The Science Of... Podcast

Daniel Sabater, MD

Daniel Sabater, Staff Research Associate from UCSD Morris Cancer Center, shares his diverse roles, including staff research associate, floor manager at a student-run free clinic, and U.S. Army Reserves transport operator. He discusses his journey into research, inspired by his mother's healthcare experiences, and his work on health disparities, particularly in cancer treatment access. Daniel emphasizes the importance of community involvement in research and the potential of AI in improving healthcare outcomes. The episode also highlights the need for equitable access to cancer care and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare disparities.

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Chika Nwachukwu, MD, PhD

Dr. Chika Nwachukwu, a radiation oncologist at UCSD Moores Cancer Center, shared her journey from aspiring doctor in middle school to her current role. She detailed her educational path, including a PhD in breast cancer research and medical school at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Nwachukwu discussed her work in developing training curricula for hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania, emphasizing the importance of educational initiatives in low-resource settings. She highlighted the challenges of bringing advanced cancer treatments to these regions and her current research on vaccine uptake and brachytherapy in low-middle income countries. Dr. Nwachukwu also touched on the future of radiation oncology, including potential advancements in AI and automation.

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Silvia Vicenzi, PhD

Dr. Silvia Vicenzi, a postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego, discussed her journey from Italy to the U.S., highlighting her diverse educational background in biotechnology, molecular medicine, and neuroscience. She shared her research on bone marrow aging and its implications for cancer, using unique mouse models. Dr. Vicenzi emphasized the importance of biomarkers in early disease detection and personalized treatment. She also discussed her passion for mentoring students and her efforts to create a supportive community for postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Vicenzi's work aims to bridge basic biology with clinical applications, focusing on healthy aging and disease prevention.

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Blanca Equiha, MD, MS

The "Science Of Podcast" episode, hosted by students from the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and the Elementary Institute of Science, features Dr. Blanca Equihua from UCSD's Morris Cancer Center. Dr. Equihua discusses her background in medicine and transition to research, focusing on reproductive health and onco-fertility. She highlights the impact of cancer treatments on fertility, the importance of including Spanish-speaking patients in clinical trials, and the challenges faced by underserved communities. Dr. Equihua emphasizes the role of AI in healthcare and the need for universal access to fertility benefits. She encourages young scientists to stay focused and seek mentorship.

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Miguel Reina-Campos, PhD

"The Science Of" podcast episode features Dr. Miguel Reina Campos discussing his journey from Spain to the U.S., focusing on T cells and cancer. Dr. Campos explains the role of tissue-resident memory T cells in fighting diseases, emphasizing their importance in solid tumors. He highlights the impact of hormones like testosterone on immune cell function and the potential of spatial transcriptomics in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Campos also discusses the challenges of studying immune cells in tissues and the future of cancer treatment, including personalized immunotherapies and mRNA vaccination. He advises aspiring scientists to stay resilient. 

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Anshuman Bhanja, PhD

"The Science Of" podcast episode explores biotechnology and immune cell communication with Dr. Anshuman Bhanja from UCSD. Dr. Bhanja discusses his journey from India to the U.S., his switch from engineering to biology, and his research on B cells and T cells. He explains how immune cells communicate using the actin cytoskeleton and the role of
N-WASP. Dr. Bhanja also touches on the challenges of cancer immunotherapy, the potential of AI in molecular biology, and his vision for creating chimeric antigen receptor B cells to combat cancer metastasis. The episode emphasizes curiosity, innovation, and the importance of boldness in scientific research.

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Alexander Wallace, PhD

The "Science of" podcast episode, hosted by students from the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and the Elementary Institute of Science, features Dr. Alexander Wallace, a postdoctoral fellow at UCSD's psychiatry department. Dr. Wallace discusses the impact of substance use on neurodevelopment and aerobic fitness in young adults. He highlights the complexities of substance use, including the misconceptions about users and the effects of substances like cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine on the developing brain. Dr. Wallace also touches on the role of aerobic fitness in brain health and the ABCD study, which aims to understand the factors influencing substance use. The episode concludes with Dr. Wallace sharing his journey and advice for aspiring scientists.OutlineIntroduction to the Science of Podcast Series

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Jacopo Annese, PhD

"The Science Of" Podcast episode features Dr. Jacopo Annese, a neuroscientist who is the CEO and Founder of The Brain Observatory, discussing his work on human brain mapping and preservation. Dr. Annese explains his journey from studying zoology to neuroscience, emphasizing the importance of preserving brain tissue for scientific discovery. He describes the process of brain mapping, which involves slicing and digitizing brain samples, and highlights the variability in brain structures. Dr. Annese also discusses the potential of AI in analyzing brain data and the importance of building a global brain bank for personalized medicine. The episode concludes with Dr. Annese advising aspiring scientists to be resilient and independent.

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Asona Lui, MD, PhD

The Science of Podcast episode features Dr. Asona Lui, an assistant professor in radiation oncology at UCSD Moores Cancer Center, discussing breast cancer and immunology. Dr. Lui specializes in triple-negative breast cancer, which lacks hormone receptors and HER2, making it resistant to standard treatments. She develops mouse models to study the disease and its response to immunotherapy and radiation. Dr. Lui emphasizes the importance of understanding cancer-immune system interactions and the potential of AI and robotic surgery in future healthcare. She advises young scientists to embrace diverse interests and seize opportunities, even if they seem unrelated to their main field.

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Sofia Cardenas-Alcoser, PhD

The "Science of" podcast episode features Dr. Sofia Cardenas-Alcoser from UCSD's Moores Cancer Center discussing her journey from chemistry to biomedical research, focusing on cell signaling and cancer. She explains the complexities of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their role in cancer. Dr. Cardenas-Alcoser highlights a significant discovery linking G protein alpha subunits to immune system infiltration in tumors, potentially leading to new cancer treatments. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and resilience in research and shares her passion for video games and Twitch streaming. The episode also includes a Q&A segment with young listeners.

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David J. Gonzalez, PhD

In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Margaux Stack-Babich from the UCSD Moores Cancer Center sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF MICROBES with Dr. David Gonzalez, an Associate Professor in Pharmacology at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, as the Founder and Director for the Collaborative Center of Multiplexing Proteomics.  Dr. Gonzalez was on this episode joined by his sons, David Jr. and Isaiah, and a lab researcher, Yesenia, an alumna of UC-Riverside.  They discuss the importance of microbes, their roles in human health, and the impact of antibiotics on gut microbiomes. They highlight the potential of proteomics in understanding protein interactions and the need for alternative therapeutics. The conversation also touches on the personal and professional journeys of the participants, emphasizing the importance of education and perseverance in scientific careers.

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Shiri Gur-Cohen, PhD

In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Margaux Stack-Babich sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF STEM CELLS with Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen, a stem cell biologist whose innovative work on lymphatic vascular niche for hair follicle stem cells opened the door to fundamental research areas to advance therapeutics for enhancing tissue regeneration. Dr. Gur-Cohen is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Gur-Cohen’s work with Dr. Elaine Fuchs at The Rockefeller University in New York helped unearth the lymphatic capillary network as a novel stem cell niche component, and her multidisciplinary strategy has advanced our knowledge of how stem cells synchronize and coordinate tissue regeneration. Dr. Gur-Cohen earned her Ph.D. in the Department of Immunology in Dr. Tsvees Lapidot’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and completed her B.A. in molecular biochemistry and M.Sc. in medical sciences at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. 

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Jason Sicklick, MD, FACS

In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Margaux Stack-Babich sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF STEM CELLS with Dr. Jason Sicklick, MD, an internationally recognized surgical oncologist who specializes in treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), abdominal/retroperitoneal sarcomas, and liver tumors (primary and metastatic).  He is co-leader of the UCSD Structural and Functional Genomics Program, co-leader of the Sarcoma Disease Team at UC San Diego Health and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Committee and GIST Subcommittee, which develops best practices for treating these rare and often challenging-to-treat cancers.  A professor of surgery and pharmacology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Sicklick conducts clinical research to improve our understanding of complex cancers, as well as enhance precision medicine approaches for treating metastatic cancers. 

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Matthew Hangauer, PhD

In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Margaux Stack-Babich sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF CANCER CELL SIGNALING with Dr. Matt Hangauer, the Principal Investigator of the Hangauer Lab at UC San Diego as well as an Assistant Professor with the UCSD Department of Dermatology.  The Hangauer Lab explores the biology of cancer persister cells, a prevalent yet poorly understood subpopulation of cancer cells that reversibly enter into a quiescent, pro-survival cell state to survive drug treatments. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms of key events such as drug stress-induced mutagenesis, survival of CD8 T cell attack, and suppression of apoptosis, the Hangauer Lab seeks to identify novel therapeutic targets to prevent acquired resistance.

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Dexter Pratt

In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Jeremiah Bosley sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND BIOLOGY with Dexter Pratt, a self-described "old school AI guy" who is now the Director of Software Development at the Ideker Lab at UCSD School of Medicine. The focus of the Ideker Lab is create artificially intelligent, mechanistic models of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases for translation of patient data to precision diagnosis and treatment.  They seek to advance this goal by addressing fundamental questions in the field such as the genetic and molecular networks that promote disease, the charting of these networks, and  how we use knowledge of these networks in intelligent systems for predicting the effects of genotype on phenotype.  He is also a Director of the NDex Project,  a public website where scientists and organizations can share, store, manipulate, and publish biological network knowledge. 

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Jessica Carrasco, PhD

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Mateo Banegas, PhD, MPH

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Georg Matt, PhD

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Georgia Sadler, PhD

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Grace and Steven

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Natalie Ortuno

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Faith Quenzer, DO, MPH

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Maria Zhivagui, PhD

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Riley James, and Zamira Amanonce, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of CANCER AND NAIL CARE with Dr. Maria Zhivagui, a post-doctoral scholar in cellular and molecular medicine, doing pioneering cancer research, with an overall focus on public health and cancer prevention. Earlier this year, Dr. Zhivagui co-authored a widely quoted research paper on the DNA damage and somatic mutations in mammalian cells after irradiation with a nail polish dryer.

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Jesse Nodora, DrPH

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of cancer prevention and health literacy with Dr. Jesse Nodora, Associate Professor, Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and Community Engagement lead for the Community Outreach and Engagement team at Moores Cancer Center. He received a doctorate of public health (DrPH) from the University Of Texas School Of Public health in 1995 with an emphasis on health promotion. After 10 years of public health practice in state-level tobacco control, he transitioned to cancer prevention research at the Arizona Cancer Center and the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

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Angelique Richardson, MD, PhD

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of communities fighting cancer with Dr. Angelique Richardson, a Physician and Medical Oncologist, as well an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCSD Medical School. She is a renowned expert on the topic of community disparities as it relates to cancer.

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Matt Kritz, PhD

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of human performance with Dr. Matt Kritz, the Senior Athletic Director of Director of Human Performance for UCSD Athletics. And how to humans reach peak performance? Listen in as Dr. Kritz discusses everything from physicality and nutrition to sleep and commitment!

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Christine Zoumas, MS, RD

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of nutrition and cancer with Christine Zoumas, a health sciences clinical instructor in the department of family medicine at UC San Diego, a project manager for the Diet and Physical Activity Shared Resource and program director of the healthy eating program at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Her career has focused on nutrition and cancer research, weight loss and nutrition education for cancer survivors, college and medical students. She is passionate about nutrition and about sharing with others the role that food and lifestyle can play in disease prevention.

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Laura Crotty-Alexander, MD

In this episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down to discuss the science of vaping with Dr. Laura Crotty Alexander, Associate Professor In Residence, Medicine at the UCSD Medical School, a pulmonologist, as well as a globally recognized expert on e-cigarettes, the key area of research of the Crotty Alexander Lab at UCSD.

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Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO

In this very first episode, Jeremiah Bosley, Alivia Rollan, and Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, our student Hosts, sit down with Dr. Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO, a Medical Oncologist and Chief, Division of Hematology / Oncology, and an Associate Director, Translational Science, Moores Cancer Center. Dr. Tayari Howard also joined the episode to lend his expertise!

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