GlycanHub Podcast

Is the future of medicine sweetened by the study of glycans? As GlycanHub rounds off its season, we've brought back the insights of 11 eminent scientists spanning from neuroscience to nanotechnology. Each guest delves into their vision of how glycans could shape medical advancements in their respective fields. Join Rina, our host, for a grand finale that paints a holistic picture of the promi...

Could your steak dinner be tricking your immune system? In this episode we shed light on the connection between specific foods and colorectal cancer. Explore xeno-autoantigens, grasp the nuances of immunotherapy, and question the reliability of animal-derived heart valves. Vered Padler-Karavani is the principal investigator in the Department of Cell Research and Immunology at Tel Aviv University....

Does menopause hold implications beyond reproductive health? This episode reveals that the shift in hormonal balance affects inflammatory patterns, mediated by complex carbohydrates called glycans. We unravel the overlooked role of perimenopause in chronic disease onset and debunk common myths. Exploring hormone replacement therapy, we discuss its wider health impact, beyond mere symptom managemen...

In an era defined by COVID-19, understanding the intricacies of our immune response and the profound role our lifestyle choices play in shaping our resilience or vulnerability to future pandemics is of great importance. In this episode, we unravel the influence of glycans, complex carbohydrates instrumental in immune response regulation, on our understanding of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity...

The longer lifespans we enjoy come shadowed by age-related diseases, notably Alzheimer's. This episode shines a light on the often-overlooked glycans, complex carbohydrates that play a pivotal role in healthy brain function. Our understanding of Alzheimer's causation has evolved, moving beyond just 'trash accumulation' to include problems with 'trash clearance.' Disco...

Are you ready to journey through the intricate layers of Omics, a rapidly developing field that's reshaping our understanding of biological systems? From genomics to proteomics and metabolomics, the multi-omics approach intertwines these layers, offering a rich, multidimensional view of human biology. Today's conversation unravels the fascinating complexity within our bodies, spotlightin...

It is a widely known fact that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in both men and women, which puts an urgency on gaining a better understanding of them. One interesting lens to look at CVDs is through glycans. However, in order to do so, we need to uncover the answer to which came first, the chicken or the egg? Do glycans change in response to the disease? Or...

Glycosylation, a biological process vital to life, is likely something you’ve never heard of before. It involves the addition of sugar molecules, known as glycans, to proteins and lipids which enable a number of crucial physiological functions, from immune regulation to cell-to-cell communication. This episode explores what happens when genetic mutations disrupt the glycosylation pathway as well a...

The concept of biological age might sound like a new notion, but it’s something researchers have been looking at for 35 years. A person’s biological age can tell us more about them than chronological age because it includes genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. Since it’s such an individualised metric, it’s important to find a reliable way of measuring it. In the episode, Rina and her gue...

How much control do we have over our health? The study of epigenetics made us aware of the remarkable malleability of our phenotype, prompting closer investigation on how lifestyle and environment impact our health and longevity. In this context, glycans - a class of historically understudied biological polymers may hold the key to a better understanding of the interplay between genetic and epigen...

Glycans have a great capacity to fine-tune the inflammatory response and often determine how successfully the immune system distinguishes between friend and foe. While cancer cells build a glycan shield to hide from immune surveillance, pathogens can mimic our glycans in order to evade immune detection and perpetuate infection. Salomé Pinho is the Immunology, Cancer and GlycoMedicine Group leader...

Is it enough to conduct medical research only on white men? Why are women more affected by autoimmune diseases? Do menopause and pregnancy trigger different ailments? Is there such a thing as a male and a female hormone?   In this episode of The Age of You - a sweet secret to longevity, we discuss male-centric medicine and the effects created by the exclusion of women in medical research.   Our gu...

Menopause is no laughing matter, but having humour about it might be the key to breaking down the stigma.  In order to celebrate World Menopause Day, we’re bringing you an uplifting interview with Suzzane Parkes - a person near and dear to all of us in GlycanAge. Suzanne is a consultant that spent her career in the fitness industry and has always prioritized a holistic approach to her health.  Suz...

Despite the buzz around novel cancer therapies, the harsh reality is that most only extend life expectancy by a few months. Dr Azra Raza, a Professor of Medicine, and the Director of the MDS Centre at Columbia University, has a different approach. Azra argues that the key to defeating cancer lies in early detection, and she has dedicated over 35 years of her career to collecting samples and resear...

Why do women age faster during menopause? Should menopause be rebranded as a hormone deficiency?  Is it ever too late to start HRT? Listen to this episode to find out the answers to these questions and many more!  Meet the guests: Doctor Louise Newson is the Founder of Newson Health Menopause & Wellbeing Centre as well as Balance App and The Menopause Charity .  She’s a renowned menopause spec...

t’s not often you get to listen to inspirational yet grounded people. However, today we bring you just that. Meet Anastasis Tzanis — A yoga and breathing instructor, and a nutritional therapist. He shared his struggles with IBS, the effects of yoga, and his experience with GlycanAge. Find out why he doesn’t believe in the one-solution-fits-all approach and why he’s not a fan of restrictive diets....

Dear listener, are you interested in learning how to live healthier and take advantage of the latest scientific research? If the answer is yes, you’ll love our first episode in which we dive into understanding longevity.  Tune in as our host Rina interviews Professor Gordan Lauc on the importance of glycans and how these sugars will shape the future of medicine. Other topics we discuss in the epis...