Sustainability: What is it and why should we care?

From Waste to Worth: Rethinking Plastics with NREL's Insights: In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Terri Somers speaks with Kat Knauer, Ph.D., Senior Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Chief Technology Officer of the BOTTLE Consortium. They delve into both the value of plastics and the pervasive issue of plastic pollution and its impact on the environment. Kat shares insights on the role scientific research and industries play in addressing plastic waste and promoting sustainability. Kat’s expertise offers listeners a deeper understanding of the complexities of plastic pollution and the collective effort needed to forge a sustainable future, including: • An overview of some innovative solutions for recycling and the development of new, more sustainable plastics. • The importance of reducing single-use plastics in our daily lives, as well as in research labs and the broader biotech field. • Kat also shines a spotlight on a couple of collaborations wi by Science with a Twist

29 min listen

It’s In Our Genes: The Potential of Gene Therapy with Dr. Peter Marks: In this episode of Science with a Twist, Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the FDA, joins host Dr. Timothy Miller to dive into the complexities and promise of gene therapy. They discuss the potential of gene therapy to revolutionize medicine, narrowing in on the scientific progress made and recent advancements in treating patients and families with Rare Diseases. Dr. Marks shares insights on the FDA's role in ensuring safety and efficacy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between regulatory bodies, researchers, and developers. Efforts related to the profround work of the public/private partnerships funding the Accelerating Medicines Partnerships Bespoke Gene Therapy Consotritum are also highlighted. The conversation also explores the many challenges of bringing the promise of gene therapies to patients, including, cost, accessibility, and ethical cons by Science with a Twist

25 min listen

Decoding Cellular Secrets: Advances in Mass Spectrometry Technology: In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Rosy Lee welcomes Joshua J. Coon, a distinguished professor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and head of Coon Laboratories. They dive into the fascinating world of mass spectrometry and its revolutionary impact on biomedical research. Coon shares his journey from rural Michigan to a leading figure in mass spectrometry, highlighting his passion for both science and instrument building. The conversation shifts to Joshua's groundbreaking work in his lab. He explains how mass spectrometry enables the detailed study of biological systems, from cellular components to complex tissues. Coon's team uses this technology to identify and quantify thousands of molecules, offering deep insights into genetic and lifestyle impacts on molecular behavior in organisms. A significant part of the discussion focuses on how Joshua's research contributes to understanding diseases. By by Science with a Twist

20 min listen

Tackling HIV Drug Resistance: Brazil's Approach and Global Implications: In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Dr. Obiageli Okafor dives into the pressing issue of global health equity in HIV treatment, emphasizing the pivotal role of HIV drug resistance testing. She highlights Brazil's commendable efforts, which include providing free antiretroviral drugs and access to no-cost CD4 and viral load testing. This proactive approach has led to a significant reduction in HIV cases in the country. Guest Dr. Ricardo Diaz, a renowned infectious disease expert from Brazil, shares his insights on the challenges and successes of Brazil's HIV treatment journey. He underscores the emergence of HIV drug resistance and the urgent need for genotype testing to tailor treatments effectively. The discussion further reveals the alarming scale of drug resistance. Despite the strides made, there remains a gap between the number of resistance tests conducted and the actual need, emphasizing the c by Science with a Twist

36 min listen

Powering Everyday Life: The significance and impacts of the semiconductor industry: Semiconductors are silicon chips that conduct electricity in concrete and sophisticated ways, allowing them to be the brains of most devices that drive our modern lives. But despite the projections saying the semiconductor industry will hit the trillion-dollar mark by 2030, it's still facing many challenges. For instance, supply shortages have led to bottlenecks in the production of everything from cars to home appliances. The deficit shows how critical these tiny silicon chips are to the smooth functioning of the global economy. In this episode of Science with a Twist, our host Keith Cornell is joined by two subject matter experts from the semiconductor industry, Geoff Downing and Mark Mattison, to discuss the importance of semiconductors, the challenges the industry has been facing, and what the future holds for this technology. by Science with a Twist

19 min listen

Shaping the Future through STEM Education: The importance of access and equity: In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Meron Mathias engages in a riveting discussion with Maya Ajmera from the Society for Science and Eleanor Sigrest, a previous winner of Society’s middle school STEM competition. The conversation revolves around the critical need for diversity in STEM fields and the role of competitions like the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge in increasing equitable access to high-quality STEM learning experiences. The dialogue delves into the importance of early exposure to STEM learning experiences, particularly during the formative middle school years. Maya and Eleanor emphasize the value of hands-on learning and project-based organizations in cultivating STEM passions. They also highlight the role of afterschool programs and extracurricular activities in nurturing these interests. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of mentorshi by Science with a Twist

28 min listen

Pharmacogenomics: A New Era of Patient-Centric Care: In this Science with a Twist episode, host Jami Elliott engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Jeff Shaman, Chief Scientific Officer at Coriell Life Sciences. They delve into the fascinating world of precision medicine and pharmacogenomics, exploring how these fields are revolutionizing healthcare by tailoring treatments to individual patient characteristics. Jeff illustrates the concept of pharmacogenomics, explaining how it combines pharmacology and genomics to understand how a person's genetic makeup affects their response to medications. This knowledge allows healthcare providers to prescribe the proper medication and dosage, reducing trial and error, improving treatment effectiveness, and minimizing potentially negative side effects. Jeff provides real-world examples, discussing the impact of pharmacogenomics on medications like Clopidogrel and statins. The conversation concludes with a look toward the future, disc by Science with a Twist

21 min listen

Forever Chemicals: The effects of PFAS and how to protect against it: Water is the source of life. Still, we live in a world where some people have limited access to drinking water, and let’s not forget the horror stories about oil or chemical spills that raise additional concerns regarding the state of our water systems. This episode of Science with a Twist is dedicated to the importance of testing water for PFAS. Our guest is Dr. Lee Ferguson, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University. Dr. Ferguson and host John Lesica discuss the impact of PFAS on our water supplies, what it means for us as consumers, and how testing can benefit communities now and in the future. by Science with a Twist

25 min listen

Green Chemistry: Designing for a Sustainable Future: We are keenly aware of the pressing need to care for our environment and the incredible potential of innovation to drive positive change. Green chemistry plays a pivotal role in sustainability by promoting environmentally benign and socially responsible chemical processes and products. It's all about reducing pollution and conserving precious resources in ways that benefit both the planet and our communities. In this episode of the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Vinod Mirchandani welcomes John Warner, the co-founder, president, and CTO of the Warner-Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, and co-founder of the non-profit, Beyond Benign. They talk about the role of green chemistry in sustainability, the importance of education, and why we need the right tools to build a world where the chemical building blocks of products used every day are healthier and safer for humans and the environment. by Science with a Twist

28 min listen

Delivering on the promise of cell therapies: Programmed immune cells attack cancer and other diseases: Cell therapy is a promising field that uses living cells to treat disease. And it's a powerful way to improve the immune system's ability to fight cancer. But cell therapies have other potential medical applications, such as treating autoimmune diseases, cardiac or pulmonary fibrosis, and infectious diseases. In this episode of the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Rupa Pike welcomes Dr. Wendell Lim, Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco. They discuss cell therapies, why they are so powerful and promising, and the biggest challenges in the field. by Science with a Twist

23 min listen

Disrupting the Status Quo: The Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials: We live in an increasingly diverse world, and in order to deliver the best quality healthcare, we need to embrace and improve patient diversity in clinical trials. But how do we improve clinical research and expand treatment access to a more diverse patient population? In the second and final episode of our Clinical Research Series on the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Lloryn Hubbard welcomes Nik Kolatkar, VP of Scientific Operations & Evidence Generation at Genentech. They discuss the impact of inclusive research on drug development and decentralized and virtual study approaches that can reduce barriers and improve clinical trial participation for disenfranchised groups. by Science with a Twist

24 min listen

Putting Patients First: The Benefits of Decentralized Clinical Trials: Clinical trials are essential for the discovery of new treatments and support the development of new life-saving drugs and medical devices that can benefit millions worldwide. But one of the greatest challenges in clinical research is the lack of representation. We kick off our two-episode Clinical Research Series on the Science with a Twist podcast, as our host John Manns welcomes guests Tim Rich and Thad Wolfram. Tim is the VP of Digital and Decentralized Services for the PPD clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thad is the president of EmVenio Research. They talk about the benefits of decentralized trials, the importance of improving representation in clinical research, and different ways to make trials more patient-centric. by Science with a Twist

26 min listen

No One Missed: Empowering Lung Cancer Patients with Biomarker Insights: Biomarker testing for targeted therapies is a game changer for lung cancer, and it ensures that patients get the proper treatment at the right time. But how do we make it accessible to all patients, regardless of race or ethnicity? In this episode of the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Jeff Smith welcomes Dr. Upal Basu Roy, the executive director of Research at LUNGevity. They talk about the importance of diversity in the oncology workforce, why it's essential to be more inclusive, and the critical role of biomarkers and targeted therapies for lung cancer patients. by Science with a Twist

29 min listen

Saved Time Saves Lives: The Impact of Rapid Turnaround Time for Cancer Patients: In this Science with a Twist episode, our host Kathy Davy is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Scott, the chief medical officer and president of population health solutions at Integra Connect. Dr. Scott's team is on a mission to help specialty care organizations – from providers and health systems to payers and life sciences companies become clinically and financially successful with value-based precision medicine. As part of this mission, Integra Connect and Thermo Fisher recently collaborated on research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, the world's leading oncology conference. This episode is dedicated to sharing the details of this research and the impact new approaches to genomic testing can have on cancer patient outcomes. by Science with a Twist

19 min listen

Freezing Cancer: How Cryo-EM is advancing oncology research: Cryo-electron microscopy, or cryo-EM, is a powerful structural analysis method. It's being used to help researchers better understand cancer and see how biomolecules move and interact in the body. But Penn State's cryo-EM technique is one of a kind. In this episode of the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Kathy Davy welcomes Deb Kelly, the director of the Center for Structural Oncology at Penn State University. They talk about Professor Kelly's approach to cancer research, how it's helping researchers better understand breast cancer, and the immense value of cryo-EM in outsmarting cancer. by Science with a Twist

22 min listen

One Health: How human, environmental, and animal health intersect: Genomics, or the field of microbiology devoted to studying genomes, has the potential to help us diagnose and more precisely target disease; but we can also use genomics to understand the biological link between the environment, humans, and animals. In this episode of the Science with a Twist podcast, our host Candia Brown welcomes Luther King Abia Akebe, Associate Professor of Applied & Environmental Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. They talk about the concept of One Health and how human, environmental, and animal health intersect. by Science with a Twist

29 min listen

Behind the MoonArk: How a Team of Artists Embraced Science to Send a Time Capsule to the Moon by Science with a Twist

21 min listen

Uncovering the Past: How Jewish Holocaust victims were discovered at a death camp in Sobibór by Science with a Twist

20 min listen

Virus Variants Explained: Why COVID-19 Variants Arise by Science with a Twist

29 min listen

COVID In the Air? How a new in-air pathogen surveillance solution was used in some Wisconsin schools to detect airborne coronavirus particles: In 2020, we had hoped that 2021 would signify the end of the coronavirus. But, here we are, in 2022, and the pandemic is still going on. Fortunately, things do seem to be getting back to normal, but we still have a long way to go before we can say that coronavirus is over. Therefore, new technology to help fight the virus is becoming increasingly important. In this episode of Science with a Twist, Miguel Faustino and Michelle Jensen join our host, Ron O'Brien to discuss the AerosolSense Sampler, a solution designed to detect the presence of coronavirus in the air. Miguel is the President of the Chemical Analysis Business at Thermo Fisher Scientific, which developed the AerosolSense sampler. Michelle is the District Administrator for Deerfield Community School District, and the schools she manages are part of a pilot project using the dev by Science with a Twist

32 min listen

Patient Perspectives: CAR-T Cell Therapy: On this episode of Science With a Twist, Ron O’Brien interviews Matthew Moon, a CAR-T cell therapy recipient who was able to beat leukemia thanks to the advances in the field. Matthew and Ron discuss the timeline of health-related events that led to Matthew’s diagnosis and his unique journey to find a life-saving cell therapy clinical trial. After speaking with Matthew, Ron interviews Stephen Majors, Director of Public Affairs at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. Stephen gives Ron an overview of the Alliance’s advocacy efforts to expand patient accessibility and their initiatives to fund cell therapy research. by Science with a Twist

22 min listen

COVID-19: Why We Need to Continue Testing: Manoj Gandhi, Sr. Medical Director at Thermo Fisher Scientific, interviews Dr. Stephen Morse, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University. Manoj and Stephen address the doubts expressed by the general public regarding testing for COVID-19 and the need for continued testing even as vaccination rates continue to increase. by Science with a Twist

28 min listen

Breath Biopsy: Non-invasive analysis of biomarkers in early detection and precision medicine: Billy Boyle, CEO of Owlstone Medical, sits down with Ron O'Brien to talk about breath biopsy. This technology provides an entirely new way to access this information by collecting and analyzing breath samples. by Science with a Twist

17 min listen

The Just Project: Facilitating the Safe Reopening of HBCUs: Social and economic inequality has made minority communities more prone to contracting SARS-COV-2; the virus that causes COVID-19. One of those severely affected is the black community in the United States. On this episode of Science With a Twist, Fred Lowery, Senior Vice President and President of Life Sciences Solutions and Laboratory Products at Thermo Fisher Scientific, interviews Dr. James Hildreth, American immunologist and academic administrator. Fred and James discuss the “Just Project”, a multipronged effort to help address the coronavirus crisis, which has disproportionately impacted communities of color. by Science with a Twist

23 min listen

Twindemic: How the Seasonal Flu Collides with the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ron O'Brien speaks with Dr. Stephen Young, an expert in Microbiology, with a background in pathology, virology, and infectious diseases. They discuss what we should know during the potential viral storm produced by the collision of the seasonal flu and the COVID-19 pandemic. by Science with a Twist

22 min listen

Reinventing Plastics: Paolo Braiuca interviews Dr. Frank Leibfarth from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Frank talks about his group's exciting work in polymer chemistry as well as topics related to his collegiate football career and the challenges of managing an academic lab in the era of COVID-19. by Science with a Twist

21 min listen

Chemistry of Human Milk: On this episode of Science With a Twist, Paolo Braiuca interviews Dr. Steven Townsend. Through his research, Steven is trying to demystify the science of human milk. His work on human milk oligosaccharides, carbohydrates whose molecules are composed of a relatively small number of monosaccharide units, won him the consideration for the American Chemical Society Talented 12 program in 2019. by Science with a Twist

20 min listen

COVID-19: Insights on Vaccine Development: Ron O’Brien speaks with Mary Kay Bates, Senior Cell Culture Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Mary gives us an inside look into the complex world of vaccine development and why developing one for COVID-19 has been so different. You can listen here or on your favorite podcast platform. by Science with a Twist

18 min listen

World Water Day: The importance of (clean) water and conservation: Water is everywhere, but accessible drinking water is not. In celebration of World Water Day (March 22), we’re tackling the importance of water preservation and why improving global access to clean water matters now. by Science with a Twist

25 min listen

Seeding Labs: Empowering Scientists Around the Globe: Instrumental Access is enabling scientists around the world to make life-changing discoveries. Listen to hear how Seeding Labs, a nonprofit partner of Thermo Fisher, is providing the tools and training needed for researchers in developing countries to make the greatest global impact. by Science with a Twist

22 min listen

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Sustainability: What is it and why should we care?

Sustainability: What is it and why should we care?

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