Columbia University Bio Bytes

Alberto Ciccia, Professor of Genetics and Development at Columbia University, joins us to discuss how cells protect their genomes and how these pathways intersect with cancer and immunity. He explains how his lab uses CRISPR-based genome-editing tools to map the DNA damage response and uncover new therapeutic targets. We also talk about his recent Cell study showing how the DNA damage response factor SMARCAL1 shapes immune signaling and tumor immune evasion. Throughout the conversation, Professor Ciccia reflects on mentorship, scientific creativity, and how advances in DNA repair research could translate into better diagnostics and treatments for patients.

Hosted by Sophia Deng.

Dr. Nima Aghaeepour, Professor at Stanford University, discusses the nuances of working with clinical data, ways predictive models can add value to physicians and drive behavioral change, and the process of spinning scientific ideas out into startups.

In this episode of BenchtoBedside, Dr. Son Duong, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Heart Center and Icahn School of Medicine, discusses pediatric cardiology and the evolving role of AI within the speciality. He highlights how machine learning and AI tools can democratize access to care, facilitate multicenter collaboration, and generate new insights in a field where patient populations are small, heterogeneous, and often underserved.

Even if mosquitoes make your skin crawl—or you think of them as nothing more than the flying, biting pests we all can’t stand—you'll be surprised by how fascinating they really are. In this episode of Bio Bytes, Dr. Laura Duvall, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, joins Celine to explore the surprising science behind mosquito behavior.

Together, they dive into how blood-feeding and mating trigger long-lasting changes in female mosquitoes, and how neuropeptide signaling shapes their biting and reproductive cycles. You’ll learn how internal physiological states guide behavior in ways that echo patterns in other animals (even us), and how this knowledge could lead to next-generation tools for vector control. The episode also tackles the ethical questions that arise in translating lab findings into public health interventions. 

Join us to rethink what you know about mosquitoes and learn more about neuroscience, global health, and why mosquitoes really bite.

Hosted by Celine Cotran.

In this episode of Bio Bytes and our ongoing Bench to Bedside series, we learn about Dr. Meg Rosenblatt, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Morningside and West and Professor of Anesthesiology. She is recognized as the first person to deliver 20% intralipid therapy to treat local anesthetic systemic toxicity in a patient.

We explore how she became a leader in anesthesiology, what it means to turn a case report into a career-defining moment, and how she balances clinical work, education, and leadership. Dr. Rosenblatt also reflects on the evolving challenges in the U.S. healthcare system, the importance of mentorship, moments that have most profoundly shaped her career, and offers practical advice.

Whether you're an undergraduate student, medical student, practicing physician, or just curious about the people behind life-saving innovations, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of a physician-leader committed to excellence in care and education. 

Feel free to contact Dr. Rosenblatt with any specific questions at [email protected]. 

Hosted by Celine Cotran.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Livnat Jerby, an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Stanford University, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator, and Paul Allen Distinguished Investigator. In this episode, Dr. Jerby shares how her lab is decoding and engineering immune circuits to create next-generation cell therapies, drawing on high-throughput technologies and computational modeling. We explore how multicellular programs shape disease and immunity, revisit her work on immune evasion during her time at the Broad Institute, and discuss the future of synthetic immune systems and interdisciplinary science. Hosted by Emma Chen.

Join us for an illuminating discussion with Dr. Soojin Park, an Associate Professor of Neurology (in Biomedical informatics) and an Associate Attending Physician at Columbia University. Dr. Park discusses her career trajectory in neurocritical care and biomedical informatics as well as the potential of machine learning techniques to leverage clinical data to improve patient care.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. George Hripcsak, the Vivian Beaumont Allen Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. Dr. Hripcsak shares insights regarding his research in biomedical informatics, focusing on how data from electronic health records can be leveraged to transform clinical research and patient care. He discusses his pioneering role in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) coordinating center—an international network with thousands of collaborators and nearly one billion patient records—his career trajectory in the field, and how ChatGPT and large language models are reshaping the future of healthcare and clinical informatics.

Michele Pagano, Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU School of Medicine, takes us through his groundbreaking research on the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Cullin-RING Ligases. As a leading Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Professor Pagano shares insights into targeted protein degradation and its potential for treating “undruggable” cancer proteins. Reflecting on the evolving dynamics within academia, he discusses the challenges and intricacies of managing a research lab and offers his perspectives on the current publishing and peer review systems in scientific journals. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of biomedical science.

Link to the paper mentioned in the show: https://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/bcr2742

Join us for an inspiring discussion with Dr. Akiva Mintz, a physician-scientist whose translational research focuses on developing and personalizing cancer therapies using non-invasive molecular imaging. Learn about the role of nuclear medicine in molecular based cancer therapies and the life of a physician scientist.