What effect does space travel have on our bodies and minds? As NASA looks to explore Mars and beyond, it is critical to understand the impacts of spending extended time in space. Brinda K. Rana, Phd, shares the results of NASA's Twins Study that focused on astronaut Scott Kelly who spent nearly one year living on the International Space Station and his identical twin brother, Mark, who remained on Earth. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Education] [Professional Medical Education] [Show ID: 31842]

Researchers at the UC San Diego Stem Cell Program have used a rare disorder, Aicardi Goutieres (AGS), to explore fundamental brain mechanisms.

By utilizing cortical organoids, or brains in a dish, they have tracked neurodevelopment while discovering new information about the relationship between retrotransposons and neuroinflammation.

Series: "UCTV Prime" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 32743]

In this talk, Ajit Varki (UC San Diego) offers some surprising examples of common human diseases that appear to be either absent in our closest living evolutionary cousins (the so-called "great apes"), or manifest in a rather modified form. Given the close genetic similarity of all of these species, he contends that it is worth investigating these differences, with the goal of better understanding the pathological processes involved.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 31604]

A single tumor cell can contain thousands of genetic mutations, some of which provide critical information about the precise cancer type and provide clues about which therapy may be effective. Hear how genome-based analysis is improving diagnosis and treatment. Series: "Patient-Centered Care in the 21st Century - UCSF Cancer Showcase " [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 32380]

In this talk, Cynthia Beall (Case Western Reserve Univ) describes different patterns of adaptive biological characteristics among high-altitude native populations and the accumulating evidence explaining why and how those different responses came about.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 31607]

Treating depression can be a slow process. Even after pinpointing the correct medication, it can still take weeks to take effect. Abraham A. Palmer, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair for Basic Research in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego joins our host Dr. David Granet to discuss his work uncovering of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of depression. Dr. Palmer and his team are exploring how inhibiting the Glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) enzyme can reduce signs of depression. He explains the science behind the discovery and the implications for new, faster-acting treatments.

Series: "Health Matters" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 32383]

Genetics underlies all cancers. Early-onset cancer, multiple primaries, family history, and ancestry can suggest inherited risk. UCSF Dr. Jocelyn Chapman and genetic counselor Julie Mak explain that genetic testing with multi-gene tests identify inherited risk and can improve early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer. But tests vary widely in quality and scope. Find out what you need to know to make the best decisions about managing complex genetic information.

Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 32076]

UC San Francisco's Matthew State provides a fascinating account of how the explosion of access to genetic information has led to a much deeper understanding of Autism and the possibility of developing interventions to treat Autism and other impairments such as Schizophrenia and Epilepsy. Series: "Influence of Early Experience on Adult Brain Organization and Function - Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 31766]

Matthias Meyer (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology) discusses the technical difficulties one faces when working with poorly preserved ancient material and the insights this work provides into human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene (e.g., the 400,000 year-old hominin remains from a cave site in Northern Spain).

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 30977]

MIT's Mark Bear presents a fascinating account of how understanding neural plasticity, or the ability to modify the function of neurons, led to a novel treatment for visual impairment in Amblyopia, and may reveal pathways to treat other neurological conditions. Series: "Influence of Early Experience on Adult Brain Organization and Function - Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 31765]