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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Chris Ellis, CEO and co-founder of AudioCardio, talks about his company's mission to improve and then maintain hearing with a new hearing test app designed for hearing loss treatment.
AudioCardio's patented product, a mobile app, is a clinically proven Threshold Sound Conditioning™ technology that generates unique, personalized audio therapy designed to stimulate and strengthen cells. How does it work? AudioCardio™ can analyze an individual's hearing and deliver valuable hearing therapy for their ears. The goal: to protect, maintain, and strengthen hearing ability.
Ellis discusses the different types of hearing loss, with special consideration given to sensory and neural hearing loss problems, which are the specific types of hearing loss that his company targets. These types of hearing loss problems can be due to age, medications, loud noise environments, disease, etc. Ellis discusses the ways that their technology can improve hearing. In the most basic terms, our hearing works by processing sound waves that travel through the air, and frequencies are sent as unique nerve signals, directly to the brain, which the brain then recognizes as sounds. Ellis' company's tech—the Threshold Sound Conditioning—can detect the important frequencies that have somehow lost much of their sensitivity and then exercise them with tailored sound signals, personalized for the individual.
Ellis talks about the many case studies of individuals with hearing loss who have seen improvement through the use of this innovative technology. And the hearing entrepreneur discusses dementia treatment, hearing loss treatment, and the types of people who have sought out the AudioCardio solutions. As Ellis explains, hearing loss is gradual, and that we continually recreate a 'new normal' which unfortunately can slide us deeper into reduced hearing.
Millions of Americans experience symptoms of acid reflux or "heartburn" on a daily basis—that burning sensation in the chest that can be accompanied by a number of other unpleasant and sometimes seemingly unrelated symptoms. It's a problem many people might brush off by popping a Tums, but there's a darker side to acid reflux, which is that it can be a precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in the context of Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which the epithelial cells in the esophagus are displaced by tissue that more resembles intestinal tissue.
As a researcher with a background in cancer biology, Kelly Whelan, PhD, from Temple University is interested in further understanding the biology of the esophagus, how certain pathways help it to remain normal under homeostatic conditions, and what goes awry in states of disease, such as cancer and eosinophilic esophagitis, an allergic reaction to food.
She's also interested in investigating the male and racial bias found in all esophageal diseases, how the type and quantity of a person's mitochondria could be related to their esophageal disease state, whether or not there are non-invasive ways to determine a patient's disease state, how to improve therapies for esophageal diseases, how the oral microbiome or even the lower GI tract microbiome could be influencing disease progression, and so much more.
Tune in for all the details.
How do seals, orcas, otters, and other animals manage to survive in such cold waters? Simply put, they do so by virtue of one of the following: blubber (which is essentially just a thick layer of insulating fat), thick coats of fur which trap tiny gas bubbles that in turn insulate the body, and higher rates of internal heat generation.
Drawing inspiration from these approaches, Professor Jacopo Buongiorno from the department of engineering at MIT has helped develop a wetsuit that allows people—such as Navy Seals—to remain in very cold waters for longer periods of time than conventional wetsuits made from neoprene clothing.
On today's episode, Professor Buongiorno explains how traditional wetsuits work and why the one they've created outperforms them, the science and technology behind thermal conductivity, the feedback they've already received on this new product, and what's on the horizon. Tune in for all the details
With the ever-increasing prevalence of mobile devices these days, they're finding their way into the hands of kids, where they seem to be staying for a growing number of hours each day. There's no doubt that these connected lives we're living provide us with some benefits, such as the ability to have maps, educational info, and health-related content at our fingertips, but this level of access can also be a significant source of distraction that negatively impacts the way we interact with others and the environment around us. And of course, the accessibility provided by cell phones also means potential exposure to content we don't want to see, and particularly don't want our kids seeing.
The team at OurPact has developed a solution to deal with the drawbacks of connected mobile devices: a digital parental control app that gives people the ability to limit app use, filter what is seen on the web, monitor the location of the device, and take automated screenshots to search for keywords that fall into certain categories, such as violent, drug-related, or sexual content. But OurPact isn't just being used to monitor kids; it's being used by professionals and students who recognize their own need to put away their phones and focus on their daily goals.
On today's episode, Director of Communications at OurPact, Paige Mayer, explains all the ins and outs of what just might be the best screen time app for Android, as well as what's to come in the near future. Tune in.
It used to be a thing of science fiction…growing human organs in test tubes and observing their behavior as we manipulate their environment. For David Pamies, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, this is daily life, although it may not always be ordinary.
On today's episode, he discusses how he's using a brain organoid—an organ grown from human-induced pluripotent stem cells—to learn more about the toxins we come into contact with on a daily basis. He explains why and how this model is superior to far more commonly-used mouse models, and how it's also fueling research on drug treatment for an aggressive type of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Such research includes testing the effectiveness of temozolomide, a commonly used chemotherapy drug.
Dr. Pamies dives into the science behind it all and provides a compelling glimpse into the exciting and growing world of organoid-based research. Press play for all the details.
Kevin Hrusovsky, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Quanterix (quanterix.com), discusses the innovative work his company is engaged in, and the future of biotech.
Hrusovsky is a seasoned biotech entrepreneur and engineer who has been passionately pursuing the transformation of medicine from reactive care to preventative medicine over his extensive 30-year career. For Hrusovsky, healthy living and peer-reviewed science that addresses health and disease issues on a molecular structure level in the body is what motivates his work. Hrusovsky launched the Global Health Summit Series to specifically promote innovation in disease eradication processes and practices, in his ongoing mission to promote global health.
Hrusovsky talks about his company and their mission, a company he states is "at the crossroads of technology and healthcare." He discusses their technology, and how they have developed a means to look into the blood and see proteins in a way that was never before possible, to differentiate a single protein in a field of grass, with that field of grass being the size of Alaska. That's some deep detail, indeed. It's "rocket science on the blood" as he describes. He explains the important biochemistries that their technology allows researchers to discover and study, to develop new insights on health and disease.
Hrusovsky explains how they can utilize AI and algorithms to help researchers see proteins, which allows scientists to see things in the blood that were once impossible, which can lead to prediction of disease years before it occurs, etc. By seeing disease at the earliest stages possible, pharmaceutical research can bring these people in and work towards solutions. As he states, it's much easier to beat a disease early on, than later after it has taken a firm hold in the body.
Hrusovsky talks about empowering individuals to manage their own destinies by observing their own biomarkers and staying aware. Quanterix's digital health product, Simoa® provides researchers a unique opportunity to examine critical biomarkers for cardiology, oncology, neurology, infectious diseases, and more.
Hrusovsky has been a featured guest on a multitude of media, from ABC's Good Morning America, and all the other major networks, such as NBC, CNN, CNBC, CBS, and NPR, as well as in top publications and online sites: Scientific American, USA Today, Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, Fast Company HuffPost, The Guardian, Boston Globe, and many more.
Dr. Tony Guerra, Instructor and Pre-Pharmacy Advisor, Ankeny Campus, Des Moines Area Community College, delivers an interesting overview of his work in pharmacy education and the writing and production of audio books.
Dr. Guerra is passionate about educating young minds and he teaches multiple courses in chemistry, pharmacy and pharmacology. And Dr. Guerra earned an AS degree from DMACC himself, back in 2010.
Dr. Guerra talks about his background and his interest in creating audio books for educational purposes. To date, he has close to 20 audio books out, on various topics within his areas of expertise. His books cover a range of issues, from pharmacology to pharmacotherapy, to pharmacy careers and pharmacy schools/education. Dr. Guerra writes and co-writes his books and he continues to reach many people through books and educational outreach.
The Pre-Pharmacy Advisor talks extensively about the business of creating, producing, and delivering audio books for the public. He discusses his views on audio book presentation, and the value of reading your own books/recording your own books, if you are in consulting. First time authors, for sure, should definitely record their own books, he states. Dr. Guerra explains the differences between print books, e-books, and audio books, and how each should be different in terms of audience and structure, etc.
Wrapping up, he talks about the audiences for his books, and for medical-oriented books in general. He explains that audio books can help solve problems or allay fears, and often the best-selling books deal with these issues/worries—books that help people overcome.
Peter Christey, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of GALT (General Automation Lab Technologies), on the web at (galt-inc.com), discusses his work in microbial cultivation.
Christey has over 20-years experience commercializing research instruments for a number of complex applications. Prior to his launch of GALT, Christey helmed the DNA Sequencing Business Unit and DNA forensic product line for Life Technologies.
Christey discusses his background and how his focus in microbial cultivation in a laboratory setting drove him to develop microbes for use in multiple areas. He explains proteomics applications, microbial diversity, and his company's platform—detailing how they work to get a pure isolate (a culture of living microorganisms) into culture in the lab in order to study biochemistry and physiology. They strive, primarily, to deliver pure, living isolates to researchers and product developers. Utilizing the GALT technology, entire populations of microbes can be screened efficiently and quickly for low-abundance species or perhaps strains that demonstrate selected characteristics.
Estimations have surmised that there are approximately one-trillion microbial species on our planet, but remarkably, less than one percent of the known species have actually been cultured. So many species remain unexplored and we just don't have any information on them. Christey discusses how isolates are understood, and how scientists can test them. He discusses the microbiome, and the growth media that they use in their research. And he provides extensive information on how bacteria grow, and the requirements that are necessary, including a discussion of symbiotic relationships.
Michael Schwarz, director of the popular PBS / NOVA documentary, "Look Who's Driving," provides some interesting information on artificial intelligence (AI) and the current state of autonomous vehicles.
How do self-driving cars (autonomous vehicles) work and is society ready to trust them? In this interesting podcast, director Michael Schwarz discusses the expanding technology that is pushing its way into the transportation industry.
Schwarz talks about his interests, and the lead up to making his current documentary, "Look Who's Driving." He recounts how he learned about some of the early companies that were seeking to develop autonomous vehicles, and how General Motors was very interested in grabbing the new technology quickly. After many years of waiting and anticipating what they might be like, autonomous vehicles are finally sharing the roads with us at least in testing mode, but experts caution that there are massive challenges to overcome still, and some caution that the tech is just not there yet to provide safety for everyone.
Schwarz discusses the safety issues in detail. As he states, there are nearly 40,000 deaths per year on the roads in America, and the idea that developers of autonomous vehicles boast is that their self-driving cars don't drive drunk, drowsy, or distracted, making them, potentially, a safer alternative. Schwarz goes on to discuss the challenges ahead for autonomous vehicles, talking about the high bar that the technology must meet because there are millions and millions of miles driven by human drivers before even one fatality occurs. Schwarz talks about some of the leading companies that are developing these self-driving cars, and how they are focused on pushing the technology to handle the entire driving experience. As he states, although passengers can 'take over' in a potential accident situation, it is perhaps unrealistic to expect a relaxed passenger to suddenly take action effectively. Thus, some say that the technology must be developed until it is good enough to no longer need any human input, or intervention, while driving.
Dr. Gerardo Ceballos, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Ecology of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), discusses his work in conservation efforts worldwide, and the quest for solutions to environmental problems.
Dr. Ceballos holds a degree in Biology from the Metropolitan Autonomous University Campus Izatalapa, Mexico. He received his master's degree in Ecology from the University of Wales, working under the close supervision of the well known ecologist, John. L. Harper. And Dr. Ceballos earned a PhD in Ecology from the University of Arizona, working with Dr. James H. Brown. Additionally, Dr. Ceballos has been on sabbatical at the prestigious, Stanford University working in close collaboration with Professor Paul R. Ehrlich, one of the preeminent ecologists of our time.
Dr. Ceballos's extensive, important research program addresses the conservation of species and ecosystems, and the connection between conservation and development. Dr. Ceballos discusses his current projects dealing with conservation and extinction crises. He talks about habitat requirements of endangered species and their work to set aside protected areas. As he explains, he and his contemporaries are working to push public policy to do more for conservation. Dr. Ceballos outlines the importance of the Amazon forests due to their incredible diversity of species, many of which are endangered or about to become endangered. He explains how they look at the problems and challenges to develop solutions to maximize their conservation efforts. As species become extinct, human activity is certainly a factor, he states.
The type C conservation researcher talks in detail about the general consensus between various governments regarding what needs to be done to preserve species, and to make global actions to curb the extinction crises and climate change. Unfortunately, many governments are not doing what they need to do; they do not seem to understand the severity of these global crises. Wrapping up, Dr. Ceballos discusses ocean conservation, and some of the recent reports that talk about the toxification of water, soil, and air, and what he and his colleagues are trying to do to persuade nations to do more, and now.
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