Science Changing Life

Science Changing Life

Science EN ↓ 57 episodes

The award-winning Science Changing Life podcast offers an inside look into how Scripps Research scientists are solving the most pressing mysteries in human health and disease. Join hosts Lauren Fish and Melissa Suran, PhD, as they speak with world-class scientists at the forefronts of immunology, infectious disease, artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, neuroscience and much more. Science Changing Life gives listeners a glimpse into the people behind the science, their motivations, paths to discovery, and how they’re changing the world. Follow us on social media for more updates:@scr...

Author

Science Changing Life

Category

Science

Podcast website

www.scripps.edu

Latest episode

Dec 29, 2025

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Episodes

Episode 33 – Frederick Barrett: Psychoactive compounds to treat depression, addiction & inflammation 29.06.2022

Part three of our mini-series centered on brain health. Professor Frederick Barrett is based in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Associate Director at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Fred and his colleagues investigate the therapeutic effects of psychoactive substances in intractable patient populations, including those...

Episode 32 – Ryan Shenvi: Ethnomedicine to improve learning, memory and mental health 29.06.2022

The second part of our three-part mini-series on brain health. Professor Ryan Shenvi is based in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research, where his lab reconstructs useful molecules typically found in remote corners of the world. Listen as we talk about traditional remedies of indigenous cultures, formulating medicines from industrial waste and Charles Dickens’ drinking habits. Show notes:...

Episode 31 – Sandra Encalada: Linking traffic jams in the brain to neurodegenerative disease 29.06.2022

We kick off the Summer 2022 podcast season with the first of a three-part mini-series dedicated to brain health. Professor Sandra Encalada is based in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, where her lab investigates the transport of cargo within brain cells and its role in health and disease. Listen as we talk about new therapeutic agents to stop and reverse neurodegeneration,...

Episode 30 – The biochemistry of aging: Scripps Research Magazine 30.08.2021

The fifth and final episode in our healthy aging series. We discover what happens inside the cell with age and how new chemical tools are leading us towards ways of repairing the damage and preserving our youth. This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Explore the Scripps Research Magazine https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 29 – Precision therapies for age-related diseases: Scripps Research Magazine 23.08.2021

The fourth segment of our series on healthy aging. We take a look at how breakthroughs in chemistry have enabled the rational design of therapies that can stop or slow complex diseases of the heart and nervous system. This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Explore the Scripps Research Magazine https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 28 – Personalized genetic testing: Scripps Research Magazine 16.08.2021

We roll on with part 3 of our healthy aging series. We examine the role of our DNA blueprint in the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as how understanding our personal genetic risk scores could help us avoid that deadly heart attack. This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Explore the Scripps Research Magazine https://magazine.sc...

Episode 27 – Overcoming arthritis: Scripps Research Magazine 09.08.2021

In the second of this series on healthy aging, we reveal how Scripps Research scientists are developing interventions to remove stiff, achy joints from the aging equation. This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Explore the Scripps Research Magazine https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 26 – Cellular secrets to a longer life: Scripps Research Magazine 02.08.2021

Peer into the future of healthy aging. In this episode (the first of a 5-part series), we shed new light on how our cells and organs work together to influence longevity, and how newly discovered molecules may be able to block biological degeneration. This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Explore the Scripps Research Magazine https:/...

Episode 25 - Ed Ramos: Reversing diabetes with personalized nutrition 10.05.2021

Dr. Ed Ramos is director of Digital Clinical Trials for the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center. Listen as we talk about empowering the individual with wearable health devices, the worst foods for spiking our blood sugar and the importance of lifelong flexibility. Show notes: PROGRESS study enrollment https://progress.scripps.edu/ PROGRESS study explainer video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U...

Episode 24- Eric Topol & Andrew Ward: How Spike Protein Discoveries Drove Coronavirus Vaccine Design 23.12.2020

Another special edition featuring an extended conversation between Dr. Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Professor Andrew Ward in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research. Listen as they talk about structural biology as a gamechanger in coronavirus research, what makes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein crucial for vac...

Episode 23 – Daphne Lurie: Taking Care of your Mental Health 03.12.2020

Dr. Daphne Lurie is a California-licensed clinical psychologist and Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on the Scripps Research La Jolla campus. Listen as we talk about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health trends, using mindfulness to become more efficient and ziplining in Costa Rica. Show notes: Daphne’s Scripps Research profile: https://www.scripps.edu/ab...

Episode 22 – Discovery in an Era of Social Distancing: Scripps Research Magazine 16.11.2020

Stories brought to life! Today’s audio adventure comes from the Fall 2020 edition of our Scripps Research Magazine. We dive into the adaptations made by institute researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure both safety and continued scientific discovery. Show notes: Explore our Scripps Research Magazine and subscribe https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/connect-with-us/

Episode 21 - Kara Marshall: The Science of Bladder Control 14.10.2020

Dr. Kara Marshall is based in the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research, working as a postdoctoral researcher in Professsor Ardem Patapoutian’s lab. Listen as we talk about the circuitry involved in urination, burst bladders and improv comedy. Show notes: The Patapoutian Lab https://patapoutianlab.org/ Kara’s recent discovery on bladder function https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-...

Episode 20 – Eric Topol & Dennis Burton: Antibodies, Vaccines and the Current State of COVID-19 01.09.2020

Today’s special edition features an extended conversation between Dr. Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Professor Dennis Burton, Chair of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research. Listen as they talk about antibody cocktail treatments, the mystery of “longhaul” COVID-19 symptoms and how close we are to developing a coronavirus vaccin...

Episode 19 – Amanda Roberts: Mice in Outer Space 09.07.2020

Dr. Amanda Roberts is the Senior Scientific Director of the Mouse Behavioral Core at Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about microgravity as a model of accelerated aging, NASA’s top-secret agents and what happens to slime in space. (Image Credit: Andrew Roberts) Show notes: Amanda’s research profile: https://vivo.scripps.edu/display/RobertsAmanda Replay of the NASA launch (action around ~11 minu...

Episode 18 - Biodiversity beyond the horizon: Scripps Research Magazine 18.02.2020

Research discoveries brought to life! In today’s segment, we explore Scripps Research’s Natural Products Discovery Center, a historic natural collection that may hold the key to thousands of future therapies. This article is taken from the Fall 2019 edition of our Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Digital version of our Fall 2019 magazine: https://issuu.com/endeavor-scripps-research/docs/maga...

Episode 17 - Time is ticking against Lyme: Scripps Research Magazine 13.01.2020

Research discoveries brought to life! In today’s short story, we find out how medicines designed for our pets are now being repurposed by our scientists to provide a lasting, protective vaccine against Lyme disease. This article is taken from the Fall 2019 edition of our Scripps Research Magazine. Show notes: Digital version of the Scripps Research Fall 2019 magazine: https://www.scripps.edu/news-...

Episode 16 – David Biello: What Makes a Great Science TED Talk 27.11.2019

David Biello is an award-winning journalist and the scientific curator for TED. Listen as we talk about his favorite areas of science, how to craft a compelling narrative and being obsessed with blind cavefish. Show notes: David’s profile at TED (and book link) https://www.ted.com/speakers/david_biello David’s work at Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/david-biello/ TED...

Episode 15 – Kristen Johnson & Maria Millan: Regenerative Medicine for Osteoarthritis 21.07.2019

Dr. Kristen Johnson is a lead investigator at Calibr, the drug discovery division of Scripps Research. Dr. Maria Millan is the President and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Listen as we talk about the world’s largest stem cell bank, restoring healthy cartilage to patients, and the advantages of non-profit research. Show notes: Kristen’s talk in the Scripps Researc...

Ep. 14–Brian Fiske & Jeff Kelly: Accelerating Discoveries to Treat Neurodegenerative Disease 28.05.2019

Dr. Brian Fiske is the Senior Vice President for Research Programs at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease. Professor Jeff Kelly is in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about biomarkers for early disease detection, the importance of long-term human trials, and how Parkinson’s disease could originate in the gut. Show notes: Dr. Fiske’s bio at MJFF h...

Episode 13 – Eric Topol: High Performance Medicine – How Technology Can Bring Back Humanity 12.03.2019

Dr. Eric Topol is the Founder and Director of The Translational Institute at Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about bringing back empathy in medicine, smartphone ultrasounds and the best media for absorbing scientific information. Show notes: Translational Institute at Scripps Research https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/translational-institute/ Eric’s new book: Deep Medicine https://w...

Episode 12 – Arnab Chatterjee: Teaching Old Drugs New Tricks 27.01.2019

Dr. Chatterjee is the Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry at Calibr, the biotechnology division of Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about re-purposing existing compounds for new diseases, the future of robotics in drug discovery and our favorite Superheroes. Show notes: About Calibr https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/calibr/about/index.html ReFRAME Initiative https://www.scripps.edu...

Episode 11 – Matthias Pauthner: Novel Approaches to Combat Infectious Disease 10.12.2018

Matthias is based in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research, working in Prof. Kristian Andersen’s Lab. Listen as we talk about wearable devices to monitor disease progression, research field-trips to West Africa and fancy nights at the symphony. **p.s. if you enjoyed the Christmas jingle, Matthias and I are currently working on an album** Show notes: Andersen Laboratory...

Episode 10 – Alyssa Shepard: Harnessing Social Media in Science 16.11.2018

Alyssa is based in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, under the supervision of Prof. Joseph Kissil. Listen as we talk about cancer biology, naked mole-rats and practical tips for improving science communication. Show notes: Kissil Laboratory https://www.scripps.edu/kissil/ Alyssa’s blog https://thecurioussheep.net/blog/ @the_curioussheep on Instagram @_curioussheep on twitte...

Episode 9 - Courtney Miller: How To Forget Addictions 18.10.2018

Prof. Miller is based in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about methamphetamine-use disorder, short- and long-term memory formation, and Breaking Bad. Show notes: Prof. Miller’s Scripps Research bio https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/miller/ Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction http://www.pearsoncenter.org/laboratories-pearson-center/ News coverage of...

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