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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 21 with Rebecca Welch and Kody Jernigan

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May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month! In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Rebecca Welch, a lab animal vet at West Virginia University and Kody Jernigan, her husband, who is living with cystic fibrosis.   The two of them provide a really unique perspective on the role of animals in biomedical research, specifically towards developing therapeutics and hopefully one day, a cure, for cystic fibrosis.   Everyone will want to listen to this episode - you will learn everything you need to know about this disease and feel compelled to share it with others.  In honor of CF Awareness Month, please consider a donation to one of the organizations below who are dedicated to advancing research and helping those with CF live longer and more comfortable lives.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Background information and exactly how cystic fibrosis affects the body of those living with the condition
• Some of the many incredible advancements that have been made over the last few decades
• A day in the life of someone with cystic fibrosis and what their treatment regimen entails
• How animals have played a crucial role in the development of new therapeutics and how they continue to provide hope for an eventual cure 

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Resources & Links:

Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute - Research - Education - Advocacy - Support (accessdomain.com)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | CF Foundation

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/) 

Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)

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).

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In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• Jeff finally completing his third year of vet school
• Neuralink and monkeys playing pong with their minds
• New heart valve developments that can actually grow along with the patient, avoiding multiple surgeries for kids born with heart defects
• A way to virtually tour inside of real animal research laboratories in the UK
• An update on the rare lobster, Banana, and how Danielle’s phone is tracking her interests in these rare creatures

 Links to all these stories can be found below

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

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Resources & Links:

• Neuralink – Monkey Playing Pong with his Mind 
• Lab-Created Heart Valves Can Grow with the Recipients
• Tour an Animal Research Laboratory
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources 

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

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 20 with Dr. Sally Thompson-Iritani, Director (Interim) Washington National Primate Research Center

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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Sally Thompson-Iritani.  Sally has worked in the animal welfare, compliance and research field for over 30 years.  She offers a great perspective on the field and on life in general with a strong passion for both the animals being used in biomedical research and the people who interact with these animals.  She is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional as well as a Certified Human Animal Bond Practitioner.  In addition to all of this, Sally is a co-chair of the planning committee for the PRIM&R 2021 IACUC Conference, being held April 14-16, and explains why anyone interested in the field of biomedical research, whether you work in the field or not, should attend and participate in the many exciting events on tap.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Thompson-Iritani’s extensive background and experience throughout his education and career.
• The role of the Washington National Primate Research Center
• Compassion fatigue in the world of animal research and the University of Washington’s Dare 2 Care program
• What to expect from the upcoming PRIM&R 2021 IACUC Conference
• Alternatives to animal models and how Laura’s lab abides by the principles of refinement, reduction, and replacement to her research.

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Resources & Links:

Lab Rat Chat’s YouTube Page

Dare 2 Care Program (https://sites.uw.edu/d2c/)

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/) 

Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)

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 maybe some unrelated topics as well).

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

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In this edition of News Bites, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• Jeff's third year of vet school 
• A new and exciting podcast about animal research - GetReal! Podcast by Dr. Cindy Buckmaster
• The PRIM&R 2021 IACUC Virtual Conference 
• Gorillas receiving an experimental COVID-19 vaccine
• The insane intellectual ability of cephalopods
• Numbers of animals used in research in the UK

(links to all these stories can be found below)

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Resources & Links:

• Cuttlefish show self-control, pass 'marshmallow test' | Live Science
• First great apes at U.S. zoo receive COVID-19 vaccine made for animals (nationalgeographic.com)
• PRIM&R - Lab Rat Chat
• GetReal! about animal research (naiaonline.org)
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources 

 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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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 19 with Dr. Brian Herrin, Assistant Professor and Veterinary Parasitologist at Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine

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In this special episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Brian Herrin joined us by video to record an episode for the 2021 Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) Symposium, hosted by Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Herrin is an expert in all things related to ticks, fleas, and all the diseases that come along with them, so you’ll definitely want to listen (and watch!) this one.  The video can be seen at our YouTube channel (see Resources & Links below for the link).  We want to thank K-State College of Veterinary Medicine for the invitation to be a part of the 2021 SAVMA Symposium, and to Dr. Herrin for taking the time to share a wealth of exciting and very informative knowledge with us and our audience.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Herrin’s extensive background and experience throughout his education and career.
• How we all benefit from biomedical research, including our pets, who wouldn’t be able to live indoors with us without the tick and flea preventatives we’ve grown so accustomed to.
• Multi-drug resistant fleas and ways to hopefully slow down this resistance
• The complexities that go into maintaining a living supply of fleas within a laboratory setting
• Alternatives to animal models and how Laura’s lab abides by the principles of refinement, reduction, and replacement to her research.

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Resources & Links:

Lab Rat Chat’s YouTube Page

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/) 

Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)

What is SAVMA? (https://www.avma.org/membership/SAVMA/what-is-SAVMA)

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 maybe some unrelated topics as well).

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

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

In this edition of News Bites, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• Llamas and their impact in developing asthma-style inhalers for treating COVID-19
• Ferrets involved in the discovery of nasal sprays for blocking COVID-19 infections
• How dogs helped deliver Diphtheria anti-toxin to a town stricken with the disease in the 1920s
• The finding of a rare, yellow colored lobster named Banana

 Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

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Resources & Links:

• Asthma-style inhaler filled with powerful LLAMA antibodies could treat COVID-19 | Daily Mail Online
• Nasal spray blocks COVID-19 infection in ferrets | Cornell Chronicle
• Alaska Serum Run of 1925: Togo, Not Balto - Sports Illustrated
• Marine Science Center home to rare yellow lobster (une.edu)
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources 

 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.

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

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

In this edition of News Bites, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• Proposed legislation that has an impact on the use of animals in biomedical research
• mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccine being used to treat/prevent Multiple Sclerosis
• The mind-boggling oddities surrounding the platypus and the recent genome sequencing project that’s been completed
• A new type of snake movement discovery and how it can help develop snake-like robots

Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!

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Resources & Links:

• Legislation Webinar Recording (created by AMP, SUBR, NABR): https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/3578344511748080385
• Legislative Search Results | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
• BioNTech creates a multiple sclerosis vaccine | Daily Mail Online
• Mapping the platypus genome: How Earth's oddest mammal got to be so bizarre -- ScienceDaily
• Brown tree snakes use their tails as lassos to climb wide trees | Science News
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources 

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

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 18 with Dr. Laura Knoll, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Laura Knoll joined the show to talk about her super important and interesting research involving parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii.  This parasite cause toxoplasmosis and it can have devastating effects on humans, especially in pregnant women and to their unborn babies.  Laura provides our listeners with some background information on this parasite, how to avoid it, and how her lab is able to conduct groundbreaking research with it utilizing a mouse model in the laboratory. 

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Laura’s extensive background and experience throughout her education and career.

· What exactly toxoplasmosis is, and why the public should be concerned about this parasite.

· Laura’s incredible research helping to understand more about Toxoplasma gondii and ways to help those affected by it.

· Alternatives to animal models and how Laura’s lab abides by the principles of refinement, reduction, and replacement to her research.

Notable quote:

“The public should be concerned because this is a really, really common parasite in humans.  It is the reason pregnant women aren’t supposed to handle cats or cat litter, and it’s because toxoplasma has it’s sexual cycle limited to the feline intestine."

“We were able to figure that out and take it one step further, because no one wanted to use cats in research.  We were able to inhibit the enzyme in mice, and give them a linoleic acid rich diet and get the sexual cycle to occur in mice, and now the mice will poop out infectious oocysts just like the cat.”

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Resources & Links:

· Centers for Disease Control – Toxoplasmosis (https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/faqs.html)

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/) 

· Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)

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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First installment of Lab Rat Chat News Bites where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics.

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

https://labratchat.myteespring.co/

In this new series of episodes to complement the usual interview style episodes you've grown accustomed to on Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff break down and inform their listeners of recent news, trends, and events going on related to biomedical research and the use of animals for the advancement of human and veterinary medicine.  Look for more episodes of Lab Rat Chat News Bites on a monthly basis.

In this first episode, Jeff and Danielle discuss:

• The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines recently approved by the FDA
• The importance of animals in research for the development of the vaccine
• The pioneer behind the mRNA vaccines, Katalin Karikó
• Their own thoughts and opinions on the vaccine production timeline
• Why pandas apparently like to roll around in horse poop

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Resources & Links:

• The story of mRNA: From a loose idea to a tool that may help curb Covid (statnews.com)
• Scientists finally think they know why these pandas like to roll in horse poop | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)
• How monkeys helped develop and test COVID-19 vacccine (News4SA)
• Americans for Medical Progress
• Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources 

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

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 17 with Dr. Sherrie Clark, Professor and Clinician at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
 
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Sherrie Clark, a veterinarian and one of Jeff’s professors at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine joined the show to talk about the important role that pigs (and other species) play in developing our ability to transplant organs from animals into humans.  This episode hits on a lot of interesting points, from Dr. Clark’s very unique experiences including milking pigs to detailed and informative descriptions of what all is involved when it comes to animal-to-human organ transplants

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Dr. Clark’s extensive background and experience throughout her education and career.

· Why and how pigs are a good model to use for many different capacities throughout biomedical research.

· How pig models can and are being used to study how to one day transplant organs from animals into humans.

· The types of different organs that could be used for transplants from animals into humans and the complexities of making this a reality in the near-future.

Notable quote:

“The heart is similar size, a lot of the organs are very similar, the digestive tract is very similar, they’re just really a nice model"

“My colleague got some grant funding and said, ‘What if we took fat and took it to the laboratory, started those stem cells on the process of rederiving into bone, and then we’re able to put those cells back into humans?”.”

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Resources & Links:

· Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/) 

· Americans for Medical Progress COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)

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

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