Sounds of Science

I am joined by four experts in their field to discuss what will be hot in rare diseases, drug discovery, artificial intelligence, and animal models in 2024. 

Molly Dupre, a lab assistant at Charles River's Reno site, was recently diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type B/ Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency. After years of waiting, doctor's visits, and tests, she could finally put a name to the condition that flared up after the birth of her son. But what came next? She joins me to tell her story.

Senior Principal Scientific Advisor Stan Spence joins me to discuss off-target liability: what happens when a drug misses its target? What are the risks to the patient if the off-target effects aren't caught early? Has there ever been an example of an off-target effect being beneficial to the patient? Find out here!

Rachel Kiserow and Susan Desmond have joined us year after year as part of Eureka's Breast Cancer Roundtable. This year, they wanted to share what happens after - after the treatments, after remission - life after cancer.

For this episode, I am joined by Charles River's Doug Botkin and Pure Microbiology's Abby Roth to discuss the 2012 NECC meningitis outbreak. Doug and Abby bring their background in microbiology to explain how it happened, and how we can prevent such tragedies in the future. 

Charles River experts Justin Bryans and Elizabeth Anderson join me for a spirited discussion of where we are now in oncology research. Could we ever see a world without cancer?

Manufacturing gene therapies is a hot topic in the pharma field, on both the supplier and the client ends. Joining me to discuss this issue is Charles River Associate Director of Gene Therapy, Andrew Frazer, and Purespring Therapeutics' VP of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls, Amanda Weiss. 

Dr. Lauren Black and Dr. Monkol Lek are both committed to the research and advancement of rare disease treatments. But when you are trying to treat just one patient, what can you learn that could help many more? We discuss the importance of n-of-1 studies, not just for that one patient and their families, but for anyone who might someday need a rare cure.

Through his own first-hand experience, Charles River Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition Michael Hakeem knows the importance of diversity in hiring. He joins us this Pride Month to talk about his experiences and his insight into a thoughtful approach to recruiting for a company as large as Charles River.

Jesse McCool from Wheeler Bio and Ian Wyllie from Charles River's RightSource℠ program join me to discuss the manufacturing of biologics from both ends: getting from development to first in human, and quality control. 

Mycologist Ziva Abraham discusses fungal detection and identification in cleanrooms, and whether the TV show The Last of Us portrays a realistic fungal zombie apocalypse.

This month I am joined by Romaine Wright, Program Manager for Learning and Development for Charles River, to discuss allyship in the workplace. How can we use whatever privileges we have to help our colleagues and build a more diverse workforce?

This month I am joined by Dr. Elise Lewis, principal director of toxicology for Charles River's Horsham, Pennsylvania site. As a woman of color in the scientific field, she is passionate about mentoring the scientists of tomorrow.  She can also be seen in this interview with Fox 29 Philadelphia: https://www.fox29.com/video/902459

In vivo models have been the drug safety standard for as long as there have been drug safety standards. With mounting data proving the worth of in vitro models, could there be a future where we will not need in vivo? I am joined by Anjli Venkateswaran, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Charles River, to discuss this trending topic.

This year Charles River celebrated its 75th anniversary. To help me reminisce about how far the company and science in general have come in that time, I invited Chief Commercial Officer Bill Barbo to chat. He started at Charles River in 1982 as a scientist, and has seen the company grow and change along with advances in science.

This year saw the worst spread of avian influenza yet, with fall showing another surge as migratory birds make their way south for the winter. Could an avian influenza vaccine be on the horizon for the United States? I spoke with Wayne Collins and Nastassja Ortega from Charles River’s Avian Services, and David Swayne, Lab Director for the USDA specializing in Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Dise...

I am joined by a very special guest - Dr. Ali Said Faqi, former employee of Charles River and current Congressman for Somalia. In 2013 his career path changed when he decided to accept an appointment as Somalia's ambassador to the European Union, but he still makes time for science.

Charles River senior account manager Brad Gartland experienced a great personal tragedy when his father took his own life in 2016. Driven by the loss, Brad worked to establish a safe place for men like his father to talk, helping them feel less alone. Listen now to learn how Brad's efforts caught the attention of the British Royal family.

Dr. Kathrin Meyer from the Center for Gene Therapy at Nationwide Children's Hospital joins me to discuss the current state of gene therapy research - where we are now, and how far we have left to go.

I am joined by consulting physician Dr. Peter Matos, an expert on viral spread through his work at the U.S. Department of Defense Global Emerging Infection Surveillance and Response System, to discuss the various viruses making their way through the world as of now. 

Sex discrimination is not just something that happens with people. In many animal studies, males have historically been used more often than females, resulting in a significant sex bias that has snowballed since we started using mice and rats in research. Liz Nunamaker, Director of Animal Welfare for Charles River, joins me to discuss what this bias means for animals and patients.

Graham Tobin is one of the most noted experts on laboratory animal diets, writing several definitive texts on the subject. He joins me to discuss how a lack of attention to animal nutrition can impact research, from reproducibility to reliability. 

We talk with Oliver Jonas, the Scientific Founder of Kibur Medical, about his research on implantable devices designed to distribute cancer drugs directly into tumors. Kibur is a strategic partner of Charles River, and these tiny devices could help doctors narrow down the best therapies for each individual patient.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative neurological disease most often associated with older while males. However, it is not exclusive to them, and obtaining a diagnosis as a young woman can be tricky. The women of Her ALS story are patients and spokespeople who are trying to change that by sharing their stories with the world. Listen now to hear...

Dr. Jeffrey Millman joins me and my colleague Laura Gee to discuss his work on a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes. Laura, who is herself a Type 1 diabetes patient, shares her perspective on living with diabetes and what a cure could mean for her everyday life. Using cellular replacement therapy, The Millman Lab works towards a diabetes cure.