17 Minutes of Science

Britt is a postdoc in Erik Jorgensen's lab at the University of Utah after joining in October 2021. The lab studies the molecular basis of synaptic transmission, focusing on the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle fusion and synaptic vesicle regeneration, her research uses C. elegans. Britt earned her PhD in May 2020 from the University of Leeds which focussed on modeling single amino acid variants in the ryanodine receptor in C. elegans.

Jordan Shavit is a professor of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, and the Henry and Mala Dorfman Family Professor at the University of Michigan. Dr. Shavit’s research interests are the genetics of hematologic and cardiovascular diseases, including hemophilia and bleeding disorders, as well as excessive clotting, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis. He has used genome editing to produce mutations in the relevant pathways, with the surprising finding that fish tolerate disturbances that are embryonic lethal in mammals. Dr. Shavit is Vice President/President-Elect of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society, a recent chair of the Megakaryocyte and Platelet Scientific Subcommittee of the American Society of Hematology, and co-chair of the Hematology Research Interest Group of the Zebrafish Disease Models Society.

In Episode 67 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Dr. Gabriel Bossé. Gabriel Bossé is currently a postdoctoral fellow with Randall Peterson at the University of Utah. Prior to joining the Peterson lab, Gabriel did his graduate studies at the University of Laval in Quebec City with Martin Simard, where he studied the regulations of the micro RNA pathways with the nematode C. elegans. After completing his PhD, he was interested in developing novel behavior based assays to study neuronal function and disease modeling. He chose to join the Peterson lab with the hope of combining such assays with unbiased screening approaches such as small molecule screening. Given the ongoing crisis with opioid abuse, he set out to develop the first self administration model using the zebrafish model. This unique assay allows him to study the impact of different small molecules on opioid seeking and to investigate important biological pathways regulating this behavior.

In Episode 66 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Dr. Marius Galyan of Galyan Bio to talk about how he is pioneering the next generation of drug discovery. Dr. Galyan is a trained neurologist with a PhD in molecular oncology from the University of Munich. In his academic career in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, he led CNS clinical trials in Multiple sclerosis with a main focus on cognitive impairment.

In episode 65 of 17 Minutes of Science, we sat down with our very own Dr. Chris Hopkins. Chris is the Chief Scientific Officer here at InVivo Biosystems and is actively involved with customer projects and communications. Chris pioneered the commercialization of C. elegans transgenics at his previous company, Knudra, which he cofounded in 2009. In 2017, Chris joined the InVivo Biosystems team as CSO when Knudra was acquired by InVivo Biosystems (FKA NemaMetrix). As a scientist turned entrepreneur, he now pioneers the application of humanized animal models for discoveries in personalized medicine and natural products. Tune in to this episode to learn more from Chris about his career arc and hear his advice on how to make science your career one you are passionate about - whether it is academia, industry, or entrepreneurship.

Tune in to episode 64 of 17 Minutes of Science as we talk with Dr. Deborah Kurrasch about her recent paper and why she enjoys working with zebrafish so much!

Dr Deborah Kurrasch is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Calgary and a Scientist in the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Dr Kurrasch’s research is focused on characterizing the genetic programs that govern hypothalamic development, and how exposure to environmental chemicals changes these programs, using zebrafish, mice and human brain organoids as model organisms. Her lab has also developed a novel drug screening platform to uncover therapies for children with refractory epilepsy. Her work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Canadian Foundation for Innovation, among other Foundations.

Dr Kurrasch received her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from Purdue University and conducted two postdoctoral fellowships, one at the University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and one at the University of California – San Francisco. Dr Kurrasch has received various awards for her scholarly work and supervision of graduate students, most recently receiving the ASTech Women in Innovation award, 2021.

Tune in to episode 63 as we talk with Alicia McConnell about Camp Zon, a two week research opportunity for high schoolers to get real-life experience working in a research lab. High schoolers get to experience all stages of the research process, from designing their experiment and collecting data to analyzing and presenting their findings. The goal of the program is to encourage more students to pursue STEM carers by getting them a positive and fun lab experience before they've reached college.

Join us for episode 62 of 17 minutes of Science as we talk with Dr. Jagan Srinivasan from Worcester Polytechnic Institute about his recently published paper using C. elegans to identify a sex-specific behavior.

For episode 61 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Zahra Kashi of Kashi Clinical Laboratories. Dr. Kashi joined us first in May of 2020 to talk about how Kashi Clinical Laboratories had responded to COVID by quickly incorporating COVID testing into their lab and becoming one of the largest test providers in Oregon. Now, a year and a half later, Dr. Kashi is joining us once again to talk about what has changed, what hasn't, and looking forward

Join us for episode 60 of 17 Minutes of Science as we talk with Dr. Adam Saunders, one of our own scientists at InVivo Biosystems. Dr. Saunders joins us to talk more about his work with our longevity services, his role in developing the Longevity platform, and why C. elegans make an ideal model for this area of research.

For episode 59 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Clarice Aiello, a quantum engineer interested in how quantum physics informs biology at the nanoscale.

Dr. Aiello is an expert on nanosensors harnessing room-temperature quantum effects in noisy environments. Experiments suggest that nontrivial quantum mechanical effects involving spin might underlie biosensing phenomena as varied as magnetic field detection for animal navigation, metabolic regulation in cells and optimal electron transport in chiral biomolecules. Can spin physics be established – or refuted! – to account for physiologically relevant biosensing, and be manipulated to technological and therapeutic advantage? This is the broad, exciting question that the Quantum Biology Tech (QuBiT) Lab wishes to address.

Tune in to learn more from Dr. Aiello about how quantum physics can inform biology.

For episode 58 of 17 minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Oliver Blacque, an Associate Professor in cell biology and genetics at the University College Dublin.

Dr. Blacque's research focuses primarily on cilia - understanding the molecular basis of their assembly, function, and links to human disease, specifically rare diseases. In his research, Dr. Blacque uses the C. elegans model and believes it is very well suited for his research.

Tune in to episode 58 to learn more about cilia, how thy relate to human disease, and why C. elegans are such an ideal model for this type of research.

Join us for episode 57 of 17 Minutes of Science as we talk with Dr. Pamela Padilla about how scientific societies can build intentional partnerships to reach true diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Pamela Padilla is the current President of SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) in addition to being the Vice President of Research and Innovation (interim), Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and Professor of Biological Sciences at University of North Texas. Dr. Padilla received her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico and conducted her post-doctoral research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle WA. She has an interest in how environmental stress affects living organisms at the cellular, genetic and molecular level. She has experience studying stress with various genetic model systems including C. elegans, yeast, zebrafish, killifish, and mammalian cell culture.

SACNAS is the largest STEM diversity organization in the United States and is dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists – from college students to professionals – to attain advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Founded more than 40 years ago, the society serves nearly 20,000 members with more than 100 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Join us to learn more from Dr. Padilla about SACNAS, intentional partnerships, and how scientific societies can reach true DEI.

For episode 56 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Ahna Skop, a Professor of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to talk about how art and science intersect and why an interdisciplinary approach to the two subjects can be beneficial. 

Ahna Skop is a geneticist, artist, author, and a winner of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Her lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell division during embryonic development using the nematode, C. elegans as a model system. Failures in cell division often lead to birth defects, cancer, and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how cells divide is highly dependent on in vivo microscopy and large amounts of visual data, which dovetails perfectly with one of her other passions, art. 

Dr. Skop grew up surrounded by art – her father, Michael Skop, was a bit of a Renaissance man and was a classically trained fine artist who studied with Mestrovic (a pupil of Rodin) and also taught college-level anatomy. Her father operated an art school at their home studio for over 30 years and attracted artists, musicians, and philosophers from all over the world. Her mother was a high school art educator, ceramicist, and has dabbled in fiber art, sculpture and painting. Her two sisters and brother are also graphic and industrial designers. She has embraced her parents’ love of creativity in everything she does. She majored in biology and ceramics at Syracuse University (1990-1994), where her father had played football and studied with Mestrovic. She received her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994-2000) and conducted her post-doctoral work at UC-Berkeley (2000-2003). 

The combination of scientist and artist inspires Dr. Skop to think differently and maintain an open mind. Some of her work can be seen in the main entrance of the Genetics/Biotechnology Center building on the UW-Madison campus with a 40ft-scientific art piece called “Genetic Reflections”. Genetic Reflections also appears in the title of her most recent book, a first-of-its-kind model organisms coloring book titled "Genetic Reflections: A Coloring Book" which she she published in 2020 with her two talented undergraduates and with some of her students. She has used the book as a tool in her community outreach to inspire and engage with children around the world. 

Dr. Skop has also curated and contributed to a traveling exhibition of scientific art called “TINY: Art from microscopes” from the UW-Madison campus, and she has organized the bi-annual Worm Art Show for the International C. elegans Meeting for over 24 years. 

Dr. Skop is also passionate about increasing the numbers of underrepresented students in STE(A)M fields. In 2016, she was awarded the very first of two, Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence Award for her outreach and inclusive teaching efforts. She has served as a board member for SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) and currently serves on the ASCB (American Association for Cell Biologists) Minority Affairs Committee where she has broadened her impact on underrepresented students in science nationally. Dr. Skop is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and an affiliate faculty member in Life Sciences Communication and the UW-Madison Arts Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She mentors both scientists and art students in her lab, and also serves on the board of the Wisconsin Science Museum, where many of her artscience collaborations are on display.

For episode 55 we talked with John Donoghue, the President of Northwest Mycological Consultants Inc. about mushrooms - about what his company does to support industrial mushroom growth and their potential uses in almost every industry from leather and packaging to meat alternatives and nutraceuticals.

John Donoghue is president of Northwest Mycological Consultants, Inc (NMC), an Oregon-based firm serving the specialty-mushroom industry since 1985. NMC produces top-quality spawn and supplies for the commercial mushroom industry worldwide and has developed a line of automated inoculation equipment and a suite of mushroom cultivation bags specifically for the spawn and specialty –mushroom industries.

John has been instrumental in developing the specialty mushroom industry in the Pacific Northwest and has worked on mushroom-production and research projects around the globe, including in Vietnam, Laos, Bhutan, Colombia, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Argentina, Iceland and Australia. John Donoghue is a coauthor of “The Shiitake Growers Handbook, the Art and Science of Mushroom Cultivation”, a definitive resource for shiitake growers worldwide He has published dozens of scientific research and industry review articles about mushroom cultivation and has given presentations at industry and scientific meetings on most continents. John has a unique perspective of mushroom cultivation based on his far –flung involvement with a diverse array of production systems and research projects.

Tune in to learn more from John about all things mushrooms!

This week's episode was hosted by Dr. Shawn Lockery, the Co-founder & CTO of InVivo Biosystems and a professor of biology at the University of Oregon.

For episode 54 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. David Katz (Associate Professor of Biology at Emory University) and Dr. Karen Schmeichel (Professor of Biology at Oglethorpe University) to talk about the program they have created - The C. elegans Pipeline CURE - to lower institutional barriers and promote underserved and underrepresented students to pursue STEM.

Participation in research provides personal and professional benefits for undergraduates. However, some students face institutional barriers that prevent their entry into research, particularly those from underrepresented groups who may stand to gain the most from research experiences. Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) effectively scale research availability, but many only last for a single semester, which is rarely enough time for a novice to develop proficiency. To address these challenges, Dr. Karen Schmeichel and Dr. David Katz co-founded a nationally recognized 4-year CURE at Oglethorpe University. This unique curriculum is referred to as the C. elegans Pipeline CURE, described for the broader education community in a manuscript in the journal CourseSource (Lee et al. CourseSource 2019). The Pipeline CURE integrates C. elegans epigenetics research being conducted by the Katz lab at the R1 research institution Emory University throughout the biology curriculum at Oglethorpe University, a nearby liberal arts college.

Tune in to learn more from Dr. Katz and Dr. Schmeichel.

For episode 53 of 17 Minutes of Science we sat down with Natalia Zdorovtsova to talk about her research into brain-behavior relationships.

Natalia Zdorovtsova is a cognitive neuroscience PhD student based at the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. She is interested in how brain-behaviour relationships vary on a transdiagnostic basis, and rejects the idea that the complexity of human behaviour is adequately represented by current diagnostic standards. She is also fascinated by complex systems theory, which is why Natalia prefers to apply network models to the study of the brain.

During her PhD, Natalia hopes to understand how differences in brain networks might lead to variation in traits like inattention and hyperactivity. Additionally, she aims to uncover the neural mechanisms underlying hyperfocus, or 'Flow', which is an immersive state of heightened attention.

In her spare time, Natalia is an avid painter. Some of her art is inspired by her work in neuroscience.

Tune in to learn more about Natalia's research

For episode 52 of 17 Minutes of Science we sat down with Dr. Valeria Vásquez from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center to talk about mechanosensitive channels - what are they, why are they important, and how is the Vasquez Lab utilizing C. elegans in their research.

The Vásquez lab aims to understand the functional, structural, and molecular mechanism by which mechanosensitive channels respond to mechanical stimuli and help delineate a general framework for their roles in health and disease. The lab follows two main avenues: 1) in vitro biochemical and biophysical approaches to study protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions of bona fide mechanosensitive channel complexes, and 2) in vivo approaches to characterize mechanosensitive channels in C. elegans having novel physiological roles.

On episode 50 of 17 Minutes of Science we talk live with Dr. Ken Dawson-Scully from Florida Atlantic University about his research into how invertebrates protect their brains from environmental stresses, and how he has moved from academia to entrepreneurship by embracing failures.

Dr. Ken Dawson-Scully is currently a Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University where he also serves in the role of Associate Vice President for STEM Partnerships and the Director of the FAU Max Planck Honors Program. He is also the Head of Institutional Partnerships at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Dr. Dawson-Scully’s research investigates neuroprotection from environmental and artificial cellular stress in the model organisms, the fly D. melanogaster and the worm C. elegans. He currently has funding from the NSF and the NIH and has produced several patents which has led to development of spin off companies like Eco Neuorologics Inc. in 2013 and Neuropharmalogics Inc. in 2015.

Tune in to learn more from Dr. Dawson-Scully about his research.

Join us for episode 49 of 17 Minutes of Science as we sit down with Dr. Tom Caulfield to discuss how he uses machine learning and computer modeling to understand disease biology and model disease gene therapy targets. Dr Caulfield is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mayo, in addition to being a Senior Associate Consultant to over half a dozen groups at the Mayo Clinic, ranging from Cancer to Neurosurgery to Genomics, giving him a wide breadth of experience and areas of expertise.

Dr. Thomas Caulfield has a research background in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, biophysics, computational modeling and in silico drug studies. His long-term focus is on areas related to protein modeling and new drugs, such as structural studies of biomolecular targets, assessment of druggability, drug discovery (hit to lead through optimization) and de novo design.

His current research focuses include:
-Ribosomopathies, frameshifting and quality control mechanisms.
-VUS categorizations.
-SARS-CoV2 multidrug targeting.
-Method, drug and technology. development (quantum-based adaptive docking).
-Collaborative studies.
-Neurodegeneration.
-Dual inhibitors and heterofunctional drugs.
-Cancer collaborations.
-Brain cancers.

Through his accelerated drug discovery and research platform, Dr. Caulfield anticipates that small-molecule modulators for selected targets can be devised to help study the cellular pathways related to these targets. Dr. Cualfield's ultimate goal is to develop novel pharmacological interventions that can prevent and treat diseases with clearly identified macromolecular targets.

Tune in to learn more from Dr. Caulfield.

For episode 47 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr Daniel Starr from University of California Davis. Dr. Starr and his colleague Dr. Grant Luxton were recent recipients of the coveted Allen Distinguished Investigator award. They will be studying the LINC complex and how it connects the cell's nucleus to the cytoplasm of the cell. When this connection is broken, many diseases result, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. The goal is to better understand the normal and abnormal interactions of the proteins involved in this connection.

Tune into this episode to learn more from Dr. Starr about the circumstances of his receiving the Allen award and how it is impacting the way science is done in his lab

Two weeks ago we were joined by Goran Bozinovic, the president and CEO of the Boz Institute to talk about how the Boz Institute is getting high schoolers involved in science and cultivating the next generation of scientists. This week, as a followup, we are joined by Natalie Olander, a high school junior who has participated in the Boz program and credits much of her experience with Boz to her desire to major in STEM and pursue a STEM career after college.

Natalie is a Junior at Veritas School in Newberg, Oregon. She participated in the Boz Institute’s Summer 2020 Research Immersion Program studying aging and protein aggregation related to HFPO-DA stress in C. elegans. Natalie presented her research performed at the Boz Institute in a 3-minute pitch at Oregon Bioscience Association’s annual conference. She is also a co-author on a paper submitted to Scientific Reports looking at child ADHD diagnosis and treatment trends.

Join us as we talk with Natalie about her project and about how working on such a rigorous project while still in high school has shaped her understanding of science and prepared her for college.

For  episode 45 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Goran Bozinovic of the Boz Institute to talk about their immersive research program for high schoolers.

Goran’s research expertise is in developmental and evolutionary biology, toxicology, and genomics. As a full time lecturer, he teaches genetics and biochemistry-related technical laboratory courses at the UCSD Division of Biology and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at SDSU Graduate School of Public Health. Several main themes drive his current research interests including: 

-Individual and natural population genomic responses and adaptive mechanisms to environmental stress during embryogenesis;

-Stress-induced, sex-specific metabolic gene expression in the brain;

-Ecological and human health risk assessment.

Goran’s goal is to help establish a modern and dynamic science research and learning program through the Boz Institute where future leaders ask important questions, collaborate on exciting projects, and innovate life science education.

For episode 44 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Janis Weeks. Janis is a co-founder and chief global health officer at InVivo Biosystems in addition to being a Professor Emerita of Biology at the University of Oregon.

Dr. Weeks is an expert in anthelmintic research, with experience and expertise in technology development for drug screening platforms, including anthelmintic (anti-nematode worm) drugs for human and animal health; nematode neurobiology and genetics; synaptic physiology; neural circuits for behavior; insect neurobiology; tropical infectious and parasitic diseases.

Janis has taught neuroscience in Africa for 25 years, prompting her interest in neglected tropical diseases such as helminth infections. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she began working on parasitic nematodes to complement work in C. elegans. Her current research focuses on new technologies to advance research into anthelmintic drugs for animals & humans.

Dr. Weeks joins us to talk about her recent paper which has been accepted pending minor revisions, Comparison of Electrophysiological and Motility Assays to Study Anthelmintic Effects in C. elegans.

For episode 43 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Ethan Perlstein of Perlara PBC.

Dr. Perlstein is the CEO and founder of Perlara, a company on a mission to accelerate the discovery of cures for rare genetic diseases and uncover underlying mechanisms that enable the development of treatments that work across a range of diseases and individuals.

Ethan has been passionate about Rare Disease for more than a decade. Starting with PhD in Harvard's Stuart Schreiber lab. Then, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Lewis-Sigler Institute at Princeton, Ethan has been championing finding new purpose in old drugs. 19 peer-reviewed has culminated in his involvement in multiple startups, all focusing on Rare Disease. He has become a tireless champion for helping families of Rare Disease to solve their Diagnostic Odyssey and find new drug. His big focus, how to you find the most cost efficiently repurpose old drugs for new use in Rare Disease.

Tune in to episode 43 to learn more about Dr. Perlstein, Perlara, and developing treatment options for rare diseases. 

This week on 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Alex Parker (Assistant Professor at University of Montréal, CHUM Research Center, CSO of Modelis).

Dr. Parker has a broad background in genetics, with specific training and expertise in neuroscience, science of aging and hereditary diseases. He uses the model organism C. elegans to construct simple genetic models of these diseases and then confirms his findings in mice.

Dr. Parker joins us to talk about how he uses multiple models in his research and how this stepwise approach is implemented at Modelis.

For episode 40 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Anne Hart, a neuroscience professor and Chair of Neuroscience at Brown University.

Dr. Hart will be joining us to discuss her research using C. elegans which focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurological disease, sensory signaling, sleep, and fatigue.

On episode 39 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Zoltan Varga, the dirctor of the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) located in Eugene at the University of Oregon.

Zoltan Varga was born and raised in Germany. He attended the University of Basel, Switzerland where he completed his undergraduate studies in Biology II in 1990. After graduating, he worked on his thesis “Development and regeneration of the new-born opossum (Monodelphis domestica) in culture” in the lab of professor J.G. Nicholls at the biocenter at the University of Basel until 1992. In 1992, he began his PhD work in the same lab and published his thesis in 1995: “Regeneration of an immature mammalian central nervous system in culture”. Dr. Varga then moved across the world for his post-cod at the University of Oregon, Institute of Neuroscience, in the lab of Professor Monte Westerfeld studying “Brain development and patterning in Zebrafish“. After completing his post-cod in 1999, Dr. Varga became the Junior Research Group Leader at the University Freiburg, Institute Biology 1, in the Department of Professor Wolfgang Driever, Developmental Biology with the research focus of forebrain patterning and development; Development of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis in zebrafish. He worked there until 2004, at which point he became the director of the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC), Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, again with Monte Westerfeld, which is where he currently works today.

Zoltan will be joining us to talk about how ZIRC was established, and how it has grown to be what it is today. In addition, we will be discussing more about the need for centralized and standardized zebrafish resources. Tune in to learn more!

For episode 38 we are joined by Christian Lawrence (Boston Children's Hospital) to talk about the establishment and growth of zebrafish as a model system, zebrafish husbandry, and the zebrafish industry as a whole.

Christian Lawrence is a fish biologist specializing in the management and husbandry of zebrafish and other small fishes. He has worked in and managed aquaculture research facilities for over twenty years, and currently directs the Aquatic Resources Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, which is home to one of the largest and most active zebrafish research programs in the world. Christian currently serves as a faculty member for the Health and Colony Management of Laboratory Fish course at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and was a Fulbright Specialist at the Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Medicine in Safed, Israel in 2013. He is co-author of The Laboratory Zebrafish, and has written a number of scientific publications on zebrafish biology and culture.

Tune in to learn more from Christian about the zebrafish industry today, how it got to where it is, and where he sees it going!

For episode 37 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Rita Fior, a developmental Biologist fascinated by how cells interact with each other, to deliver instructions, to collaborate, to compete or synchronize their actions.

With the exception of a few biomarker-driven therapies, most patients are treated very similarly, with chemo or radiotherapy and rounds of trial-and-error approaches before finding the best treatment. But, “Cancer is as unique as the person fighting it”, which is why we need to have a personalized approach to cancer treatment. This is where Dr. Fior's Lab comes in. One of their major goals is to develop a test that would help doctors choose the best available therapy for each individual patient, using zebrafish Avatars.

Dr. Fior's Lab also investigates the cellular and molecular interactions that occur between human tumor cells and zebrafish innate immune cells. Innate immune cells are the first line of defense of the organism against infection, damage or any other threats, and are highly present in the tumor ecosystem. These cells can behave as “good cops” (protecting the host against cancer) or as corrupted “bad cops” (helping the tumor). Dr. Fior's goal is to understand these processes and use the zebrafish xenografts to discover new therapies to be combined with immunotherapy.

Tune in to 17 Minutes of Science to learn more from Dr. Fior about her the novel assays she has developed using zebrafish.

For episode 36 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Dr. Raheel Samuel, the cofounder of wFluidx, a startup company formed in 2018 by experts in the fields of medicine, zebrafish, and microfluidics with the mission to accelerate research using zebrafish, and enable novel applications of zebrafish in applied genomics and drug discovery.

Raheel Samuel has over 11 years of experience in developing microfluidic systems for many clients with significant contributions in regard to high-throughput systems for manipulating cells and organisms. His work has benefited groups in both academic and commercial environments; including co-founding two biotech startups, where he still serves in leading R&D efforts. He is one of the co-inventors of ZEG (Zebrafish Embryonic Genotyper) that allows the ability to extract genetic material from live zebrafish embryos while maintaining embryos' viability. Raheel enjoys developing instruments to empower life scientists in making discoveries as quickly as possible. In his spare time, he enjoys, time with his family and friends, biking, reading, cooking, and traveling.

Tune in to learn more from Raheel about his work developing tools for zebrafish.

For episode 35 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Nathaniel "Sandy" Paige, the CEO of Explora BioLabs, to talk about how Explora enables scientific discovery through their support of the biotech industry.

Explora BioLabs is an AAALAC-accredited preclinical contract research organization (CRO) providing industry-leading scientific advantages and rental vivarium facilities to the biotech industry.

In May 2018, Sandy paige joined Explora BioLabs as CEO, where he splits his time between Explora's operations in San Diego and San Francisco. Before joining Explora, Sandy successfully expanded global relationships and distribution for JAX Mice & Clinical Research Services while he was Director of International Sales & Distribution at Sacramento's Jackson Laboratory.

To learn more about Explora BioLabs, Sandy's experience, and how the biotech industry is evolving, listen in!

For episode 34 we are joined by Christine Kressirer, Senior Director, Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand. Christine will be joining us to talk about how Azzur is providing support for every stage of scientific development from discovery to development. Watch the recording to learn more.

For episode 33 of 17 Minutes of Science we are pleased to be joined by Dr. Jeffrey Noebels from the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Noebels uses the mouse model but believes strongly in the benefits of the multiple model approach. His research focuses include gene control of neuronal excitability within the developing mammalian central nervous system, inherited neurological diseases, and epilepsy.

Dr. Noebels will be joins us to talk about his research, focusing on the gene mutations involved in epilepsy and cortical hyperexcitability. Watch the recording to learn more.

For episode 32 of 17 Minutes of Science we are pleased to be joined by Dr. Lin Carson of BAKERpedia. BAKERpedia is the largest technical resource for the commercial baking industry globally with the mission of driving innovation and sustainability in the commercial baking industry.

Dr. Lin Carson is a food scientist who uses math and science everyday to help explain what is really going on when we bake. As the holidays approach, we are all probably going to be spending a bit more time in the kitchen so tune in to 17 Minutes of Science to hear from Dr. Carson herself and learn more about the amazing science behind some of your favorite recipes.

For our 31st episode, we are joined by Dr. Judith Eisen to discuss her career working with zebrafish and helping to establish it as the respected and loved model that it is today.

Judith Eisen works at the University of Oregon Institute of Neuroscience, where she uses zebrafish embryos and a combination of cellular, molecular and genetic approaches to study the way in which neuronal diversity is generated during development. In particular, she is interested in discovering how the correct numbers of cells are specified for specific neuronal fates at particular times and in particular locations.

Watch the recording below or read through the transcript to learn more about the early days of zebrafish research and how Judith has continued to shape the field of zebrafish research tot his day.

For our 30th episode of 17 Minutes of Science, we were joined by Sangeetha Iyer, a senior scientist at Denali Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and others.

Sangeetha has a background in neurodegenerative disorders and rare genetic diseases, and before she joined Denali she was working at Perlara BBC where she also focused her research on finding treatments for rare diseases. Recently, Sangeetha helped to published a paper (Repurposing the aldose reductase inhibitor and diabetic neuropathy drug epalrestat for the congenital disorder of glycosylation PMM2-CDG). The findings from this paper have been used in an n of 1 study that has so far been showing positive results for a young girl.

Sangeetha will be joining us to talk more about her work in the rare disease field, her recent paper, and the benefits of using model organisms for rare disease research.

For episode 27 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Dr. Jennifer Polk, a career coach and expert on PhD careers. Jen will be joining us to discuss alternative careers for PhDs outside of academia, and provide support and insights to those considering transitioning away from academia.

Jen launched her business, From PhD to Life, a career coaching and speaking business, in 2013. She co-founded Beyond the Professoriate in 2014, a business she exited in 2020. Jen writes on graduate education and careers for doctoral-degree holders. She is also a guest speaker on university campuses and at academic and professional conferences throughout North America and beyond. Her University Affairs blog is a three-time gold winner from the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Jen earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto. Follow her on Twitter at @FromPhDtoLife.

Content warning: some profanity. 

For episode 26 of 17 Minutes of Science, we are joined by Dr. Jeremy Levin. Dr Levin is the current chairman and CEO of Ovid Therapeutics, Inc., a company working to bring impactful treatments to patients who have rare neurological conditions. Dr. Levin is also the chairman of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and was named by FierceBiotech in 2018 as one fo the most influential people in biopharma. Additionally, Dr. Levin recently published a book, Biotechnology in the Time of COVID.

Dr. Levin joins us on 17 Minutes of Science to discuss his recent book and to dig a bit deeper into the impact of the current coronavirus pandemic on biotech, biopharma, and clinical trials.

For Episode 23 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dave Bjork. Dave is the director of Community Relations at FRAXA Research Foundation, the Founder of FRAXA Biotech Games, and a Patient Advocate. He has more than 20 years of progressive experience in nonprofit marketing, patient advocacy and fundraising leadership roles including Vice President of Development, National Foundation for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD. In this role, he launched several fundraising programs and became known as the “Cancer Research Evangelist” because of his dedication and commitment to basic scientific research. Bjork has made it his life mission to connect individuals, businesses, academic institutions and other key influencers to forge strong partnerships to focus on research. In his role at FRAXA, he is actively building strong relationships with Fragile X families and the scientific community. He also advocates for the important role patient groups play in working with the biopharma industry. Bjork earned a BS in Economics and Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dave joins us to discuss Fragile X, what it is, progress being made towards a cure, and his work to raise awareness for the disease.

For Episode 24 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Dr. Zachary Pratt. Recently Zach, a high school biology teacher, reached out on Twitter to his fellow scientists about a grassroots effort he's initiating to help provide relatable mentors to his students and to encourage and increase diversity in STEM. Hoping to gather a few responses, Dr. Pratt was blown away by the more than 360 responses he's received so far.

Tune in to listen to our discussion with Dr. Pratt about the inspiration for this project, how it is different than other similar programs, how it is going, and more.

For Episode 24 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Divyanka Gupta. Divyanka is a PharmD graduate working as a regulatory writer at Ora, Inc. In addition to her career, Divyanka helps others write the prescription of their career to live the life that they want through her YouTube Channel, FocusRX.

Tune in to learn more about Divyanka's role as a regulatory writer, how she navigated the job search process amidst the pandemic, and tips she has for other job-hunters pursuing unconventional science careers.

For Episode 22 of 17 Minutes of Science we are joined by Diana Klatt. Diana is an epidemiologist and science communicator. She has worked in non-profits, NGOs, academia, and industry with public health, human rights, healthcare access and policy, and digital health technology. Her work ranges from digging into health data, to creating global health educational programs, to changing health policies, to writing and hosting public health education mini-series. She studied epidemiology at NYU College of Global Public Health, Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, and Biotechnology and Digital Media at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She uses her diverse background and experiences to drive her passions in her work in digital health tech at Nivi, her educational podcast and non-profit organization Global Caveat, and the cultural exchanges and travels she plans with the Monsoon Diaries.

Diana joins us to discuss her role as a sociobehavioral epidemiologist and how even though the term "epidemiology" is generating a lot of buzz right now with COVID-19, not all epidemiologists study infectious diseases.