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

This episode of TGen Talks takes the listener along I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff, where our host, Karie Dozer, sits down with David Engelthaler, Ph.D., professor and director of TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division, more commonly known as TGen North.
  Whereas TGen uses genomics to solve complex problems such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, the scientists at TGen North use these same tools and technology to focus on infectious disease … the microbes, the bacteria, the viruses, the fungi that cause some of the greatest problems around the world. 
  Engelthaler provides the listener an inside look at the research underway across the division, and the community work with different tribal nations and hospitals to understand what’s most important to them and how TGen North can apply their expertise to support those needs.
  Whether it's Cryptococcus, tuberculosis, superbugs in our hospitals, or other bad things like plague, West Nile, Valley fever, COVID, or the latest efforts around pathogen intelligence, TGen North’s goal is and always has been to rapidly identify and help stop the spread of potentially dangerous outbreaks.
  All this and more, on TGen Talks.

Episode 50: The World of Pathogens

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

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!

Episode 50: The World of Pathogens

TGen Talks

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