BodyLab
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -Produced by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, BodyLab podcast features our world leading researchers exploring the science behind having a healthy mind and body.
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Episodes
Important findings for fertility thanks to non-identical twins
March 18, 2024 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBTwins are a gift to medical research but it’s non-identical twins providing insights into identifying fertility issues earlier. Professor Nick Martin wasn’t expecting big surprises after studying twins for 50 years, making these findings even more exciting. Nick shares the phone calls that inspired this path, the possibilities for early diagnosis and the need for lots more twin mothers to join is survey.
The mission to eliminate a deadly parasitic worm disease endemic to Australia
January 30, 2024 01:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBIt’s one of the world’s most neglected and dangerous tropical diseases, endemic in remote Indigenous communities across Australia. Now, thanks to a new NHMRC grant, QIMR Berghofer researchers are leading an effort to eliminate strongyloidiasis, a potentially fatal disease caused by a parasitic worm. Project-lead Professor Darren Gray and team member Dr Catherine Gordon discuss their new project tackling the condition, which has a devastating impact on some of Australia’s most vulnerable p...
The researchers determined to find new treatments for endometrial cancer
December 12, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBEndometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Australian women and its incidence is rising. But treatment options are limited, with a hysterectomy often the first line of defence. Associate Professors Tracy O’Mara and Dylan Glubb are conducting advanced genetic analyses in an effort to find better options for women. And their results are so impressive that the US Department of Defense has backed their mission to unearth new treatments for endometrial cancer.
New genetic research could help prevent ‘silent thief of sight’
August 21, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBIt's known as the “silent thief of sight” - sneakily stealing the sight in one eye as the other covers for it. 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, around half don’t know it yet. Professor Stuart MacGregor explains the incredible genetic discoveries that could help prevent irreversible vision loss.
Asthma & AIP2 - the new protein designed to rest the immune system for long lasting relief
June 27, 2023 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.09 MBImagine living a life free of asthma. Throw away puffers and medications and never have to worry about not being able to breathe again. The Anti-Inflammatory Protein 2 (AIP2) could be a game-changer that transforms the lives of millions of people affected by asthma, and even potentially cure this cruel disease. Associate Professor Severine Navarro explains how this remarkable story begins with hookworms and their interactions with their human hosts.
"Be Still My Beating Heart" - Tiny hearts to one day help repair heart disease damage
April 24, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBHeart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but a team of scientists at QIMR Berghofer is on a mission to find ways to repair damaged heart tissue. To help achieve this ultimate goal, they're growing tiny living and beating models of human heart muscle in the lab. These cardiac organoids are no bigger than a chia seed, but closely mimic the real organ so the researchers can study the heart's biology and test new therapeutics. Professor James Hudson explains how the team's latest...
Earlier testing for pancreatic and ovarian cancer
February 08, 2023 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MBResearchers have identified RNA molecules that could lead to a simple blood test to detect aggressive cancers like pancreatic and ovarian at an earlier stage. These cancers have low survival rates because they are difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages. Associate Professor Jason Lee discusses developing a drug that could stop aggressive cancer cells from growing and spreading to other areas. Right now, he is testing the blood samples of people with severe and early stage pan...
A third of melanomas in routine skin checks may not be harmful
January 31, 2023 01:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBQIMR Berghofer researchers have found that nearly a third of melanomas picked up during routine skin checks may not be harmful. The findings highlight the need for further research to determine why some melanomas appear to stay dormant and undetected for long period of time. It also may lead to more accurate diagnostic tools which might spare some people the anxiety associated with a melanoma diagnosis. Professor David Whiteman, who led the study, said the results suggest up to 29 per ce...
Genes & Mental Illness – the potential of genetic discoveries to deliver better treatments for patients
October 09, 2022 23:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBDid you know your genes play an important role in the risk of having a mental illness? Over the past decade, scientists have discovered hundreds of genes linked to all mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD and bipolar disorder. Professor Eske Derks says it's now time to translate these findings into the clinic to help patients with better treatments and more accurate diagnosis. There are a few challenges to overcome first to make this goal of "precision psychiatry" ...
The real work of the liver, its super power, its Achilles heel and the real science on liver detoxing.
August 30, 2022 22:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBOne-in-four Australians have fatty liver disease, most don't even know it. With over two decades leading liver research in Australia, Professor Grant Ramm is excited about the possibility of repairing liver damage, It could be of particular benefit for those born with cystic fibrosis, with wider implications for possible use in treating scarring in other organs.
How does chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease impact the brain?
August 01, 2022 05:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBResearch has shown for the first time how a complication of life-saving stem-cell transplants used for blood cancer patients, impacts the brain. It’s an important step towards improving the quality of life for patients with chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease (GVHD), a condition where transplanted donor cells attack the patient’s organs. While the transplant can cure the cancer, many patients develop chronic GVHD and are unable to return to normal life or work. Depression, anxiety and issue...
A conversation with philanthropist and entrepreneur Clive Berghofer AM
July 20, 2022 03:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBImagine leaving school at 13 and becoming one of Australia's richest 200 people. Clive Berghofer AM has achieved just that, turning his work ethic, business acumen, and remarkable generosity to extraordinary philanthropic endeavours. One of those is helping QIMR Berghofer medical researchers find cures for diseases like cancer and Coronavirus through donations totalling more than $60 million. This is the story of the incredible philanthropist Clive Berghofer told in his own words.
Breast cancer gene research helping avoid unnecessary preventive mastectomies
June 08, 2022 07:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBIs a mastectomy the right option for all women with changes in the #BRCA genes? No – yet women who carry a BRCA variant of “uncertain” significance are unnecessarily having preventive mastectomies. Their variant could be benign, but they don’t want to take the chance it’s not. Professor Amanda Spurdle explains how a remarkable world-first data-sharing trial is helping remove the uncertainty for patients by working out which variants are harmful and which are harmless.
A new culprit found to cause shellfish allergy
May 24, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBIf you're allergic to shellfish - you were first allergic to something else! A new study unearthed the real cause, hopefully leading to better diagnosis and treatment of serious allergies. Associate Professor Severine Navarro talks about the culprit and its list of unexpected relatives of which you should be aware.
Sunbed dangers - how Australia is helping to fight for a sunbed ban in England
May 16, 2022 03:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBThe story of how commercial sunbeds came to be banned in Australia is incredibly powerful, and two QIMR Berghofer researchers played an integral role in that momentous campaign. Now the world-first modelling they developed then is helping UK researchers in the fight to try and ban commercial solariums in England. But as Health Economist Associate Professor Louisa Gordon explains, despite the health and economic evidence, this will not be an easy campaign.
Malaria - discovering new anti-malaria drugs to treat one of the world's biggest health problems
April 25, 2022 01:00 - 9 minutes - 6.77 MBMalaria remains a major global health problem with nearly half of the world's population at risk of contracting malaria. In 2020, the World Health Organisation estimated there were 240 million cases of malaria and more than 620,000 deaths. It is also a disease of inequity with nearly all malaria deaths occurring in African children. To mark World Malaria Day, QIMR Berghofer researcher, Associate Professor Bridget Barber discusses the need for new anti-malaria drugs. Her research group is...
Lupus - the first new treatment in 50 years
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBLupus is a chronic disease that can cause debilitating inflammation and pain in any part of the body, when the immune system attacks the healthy tissues. Treatment so far has been toxic, but Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director at QIMR Berghofer is behind the first new treatment for lupus in 50 years. She talks about how the discovery was made and what it will mean for the 5-million people who live with Lupus around the world.
Bowel cancer - tailored treatment for better outcomes
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBPeople with bowel cancer could eventually receive individually tailored treatment that is more effective with fewer side effects. Bowel cancer is the second most common form of cancer in Australia and it spreads in half of all cases, making treatment challenging. Associate Professor Vicki Whitehall from QIMR Berghofer is using cancer cells from individual patients to test the effectiveness of different drugs.
Brain cancer and the weapon to fight brain tumours
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBBrain cancer survival rates haven’t changed for about 50-years, but breakthrough research at QIMR Berghofer has found a weapon that might exclusively target cancer cells. This medical breakthrough was only possible through the establishment of one of Australia’s most comprehensive brain cancer tissue banks by Professor Bryan Day and his colleagues. It has already led to multiple discoveries worldwide.
OCD - how a pacemaker for the brain is delivering life changing results
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBAn Australian first trial using deep brain stimulation is delivering exciting results for people living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is when people have recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations that drive them to do something repetitively, which affects around half a million Australians. QIMR Berghofer Psychiatrist and Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Phil Mosley explains how the trial is delivering relief for people who have been suffering for decades with the disorder.
MS treatment - off the shelf treatment the next step
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBProfessor Rajiv Khanna has had a fascinating 30-year research story in immunotherapy that has led to a game-changing therapy for people with multiple sclerosis. His treatment has seen a dramatic and sustained improvement in many people with progressive MS. Early results in Professor Khanna’s Phase 1 clinical trial show that people with MS who had been dependent on a walking aid were able to move around unassisted for longer periods of time. But getting to this stage wasn’t easy. In this epis...
Exercise to treat mental health
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBIf you live with serious mental health issues, you might already know that exercise can help form part of your treatment plan. Now, research involving QIMR Berghofer is showing how that exercise program is delivered can have the biggest impact. Dr Justin Chapman says providing access to the right health program is key and could eventually alleviate pressure on the health system.
Eye melanoma - cracking the code to one of the most difficult cancers to detect
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBDr Kelly Brooks from QIMR Berghofer is working to crack the code that will improve the treatment of eye melanoma, which is one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat early. Half of these cases have already spread to other parts of the body. In most cases it is found in the liver. Dr Brooks is working on what causes the cells to spread and how researchers might block that process.
GVHD - healing the gut with faecal transfers
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBFaecal transfer is an unconventional treatment that restores the balance in your gut. Dr Andrea Henden from QIMR Berghofer takes us on a fascinating look into how healthy gut bacteria can be introduced into the bowel. The process is offering new hope for the common and sometimes deadly graft versus host disease which can affect the gut. There are also implications for millions with other gut and bowel issues.
Japanese Encephalitis explained - Symptoms and how it spreads
March 17, 2022 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBOne of Australia's leading mosquito researchers, Associate Professor Greg Devine from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research explains the science behind the most recent outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis Virus. His research lab is screening mosquito collections from Queensland for viruses of public health importance. The JEV outbreak in several states is the first time the potentially deadly virus has been found outside far northern Australia. JEV has a high fatality rate of 30 per cent, in the ver...
Genetic discovery could unlock better treatment for depression
February 01, 2022 03:00 - 3 minutes - 2.51 MBThe world's largest study of depression has revealed 23 genes linked to a person's risk of developing depression. This could pave the way for more tailored and effective treatments, according to new research from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Can a monthly dose of vitamin D help you live longer?
February 01, 2022 02:00 - 11 minutes - 7.89 MBCan a regular dose of vitamin D lead to a longer life? That’s what researchers from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute wanted to find out when they started Australia’s biggest health trial. Researchers examined the benefits of taking vitamin D and whether a monthly dose would reduce the mortality rate in Australians aged over 60. The results might change the way you take your vitamin D.
Climate anxiety and children
February 01, 2022 01:00 - 9 minutes - 6.7 MBClimate anxiety in Australian children is on the rise, but how parents discuss and frame the issue can make a difference. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has been leading research into the effects of climate anxiety and they found the parents’ values and behaviour towards climate change can shape the views and emotions of children. Researchers have also discovered what parents can do to help ease the anxiety in their children.
Personality and mental health: Genetic or environmental?
October 17, 2020 21:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBHow much influence do our genes and environment have on our personality traits and certain mental health conditions? Professor Nick Martin discusses where we’re at in the age-old nature versus nurture debate. Nick is the head of the Genetic Epidemiology Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. He has spent decades studying twins to understand genetic and environmental influences on personality and mental health.
Women's cancers: Can you change your risk?
October 16, 2020 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBWhat affects a woman’s risk of developing gynaecological cancer, and can women improve their chances of survival? Professor Penny Webb has spent decades working to fill the information void for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Penny is the head of the Population Health Department and the Gynaecological Cancers Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. She has led several major epidemiological studies of women’s cancers.
Allergies and Inflammation: What is your gut telling you?
October 16, 2020 04:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBWe have more bacteria in our gut than cells in our body. Associate Professor Severine Navarro explains how these ecosystems affect our health and risk of allergies, and how hookworms could help. Severine is the head of the Mucosal Immunology Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Cancer: What you can do to minimise your risk
October 16, 2020 03:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBHow much control do we have over our risk of getting cancer? Professor David Whiteman discusses the simple measures you can take to lower your chances. David is the Deputy Director of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the head of the Institute’s Cancer Control Research Group. He has dedicated his career to trying to prevent more cancers in the community.
Iron: the most under-appreciated mineral in the body?
October 16, 2020 03:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWhat everyone with British or Irish heritage, or any woman hoping to fall pregnant, needs to know about iron. Dr David Frazer discusses the effects of too much and too little of the essential mineral. David is the head of the Molecular Nutrition Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Forgetful or early-stage dementia?
October 16, 2020 03:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBWe’ve all had moments of worry about our memories failing us. But when do we need to be concerned? Associate Professor Tony White busts some myths and discusses the tiny ‘mini brains’ that are helping advance research in the field. Tony is the head of the Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Iron: the most underrated mineral in the body?
October 16, 2020 03:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWhat everyone with British or Irish heritage, or any woman hoping to fall pregnant, needs to know about iron. Dr David Frazer discusses the effects of too much and too little of the essential mineral. David is the head of the Molecular Nutrition Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Sun safety, sunscreen and skin cancer: sorting fact from fiction
October 16, 2020 03:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBCut through the confusion and misinformation, and get the facts on sunscreen from one of Australia’s leading skin cancer researchers. Professor Adele Green is the head of the Cancer and Population Studies Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Anxiety and Depression: How far have we come?
October 16, 2020 02:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBHave anxiety and depression become more common, or are they just better diagnosed? Professor James Scott discusses incidence, risk factors and treatments of mental illness, and the worrying impacts of bullying on adolescent mental health. James is the head of the Mental Health Research Program and the Child and Youth Mental Health Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
COVID-19: Nearly one year on what do we know?
October 16, 2020 02:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBNearly a year since COVID-19 emerged, what have scientists learnt? Professor Andreas Suhrbier weighs in on face masks, and how successful a vaccine might be. Andreas is a virologist and the head of the Inflammation Biology Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. He also researches other viruses like Zika, Ebola and chikungunya.
Vitamin supplements: Do we really need them?
September 29, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBAre there health benefits to taking vitamin supplements? Cut through the noise and clever marketing, and hear why Professor Rachel Neale’s children won’t go into a pharmacy with her. Rachel is the head of the Cancer Aetiology and Prevention Research Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. She is running Australia’s largest clinical trial, examining the health effects of vitamin D supplements.
Do vitamins really work?
September 29, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBMany people take daily vitamin supplements. But are they necessary and do they really work? BodyLab host Clare Blake chats with QIMR Berghofer's Professor Rachel Neale, who is running one of the world’s largest clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation to find out more about the medical evidence and marketing behind vitamins and supplements, what we know about vitamin D, and the challenges of getting the right balance between vitamin D and sun protection.