No one is ever ready to hear that they have a life-changing diagnosis. For patients and families, this news brings a whirlwind of emotions, fears, and uncertainties. This is especially true for patients who are diagnosed with lung diseases that can make it difficult to breathe, profoundly affecting daily life and leading to significant physical and emotional suffering. This is where palliative care comes in.

Palliative care offers an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. that goes beyond addressing only the medical aspects of a disease. It's not just about managing pain. It's about enhancing quality of life at every stage of illness and addressing the various needs of patients, their families, and caregivers when navigating life with a serious illness. By focusing on quality-of-life palliative care, palliative care ensures that patients are met with compassion. and treated with dignity as they face the challenges of a serious illness.

In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we're joined by Dr. Kathleen Lindell, associate professor in the College of Nursing and the Mary Swain Endowed Chair in Palliative Care. Dr. Lindell has extensive clinical experience working to improve support available to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. She's a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. where she received her bachelor's and master's of science in nursing, as well as her PhD. Her research focuses on promoting palliative care knowledge and preparedness to improve the quality of life for patients with advanced lung disease, specifically IPF, and their caregivers.  

Episode Links:

A Program of SUPPORT: Pulmonary & Palliative Care with Dr. Kathleen Lindell

College of Nursing equips student with palliative care training

Nurse-Led Palliative Care Clinical Trial Improves Knowledge and Preparedness in Caregivers of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

For nearly a hundred years, science fiction stories have been giving us an idea of what living with artificial intelligence might be like. But we don't have to look to our favorite sci-fi to see artificial intelligence, also called AI, in action. It's already making an impact in our everyday lives whether we realize it or not. When you ask Alexa or Siri a question, unlock your phone using face recognition, or get a notice from your bank about possible fraudulent activity on your account, AI is working in the background to offer us an opportunity or information that we didn't have before. AI uses computers and machines to solve problems and make decisions in the same way human minds do, faster and often with more accuracy. This offers incredible opportunities in biomedicine, where AI can not only help us understand more about how the human body works, it can help us discover the best ways to treat patients, leading to better outcomes.

In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we're joined by Dr. Hai Yao, a professor of oral health sciences in the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and associate department chair for the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program. He also serves as the Ernest R. Norville Endowed Chair and professor of bioengineering at Clemson University. His research studies tempera mandibular joint function and disorders, also called TMJ, and why risk factors for this issue impact treatment and prevention. The TMJ makes it possible to move the lower jaw, which is important for eating and speaking.

We are also joined by Shuchun Sun, who at the time of recording, was a senior PhD engineering student in Dr. Yao's lab, studying machine learning and biomechanics. He is currently a research associate in the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program.

Episode Links:

Explainable deep learning and biomechanical modeling for TMJ disorder morphological risk factors

The goal of biomedical research is to move healthcare innovations, like evidence-based programs and interventions, to places where patients can access them for their benefit. But there are often challenges to making this happen. One study estimates that less than half of clinical innovations make it into routine practice. This can be due to the time it takes to translate research into practice, a lack of training on the part of researchers about how to move their work closer to patient care, and because often the setting researchers use doesn't reflect the real-world settings where innovations would be delivered. Luckily, there's a special area of research designed to help improve this process called Implementation Science.  

In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we're joined by Dr. Caitlin Allen, an assistant professor in the Public Health Science Department in the MUSC College of Medicine. Dr. Allen is a social and behavioral scientist with expertise in the implementation of evidence-based research to advance precision public health initiatives. Her overarching research goal is to support the translation of genomics applications to maximize population health impact and improve health equity. Dr. Allen is also a 2024 MUSC Developing Scholar Award recipient.  

Episode Links:

Building trust and saving lives: A community approach to genetic education

We inherit lots of things through our families. Sometimes they’re visible, like the color of our eyes or hair, and other things might not be so apparent, like how you react to caffeine or how athletic you are. These traits come from genes passed to us from our parents – we inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent, and they act as the blueprints for our bodies.

The genes we inherit can also raise our risk for some kinds of cancer. All cancers are caused by mutations in our cells, and most of the time those mutations happen simply because of aging, or because of lifestyle choices like smoking. But sometimes - in about 5%-10% of cancers - mutations are handed down through families. If you have one of these inherited mutations, you can minimize your cancer risk by following established health care guidelines and taking a proactive approach to your health.  

In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Hughes, the Director of Cancer Genetics at the Hollings Cancer Center and the McKoy Rose, Jr., M.D. Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology in the College of Medicine at MUSC. Dr Hughes is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in breast cancer, breast disease management, genetic testing and the identification and management of patients with hereditary breast cancer risk.  His research focuses on developing tools that make cancer genetic testing simple, safe, and efficient.   

Correction at the 11:40 minute mark: the statistic should be 1-2 people out of every 100 will have be identified with a gene variant at the population level.

Clarification At the 12:08 and 26:00 minute marks: Once a participant is positively identified, they are offered a free genetic counselling appointment and from there are able to follow up with the Hereditary Cancer Clinic if they desire or may seek follow up care elsewhere.

Episode Links:

Hollings Cancer Center Hereditary Cancer Clinic

In Our DNA SC community health research project

CDC Tier 1 Genomics Applications and their Importance to Public Health

Have an idea for a future episode? Send us an email at [email protected].

Science Never Sleeps is produced by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Language is the basis for all human connection. It allows us to communicate our ideas, express our feelings, and have discussions with the people in our lives. The language skills we develop as children lay the foundation for how we communicate as adults. Typically developing children begin speaking between 12-18 months and start regularly incorporating verbs around the age of 2. Research suggests that the number of verbs a child knows at age 2 is an indicator of their grammar skills at age 3. But what happens when these language skills are delayed?  

In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Horvath an assistant professor of rehabilitation sciences in the College of Health Professions at MUSC shares her research in childhood language development. Horvath is the Principal Investigator for the MACAW Lab, which stands for Methods of Acquiring Concepts and Words. Horvath leads research in child language development and disorder, late talkers, and vocabulary development. 

Episode Links:

The MACAW Lab

Have an idea for an episode of Science Never Sleeps? Send us an email at [email protected].

As we age, our brains undergo changes that can lead to a range of cognitive issues that impact memory, decision-making, and overall mental sharpness. In a world where life expectancy continues to rise, the implications of cognitive decline extend far beyond the individual. The societal and economic consequences are vast, making the pursuit of effective interventions and preventive strategies more critical than ever. According to the 2022 Census, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds, and by mid-century it will be every 33 seconds. 

But what exactly causes this decline, and why is it so crucial for us to understand? And how can early detection improve care for patients with cognitive impairment? 

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Aghamoosa, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences Research in the MUSC College of Health Professions, discusses her work on improving the early detection of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Her science underscores the importance of ongoing research in preserving and optimizing cognitive function, ensuring a brighter and more cognitively resilient future for us all. 

Episode Links:

Individualized brain fingerprints can help to uncover early signs of Alzheimer’s disease

Redefining treatments for mild cognitive impairment

Have an idea for an episode of Science Never Sleeps? Send us an email at [email protected].

Potentially traumatic events that children may experience can include psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; community or school violence; racism-related traumas; witnessing or experiencing domestic violence; the sudden or violent loss of a loved one; and military family-related stressors like deployment, parental loss or injury. According to the Substance, Abuse, and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event by the age of sixteen.

Trauma affects us all differently, and the same is true for children. Understanding how we can prevent trauma and reduce the impact of trauma when it occurs, is key to reducing other risky behaviors that can negatively impact children and adolescents into adulthood like substance, use and risky sexual behavior.

In this episode, Dr. Carla Kmett Danielson, a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina shares her research into helping at-risk youth respond to trauma and how that research has led to new approaches in clinic today. Danielson has been selected by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies as the recipient of the 2023 Robert Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement. Through her research as a member of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, she developed both the Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT) and the EMPOWERR Program.

**If your child or family needs help, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)**

Episode Links:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT)

EMPOWERR Program

As the highway for messages between the brain and body, the spinal cord is key to how we feel sensation and move our bodies. An injury to this critical pathway can be life-changing.  These injuries can impact all areas of a person's life, often causing full or partial paralysis and a range of complications from chronic pain to respiratory failure. 

At one point, living 40 years with a spinal cord injury was nearly unheard of, but now, more people are reaching and exceeding that milestone, making understanding ways to improve the quality of life even more important.  

In this episode, Dr. James Krause, distinguished university professor and the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina shares his personal story and how it led him to commit his adult life to understanding the long-term consequences of neurologic injury on health, quality of life, employment, and longevity. 

Episode Links:

MUSC Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions (CRRNC)

South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

When you think about how to be more healthy, one of the things you might think about is your body weight. When our body weight is higher than what is considered healthy for our height, we might be described as overweight or obese and some common health issues come to mind when we think about being overweight: Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

But body weight and related metabolic conditions like diabetes are also linked to our brain health and, in particular, our risk for Alzheimer's disease. With obesity at epidemic proportions, high economic costs of health-related issues, and an increasingly aging population, understanding the connection between obesity and brain health is critical. Thankfully, researchers are investigating obesity and cognitive decline and what might be done to protect our brains as we age.

Guest Notes: Dr. Catrina Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology in the MUSC College of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding the role of metabolic disorders (such as prediabetes, diabetes, and obesity) on brain health and aging, as well as understanding the pathways involved in developing novel therapeutic targets to improve brain health.

Show Reference Links:

Robinson Research Lab at MUSC

Can diabetes lead to cognitive impairment? - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease

Diabetes Impact in South Carolina Fact Sheet - Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina

Take a moment to think about the last time when you had an injury you could see. Maybe it was a scratch or scrape on your arm or leg, or even a cut on your finger. You probably knew what would happen next. Once the bleeding was under control, you expected a scab to form, and maybe wondered if you’d end up with a scar. At the center of this healing process was a cell called a fibroblast. Fibroblasts are the most common type of cell found in connective tissue and they play an important role in healing wounds by secreting collagen proteins that repair tissue.  

But sometimes these fibroblasts become confused about what they should be doing, leading to a condition called fibrosis. Researchers don’t fully understand why fibrosis occurs, but it leads to organs or tissues developing excessive fibrous tissue, which can interfere with multiple organs like the lungs, heart, liver, skin, kidneys, and eyes - ultimately leading to loss of organ function. Inflammation or fibrosis play a role in several diseases, including lupus, cystic fibrosis and scleroderma. There are currently no FDA approved drugs that can halt the progression of fibrosis or reverse it, making it an essential area of focus for research. 

In this episode of Science Never Sleeps, we'll be discussing scleroderma and fibrosis, and research to find treatments and possible cures.

Guest Notes: Dr. Carol Feghali-Bostwick is a Distinguished University Professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology at MUSC focusing on fibrosis encompassing disorders such as Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. In addition to research, Dr. Feghali-Bostwick ‘s efforts include mentoring of junior investigators in patient-oriented research and directing the Center for the Advancement, Retention, and Recruitment of Women (ARROW). She also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Scleroderma Foundation. 

Show Reference Links:

Feghali-Bostwick Basic Research Lab at MUSC

National Scleroderma Foundation

What is Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis? - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute