Gretchen Rice, PhD, JD, Vice President and General Counsel, and Mark Johnson, PhD, Scientific Program Manager, discuss the licensing considerations that go into using CRISPR and other gene editing platforms to create genetically engineered animal models.

Podcast Series Brought to you by Taconic and The CRISPR Journal

Evert-Jan Uringa and Dominique Bröehl, Scientific Program Managers with Taconic, discuss how to choose the best genetic modification technology to generate an animal model.

Podcast Series Brought to you by Taconic and The CRISPR Journal

The Podcast entitled: “High-Quality TTM Matters to Hospitals” with Michael Kurz, MD, Associate Professor Department of Emergency Medicine, Co-Director Therapeutic Hypothermia Program at the University of Alabama Birmingham and David Hildebrandt, BSN, MBA, Associate Director, Clinical Operations at the Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discussed their perspectives on clinical care from the nurse and physician perspective. The importance of implementing fully vetted TTM standard operating procedures supported by nurses and physicians was emphasized. This step was felt to be critical since TTM procedures are commonly conducted in parallel with other monitoring and treatment protocols to maximize patient recovery. The importance of different cooling techniques like surface and intravascular approaches on efficiency and nurse burden was also discussed. It’s important to emphasize that the use of automated TTM methods in emergency rooms and intensive care units have led to improved patient outcomes, reduced staff burden and cost savings for hospitals. Future research is required to determine more effective ways to personalize these TTM protocols to individuals based on injury severity and other relevant factors using surrogate biomarker platforms and other approaches.

Robotic surgery is commonplace for extirpative surgery. In episode forty-two, we learn some of the applications for reconstruction with a focus on female disorders.

The Podcast entitled “During TTM, What Matters Most” with Dr. Justin Lundbye, Chief Medical Officer, Waterbury Hospital, CT discussed topics critical to the successful use of TTM including speed of cooling and reaching and maintaining consistent temperature levels during the treatment phase. Important lessons learned for successfully treating fever by proactively initiating preventive measures such as placing patients on TTM protocols were highlighted. In addition to using intravascular and surface cooling approaches to reduce fever burden, several medications are available to help prevent or limit the severity and duration and elevated core temperatures. As we continue to focus of optimal levels and durations of TTM treatment, the importance of elevated core temperatures on patient outcomes remains a serious issue and requires proactive measures to limit detrimental consequences.

In Episode 3, experts discuss the utility of antegrade instillation of Jelmyto as a viable option, which may reduce adverse effects associated with repeated instrumentation of the ureter. The urologist should be cognizant of tumor location, as this may impact placement of the nephrostomy tube and subsequent efficacy of treatment. Episode #3 delves into these treatment considerations.

The Podcast entitled “Temperature Management Matters: Past, Present and Future” with Dr. Nickolas Johnson, Associate Professor, University of Washington focused on lessons learned from past clinical trials in cardiac arrest and next steps for improving TTM protocols. In addition to reviewing published results from the completed TTM1 and TTM2 trials, Dr. Johnson discussed the new ICECAP trial that will use an innovative adaptive randomization approach to clarify the optimal duration of cooling associated with best outcomes in post cardiac patients. Consistent with the concept of specialized medicine, these types of clinical studies and resulting data could result in new guidelines for the use of temperature management protocols in terms of cooling duration in this heterogenous population of patients.

In episode forty-one, Dual Lumen URS, Dr. Jaime Landman shares his experience with the Wolf Dual Lumen Cobra flexible Ureteroscope and some insights on disposable technology.

In Episode 2, doctors examine how effectively managing both low and intermediate risk NMIBC continues to evolve. Given both the global BCG shortage as well as the unmet need for more effective therapies, innovative strategies and trials are required to enhance our patient’s clinical outcomes as well as to decrease the well described morbidity and costs associated with current NMIBC therapies.

Podcast summary: Episode 5, Part 2 continues the discussion from the last episode on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Urology residency training and education. It explores the challenges in delivering training in different healthcare systems and discusses innovative methods to supplement training during the pandemic and beyond.