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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 28 with Dr. Amanda Vanderplow

In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Amanda Vanderplow, a PhD research scientist in the Cahill Lab of Neuroscience Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   She studies dendritic spine plasticity and how synaptic alterations contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.  In other words, she much smarter than the rest of us.  One of her current research projects discovers a potential link between sleep apnea and autism-like behaviors. This could be one of those breakthrough discoveries that allows us to prevent and/or reduce the rising prevalence of autism-like behaviors in society today, and we have Dr. Vanderplow, her team, and her rats, to thank for discovering this link.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Vanderplow's extensive and impressive background and her journey to get where she's at in her career today.
• What sleep apnea is and how prevalent the disorder is in society; the numbers will shock you.
• How a rat sleep apnea model was developed and how the data regarding autism-like behaviors in animals translate into the human world.
• The future application of this research and her recent discoveries

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Resources & Links:

• Cahill Lab of Neuroscience Research – UW–Madison (wisc.edu)
• Mothers' sleep apnea may increase risk of autism-like changes in their male offspring (medicalxpress.com)
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources

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News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• A promising new drug to prevent and slow the progression of Parkinson's disease
• Pain relief in the form of implantable nerve cooling devices
• How sound and music can reduce both chronic and acute pain
• Danielle's true calling in life, creating tiny adorable mouse villages

 Links to all these stories can be found below

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Resources & Links:

• New potential drug for Parkinson's -  https://www.science.org/content/article/experimental-drug-targets-early-stages-parkinson-s
• Nerve cooling pain relief story - https://www.aaas.org/news/miniature-implantable-nerve-coolers-enable-targeted-pain-relief?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D41208732208569100191553672894342571103%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1658425655
• Sound and pain relief - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220524100557.htm
• Anonymous miniature mouse displays - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/22/metro/swedish-art-group-anonymouse-installs-detailed-miniature-displays-around-boston/
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

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News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• The ability of animals to detect harsh speaking tones
• Bats and echolocation
• First-ever study showing that headbutting animals can and do suffer from traumatic brain injuries
• A new incredible imaging technology to image the middle and inner ear

 Links to all these stories can be found below

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Resources & Links:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries and Headbutting Animals Story - https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/head-cases-horned-animals-damage-their-brains-head-butting-each-other-say-scientists-1708397%3famp=1
• Middle Ear Imaging Technology Story - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2022.929574/full
• Animals Interpretating Harsh Speaking Tones Story - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220524100557.htm
• Bats and Echolocation Story - https://neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/news/bat-brains-organized-echolocation-and-flight
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

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Support the show

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 27 with Dr. Christine Lattin

In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Christine Lattin, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University.   She conducts incredible research using birds as a model to help our understanding of stress and how different neurotransmitters and hormones help wild animals successfully cope with challenges, from predators to disease.  Dr. Lattin's research will advance our understanding of how these hormone and neurotransmitter pathways work in humans as the pathways are very similar amongst all vertebrae species.  We also discuss an extensive and uncalled-for attack campaign by PETA on Dr. Lattin's research and personal life and how she's been able to continue to thrive and overcome these challenges.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Lattin's extensive and impressive background and her journey to get where she's at in her career today.
• Why and how birds are a critical model to use in order to understand her research interests.
• The future application of her research using birds and how it will be able to benefit humans and society.
• Why her research has been targeted by PETA, the extensive amount of work and money PETA has spent attacking her and her research, and how she's been able to adapt and overcome.

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!

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Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/

Resources & Links:

• What Makes Some More Afraid of Change than Others? (lsu.edu)
• LSU Biologist Examines Animal Resilience To Stress
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources

Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!
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https://www.facebook.com/labratchat 
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

Follow Lab Rat Chat on X! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Send us Fan Mail

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• Ticking time bombs within our cells may determine when we die
• The ability of simple mosquito brains to detect humans
• An update on the first-ever pig to human heart transplant
• A potential vaccine for Alzheimer's disease which has shown promise in mice

 Links to all these stories can be found below

 Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

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Resources & Links:

• Ticking time bombs of DNA mutation may dictate when animals die | Live Science
• Mosquito brains encode unique features of human odour to drive host seeking | Nature
• Porcine Virus May Have Led to the Death of First-Ever Pig Heart Transplant Patient | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine
• Study preserves memory in mice, offering promising new basis for active immunization against Alzheimer's disease -- ScienceDaily
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Send us Fan Mail

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• How scientists have figured out a way to interpret pig grunts to reveal their emotions
• Jeff's lack of ability to pay attention to prior News Bite stories and re-tell a story from January about osteoarthritis (but, as a man with 4 kids, just happens to be able to make-up for it by having an additional story regarding male contraceptive research on hand and ready to go)
• The first ever genetic model of down syndrome in rats
• The mystifying way boa constrictors are able to breathe while squeezing their prey

 Links to all these stories can be found below

 Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!

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Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             

Resources & Links:

• Researchers Figure Out How to Interpret Pig Grunts as Pig Emotions - CNET
• The pill for men: Mice study shows 99% effectiveness (medicalnewstoday.com)
• To be thorough - Jeff's repeated story: Implant zaps the inside of the knee joint to stimulate the growth of cartilage | Daily Mail Online
• Scientists Create Novel Genetic Model of Down Syndrome in Rats (hopkinsmedicine.org)
• How Boa Constrictors Breathe While Squeezing the Life Out of Their Prey | Science| Smithsonian Magazine
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

Follow Lab Rat Chat on X! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Send us Fan Mail

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• A new way to treat bacterial pneumonia in mice without using antibiotics
• Chimpanzees catching insects and using them to treat their wounds
• Paralyzed men able to walk again following spinal implant
• Regenerating frog legs and the possibility of one day growing human limbs for amputees

 Links to all these stories can be found below

 Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             

Resources & Links:

• 3 paralyzed men can walk again after getting electrode implant | Live Science
• Chimpanzees Appear to Use Insects to Treat Their Wounds | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine
• Researchers target a mouse’s own cells, rather than using antibiotics, to treat pneumonia -- ScienceDaily
• Frogs regrow amputated legs in breakthrough experiment | Live Science
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

Follow Lab Rat Chat on X! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Send us Fan Mail

Lab Rat Chat - Episode 26 with Dr. Roy Taylor

In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Roy Taylor,  a physician and author, who is currently the Director of Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre at Newcastle University.   He has been conducting research on type 2 diabetes since 1978 and in 2011, Taylor showed that the disease was a simple, reversible condition of excess fat within the liver and pancreas. Taylor developed the system now used throughout the United Kingdom for screening for diabetic eye disease, which has resulted in a major reduction in blindness due to diabetes across the UK. He is the author of Life Without Diabetes, a popular guide to understanding and reversing type 2 diabetes and achieving lasting remission (link below).

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Taylor’s extensive and impressive background as a physician and scientist.
• What diabetes is and the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• How the use of animals in his early research was crucial in order to understand the disease process.
• The role of physicians in not only managing their patients through the use of medicine, but in ways to prevent and/or cure their condition through diet and exercise.

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/

Resources & Links:

• Dr. Taylor’s Book: Life Without Diabetes: The Definitive Guide to Understanding and Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
• Reversing Type 2 Diabetes - Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre - Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources

Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

Follow Lab Rat Chat on X! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Send us Fan Mail

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).

Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• A new type of vaccine to combat addiction, specifically opioid addictions
• The first ever pig to human heart transplant
• Goldfish being able to drive
• The possibility to one day regrow human knee cartilage thanks to rabbits in research

 Links to all these stories can be found below

 Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/

Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!                                                                

Resources & Links:

• To fight opioid crisis, UW researchers take new shot at developing vaccine against addictive drugs | The Spokesman-Review
• Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant - BBC News
• Watch This Goldfish Drive an Aquarium on Wheels | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine
• Knee cartilage regrown in rabbits using electric nanomaterial - BBC Science Focus Magazine
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress

 All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ 

Support the show

Follow Lab Rat Chat on X! Facebook! Instagram!
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All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/