Breakthroughs
137 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsBreakthroughs is a podcast about groundbreaking research and the scientists leading these discoveries at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We are driven by our mission to transform the practice of medicine and profoundly impact human health beyond the individual patient. We believe better answers only come from discovery.
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Episodes
Driving Innovations in Biostatistics with Denise Scholtens, PhD
April 22, 2024 16:43 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is home to a team of premier faculty and staff biostatisticians who are a driving force of data analytic innovation and excellence. In this episode, Denise Scholtens, PhD, a leader in biostatistics at Feinberg, discusses the growing importance of the field of biostatistics and how she leverages her skills to collaborate on several projects in Maternal and Fetal Health.
Leading Pediatric Obesity Research with Justin Ryder, PhD
April 05, 2024 18:44 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBNorthwestern Medicine scientists are at the forefront of research investigating the most effective ways of treating obesity in children and teens and improving their access to care. In this episode, Justin Ryder, PhD, a clinical and translational obesity scientist at Feinberg, talks about the use of new GLP-1–based medications for childhood obesity and his work on several NIH-funded projects focused on understanding how pediatric obesity impacts chronic disease risk and how biology drives ...
Discovering New ALS Therapeutic Avenues with Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD
March 25, 2024 15:25 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBAn estimated 32,000 Americans are currently living with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Northwestern investigators have uncovered novel cellular mechanisms involved in two types of genetic ALS that might lead to future targeted therapies. Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD, shares insights on these findings recently published in Science Advances and Cell Reports.
Pursuing Deeper Understanding of Inflammation with Murali Prakriya, PhD
March 11, 2024 15:15 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBInflammation is a common feature of many diseases and Northwestern Medicine investigators have identified how a calcium channel contributes to inflammation in the brain and lungs. This could aid in finding new types of therapeutics for inflammation-related diseases and conditions. In this episode, Murali Prakriya, PhD, discusses the evolution of this groundbreaking research in ion channels as well as his latest findings published in Nature Communications.
Partnering with Libraries to Address Teen Mental Health with Ashley Knapp, PhD, and Robert Simmons, MA
February 26, 2024 17:29 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBTeens are reporting struggles with their mental health at unprecedented rates, but resources to help these young people deal with anxiety or depression can be difficult to access. In this episode, Ashley Knapp, PhD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Robert Simmons, MA, director of social services and public safety at Oak Park Public Library, discuss an innovative community partnership between Northwestern Medicine investigators and a Chicagoland library and ho...
Engineering Bacteria to Monitor and Treat Disease with Arthur Prindle, PhD
February 12, 2024 19:51 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBThanks to advancements in synthetic biology, scientists are now engineering bacterial communities with the goal of using these cells to monitor and treat diseases. In this episode, Arthur Prindle, PhD, explains how his lab is reprogramming bacteria that may be used in the future to detect disease and deliver therapeutics for many different conditions, including cancer, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.
Strengthening T-Cell Therapy for Solid Tumor Cancers with Jaehyuk Choi, MD, PhD
February 07, 2024 16:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBA new study published in the journal Nature details breakthrough T-cell immunotherapy research from Northwestern Medicine. In this episode, Jaehyuk Choi, MD, PhD, senior author of the paper, explains how a gene mutation found in T-cells of patients with lymphoma could hold the key to a potent cancer-fighting immunotherapy for solid tumor cancers, which account for 90 percent of all cancers.
New Insights into Dopamine with Raj Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD
December 01, 2023 18:59 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBWhen most of us think about dopamine, we think about reward signals. But new research from Northwestern Medicine, published in Nature Neuroscience, has found a genetic subtype of dopamine neurons that do not respond to rewards at all, and instead, fire when the body moves. Rajeshwar Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD led this work. In this episode they explain how the results could change the field of dopamine research
The Evolution of the NIH Toolbox with Richard Gershon, PhD
November 13, 2023 21:15 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBAs the primary investigator of The NIH Toolbox®, Richard Gershon, PhD, has led a team of hundreds of scientists to develop and evolve state-of-the-art digital assessments of cognition, motor, sensation and emotion which has been used by clinicians, investigators and academics for nearly two decades. In this episode, Gershon explains how the third version of The NIH Toolbox® app developed for the iPad, provides test batteries for cognition, motor, emotional and sensory functioning.
How Mitochondria Inform Disease Discoveries with Navdeep Chandel, PhD
October 30, 2023 15:29 - 25 minutes - 23 MBMitochondria are widely known as cellular “powerhouses” for their role in producing energy for cells. But pioneering research from Northwestern Medicine investigators over the last 20 years has proven mitochondria are also major players in lung disease, cancer, brain disease and immune-related diseases. Navdeep Chandel, PhD, a 2023 recipient of the Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, leads this research. In this episode he discusses how...
Advancing Transplant Science with Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH
October 16, 2023 15:11 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBNorthwestern Medicine is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients who are in need of organ transplants. Daniela Ladner, MD, MPH, is leading research that sheds light on the barriers to transplantation as the founding director of the Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC). She discusses the groundbreaking research that makes Northwestern a leader in organ transplantation.
How Drinking Alcohol Impacts Aging with Lifang Hou, MD, PhD
October 02, 2023 18:44 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBBoth long-term alcohol consumption and binge drinking can speed up biological aging, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Aging. Lifang Hou, MD, PhD, chief of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention in the Department of Preventive Medicine led the study and discusses the link between genetics and lifestyle in the context of preventing disease.
How AI Can Improve Healthcare Delivery with Mozzi Etemadi, MD, PhD
September 18, 2023 15:49 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBMozziyar “Mozzi” Etemadi, MD, PhD, is supporting the transformation of healthcare delivery and patient care at Northwestern Medicine by bringing engineers into direct contact with clinical providers. In this episode, he talks about the explosion of artificial intelligence in healthcare in recent years and how Northwestern Medicine is using this technology to improve healthcare delivery and patient care.
Predicting Which Cancer Cells May Become Drug-Resistant with Yogesh Goyal, PhD
July 19, 2023 15:02 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBTreating cancer has become increasingly difficult as cells develop resistance. Northwestern investigators have sought to address this issue on the cellular level through the development of a novel FateMap tool, used to predict the future behavior of cancer cells before they are exposed to cancer-fighting drugs. In this episode, Yogesh Goyal, PhD, discusses his latest research, published in Nature, and how his lab is addressing complex problems through an interdisciplinary approach.
New Institute Advances Lung Disease Research and Clinical Care with Scott Budinger, MD
June 20, 2023 14:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThe launch of the Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science (SQLIFTS) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine aims to expedite the discovery and implementation of innovative lung disease treatments through a patient-centered approach. In this episode, Scott Budinger, MD, the new executive director of the institute, discusses its launch and how it aims to transform lung disease research and clinical care.
Understanding Genetic Factors in Parkinson's Disease with Steven Lubbe, PhD
June 05, 2023 14:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBThe global prevalence of Parkinson's disease has doubled in the past 25 years. While research into this extremely diverse neurodegenerative disorder is very active, there is much left to be uncovered about the underlying cause of the disease. Recently, Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered novel genetic factors contributing to the risk of Parkinson's disease, which may lead to potential therapeutic targets. Steven Lubbe, PhD, assistant professor of Neurology at Feinberg, discus...
Why Late-Night Eating is Linked to Weight Gain and Diabetes with Joseph Bass, MD, PhD
May 15, 2023 14:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBDisrupting our internal clocks can lead to diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Scientists at Northwestern have uncovered the mechanism behind why late-night eating is linked to weight gain and diabetes. Joseph Bass, MD, PhD, led the study published in the journal Science. He shares the results and details the two decades of work leading to this latest discovery. Bass is chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine in the Department of Medicine.
Rewind: A Promising Obesity Drug with Robert Kushner, MD
May 01, 2023 15:28 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBThis episode was released in February 2021, and is being re-shared to offer the research behind the popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Northwestern's Robert Kushner, MD, discusses the drug semaglutide, typically prescribed for treatment of Type 2 diabetes and the results of the phase 3 clinical trial as a treatment for obesity with very promising results. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and in 2022, Kushner was awarded the prestigious Herbert Parde...
Improving Exercise Habits for Breast Cancer Survivors with Siobhan Phillips, PhD, MPH
April 17, 2023 14:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBThere's strong evidence that physical activity can play an important role in the health and lifespan of cancer survivors. Siobhan Phillips, PhD, MPH, leads the Exercise and Health Lab at Feinberg, which designs, tests, implements and disseminates physical activity interventions to support cancer survivors. In this episode, Phillips details interventions specifically designed for breast cancer survivors, a majority of whom don't meet the recommended standards for weekly physical activity.
Advancing Skin Cell Biology with Kathleen Green, PhD
April 03, 2023 14:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBSkin diseases from psoriasis to melanoma affect as many as one in three Americans at any given time. Kathleen Green, PhD, has greatly advanced basic molecular research related to skin diseases. She discusses recent discoveries in her lab that could lead to future therapeutic targets.
Rewind: How to Stop Antibiotic Misuse with Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH
March 20, 2023 14:18 - 21 minutes - 30.1 MBPhysicians are notorious for prescribing antibiotics as a "quick fix" when they aren't necessary. There are many reasons why, and Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH, dives into those and discusses effective ways to reduce the number of inappropriate prescriptions by working with physicians. Originally released in fall 2018, this episode is still timely as the over prescription can lead to dangerous side effects for patients including antibiotic resistance.
Can ChatGPT Support Biomedical Research? with Catherine Gao, MD and Yuan Luo, PhD
March 06, 2023 15:12 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBNorthwestern scientists Yuan Luo, PhD, and Catherine Gao, MD, discuss a study they conducted using the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. The results showcase the online tool's ability to produce convincing medical research abstracts. They also discuss the tool’s potential to help with writing-intensive tasks in healthcare and medical research.
How the Brain Regulates Aggressive Behavior with Ann Kennedy, PhD
February 20, 2023 15:31 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBA theoretical neuroscientist, Ann Kennedy, PhD, is investigating neural computation and the structure of behavior. In this episode, she talks about her recent research in the area of aggression and how it's regulated in the brains of animals. She was recently named the winner of the 2022 Eppendorf and Science Prize for Neurobiology.
Rewind: Can Exercise Slow Parkinson's Disease Progression? with Daniel Corcos, PhD
February 06, 2023 15:55 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBParkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, and nearly one million people have Parkinson's disease in the U.S. A $30 million dollar, phase 3 clinical trial at Northwestern is investigating whether exercise can slow Parkinson's disease progression. Daniel Corcos, PhD, a professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, is leading the trial and explains what he hopes to accomplish. Interested in the study? Learn more: https://www.feinberg.northwestern...
A New Focus on Implementation Science with Sara Becker, PhD, and Rinad Beidas, PhD
January 23, 2023 16:13 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBTo have the greatest impact on human health, biomedical research findings and evidence-based practices need to be implemented into routine healthcare. What is implementation science, and how can we ensure research successfully makes an impact? Rinad Beidas, PhD, and Sara Becker, PhD, discuss the field and its future as a research priority at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Rewind: Why are Food Allergies on the Rise? with Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH
January 17, 2023 15:31 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBThere’s been an uptick in childhood food allergies in recent years, and new evidence from Northwestern shows they’re also becoming more common in adults. Many of the reactions to these allergies are life-threatening. Why is this increase happening, and how can we keep people affected by food allergy safe? Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, is trying to answer those questions. This a rewind episode that originally was published in 2019.
The Science Behind Culinary Medicine with Melinda Ring, MD
December 19, 2022 13:11 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBA Northwestern Medicine course called Cooking Up Health is giving medical students, trainees and health professionals the opportunity to learn culinary medicine and food-as-medicine science concepts. Melinda Ring, MD, created the course and explains how it can improve the health of patients and train more nutrition-aware physicians.
Identifying How Genes Function to Better Understand Cancer with Mazhar Adli, PhD
December 05, 2022 21:50 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBUnderstanding how genes function is a vital part of understanding how to better treat cancer. Research led by Mazhar Adli, PhD, is grounded in the development of a systematic approach to identify the function of each gene in the human body. His team aims to discover novel therapeutic drug combinations to prevent cancer development and chemotherapy resistance.
The Long-term Impact of Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents with Thomas Inge, MD, PhD
November 21, 2022 23:07 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBBariatric surgery is proving to be an effective tool to help teenagers with severe obesity lose weight and reverse the progression of weight-related conditions, according to findings from the Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery study (Teen-LABS). Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, principal investigator of Teen-LABS, shares results of the study, which is the only multicenter National Institute of Health sponsored research on adolescent bariatric surgery.
The Role of Dopamine in Habit Formation and Compulsive Behavior with Talia Lerner, PhD
November 01, 2022 13:59 - 23 minutes - 26.4 MBHow are habits – both good and bad – formed in the brain, and what role do habits play in diseases of the brain? These are some of the questions neuroscientist, Talia Lerner, PhD, is investigating in her lab. Her recent study, published in Cell Reports, may change the overall understanding of how habits are formed and could be broken.
Understanding the Immune System with Stephanie Eisenbarth, MD, PhD
October 17, 2022 14:14 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBUniting scientists and harnessing the power of the immune system to fight disease is at the heart of the new Center for Human Immunobiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Stephanie Eisenbarth, MD, PhD is leading the new center, she is also the new chief of Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Medicine. She discusses the variety of immunology research taking place within the new center and its goal of bringing a community of immunologists together to d...
Improving Health Outcomes Through Big Data with Theresa Walunas, PhD
October 03, 2022 14:42 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBIn recent years, Feinberg has launched several initiatives to augment human expertise with computational methods and advance the science of human health. Theresa Walunas, PhD, explains how she is using big data from electronic medical records in a variety of projects at Feinberg, from improving quality of care to identifying patients who could develop debilitating autoimmune diseases.
Identifying the Mechanisms of Seeing Color with Jeremy Nathans, MD, PhD
September 19, 2022 14:41 - 20 minutes - 23.5 MBA celebrated molecular neuroscientist, Jeremy Nathans, MD, PhD, is responsible for landmark discoveries that have changed our understanding of how humans see the world. He is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The Role of Iron in Cardiovascular Disease with Hossein Ardehali, MD, PhD
September 02, 2022 14:47 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death globally, and nearly half of all U.S. adults are currently at risk for heart attack and stroke. Hossein Ardehali, MD, PhD, is working to understand the role of iron and metabolic processes in cardiovascular disease and develop new therapies that target iron accumulation in people with CVD and many other chronic diseases.
Investigating Therapies for Genetic Epilepsy with Alfred George, Jr., MD
August 12, 2022 14:24 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBAlfred George, Jr., MD, is a pioneer in understanding the mechanisms by which ion channel mutations cause a variety of inherited disorders, such as genetic epilepsy. He discusses his recent breakthroughs in the field and his optimism for future RNA therapeutics to treat rare genetic diseases.
Cell-Based Treatments to Fight Diseases with Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD
July 29, 2022 15:00 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBCell and Developmental Biology is a field that's integral to finding new therapies for a wide variety of diseases. At Feinberg, Lusia Iruela-Arispe, PhD, a vascular biologist, leads the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology as chair. In this episode, talks about her research and the future of cell-based treatments for diseases.
Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care for Young Adults with Robert Garofalo, MD
June 14, 2022 15:36 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBProviding evidence-based medical care to transgender and gender nonconforming youth has been a challenge in the past, as trans-related healthcare has long been understudied. Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH, discusses how gender-affirming care can improve the overall health and well-being of transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents. He also discusses his research on the short-term and long-term outcomes of gender-affirming medical treatments.
Lessons Learned from COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS Pandemics with Richard D'Aquila, MD
June 07, 2022 15:09 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBThe past two years have been a crucial time for the study of infectious diseases. Richard D’Aquila, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern and director of NUCATS, discusses how HIV/AIDS research is running parallel to ongoing COVID-19 research with interesting crossover and lessons learned.
New Approaches for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction with Sanjiv Shah, MD
May 24, 2022 20:15 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBNearly half of all patients with heart failure have preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF, yet there is much that is unknown about HFpEF and how to best prevent it and treat it. Northwestern Medicine cardiologist, Sanjiv Shah, MD, leads the world's first clinical program dedicated to the study of heart failure with HFpEF. He discusses latest discoveries on the mechanisms of HFpEF and identifying therapeutic targets for it.
Music-Based Medical Interventions with Borna Bonakdarpour, MD
May 10, 2022 16:44 - 16 minutes - 19.4 MBMusic-based medical interventions can have remarkable therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Aphasia. Cognitive Behavioral Neurologist Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, explains how he is using and studying these clinical interventions through the new Northwestern Music and Medicine Program.
Life-Changing Gene Therapy for Beta-Thalassemia Patients with Jennifer Schneiderman, MD
April 25, 2022 18:34 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBA novel gene therapy promoted transfusion independence in more than 90 percent of adult and pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Study co-author Jennifer Schneiderman, MD, discusses results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Pet Dogs Advance Glioblastoma Research with Amy Heimberger, MD
April 05, 2022 16:27 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBMan's best friend is helping scientists find new treatments for brain tumors. Amy Heimberger, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon with extensive training and experience in the field of immunology. She is part of a promising new study in canine glioblastoma that could lead to more effective human glioblastoma clinical trials.
Advancing Mental Health Research, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern with Sachin Patel, MD, PhD
March 29, 2022 14:51 - 17 minutes - 20.3 MBSachin Patel, MD, PhD, is the new chair and Lizzie Gilman Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Feinberg and psychiatrist-in-chief at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Norman and Ida Stone Institute of Psychiatry. In this episode, he talks about the current mental health crisis in this country, his research and vision for the department.
Supporting Frontline Gun Violence Workers with Judith Moskowitz, PhD
March 21, 2022 05:15 - 19 minutes - 22.5 MBAccording to the CDC, more Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other year on record. Judith Moskowitz, a social psychologist and professor of Medical Social Sciences at Feinberg, talks about how her NIH-funded research and intervention programs will be used to address stress and burnout in Chicago’s front-line violence prevention workers through the READI Chicago program.
Lewy Body Dementias and the Immune System with David Gate, PhD
February 21, 2022 14:41 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBDavid Gate, PhD, assistant professor of The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, discusses his study on the detrimental role the immune system plays in Lewy body dementias. Gate’s new research published in Science suggests pathways toward unprecedented treatment therapies for this devastating disease.
Declining Heart Health in Most Pregnant Women with Sadiya Khan, MD and Natalie Cameron, MD
February 14, 2022 15:20 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. and according to a new Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Circulation, about sixty percent of women in the U.S. have poor heart health before becoming pregnant. Study authors Sadiya Khan, MD and Natalie Cameron, MD, explain the results of the study and what needs to be done to reverse this alarming trend.
Experimental Strategies in Organ Transplantation with Satish Nadig, MD, PhD
February 01, 2022 15:55 - 16 minutes - 9.67 MBIn response to the first successful animal heart transplant into a human patient, internationally renowned transplant surgeon Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, reviews some of the scientific developments that have culminated in this moment, and stresses the ongoing need for other experimental strategies. Dr. Nadig is also the new director of Feinberg's Comprehensive Transplant Center.
A Vaccine Pathway for Herpes Virus with Gregory Smith, PhD
January 24, 2022 12:05 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBGregory Smith, professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Feinberg, has been investigating a path to long-needed vaccine development for herpes virus. He recently published findings in the journal Nature that bring the possibility of a preventive vaccine a step closer.
Leading Family & Community Medicine at Northwestern with Deborah Smith Clements, MD
January 04, 2022 20:08 - 17 minutes - 18.6 MBSince coming to Northwestern in 2013, Deborah Smith Clements, MD, chair of Family & Community Medicine, has established three thriving family medicine residency programs and has been an advocate for improving the residency match process, health policy and social justice. She talks about her work, leading her department through COVID-19 and her recent Distinguished Service Award from Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.
Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma with Adam Sonabend, MD
December 20, 2021 14:00 - 18 minutes - 10.9 MBImmunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment over the last few decades, though not for glioblastoma — the most common and deadly malignant brain tumor. However, Northwestern Medicine neurosurgeon Adam Sonabend, MD, shares promising research on the potential benefits of immunotherapy for certain glioblastoma patients.