Science Talks

Sustainable agriculture is quickly becoming the wave of the future as we find ways to feed a world of 10 billion by 2050. Our BIO5 researchers are developing novel solutions that enable the production of more food with less use of resources. Using the framework of sustainable agriculture, Dr. Joel Cuello is looking up for answers in the form of vertical farming. Dr. Cuello is a professor of agricultural-biosystems engineering, applied biosciences, and arid lands resources sciences, as well as a BIO5 member.

Certain diseases like Alzheimer’s and high blood pressure are known to alter the link between brain activity and blood flow changes in the brain, leading to improper blood flow delivery to brain cells. This eventually leads to the death of brain cells and cognitive decline. Dr. Paulo Pires, assistant professor of physiology and surgery and BIO5 member, studies how blood flow to the brain changes between healthy and disease states, with an eye on possible therapies that can improve blood flow to mitigate disease.

Treatment for patients with blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma may include a bone marrow transplant to replace unhealthy tissue to increase odds of recovery and survival. Transplants can be lifesaving but are complex and challenging, especially for children. Physician-scientist Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis not only performs transplantation, but also actively researches tumor and transplant immunology. Dr. Katsanis is a professor of pediatrics, medicine, immunology, and cancer biology, and is a BIO5 member. He discusses his three decades of expertise in the lab and clinic as the Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Arizona, as well as directing his own research lab.

From smart watches to pacemakers, technology is essential in helping us lead happy, healthier lives. Because this tech can be bulky and a little intimidating at times, creating inconspicuous devices that carry a big impact is at the forefront of tomorrow's life-changing innovations. Dr. Philipp Gutruf, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and BIO5 member, specializes in creating new kinds of wearable and implantable devices that seamlessly integrate with living systems to ultimately change the landscapes of health diagnostics and neuroscience.

Biomarkers are measurable substances inside our bodies that give scientists and medical professionals a hint that we might have a certain disease, like cancer or Alzheimer’s, or have been exposed to a toxic chemical. Biomarkers are typically measured in blood samples or biopsies, which can range from a minimally invasive sample taken from the skin or a more invasive sample from within the body. Dr. Judith Su, the director of the University of Arizona’s Little Sensor Lab, is looking to change the way we detect biomarkers with her tiny, non-invasive optical sensors. Dr. Su is an assistant professor of optical sciences and biomedical engineering, assistant research scientist in chemistry and biochemistry, and BIO5 member.

Description: Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, but only 27% of the STEM workforce. The University of Arizona and the BIO5 Institute are working to combat this gender inequity, and Dr. Betsy Cantwell, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, and Dr. Jennifer Barton, BIO5's director, are leading the charge. Cantwell and Barton share tips for succeeding as a woman in STEM, particularly engineering, as well as how they navigate the intersection between STEM and business to bring valuable innovations to their stakeholders.

About one-third of Americans aren't getting the right amount of shut-eye on a daily basis - but how many hours should you really be getting? Can you make up for poor sleep with a nap? How can you fall asleep - and stay asleep? Dr. Michael Grandner, Director of the UArizona Sleep and Health Research Program and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center, gives us the secrets to a better night's sleep. The professor of several disciplines also tells us why good sleep is not just important for our mood, but it's essential to promoting cardiovascular health, as well as preventing obesity and diabetes.

Hormones like estrogen and progesterone typically get a bad rap, as they’re often blamed for heightened emotional expression during menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum. Dr. Alicia Allen is changing the way we think and talk about female reproductive hormones. The assistant professor of family and community medicine, clinical translational sciences, and public health shares how her epidemiological and intervention studies are geared towards educating, empowering, and helping women combat their addictions.

The University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous Peoples, and today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O'odham and the Yaqui. There is a disproportionate burden of contaminant exposure in underserved populations like Native Americans, and because their culture and traditions are closely woven with the environment, special strategies must be used to study and help these groups. Dr. Paloma Beamer, professor of public health, research scientist in the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, and director of the Community Engagement Core at the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, shares how she takes a culturally-informed approach to conduct research with and devises interventions for Indigenous Peoples.

One in every 13 Americans suffers from asthma. UArizona Regents’ Professor, Dr. Fernando Martinez, also a former director of the BIO5 Institute, describes how witnessing his mother’s asthma attack ignited his passion to research and treat patients with this condition. The Director of the Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center shares what the buzzwords “transdisciplinary” and “innovation” mean to him, and how he keeps both of these factors in mind when studying genetic and environmental interactions when thinking about potential treatments and a cure for asthma.