Science has come a remarkably long way, especially since sequencing the human genome, but has it come far enough for everyone?
  A focus of TGen research has always been finding a path to the clinic and ensuring the work is relevant to patients in need. But that’s not always easy.
  Jeffrey Trent Ph.D., F.A.C.M.G., TGen's Founding President and Research Director, on episode 39 of TGen Talks, discusses how investigators at TGen headquarters continued their research into various cancers and other diseases without missing a beat while most of the world was on COVID lockdown, and shares his views on the value of having summer interns. 
  All this and more on TGen Talks.

Episode 39: A TGen Overview

Dr. Johanna DiStefano joins TGen Talks to discuss nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, a condition that causes excess amount of fat in one’s liver cells. As evidenced by its name (which could use an update, according to our guest) NAFLD covers a wide-range of liver conditions with the “alcohol” portion somewhat misleading, as it’s not always that cut and dry.
  Different factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and diet could also play a role in NAFLD. It could also be one’s gender or one’s stage in life. For example, the risk increases for women following menopause.
  Dr. DiStefano discusses her labs focus on the genetic factors that influence the development of NAFLD and increasing awareness of this population among clinicians. 
  How does nonalcoholic fatty liver disease develop? How does the liver communicate with other cells in the body, other organs in the body? 
  The long-term goal, of course, is identifying better ways to detect and treat fatty liver disease. And that means new tests and new drugs. 
  All this and more on TGen Talks.

Episode 49: Nonalcoholic Liver Disease

Understanding how infectious diseases spread in the past is important to understanding how they affect populations today. The difficulty lie in piecing together information given that so little is known about how microbes spread historically.
  Applying academic rigor with scientific assessment, two microbiologists teamed with an archaeologist to look at different types of evidence — genetics, anthropology, paleontology and climate — in an attempt to explain how the fungus that causes Valley fever, Coccidioides immitis, ended up in a specific area of Washington state. The review article in mBio by Drs. David Engelthaler, James C. Chatters and Arturo Casadevall details their approach from a historical perspective, applying what they knew about the biology and epidemiology of C. immitis, which led them to propose a new theory for why it has emerged in that region of Washington.
  Today, a great deal of discussion around the spread of diseases and the expansion of their habitats focuses on the effects of global warming. And while climate change does have an impact on different environments and habitats, this investigation sought to understand how and why different microbes, like fungi, move from one place to another through the lens of modern biology. 
  Their final analysis, climate change may not always be the reason behind the spread of diseases, but it can reveal past events that could be dangerous. 
  Engelthaler explains more in this edition of TGen Talks.

Episode 58: Tracing Ancient History with Modern Science

In this episode of TGen Talks, which celebrates Women’s History Month (March), we’ll explore how women in science have shaped the world around us, and how their stories continue to inspire future generations of young women to become researchers, leaders, and trailblazers who continue to break barriers.     

Joining the podcast this month is Bethany Davis, Ph.D., an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and a Research Assistant Professor in TGen’s Clinical Genomics and Therapeutics Division.      

Davis specializes in studying the effects of environmental toxins, like heavy metals, and other conditions that affect the kidneys. She’s particularly focused on understanding the molecular characteristics behind kidney cancer in Native American communities.     

Beyond her research, however, Dr. Davis shares her personal journey into science. As a woman in a field traditionally dominated by men, she’ll highlight some of the unsung pioneers whose work laid the foundation for modern science, reflect on her personal career path, the challenges she’s faced, and her vision for the future of cancer genomics in Native American health.    

Join us for an inspiring conversation that illuminates the power of women in science and their impact on advancing health and innovation.


Episode 79: Breaking Barriers — How Women in Science Help Shape the Future

Pulmonary Fibrosis. A debilitating disease that restricts a person’s lung capacity, controllable with drug therapies, but it’s only “cure” is a double lung transplant. Researchers at TGen have released the results of a study that investigated the disease on a cellular level. Using advanced spatial transcriptomics, they identified hidden disease markers in seemingly healthy lung tissue—offering hope for earlier, more personalized treatments. Targeting these early disruptions could improve lung function and outcomes. With current PF treatments only slowing decline, this discovery, published in Nature Genetics, marks a step toward preventing irreversible damage. In this episode of TGen Talks, Nicholas Banovich, Ph.D., discusses the Nature Genetics finding and the new spatial map of gene expression in lung cells. Instead of blending tissue together and analyzing it, scientists can now examine individual cells and pinpoint where molecular changes happen. We’ll break down what this means, how it’s done, and why it could change the way we study lung disease.

Episode 80: A Spatial Map of Pulmonary Fibrosis

This month on TGen Talks, we get an insider’s perspective on how today’s biomedical research translates into tomorrow's treatments. We sit down with Stephanie Pond, Ph.D., Vice President of Emerging Opportunities at TGen.

We’ll Learn about the crucial role of TGen’s START and EDP programs – the Scientific Technology Assessment Research Team and Enterprise Directed Programs – in accelerating this process.

Dr. Pond explains how her team works to identify gaps in current research tools, partner with biotechnology companies to develop new technologies, and help commercialize TGen’s research discoveries. She highlights how advances in multiomics, single-cell sequencing, and spatial technologies are transforming biomedical research and enabling new diagnostic tests and treatments. Dr. Pond also discusses TGen's Enterprise Directed Programs, which focuses on taking research discoveries and developing scalable clinical tests and products.

Join us to hear Dr. Pond’s passion for technology and science and her dedication to bringing personalized medicine to life, faster.


Episode 81: Accelerating Discovery to Market

TGen Talks explores the human genome to tackle the latest science and discoveries in cancer, neurological disorders, rare diseases, metabolic disorders and infectious disease. Learn about causes and potential cures in our monthly podcast!