal of health in space also help us achieve better health here at home? In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we’ll be chatting with researchers who are looking at the challenges of healthy space travel and the solutions necessary, both in the stars and here on Earth. Guest Info: Dr. Donna Roberts is a NASA-funded Professor of Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Mark Rosenberg is a neurology resident at MUSC who is focusing on aerospace medicine. Show Reference Links: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html (International Space Station) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nasas-twins-study-creates-portrait-human-body-after-year-space-180971945/ (NASA's Study of Astronaut Twins Creates Human Portrait of What a Year in Space Does to the Human Body - Smithsonian Magazine) https://www.spacex.com/ (Space X) https://www.blueorigin.com/ (Blue Origin) https://inspiration4.com/ (Inspiration 4)
As we’ve weighed the options for protecting ourselves and our loved ones throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen just how important understanding the role of research can be. During the past two years we’ve had front row seats to research in action. We’ve heard about research that’s led to the discovery of variants, research that helped build the foundation of the vaccines, and research that helped us understand how masking and social distancing can keep us safe. But at the same time, it’s sometimes hard to understand research and the role it plays in our lives - and it can be tough to communicate the importance of research to others. In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we’re going back to basics to ask – what is research and why is it important? Why should the quest for knowledge through research matter to us now, and what are the implications for the future? How can we continue to educate ourselves on the importance of research and build trust in the process? And how can we share this information with family, friends, and our communities so we can all be safer and healthier? Guest Info: Dr. Lori McMahon is the Vice President for Research and a professor of neurobiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a federally funded basic and translational neuroscience researcher who is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in the areas of neurodegenerative disease and neuropsychiatric illness, with a focus on synaptic plasticity and sex differences. Show reference links: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/ National Institutes of Health - https://www.nih.gov/ National Institute on Drug Abuse - https://nida.nih.gov/ American Diabetes Associaton - https://www.diabetes.org/
A conversation on how MUSC science innovates health care with Drs. Sunil Patel, Russell "Chip" Norris, and doctoral student Cortney Gensenmer on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, pulmonary support and palliative care have become critical healthcare needs. Dr. Kathleen Lindell, is well-versed in these issues. An associate professor in the College of Nursing, and the Mary Swain Endowed Chair in Palliative Care, Dr. Lindell has extensive clinical experience working to improve support available to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. She's a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing where she received her Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Nursing as well as her PhD. Dr. Lindell's passion for her patients and their caregivers has led to the development of a palliative care intervention entitled, A Program of SUPPORT, which is symptom management, understanding the disease, pulmonary rehabilitation, palliative care, oxygen therapy, research participation, and transplantation.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that is frequently mentioned but poorly understood. This episode's guest, Dr. Laura Arnstein Carpenter, specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and has much to offer us in understanding and clarifying this disease. Dr. Carpenter is a professor in the College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. She received her PHD from Binghamton University and completed her residency and fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina.
You may have noticed a label on one or more of your prescriptions advising you not to take that medication with grapefruit. That label is the result of the discovery of a compound in grapefruit that alters the absorption of certain medications, impacting the effectiveness of the drug. This discovery was made in 1996 by David Edwards and today's guest, Dr. Patrick Woster. Dr. Woster is Professor and Chair of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences at MUSC's College of Pharmacy. Additionally, he is a South Carolina SmartState Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery, Director of MUSC's Drug Discovery Core, a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and is an inductee in the American Chemical Society's Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame.
Dr. Wally Renne is a Professor of Dental Medicine and Assistant Dean of Innovation in Digital Dentistry in the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at MUSC. Wally was recently recognized as the world's best digital dentist from the International Digital Dental Academy, and was the recipient of the COVID-19 Innovation Award for 3D printing face mask designs to be used as PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. The face mask became an international success. The South Carolina state museum will feature the mask as part of a COVID-19 display.
Meniere's disease is an inner ear disease named after the physician who actually discovered it. The patients usually present with fluctuation of hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and episodes of dizziness characterized by a spinning sensation or an illusion of movement sensation that we call vertigo. Dr. Habib Rizk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Rizk completed his medical degree and residency training at St. Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, and went on to complete a fellowship at MUSC. Dr. Rizk is on the Board of Directors of the American Balance Society, a member of the Equilibrium Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, as well as a representative of the Academy in a joint task force of the American Academy of Neurology to investigate quality improvement measures in neurotology. His research focuses on hearing-related and dizziness-related research.
One of the hardest addictions to manage or quit is smoking cigarettes. The CDC's latest analysis notes that smoking-related illness in the United States costs more than $300 billion each year, including nearly $170 billion for direct medical care for adults, more than $156 billion in lost productivity, including $5.6 billion in lost productivity due to secondhand smoke exposure. So what should we do to address this health and economic concern? Why are cigarettes still readily available and so addictive? And how do we help those who want to quit and have not been successful or encourage loved ones to quit who continue to smoke while suffering its deadly effects? Dr. Matthew Carpenter is a professor in MUSC's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. A clinical psychologist with a PhD from the University of Vermont, Dr. Carpenter's research interests relate to tobacco use across a broad methodological continuum, from lab-based studies of craving and nicotine dependence to small and large-scale clinical trials for smoking cessation, to public health policy for effective tobacco control. He has led multiple studies and trials on smoking cessation and alternative tobacco products.
It is springtime, which means we are on the verge of regeneration of nature, our enthusiasm, and enjoyment of warmth and beauty. And so it is appropriate to turn our attention to regeneration as it relates to biomedical research and precision medicine as a tool in that research. Dr. Stephen Duncan is a professor and the chair in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and SmartState chair in liver development and disease. A native of Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom, Dr. Duncan received his PhD and doctorate in Philosophy from Wolfson College at Oxford University in 1992. He then moved to the Rockefeller Center in New York City to undertake a post-doc fellowship. He transferred to the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 1997, where he moved through the ranks to become the Marcus Professor in Human and Molecular Genetics in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy. In 2007, he accepted a position as the founding director of Medical College of Wisconsin's program in regenerative medicine. He joined MUSC in 2015.
The public has been hearing for months about the clinical trials conducted by various institutions and pharmaceutical companies related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but what does it mean to be involved in a clinical trial, and why would the public want to participate? What is the importance of clinical trials, what are the safeguards surrounding any clinical trial, and what do clinical trials offer the public? Dr. Patrick Flume, is a professor of Medicine in Pediatrics with specialties in pulmonology and critical care medicine at the Medical University. He serves as the Powers- Huggins endowed chair for cystic fibrosis, and is the director of the Adult MUSC Cystic Fibrosis Center. Dr. Flume is heavily involved in MUSC's research enterprise, including the way MUSC manages clinical trial safety and protection of all those engaged in any clinical trial. Dr. Flume, along with many other clinical scientists at MUSC, has been instrumental in several very successful clinical trials, most recently the implementation and success of the COVID-19 trials.
Dr. Lucinda A. Halstead is the Vice Chairman for Resident Education in the department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and the Medical Director of the MUSC Evelyn Trammell Institute for Voice and Swallowing. Dr. Halstead founded the MUSC Voice Center in 1987 to support research and advanced care in laryngology, swallowing, voice, pediatric otolaryngology, and performing arts medicine. In 2000, she became the medical director of the Evelyn Trammell Institute for Voice and Swallowing She is the laryngologist for the internationally renowned Spoleto Festival USA, and president of the Performing Arts Medicine Association.
Aging Doesn't Have to Scare You! A conversation with Dr. Heather Boger, Associate Director of the Institute for Healthy Aging
Looking Back/Moving Forward: The Neurobiology of Addiction | A conversation with MUSC Distinguished University Professor, Dr. Peter Kalivas
Eric R. Powers, M.D., FACC and other partners are assisting in the implementation of an advanced clinical and training program in cardiovascular disease at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania—the first advanced cardiac and catheterization center in the country. Dr. Eric Powers is a Professor of Medicine and the Peter C. Gazes M.D. Endowed Chair in Clinical Cardiology, is a board-certified physician of internal medicine, cardiovascular care, and interventional cardiology. He's a graduate of Harvard Medical School, and completed his residency and fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He has received numerous awards for his work as a clinician and scientist, and has been named one of America's top doctors.