Dr. Ed Ramos is director of Digital Clinical Trials for the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center. Listen as we talk about empowering the individual with wearable health devices, the worst foods for spiking our blood sugar and the importance of lifelong flexibility.

Show notes:

PROGRESS study enrollment
https://progress.scripps.edu/ 

PROGRESS study explainer video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUdaMojHLuk&t=74s 

Ed’s bio
https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/translational-institute/about/people/ed-ramos/

Scripps Research Digital Trials Center
https://digitaltrials.scripps.edu/

Episode 25 - Ed Ramos: Reversing diabetes with personalized nutrition

Peer into the future of healthy aging. In this episode (the first of a 5-part series), we shed new light on how our cells and organs work together to influence longevity, and how newly discovered molecules may be able to block biological degeneration.

This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine.

Show notes:

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 26 – Cellular secrets to a longer life: Scripps Research Magazine

In the second of this series on healthy aging, we reveal how Scripps Research scientists are developing interventions to remove stiff, achy joints from the aging equation.

This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine.

Show notes:

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 27 – Overcoming arthritis: Scripps Research Magazine

The fourth segment of our series on healthy aging. We take a look at how breakthroughs in chemistry have enabled the rational design of therapies that can stop or slow complex diseases of the heart and nervous system.

This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine.

Show notes:

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 29 – Precision therapies for age-related diseases: Scripps Research Magazine

The fifth and final episode in our healthy aging series. We discover what happens inside the cell with age and how new chemical tools are leading us towards ways of repairing the damage and preserving our youth.

This article is taken from the Summer 2021 of our award-winning Scripps Research Magazine.

Show notes:

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 30 – The biochemistry of aging: Scripps Research Magazine

We kick off the Summer 2022 podcast season with the first of a three-part mini-series dedicated to brain health. Professor Sandra Encalada is based in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, where her lab investigates the transport of cargo within brain cells and its role in health and disease. Listen as we talk about new therapeutic agents to stop and reverse neurodegeneration, environmental neurotoxins and when to listen to your gut feeling.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2022_images/podcast-images/Sandra-Encalada-transcript.pdf

Encalada illuminates how brain cells die in prion diseases
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2021/20211222-encalada-brain-cells-prion-diseases.html 

Encalada lab website
https://www.encalada.scripps.edu/ 

Tweet: @EncaladaLab

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Subscribe to receive our monthly e-newsletter
https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1879047/1890109/

Episode 31 – Sandra Encalada: Linking traffic jams in the brain to neurodegenerative disease

The second part of our three-part mini-series on brain health. Professor Ryan Shenvi is based in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research, where his lab reconstructs useful molecules typically found in remote corners of the world. Listen as we talk about traditional remedies of indigenous cultures, formulating medicines from industrial waste and Charles Dickens’ drinking habits.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2022_images/podcast-images/Ryan-Shenvi-transcript.pdf

Shenvi finds a quick way to synthesize novel neuroactive compounds found in rainforest tree 
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2022/20220317-shenvi-neuroactive-compounds-in-rainforest-tree.html 

Q&A with Ryan
https://magazine.scripps.edu/profiles/2022/online-exclusive/channeling-ethnomedicine-to-address-mental-health/

Shenvi lab website
https://www.shenvilab.org/ 

Tweet: @Shenvi_Lab

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Subscribe to receive our monthly e-newsletter
https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1879047/1890109/ 

@scrippsresearch on Twitter

Episode 32 – Ryan Shenvi: Ethnomedicine to improve learning, memory and mental health

Dr. Travis Young is the Vice President of Biologics at Calibr, the drug discovery and development division of Scripps Research. Travis and the team have created a new type of immunotherapy called “switchable” chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which is already delivering precise and powerful therapies to patients with the most difficult to treat cancers. Listen as we talk about reengineering an individual’s immune T cells, promising clinical trials in leukemia and lymphoma patients, and using similar approaches to treat autoimmune diseases.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2022_images/podcast-images/Travis-Young-transcript.pdf

Travis and his colleagues discuss ongoing therapies being developed at Calibr during the Front Row lecture series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRzQniqUlHo&t=2625s 

Preliminary results of switchable CAR-T cells in lymphoma patients
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2021/20211208-calibr-announces-clinical-data-car-t-cells.html 

Tweet: @CARTCellTherapy

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Subscribe to receive our monthly e-newsletter
https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1879047/1890109/ 

@scrippsresearch on Twitter

Episode 34 – Travis Young: Finding a cure for cancer with novel immunotherapies

Professor Andrew Su is based in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, where his lab develops digital tools to draw conclusions from the vast streams of medical data generated each day. Listen to us discuss gaming as a way of being a scientist, the replacement of doctors with machine-learning and your Netflix watching history. 

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2022_images/podcast-images/Andrew-Su-transcript.pdf

Andrew’s TEDx talk: Building the knowledgebase of biology using citizen science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_pj1cB0Q8
 
Su lab website
https://sulab.org/ 

Tweet: @andrewsu

Citizen science initiatives:
https://www.zooniverse.org/ 
https://fold.it/ 
https://stallcatchers.com/main 

Explore the Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Subscribe to receive our monthly e-newsletter
https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1879047/1890109/ 

@scrippsresearch on Twitter

Episode 35 – Andrew Su: How artificial and community intelligence are shaping medicine

Dr. Stuti Jaiswal is an assistant professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research and an internist at Scripps Clinic. Listen in as we discuss the health issues associated with insufficient sleep, the best time to go to bed and what the latest wearables can tell us about our sleep patterns.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/stuti-jaiswal-transcript.pdf

REFRESH sleep study at Scripps Research
https://refresh.scripps.edu/

The Digital Trials Center current research
https://digitaltrials.scripps.edu/about/

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 37 – Stuti Jaiswal: Improving sleep health with wearable devices

Are the mitochondria truly the powerhouses of the cell? In this episode, assistant professor Danielle Grotjahn shares why she thinks “the stress sensors of the cell” may be a more appropriate name for this cellular organelle–and more. Dr. Grotjahn works in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research, where her lab is answering how mitochondrial networks change shape in response to genetic, pharmacological or environmental stress. Listen as we talk about the links between mitochondrial dysfunction and disease, cell death, and the cutting-edge imaging technologies that are enabling Grotjahn and her team to peer into the mysteries of the mitochondria.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/danielle-grotjahn-transcript.pdf

Grotjahn lab website
https://grotjahnlab.org/ 

Twitter
@nani_grotjahn 

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 38 – Danielle Grotjahn: What mitochondria tell us about disease, stress and cell death

Professor Ali Torkamani is the Director of Genome Informatics at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, where his team mines population-level genetic data to make predictions about future disease risk. Listen in as we discuss smartphone apps that could help predict the risk of a heart attack, the addition of genetic data to biosensors of the future and the use of video games as an introduction to data science.

Show notes:

Episode transcript: coming soon….

MyGeneRank app
https://mygenerank.scripps.edu/

Ali’s faculty profile
https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/torkamani/

Twitter
@ATorkamani 

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 39 – Ali Torkamani: Preventing heart disease with personalized genetic testing

Professor Sumit Chanda is an infectious disease expert and immunologist, where he works both in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology and at Calibr, Scripps Research’s nonprofit drug discovery and development division. He has devoted his career to understanding how the immune system responds to numerous viruses, such as influenza, Dengue virus and SARS-CoV-2. Listen as we discuss everything from pandemic preparedness to drug discovery, as well as his unrelenting drive to uncover new treatment options—including for COVID-19.

Episode transcript
https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/sumit-chanda-transcript.pdf

Infectious disease sleuth Sumit Chanda, PhD, joins Scripps Research and its Calibr drug discovery division
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2021/20210915-chanda-calibr.html 

Center for Antiviral Medicines & Pandemic Preparedness
https://www.campp.org/ 

Chanda lab website
https://linktr.ee/thechandalab 

Twitter/Instagram
@thechandalab

Episode 40 – Sumit Chanda: How can we prepare for the next pandemic?

Professor Ram Krishnamurthy is based in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research, where his lab investigates the reactions that could have first given way to life on Earth. Listen as we discuss finding biological building blocks on meteorites, NASA’s search for life on other planets, and staying grounded with philosophy and meditation.

Episode transcript
https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/ram-krishnamurthy-transcript.pdf

Ram’s faculty profile
https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/krishnamurthy/ 

Astrobiology at NASA
https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/new-nasa-research-consortium-to-tackle-lifes-origins/

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 41 – Ram Krishnamurthy: Astrobiology, origins of life and the search for extraterrestrials

Professor Mia Huang is based in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, where her lab explores how vital sugar molecules in the body orchestrate complex biological events. Listen in as we discuss deciphering cancer cell signals to develop new therapies, engineering red blood cells for transfusions and how to become a master of strategy.

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/mia-huang-transcript.pdf

Huang lab website
https://www.huangresearch.com/

Q&A with Mia
https://magazine.scripps.edu/profiles/2020/fall/science-with-a-view-understanding-how-natures-biomolecules-tick-with-mia-huang/ 

Twitter
@HuangMia 

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 42 – Mia Huang: How sugar biology can help diagnose and treat cancer

Ahmed Badran is an assistant professor of chemistry at Scripps Research, where his lab harnesses synthetic biology to address some of biggest global problems. Listen in as we discuss reengineering plant enzymes to capture carbon, plastic-eating bacteria and new classes of antibiotics that spare our gut microbiome.

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2023_images/ahmed-badran-transcript.pdf

Badran lab website
https://badranlab.com/ 

Twitter
@AhmedHBadran

Scripps Research Magazine
https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Episode 43 – Ahmed Badran: Bioengineering our way out of climate change

Dr. Jay Pandit is a director of digital medicine at the Scripps Research Translational Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, where he combines medicine and technology to improve patients’ clinical outcomes. Listen in as we explore how biosensors and wearable technologies are enabling users to take control of their own health data and usher in a new era of personalized medicine.

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2024_images/jay-pandit-transcript.pdf
X: https://twitter.com/JayPandit 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jay-pandit-9489008
Scripps Research centennial: https://100.scripps.edu/ 
Scripps Research Magazine:  https://magazine.scripps.edu/

How biosensors are enabling a new era in medicine

Donna Blackmond never thought her career would lead to solving how life first formed on the prebiotic Earth. But as she points out in this episode of Science Changing Life, does any scientist start out knowing where their research will take them? Blackmond, who is a professor and the John C. Martin Endowed Chair in Chemistry at Scripps Research, shares how her wide-ranging background across chemistry and chemical engineering is helping answer some of today’s biggest questions in science and medicine.

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2024_images/donna-blackmond-podcast-episode-45-transcript.pdf
Blackmond Lab: https://www.scripps.edu/blackmond/ 
Blackmond’s recent PNAS and Nature papers: https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2024/20240228-blackmond-molecules.html 
Scripps Research centennial: 100.scripps.edu/ 
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/

Solving the origins of life and other mysteries in chemistry

More than 90% of drugs fail to make it from the lab bench to approval. How, then, has a physician-scientist like Hugh Rosen found so much success in developing medicines? Rosen, who’s the chair of molecular and cellular biology at Scripps Research, co-invented the drugs ozanimod (approved for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis) and navacaprant (in Phase 3 trials for major depressive disorder).  

In this episode of Science Changing Life, listen in as Rosen unveils the success stories behind these groundbreaking treatments—shedding light on the challenges and triumphs shaping modern medicine.

Rosen Lab: https://www.scripps.edu/rosen/index.html  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/

A physician-scientist’s guide to developing medicines

Galileo’s telescope revolutionized our modern understanding of the universe. Assistant neuroscience professor Xin Jin, PhD, wants to do just that—except for the brain. By building new tools that enable her and other neuroscientists to peer into the inner workings of the mind, Jin is uncovering the cells, genes and other complex drivers behind neurological diseases. Listen in as we explore the galaxy of the brain.

Twitter: https://x.com/xinjin 
Jin lab: https://www.jin.scripps.edu/  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/

Building a 'telescope' for the brain

Four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, another virus threatens to reach pandemic potential: the H5N1 bird flu. We sit down with Arnab Chatterjee, vice president of medicinal chemistry at Calibr-Skaggs, who explains the need to invest in the best science to make sure we’re more prepared than we were for the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.  

Chatterjee breaks down how likely it is for H5N1 to become transmitted between humans, and the steps we can take now to better protect ourselves in the future.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arnab-chatterjee-b024661/  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/

Everything we know about H5N1 bird flu

Thanks to revolutionary technologies like CRISPR, we’re now living in an age where it’s becoming possible to rewrite the very building blocks of life itself—our DNA. We sit down with Scripps Research Fellow and CRISPR expert Shannon Miller, PhD, to discover how these gene editing technologies are poised to reverse a range of diseases. Listen in as we explore Shannon’s unique journey into science—beginning not with a single eureka moment, but instead with a passion for creativity and discovery. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_shannonmmiller  
Miller lab: https://www.millerlabresearch.com/team    
Scripps Research Magazine: https://magazine.scripps.edu/

Gene editing, CRISPR, and drawing the line between science and fiction

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing what we once thought impossible. But how can we distinguish genuine breakthroughs from mere hype? In this episode of Science Changing Life, we welcome Eric Topol, MD—renowned physician, scientist, and author. As executive vice president at Scripps Research and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, Dr. Topol shares his thoughts on how AI is transforming science and medicine today and offers a glimpse into what the future may hold. His advice to listeners? 'Be open to change.'  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricTopol 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-topol-md-b83a7317/  
Ground Truths podcast: erictopol.substack.com  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Beyond the hype: AI’s impact on medicine and science with Eric Topol

In the second part of our conversation with Dr. Eric Topol, we explore how examining the past is necessary to ensure we’re more prepared for our future. From universal vaccines and advanced antiviral therapies to cutting-edge digital tools like wearable biosensors and genomic surveillance, Dr. Topol shares actionable insights on harnessing technology and data to revolutionize pandemic preparedness. Listen in as we discuss the path to a safer, healthier future. 

 //

Episode transcript: https://www.scripps.edu/_files/images/2024_images/topol-pandemic-prep-transcript.pdf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricTopol 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-topol-md-b83a7317/  
Ground Truths podcast: erictopol.substack.com  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Futureproof: Eric Topol on revolutionizing pandemic preparedness

Long COVID affects millions of people worldwide, yet many questions about the condition remain unanswered. In this episode of Science Changing Life, Julia Moore Vogel, PhD, shares what it’s like to study—and live with—long COVID. As the senior director of the All of Us Research Program, Julia discusses how her experience has fueled innovative research to improve symptom management and health equity for patients with the condition. 

Listen in to learn how Julia transforms personal challenges into professional breakthroughs. 

Twitter: https://x.com/julialmv  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliamoorevogel  
All of Us Research Program: https://www.joinallofus.org/  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

The long haul: Personal and scientific insights into long COVID

Roughly two years ago, virology expert and Scripps Research professor Sumit Chanda sat down with Science Changing Life to discuss all things pandemic preparedness and COVID-19. But the world is in a very different place now, with infectious disease threats like H5N1, mpox and Dengue virus on the rise. Chanda joins us once again to share the latest in the virology space, how scientists can be better communicators, and his advice for making sure we’re as prepared for an uncertain future as we can be. 

Instagram: instagram.com/thechandalab/   
Chanda lab: chandalab.org/   
Twitter/X: x.com/thechandalab 
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Virologist gives update on H5N1, mpox, and preparing for an uncertain future

What if the key to detecting the next pandemic was hidden in our wastewater? By analyzing pathogens found in sewage, scientists can track the spread of infections before they become widespread threats. In this episode of Science Changing Life, project scientist Josh Levy and PhD student Praneeth Gangavarapu explain how analyzing what goes down the drain can offer life-saving insights into the future of public health. 

Learn more about the role of wastewater surveillance in tracking a range of viruses—including SARS-CoV-2, H5N1 and even seasonal influenza. 

//

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/josh-levy.bsky.social, https://bsky.app/profile/praneethg.bsky.social  
Andersen lab: https://andersen-lab.com/  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Pathogens in the pipeline: How wastewater holds clues to the next pandemic

Depression and alcohol dependence are often seen as personal struggles—but decades of study by Scripps Research professor Cindy Ehlers reveal a much bigger picture. In this episode of Science Changing Life, Ehlers breaks down how biology, culture and trauma interact to shape mental health outcomes.

Learn how her work is paving the way for more effective interventions, and how new strategies—like culturally grounded prevention programs and digital tools—can reduce harm in high-risk communities.

//

Ehlers lab: ⁠https://www.scripps.edu/ehlers/index.html⁠ 
Scripps Research Magazine: ⁠https://magazine.scripps.edu⁠ 


Wired for risk: Cindy Ehlers on the science of addiction and mental health

This year on Science Changing Life, we’ve had some amazing scientists join us to share their work, their stories and what drives them. There’s one question we love to ask our guests: What advice would you give to scientists just starting out? We compiled their refreshingly honest answers into one episode—hear what they had to say.  

Scientists offer their best career (and life) advice

Tod Williams and Billie Tsien are the architects responsible for designing what was formerly the Neurosciences Institute (NSI); the buildings now make up the Hazen Campus and serve as the focal point of The Scripps Research Institute. Listen as we talk about the history of the build, common motifs for all science buildings and the importance of afternoon tea.

Show notes:

Tod Williams and Billie Tsien bios
http://www.twbta.com/studio/people/tod-williams-billie-tsien

Project Images of the building complex
http://www.twbta.com/6675

2017 LongHouse Award
https://www.archdaily.com/805628/tod-williams-plus-billie-tsien-win-2017-longhouse-award-discuss-design-ideas-for-obama-presidential-library

2013 National Medal of Arts Award
https://www.arts.gov/honors/medals/billie-tsien-and-tod-williams

In memoriam: Gerald Edelman 
https://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_20140602/edelman.html

Episode 5 – Tod Williams and Billie Tsien: The Architecture of a Science Institute

Dr. Amanda Roberts is the Senior Scientific Director of the Mouse Behavioral Core at Scripps Research. Listen as we talk about microgravity as a model of accelerated aging, NASA’s top-secret agents and what happens to slime in space. (Image Credit: Andrew Roberts)

Show notes:

Amanda’s research profile:

https://vivo.scripps.edu/display/RobertsAmanda

Replay of the NASA launch (action around ~11 minutes in):

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/25/spacex-livestream-watch-the-company-launch-nasa-crs-18-on-a-falcon-9.html

News coverage of the NASA mouse studies:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/studying-behavior-in-space-shows-mice-adapt-to-microgravity

https://qz.com/1597197/nasas-space-station-mice-loved-microgravity/

Episode 19 – Amanda Roberts: Mice in Outer Space

Another special edition featuring an extended conversation between Dr. Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Professor Andrew Ward in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research. Listen as they talk about structural biology as a gamechanger in coronavirus research, what makes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein crucial for vaccine design, and what the latest coronavirus mutations mean for the pandemic.

Show notes:

The Ward Lab:
https://ward.scripps.edu/ 

Dr. Eric Topol’s bio:
www.scripps.edu/faculty/topol/ 

Inside the Lab That Invented the COVID-19 Vaccine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92HQA0GcI8&amp%3Bfeature=youtu.be

Solving the spike protein’s 3D structure:
https://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_20160307/ward.html 

Science, Simplified: How vaccines work against COVID-19
https://youtu.be/uWGTciX795o

Scripps Research on social media:
Twitter, Instagram: @scrippsresearch
Facebook: @ScrippsResearchInstitute
LinkedIn: the-scripps-research-institute

Episode 24- Eric Topol & Andrew Ward: How Spike Protein Discoveries Drove Coronavirus Vaccine Design

The award-winning Science Changing Life podcast offers an inside look into how Scripps Research scientists are solving the most pressing mysteries in human health and disease. Join hosts Lauren Fish and Melissa Suran, PhD, as they speak with world-class scientists at the forefronts of immunology, infectious disease, artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, neuroscience and much more. 

Science Changing Life gives listeners a glimpse into the people behind the science, their motivations, paths to discovery, and how they’re changing the world. 

Follow us on social media for more updates:
@scrippsresearch on Twitter and Instagram
@ScrippsResearchInstitute on Facebook
Scripps Research on LinkedIn

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