Health Science Radio

This episode features a discussion about autoimmune neurological diseases, 
including the rare stiff person syndrome (SPS) that affects Canadian 
superstar Céline Dion. Our guest is Amanda Piquet, MD, associate professor 
of neurology and director of the autoimmune neurology program at the 
University of Colorado School of Medicine. Piquet, whose team is conducting 
groundbreaking research on autoimmune neurologic disorders, has treated 
Dion’s SPS for over two years at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. 
Piquet calls the $2 million philanthropic investment her team received from 
the Céline Dion Foundation a turning point in the understanding of SPS and 
other autoimmune neurologic diseases.

In the wake of a loss, how do we reconcile the Five Stages of Grief with feelings that shift day to day? In this episode of Health Science Radio, licensed professional counselor and assistant professor of psychiatry Mandy Doria walks through some common misconceptions about grief, loss and healing. 

Content warning: death and dying. 

This episode features a discussion about treating cancer through immunotherapy, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, or TIL, therapy. Our guest is Eduardo Davila, professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Davila’s team has devised a novel technique to enhance all forms of cellular immunology. The scientists rejuvenate T-cells and improve their durability as well as their ability to find and kill cancer cells. Davila’s team’s research offers more and better cancer treatment options, along with hope. 

This episode of Health Science Radio features a discussion about the fast-growing field of neurotechnology and what it means for patients with paralysis or neurodegenerative brain diseases including Parkinson’s and epilepsy. Our guest is Cristin Welle, associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine with joint appointments in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Welle is a systems neurophysiologist with expertise in the interaction between medical devices and the nervous system. Her lab uses advanced techniques to explore why neurotechnology works, including looking at ways in which devices can change structural and functional plasticity in the nervous system. The goal of her team’s work is to translate scientific breakthroughs to the clinic and improve the lives of patients.  

 This episode features a discussion about a groundbreaking effort to restore vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. Our guest is Valeria Canto-Soler, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Canto-Soler shares the dreams behind her research and why she chose the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to develop retinal transplants. Her team is working toward one of the most ambitious goals in its field – transplanting cells that can regenerate both pigmented and photoreceptor cells in the retina and restore vision for the blind. 

This episode features a discussion about osteoarthritis, a painful degenerative disease that affects 32.5 million Americans. With no existing effective regenerative therapy, treatments are limited to anti-inflammatory injections and, ultimately, expensive joint replacement surgery. Our guest is Karin Payne, PhD, associate professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She talks about an ambitious project that received an award of up to $39 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and its aim to end osteoarthritis. The Colorado-based multidisciplinary team is on the forefront of developing a minimally invasive therapy that regenerates cartilage and bone cells – essentially allowing a joint to heal itself.

This episode features a discussion about the burnout crisis among physicians and other healthcare professionals. The Association of Medical Colleges estimates that the United States will face a shortage of between 38,000 and 124,000 physicians by 2034. Our guest is Dr. Lotte Dyrbye, senior associate dean of faculty and chief well-being officer at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a national thought leader in physician burnout. Dr. Dyrbye explains the magnitude of the problem, identifies the predictors of burnout, and shares ideas on reducing the stressors facing healthcare professionals. 

This episode features a discussion about new and exciting neuroscience-based treatments that are aimed toward recovery from chronic pain. Our guest is Dr. Yoni Ashar, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who shares the promising findings of a study that used pain reprocessing therapy, or PRT, for a sizeable group of chronic back pain sufferers. Dr. Ashar explains how PRT works and how it could offer a pathway to helping to relieve other common chronic pain, including migraine headaches.

In this episode of CU Anschutz 360, Daniel LaBarbera, PhD, director of the Center for Drug Discovery, talks about harnessing technology and innovation to speed the development of new therapies. He discusses robotic automation, quantum computing and building bridges over the ‘valley of death.’

In this episode of CU Anschutz 360, Angelo D’Alessandro, PhD, shares his fascination with blood science and how it led him into biochemistry, molecular genetics and metabolomics. A steadfast collaborator, D’Alessandro explains why multidisciplinary research is so important to science, especially in the area of personalized medicine.