TGen Talks

In this episode of TGen Talks, we explore the overlooked yet vital world of skin cancer prevention and treatment. Our skin, the body's largest organ, often takes a back seat in discussions about cancer. Join us as we delve into this crucial topic with our guest, Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic.      Dr. Sekulic wears two hats: that of a clinician and a researcher. He shares how his interactions with patients inform his research, leading to groundbreaking advancements in skin cancer treatment. From pioneering clinical trials to developing targeted therapies and immunotherapies, Dr. Sekulic sheds light on the complexities of skin cancer and the importance of bridging the gap between medicine and research.     Discover the different types of skin cancer, from melanoma to basal cell carcinoma, we’ll explore the various facets of this disease, its impact, and the latest advancements transforming the landscape of skin cancer care. Learn about the challenges posed by complex skin cancers, such as locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma, and the innovative treatments being developed to address them.     Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of this often-underestimated aspect of healthcare as our host, Karie Dozer, works to uncover the latest insights and advancements in skin cancer research and treatment with Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic.

Cancer continues to be the second most common cause of death in the United States, with a total of nearly 2 million diagnoses every year.   In this episode of TGen Talks, recorded in front of a live studio audience, we take a look at how genomic information is leading to better and earlier diagnoses and treatments for all kinds of cancer and how the collaboration between City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix and TGen is proving to be a mighty weapon in the fight against cancer right here in Arizona.   Joining the podcast this month are TGen President and Research Director, Dr. Jeffrey Trent, and City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Alan Bryce.

Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated six million Americans. Diagnosing and treating the disease is challenging, and for families taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s even more difficult. Detecting and addressing the disease early on is crucial due to its progressive nature. However, Alzheimer’s symptoms can resemble those of other non-progressive conditions.  In a recent Cells publication, a team of scientists describe using machine learning models to identify changes in RNA molecules of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) that may hold potential for identifying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at its earliest stages. This is one of the first studies to show changes in the RNA molecules of plasma EVs that precede neurodegeneration and provides evidence that some of the hidden pathology taking place early in the disease is reflected in plasma EVs, where it can be accessed in a minimally invasive manner and used for biomarker development.  On this edition of TGen Talks, study co-author and TGen Neurogenomics Division staff scientist Joanna Palade, Ph.D., discusses their findings, and how what sound like magic or a fortune teller's promise, is the goal of the scientists working to develop a simple test; one that wouldn't simply indicate whether your symptoms might progress to an Alzheimer's diagnosis, but could also estimate the timeframe for when it might occur.

Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, sits down with TGen Talks to discuss the transformational power of education, in particular, how internships help prepare students for future success. Helios Education Foundation supports postsecondary attainment for all students, especially low-income and underrepresented communities, in Arizona and Florida. Earlier this month, Helios committed funding to extend the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy (TBLA) through 2028 (see related story). TBLA spun out of TGen’s Helios Scholars Program in 2018, with a focus on supporting high-school students interested in careers in biomedical research and medicine. In addition to the Helios-funded programs at TGen, Luna discusses Helios’ focus on helping students achieve educational success beyond high school and the importance of opening the programs to all students, regardless of background. And how rewarding it is to help students find a track to success, whatever that success may be. Students should allow themselves to dream big, he says. Be willing to apply, be willing to say, I want to be part of that unique cohort of talented students who are going to learn and evolve and build a network and maybe, one day, find the cure for Alzheimer’s or cancer.

More than three years after the beginning of the pandemic, humans still spread COVID to one another every day, though with less severe symptoms in most cases. Scientists also know that we can spread COVID to our pets as well, because of the close relationships many of us have with our four-legged friends. While dogs CAN get COVID from humans, they don’t seem to get very SICK. So, what’s the big deal if we spread the virus to our pets?  Can dogs spread it back to humans or to other animals? TGen scientists are looking to answer these and other questions in a new study called the 1000 Canine (1K9) SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Study … and they’re looking for dogs to participate. Hayley Yaglom, MS, MPH, a genomic epidemiologist who leads TGen North’s One Health team and the 1K9 study joins TGen Talks to discuss the study and how the information gained will help tailor guidance for public health, veterinary professionals, and people interacting with dogs in various settings.

Today, the world of biomedical science is changing how we think about disease and, certainly, how we treat it ... but did you ever wonder how discovery happens?    What does a lab look like? What type of equipment do they use? Who exactly is working inside? How many scientists and staff? And on what projects?   On this episode of TGen Talks, Kristen Kaus, Manager of TGen's Education and Outreach programs, talks TGen, specifically, what guests and visitors see and hear when they go on a tour.   While you might not learn everything modern research, you will gain an insider’s knowledge of TGen.   She also talks about STEM education and the programs at TGen designed to foster a love of science and support students aiming for a career in bioscience. If that’s you, a TGen tour is a great way to see science in action.

For a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, there are more treatment options than ever and traditional chemotherapies that cause debilitating side effects have been all but completely replaced by immunotherapies, treatments that help a patient's own immune system better fight the disease. But in many patients, a chosen immunotherapy drug can show great promise in early treatments, yet seemingly stop working altogether as time goes by.   In a paper that was published in Nature Medicine, TGen's Dr. Jonathan Keats explains how upwards of 65% of relapsing multiple myeloma patients could be affected by mutations that impact targeted T cell treatments.   On this episode, you'll hear about a study that found how these cancer cells were mutating to evade the very drugs prescribed to fight them. The findings could help clinicians and patients choose from among a variety of T cell therapies for multiple myeloma to find treatments that best match a patient’s available tumor targets.   Dr. Keats also discusses his broader work in multiple myeloma and plans for a rapid sequencing center that will place valuable genomic-informed data in the hands of treating physicians in just 48 hours.   All this and more on TGen Talks.

The phrase "gut health" has become quite a buzzword in recent years, and researchers like this month's guest will tell you quite candidly that we have a lot to learn about the community of microorganisms that live INSIDE the human body. But one thing seems to be clear. The human being with a "healthy gut" is far better able to fight a cancer diagnosis than the human with poor gut health. Regardless the current standard for a healthy human microbiome, the data being compiled on this relatively new topic is vast. One TGen researcher is uniquely qualified to analyze and manage such data, and is doing so at TGen North. Dr. Greg Caporaso is a bioinformatician-- with expertise in both computer science and the human microbiome. On this episode of TGen talks, he explains how his study of this important body system started not in a pre-med class, but in the computer lab.

Most of us had a summer job when we were in high school or college, and if we were lucky, we had one that helped us make meaningful decisions about college or a career.    At TGen, summer interns in the Helios Scholars at TGen program work alongside researchers on projects that are much more than “just” eight weeks of full-time hours inside a lab. Many Scholars choose a field of research they will pursue for an entire career.    On this episode of the TGen Talks, we connect with Heather Mead, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division. A former Helios Scholar who describes the eight-week internship as life changing and encouraged her to begin a second career in research, one that has seen her come full circle as today she mentors Helios Scholars, helping them find and follow their passion … all while conducting research and coordinating projects around Tuberculosis, Valley Fever, COVID and more.

What if you could take a simple test to find out just how susceptible you are to Covid19, the Flu, or any other virus? What if you could test your exposure and immunity to EVERY virus known to mankind using a single drop of blood? The technology is here, now. And at TGen, researchers are using it to understand the human immune response and predict and track the next global outbreak. What's more, the human immune system not only protects us from viruses and pathogens, it can help prevent the onset of deadly diseases triggered by those infections. This month's podcast is an introduction to something called PepSeq (pep-seek), a breakthrough technology that allows scientists at TGen to detect infections by – and immunity to – the entire human virome.

This month, our host Karie Dozer sits down for a personal conversation with Maria Fundora, who is neither a scientist nor a clinician. She's a businesswoman from Alpharetta, Georgia, a restauranteur and founder of Purple Pansies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. And like most nonprofits that support research, there's a story about how it all began, and most often in whose memory. Maria's mother passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2007, inspiring Maria to start Purple Pansies. The organization began with $3,500 raised on Mother's Day in 2008. Maria chose the name Purple Pansies because purple represents pancreatic cancer and pansies symbolize resilience. Initially, Purple Pansies held two annual events, a community gathering and a gala in Maria's restaurant. It wasn't until 2010 that Maria learned about TGen. Impressed by TGen's approach, Maria established a partnership that to date has raised millions. All this and more with Maria Fundora on TGen Talks.

Understanding how infectious diseases spread in the past is important to understanding how they affect populations today. The difficulty lie in piecing together information given that so little is known about how microbes spread historically. Applying academic rigor with scientific assessment, two microbiologists teamed with an archaeologist to look at different types of evidence — genetics, anthropology, paleontology and climate — in an attempt to explain how the fungus that causes Valley fever, Coccidioides immitis, ended up in a specific area of Washington state. The review article in mBio by Drs. David Engelthaler, James C. Chatters and Arturo Casadevall details their approach from a historical perspective, applying what they knew about the biology and epidemiology of C. immitis, which led them to propose a new theory for why it has emerged in that region of Washington. Today, a great deal of discussion around the spread of diseases and the expansion of their habitats focuses on the effects of global warming. And while climate change does have an impact on different environments and habitats, this investigation sought to understand how and why different microbes, like fungi, move from one place to another through the lens of modern biology. Their final analysis, climate change may not always be the reason behind the spread of diseases, but it can reveal past events that could be dangerous. Engelthaler explains more in this edition of TGen Talks.

When treating cancer patients, physicians are often faced with tough choices.  Treatment options like radiation can often come with unpleasant, for some, unbearable side-effects. Doctors walk a fine line between stopping the growth of cancer cells and giving cancer cells the very thing they need to grow and spread.     City of Hope and TGen physician-scientist Yun Rose Li, M.D., Ph.D., has been called trailblazing and innovative by the NIH in her research into oxidative stress and its effects on cancer cells. Dr. Li is using a five year, nearly $2 million grant to study how manipulating oxidative stress can improve the outcomes of her patients with genitourinary cancers.     Recruited for her research while still a resident at UC San Francisco, Dr. Li is quickly proving it no longer takes a lifetime in cancer research to make a difference in the lives of patients.

In part two of TGen Talks Live, we continue our conversation on precision aging with Drs. Matthew Huentelman and Nicholas Schork. Aging encompasses a variety aspects—both physical and mental—a fact made evident by the topics covered and the research presented. Where Huentelman’s work covers the brain and the more cognitive aspects of aging, Schork’s work focuses on the physical changes we undergo as we age. This month, in part two of our live show, our guests talk about how the COVID pandemic affected our bodies and brains, and how we can best separate fact from fiction when it comes to anti-aging supplements.

TGen offers listeners a deeper dive into a particular biomedical-related topic or program through its monthly podcast TGen Talks. Each free-flowing episode allows a TGen scientist to connect with a broader audience by explaining the finer details involved in their research at a listener-friendly level. December’s episode escapes the sound booth for a live event in front of a studio audience. The inaugural TGen Talks Live features Drs. Matthew Huentelman and Nicholas Schork who join our host Karie Dozer for an in-depth conversation on precision aging. A continuation of TGen’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, the event, hosted by the TGen Foundation and sponsored by Phoenix IDA and Bell Bank, took place at the Center for Positive Media. Aging encompasses a variety of aspects—both physical and mental—a fact made evident by the topics covered and the research presented. Where Huentelman’s work covers the brain and the more cognitive aspects of aging, Schork’s work focuses on the physical changes we undergo as we age. Topics discussed included how genetics influences aging, current research, lifestyle choices and the benefits of off-the-shelf supplements and whether they live up to the hype. Can't wait for part II? Catch the full taping on TGen's YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/N29DaTB8Jg8

Humans have been searching for the fountain of youth (a mythical endless supply of waters that purport to keep us young forever) for thousands of years—but there’s no such thing in the world of science. At TGen, scientists are working toward a virtual fountain of youth, and they call it precision aging. On this month’s TGen Talks, Matthew Huentelman, Ph.D., helps us understand precision aging a bit more clearly, as he explains the concepts behind the process, and discusses just a few of the benefits it may hold for our future. This month’s podcast also tees up a first-ever TGen Talks Live event slated for December, where Huentelman and his colleague, Nicholas Schork, Ph.D., join our host Karie Dozer for a deeper dive into precision aging, and how genomics may hold the answers for a longer and healthier life

Cancer is the number one worry of pet parents, and it's no wonder. More than half of all dogs older than 10 will be diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is hard to treat in many dogs, and is often diagnosed when it's too late to treat. Americans spent more than $120 billion on their pets just last year. One TGen subsidiary is putting its science to work for pet parents, so that cancer in dogs is diagnosed before it's too late. Vidium Animal Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of TGen and it works to diagnose and treat canine cancers.

With COVID infections and deaths on the decline worldwide, many researchers are turning their attention back to a familiar foe. Tuberculosis (TB) was the number one infectious disease killer before the emergence of COVID-19, and it is number one again today.   Although most Americans are not at risk of contracting TB, it continues to be a danger worldwide. TGen researchers are trying to find better diagnostics for this very stubborn bacterial infection, and combat antibiotic resistance so that doctors everywhere can better treat this ancient illness.   TGen North research scientist Megan Folkerts joins TGen Talks to discuss TB’s history, Egyptian mummies, TGen North's efforts to design better diagnostics, learning how antibiotic resistance stunts treatment, and improved ways to overcome its effects on new or current therapies.   All this and more on TGen Talks.

For Crystal Hepp, PhD, the newest member of the TGen North team, understanding how different pathogens move over time and space and through different populations is all in a day’s work. Recently, that work has centered heavily on RNA viruses, and given that the translational aspects of her work aligned seamlessly with the TGen North team and its mission, the decision to join the team came fairly easy. Spread through the bite of the common house mosquito, West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Hepp discusses her work with county vector control agencies throughout the southwest to collect and test mosquitoes, work that helps identify locations that are viral hot zones. Additionally, Dr. Hepp discusses a unique method for collecting local wastewater samples across wastewater treatment plants, local school districts, and university residence halls testing for COVID —a partnership between the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County Health Services, Northern Arizona University, and TGen— and plans for a study to look for coronaviruses in different animal populations to understand which populations might be able to be reservoir species, then estimate when or if spillover back into humans could occur. All this and more on TGen Talks.

This episode of TGen Talks takes the listener along I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff, where our host, Karie Dozer, sits down with David Engelthaler, Ph.D., professor and director of TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division, more commonly known as TGen North.   Whereas TGen uses genomics to solve complex problems such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, the scientists at TGen North use these same tools and technology to focus on infectious disease … the microbes, the bacteria, the viruses, the fungi that cause some of the greatest problems around the world.    Engelthaler provides the listener an inside look at the research underway across the division, and the community work with different tribal nations and hospitals to understand what’s most important to them and how TGen North can apply their expertise to support those needs.   Whether it's Cryptococcus, tuberculosis, superbugs in our hospitals, or other bad things like plague, West Nile, Valley fever, COVID, or the latest efforts around pathogen intelligence, TGen North’s goal is and always has been to rapidly identify and help stop the spread of potentially dangerous outbreaks.   All this and more, on TGen Talks.

Dr. Johanna DiStefano joins TGen Talks to discuss nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, a condition that causes excess amount of fat in one’s liver cells. As evidenced by its name (which could use an update, according to our guest) NAFLD covers a wide-range of liver conditions with the “alcohol” portion somewhat misleading, as it’s not always that cut and dry.   Different factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and diet could also play a role in NAFLD. It could also be one’s gender or one’s stage in life. For example, the risk increases for women following menopause.   Dr. DiStefano discusses her labs focus on the genetic factors that influence the development of NAFLD and increasing awareness of this population among clinicians.    How does nonalcoholic fatty liver disease develop? How does the liver communicate with other cells in the body, other organs in the body?    The long-term goal, of course, is identifying better ways to detect and treat fatty liver disease. And that means new tests and new drugs.    All this and more on TGen Talks.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of TGen's founding on what at the time was a relatively unknown idea outside the circles of academia and scientific research, precision medicine. The concept of using a person's own genome to diagnose and treat disease at an individual level, to move beyond the one-size-fits-all treatment plans that had dominated the medical landscape for decades, where drugs and therapies considered large groups of people with the same disease, and what worked for the majority. A true public-private partnership, TGen came to fruition through the work of tribal leaders, CEOs, philanthropic trusts, foundations, individuals and university presidents, all united toward an extraordinarily high-risk goal: Forming and funding an institute based on the just-completed Human Genome Project and placing it not in Boston, San Francisco or Washington, D.C., but in Phenix, Arizona. TGen founder, Dr. Jeffrey Trent, joins TGen Talks to discuss the institute’s beginnings as well as how over the past 20 years, TGen faculty have leveraged the human blueprint to advance the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers, neurologic and metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and rare disorders.

Applied mathematics dramatically advanced the field of finance in the 1970’s, where its application allowed for the modeling of financial markets by mathematicians highly skilled in quantitative analytics. Today, these highly sought-after mathematicians are making a name for themselves in the field of applied science as their skills are increasingly providing solutions in many areas of biomedical research.    The genomic sequencing routinely employed by TGen in precision medicine platforms generates data on a massive scale. Applying mathematical modeling, statistical methods, and machine learning, to these complex datasets has the potential to transform longitudinal (i.e., the same patient sampled over time) genomics data into new predictive biomarkers of disease or response to treatment.    In the latest edition of TGen Talks, Dr. Cristian Tomasetti discusses his mathematical grounding, how applied mathematics influences modern biology, his work at TGen and City of Hope, and the role of somatic mutations on cancer.   All this and more in under 20 minutes.

TGen’s Scientific Technology Assessment Research Team (START) supports the research faculty by bringing new technology into the labs to help answer today’s most pressing research questions.    When the current tools for measuring DNA or proteins or cellular structure aren't sufficient, START scouts the technology landscape for companies that are developing new methods that can, often by partnering to beta test the technology. And that means TGen gains early access … but only after the START lab vets the technology through rigorous testing at a biological level.   Stephanie Pond, Ph.D., Vice President of Emerging Technologies and head of TGen's START program, joins TGen Talks to discuss START. She explains how technologies make the cut, and the avenues by which new technologies hit the START radar. She also discusses a recent collaboration between TGen and Bay Area start-up, Deepcell (see related story Going Deep), who developed a system focused on cell imaging and cell sorting that allows researchers to predict how cells will function based on how they look.

Episode 45 - Dr. Michael Berens by TGen

For our final episode of TGen Talks in 2021, our host, Karie Dozer, sat down with TGen North Director, Dr. David Engelthaler, who has led TGen’s research into COVID since day one.   Dr. Engelthaler shares his thoughts on Omicron … what we know, what’s left to learn, and why it’s spreading so fast.    While it may be a bit early to predict how Omicron will play out in the U.S., it appears to follow trends seen with other variants and is on pace to replace Delta as the most dominant variant, which may not be all bad news, particularly if it produces symptoms that are milder than its predecessors.   Dr. Engelthaler also discusses which states seem to be hit the hardest, how that changes week-by-week, immunity against Omicron for the fully vaccinated, and how a strong cellular immunity helps prevent serious illness.    All this and more in just eighteen minutes on TGen Talks.

Genomic analysis of a cancer tumor is fairly common these days. Researchers sequence and compare a patient’s non-cancerous DNA with their tumor DNA to identify changes that may allow a patient to receive medicine that specifically targets those changes. But what happens when the tumor comes back? Has the tumor changed? And if so, how? These were questions that intrigued TGen Assistant Professor Floris Barthel, M.D. In particular, his latest research focuses on the effects of radiotherapy on the cancer tumor. What is different in the DNA of the first tumor compared to the normal DNA, and what is different in the DNA of the second tumor compared to the first tumor? How does treatment affect the DNA of these tumors over time? On this episode of TGen Talks, Dr. Barthel discusses how his work has shown that radiotherapy, while highly beneficial, appears to create breaks in the DNA and instead of dying, the cancer cell repairs itself, which alters the tumor make-up upon recurrence. He cautions there is still much to discover, but if successful, it could help identify those relapsed patients resistant to further radiotherapy and allow treating physicians to suggest an alternate course of treatment.

At the Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, it's all about the kids. Center staff dedicate themselves to finding a diagnosis and possible treatments for disorders so rare that many may not even have a name.     In episode 42 of TGen Talks, we go inside the Center with Clinical Director Keri Ramsey, who talks about the parents and kids who come to the Center for answers, and how TGen scientists are solving as many of these medical mysteries as possible ... some years after the search began through a special program that brings cold cases to the forefront and offers renewed hope to families in search of answers.

For TGen’s Dr. Matt Huentelman, leveraging today’s technology to rewrite the playbook on research recruiting and reimagine the scientific landscape involves attracting people to genomic studies in a whole new way. Leaning on a riff from the Doobie Brothers, Huentelman wants to take it to the streets. The Internet — in one form or another — has been around since the late 1960s, yet it’s only been within the last decade or so that scientists have taken advantage of online platforms to recruit for and drive large-scale research studies. For Huentelman, his MindCrowd study was among the early adopters and today has recruited over 160 thousand participants. But, not wanting to stop there, he believes the next iteration involves mobile laboratories that bring the science to a town and neighborhood near you. This month, on TGen Talks, Dr. Huentelman addresses his latest efforts with MindCrowd, plus his drive to understand aging and age-related diseases through a process he refers to as precision aging. And not just for some. Studying diverse populations remains critical to fully understanding aging and how it effects all walks of life and all aspects of society — from urban to rural and everywhere in-between. Is a mobile lab visit in your future?

The range of emotions a Helios Scholar at TGen experiences — from application through the program’s end — shifts dramatically as the summer unfolds. The end result, however, is one of accomplishment. 2021 marked the 15th year of TGen’s flagship internship program that has seen nearly 600 alumni gain often career-defining exposure to biomedical research and medicine by working alongside TGen faculty and staff. In episode 40, TGen Talks host Karie Dozer sits down with three Helios Scholars from the class of 2021 who share their summer of science as they discuss what they've learned and how they'll put that training to use as they move forward in their careers.

The range of emotions a Helios Scholar at TGen experiences — from application through the program’s end — shifts dramatically as the summer unfolds. The end result, however, is one of accomplishment. 2021 marked the 15th year of TGen’s flagship internship program that has seen nearly 600 alumni gain often career-defining exposure to biomedical research and medicine by working alongside TGen faculty and staff. In episode 40, TGen Talks host Karie Dozer sits down with three Helios Scholars from the class of 2021 who share their summer of science as they discuss what they've learned and how they'll put that training to use as they move forward in their careers.

Science has come a remarkably long way, especially since sequencing the human genome, but has it come far enough for everyone? A focus of TGen research has always been finding a path to the clinic and ensuring the work is relevant to all ethnicities, ages and genders. But that’s not always easy. "Right now, precision medicine is not precise for every American, and especially it's not precise for those that are of non-European ancestry," says Jeffrey Trent Ph.D., F.A.C.M.G., TGen's Founding President and Research Director, on episode 39 of TGen Talks, who discusses a new project that comes at a time where the focus on diversity in our population should be represented more significantly in our research and healthcare system. He also explains how investigators at TGen headquarters continued their research into various cancers and other diseases without missing a beat while most of the world was on COVID lockdown, and shares his views on the value of having summer interns. All this and more on TGen Talks.

With the Delta variant of COVID-19 garnering worldwide attention, it begs the question: When will the pandemic end? This month, on Episode 38, we circle back with David Englethaler, Ph.D., Director of TGen's Pathogen and Microbiome Division, more commonly known as TGen North, for an update on all things COVID-19 related. How much longer will we be dealing with COVID-19? Do we really know where COVID came from? Will we need vaccinations against COVID for years to come? Dr. Engelthaler answers these questions, and also explains how TGen is working with local and state health officials to track variants of COVID-19 — and posting that information freely on Arizona COVID-19 Sequencing Dashboard— and how we’re preparing for the next pandemic.

Hearing the words you have cancer comes as a shock. Hearing that your child has cancer is almost unimaginable. And when you learn that it is a rare form of brainstem cancer known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or DIPG — a central nervous system cancer that forms from glial cells, the supportive tissue of the brain and spinal cord that affects less than 300 children per year — the questions become endless.     Joining TGen Talks is Dr. Michael Berens, professor and director of TGen’s Cancer and Cell Biology Division and head of the Glioma Research Laboratory, whose research efforts focus on conducting genomic profiling of tumors to increase the understanding of DIPG at the genomic level and developing techniques to monitor how tumors are responding to treatment.    Brain tumors are now the most common cause of cancer related death in children younger than 15 years of age today, with DIPG accounting for nearly 80 percent of all brain stem cancer cases.     Dr. Berens talks about liquid biopsies and the efforts to rewire a misbehaving gene and what influence it could have on regaining control in the body’s cells. He also talks about the real hope in terms of pushing on the boundaries of the disease and explains his mantra “most best days.” It’s worth a listen.

At TGen, scientists have studied naturally occurring cancer in canines for over a decade. This expertise led to the formation of a company aimed specifically at partnering with veterinarians to identify treatment options for our four-legged friends and bring greater peace of mind to pet parents.   Vidium Animal Health was launched in September of 2020, to provide genomic based precision medicine to veterinary oncologist through its flagship test Searchlight DNA.    Searchlight DNA was designed to specifically identify any of the nearly 120 known cancer associated genetic mutations in dogs and to use the molecular profile of misbehaving genes to help guide diagnosis and treatment.    In episode 36 of TGen Talks, veterinarian and Vidium president Dr. David Haworth discusses how Vidium can help inform veterinarians and pet parents about which mutations are causing their pet’s cancer to grow and spread, and how Vidium wants to  use precision medicine to combat canine cancer in new and more effective ways.

At TGen's Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, we are committed to developing, refining, and applying the latest tools of genomic medicine to help diagnose and direct treatment for children with rare diseases and disorders. Did you know that there are over 7,000 rare diseases that affect over 25 million Americans? Many of these patients endure a diagnostic odyssey that involves multiple tests and doctor visits that all too often are expensive and painful, yet offer no additional clues. To address this challenge, TGen established the Center for Rare Childhood Disorders in 2012 with the goal of using advanced genomic testing to identify the factors that cause rare disorders in children, which comprise approximately half of all rare disease patients. In honor of Rare Disease Day (February 28) Center medical director, Vinodh Naryanan, M.D., talks numbers, treatments and more on this month's edition of TGen Talks.

It took under a year to develop, test and begin to deploy vaccines against COVID-19. And despite a few hiccups upon arrival, the rollout is underway... and that's great news for a world that's nearing 100 million cases and over 2 million deaths.   Joining TGen Talks to discuss his take on COVID-19 vaccines is Dr. David Engelthaler, Director of TGen North, the Pathogen and Microbiome Division of TGen located in Flagstaff, Arizona.   Dr. Engelthaler discusses the vaccine's available today, those that are currently in the development pipeline and why getting vaccinated is important. He also tackles the known side-effects, the speed at which the vaccines were developed, and the recent variant strains that were discovered in the UK, South Africa and elsewhere, and which of these are already being seen in the US.    All that and more on this month's edition of TGen Talks.

Internships provide students an opportunity to learn more about potential career choices and equally important, following the experience, gauge whether that career is right for them. Joining TGen Talks is Josh Niska, MD — a 2007 Helios Scholar at TGen — who explains the value of his Helios internship experience, how it helped shape his career, and how the lessons learned at the bench continue to inform his work as a radiation oncologist.   He explains how the technologies and techniques and concepts he learned at TGen helped with his undergraduate education, medical school, residency and his work today. He also discusses the importance of mentorships, and how the Helios Scholars at TGen program offered more than just applicable hands-on learning but created friendships and networks that exist to this day.

For 45 students, Summer 2021 could be life-changing … an opportunity to look into the future of biomedical science and see where their own careers could lead them. It’s possible thanks to The Helios Education Foundation and TGen.    For 14 years, these forward-thinking organizations have offered gifted students the opportunity to work on real-life projects as paid interns, side-by-side with skilled TGen mentors.    In this podcast, learn how this program has been a springboard to inspiring careers and find out how the next generation of students can apply to change their lives.

Recent events and social protests have prompted increased dialog, and rightly so, on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion in America. It's a big topic that covers multiple segments of society. But this edition of TGen Talks will focus on how diversity relates to the fields of science and medicine.   Our guest this month on TGen Talks is Dr. Joseph Mikhael, professor of Applied Cancer Research and drug discovery at TGen and Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, or IMF, and a counselor on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Hematology, who shares his insights on the into how we all can become better at embracing and understanding differences that make us unique and the value inherent in assessing our own thoughts and beliefs.   To Dr. Mikhael, it's not just business, it's personal.

275 days ago, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia … a novel coronavirus was eventually identified and labeled COVID-19.   Since that time, over 200,000 Americans have died and over 7.1 million have tested positive for the disease. Globally, the number of deaths has reached 1 million with more than 33 million citizens testing positive.   Our guest this month on TGen Talks is Dr. David Engelthaler, co-director of TGen North, the Pathogen and Microbiome Division of TGen located in Flagstaff, Arizona, who shares his insights on the latest information and developments surrounding COVID-19 — locally and globally — from testing to the value of masks, and vaccine development.

Immune cells, also known as white blood cells, help the body fight infection and disease. Now, scientists and clinicians at TGen and City of Hope are using immune cells in combination with chemotherapy drugs to tailor personalized treatments for cancer patients. Specifically, they're using a mathematical formula to predict who might respond best to this type of therapy.    This month on TGen Talks, Sunil Sharma, M.D, TGen Deputy Director of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division discusses immunotherapy, this latest advance, and how it could lead to the development of innovative clinical trials in the future.

Following the lifting of social restrictions and individuals returning to work, the medical profession has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. This month on TGen Talks, Tyler Delaughder, D.O., a TGen clinical research coordinator and recent graduate of Midwestern University, shares his interpretations of the medical issues surrounding COVID-19.     Dr. Delaughder provides insight on the progress of testing and what we might expect next by looking into the past, identifying human error, understanding the power of Mother Nature, and the body’s own genomic complexities. Is there a way of stopping future viruses from developing or are they inevitable? And how is the progress being made in the labs at TGen and TGen North informing the medical profession during this pandemic. All this and more on TGen Talks.

For nearly 6 months, COVID-19 has raised numerous questions and concerns, as well as having led to global disruption. In addition to testing, TGen was an early adopter in tracking the virus to learn how it mutates and spreads. Joining TGen Talks to discuss what we've learned is Dr. David Engelthaler, co-director of TGen North, the Pathogen and Microbiome Division of TGen located in Flagstaff, Arizona.   Dr. Engelthaler discusses what the epidemiology is telling us about COVID-19, and how that plays into decisions states are making on whether to open, and if so, how broadly? He also discusses the global effort toward vaccine development, the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 in the fall, lessons learned in terms of public health and how we prepare for other viruses in the future.

What can a few drops of blood tell scientists about how one’s immune system reacted to COVID-19? If you’re TGen North’s Dr. John Altin, you hope a lot.   In this episode of TGen Talks, Dr. Altin discusses a new study entitled the COVID Immunity Study whereby citizen-scientists diagnosed with, and subsequently recovered from, COVID-19 can contribute a few blood spots that will enable Dr. Altin to investigate the antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID 19 disease.  Through his study Dr. Altin, an Assistant Professor in TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division, hopes to find antibody signatures of exposure that are clear and robust and perhaps even signature that differentiate the different types of disease that people experience. The Holy Grail would be signatures that indicate what type of immune response provides protection, versus one that may do more harm than good. The answer may lie in their immune response. This study may find the answers.

The COVID-19 coronavirus continues to affect lives on a daily basis. Businesses, churches, schools, and other public facilities are closing. Sporting events and meetings are canceled daily. News reports tell us how hospitals are grappling with limited testing capabilities. There seem to be more questions than answers, and if ever there was a time for answers, it is now. Joining TGen Talks to discuss COVID-19, is Dr. David Engelthaler, co-director of TGen North, the Pathogen and Microbiome Division of TGen located in Flagstaff, Arizona, who discusses the launch of a genomic-based test for COVID-19, and TGen’s collaborative work with the Arizona Department of Health Services to test for and identify pockets of COVID-19 across the state.

Our DNA tells the story of who we are genetically. But when we develop cancer, our tumor DNA tells a different version of that story. At Ashion Analytics, a subsidiary of TGen, a patient's tumor sample undergoes testing in a CLIA-certified laboratory —through its flagship test, GEM ExTra— to understand how the story changed and how Ashion can help treating physicians identify actionable steps to help their patients. In episode 24 of TGen Talks, Dr. Janine LoBello, Medical Director and Pathologist of Ashion Analytics, discusses Ashion's beginnings, how their services benefit medical professionals, and a few interesting facts you may not know about the BReast CAncer, or BRCA, gene. Listen now or learn more at ashion.com.

The human body contains trillions of individual cells, and inside each resides a unique genetic code. Single-cell RNA sequencing enables researchers to study the mechanics of individual cells and identify the processes underlying disease states — valuable information that helps predict disease susceptibility, or resistance, to drug therapies.     This is particularly important in the study of cancer, as cells are constantly mutating. Single-cell sequencing allows investigators to observe these patterns of mutations at a micro-level. In episode 23 of TGen Talks, Dr. Sen Peng, a computational scientist with TGen’s Brain Tumor Unit, discusses how data from single-cell sequencing allows Dr. Peng and his colleagues to study — and make inroads against — the deadly brain cancer, glioblastoma.    Dr. Peng also discusses work with colleagues at City of Hope and elsewhere, and his future plans for studying glioblastoma.

Over the past decade, cancer treatment has gone from a one-size-fits-all approach to a targeted and personal approach known widely as Precision Medicine.   Among the leaders at TGen pushing the boundaries of this new frontier is Dr. Sunil Sharma, Deputy Director of TGen Clinical Sciences, Professor, and Division Director in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery division.   Dr. Sharma is a well-known cancer investigator, responsible for helping develop some of the world’s most advanced anti-cancer agents.    In episode 22 of TGen Talks, Dr. Sharma discusses his work in drug development and patient clinical trials in concert with City of Hope in California, and TGen’s clinical partnership with the HonorHealth Research Institute. Whether in the clinic, or at the bench, his work helps bring precision medicine solutions to patients in need.

Experts aren’t sure why some people accumulate fat in the liver while others do not, but they all agree it’s a serious health issue. One type, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — or NAFLD — is a collection of liver conditions affecting people who drink little to no alcohol. It’s also the most common form of chronic liver disease and is tied closely to diabetes. In episode 21 of TGen Talks, Johanna DiStefano, Ph.D., a Professor in TGen’s Quantitative Medicine and Systems Biology Division and Head of its Diabetes and Fibrotic Disease Unit discusses the connections between NAFLD and diabetes, her work to determine the disease trajectory of patients with NAFLD, and what you can do to avoid getting NAFLD.

Don't let the word rare fool you. Roughly 1-in-10 individuals in the world are affected by a rare disease, and our Center for Rare Childhood Disorders is on a mission to find diagnoses and treatments for these individuals and families.   In episode 20 of TGen Talks, Center co-director, Keri Ramsey, explains the advances science has made in genetic sequencing and how we've applied it to help our patients through treatments, gene therapy, and FDA drug testing. Listen to learn more about how our Center and its donors are impacting the lives of our community.

The offer of help to a family friend created a serendipitous chain of events that led Dr. Nick Banovich to study Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a type of lung disease that scars the lungs and as it worsens makes it for the lungs to take in enough oxygen. In episode 19 of TGen Talks, Dr. Banovich explains how the right collaboration and today's technology make it possible to examine individual cells, rather than a mash-up of many cells from a tissue sample, to identify gene expression changes associated with IPF, work that is breathing new life into research surrounding IPF.

TGen North's Dr. David Engelthaler discusses Valley Fever. We learn why Arizona - with nearly 65% of all Valley Fever cases in the U.S.- is the perfect hotbed for research into this debilitating and potentially lethal disease, and how TGen North is tracking this warm-climate invader and adapting today's technology to provide much needed answers to this age-old problem.

Patrick Pirrotte, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the Cancer and Cell Biology Division and the Director of TGen's Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry discusses the role of proteomics in cancer research, and finding new targets for cancer treatment.

TGen Assistant Professor, Dr. Will Hendricks, discusses comparative oncology, a field of study that in recent years has gained in popularity, as it seeks to integrate information from naturally occurring cancers in pets into what we know about the biology of cancer in humans.

MindCrowd, launched seven years ago by Dr. Matthew Huentelman, studies the healthy brain. At its core, MindCrowd offers a new way approach scientific research to learn how the brain functions and how genetics influences memory.

Microbes out-number the genes in your DNA by more than 1,000 to 1 and together they make up what is known as your microbiome. TGen’s Dr. Sarah K. Highlander, a research professor in the Pathogen and Microbiome Division at TGen North and director of the Clinical Microbiome Service Center, works to understand the microbiome and how it is helping scientists better understand cancer, diabetes and a host of other conditions, including traveler’s diarrhea.

Dr. Glen Otero, a 20 year veteran of life science industry and an expert in high-performance computing, discusses artificial intelligence, or A.I., and how it addresses the computational needs of the biomedical research community by executing tasks more rapidly and without human error in a fraction of the time. Today, A.I. is used to process complex genomic data sets to accelerate delivery of personalized treatments for cancer and other diseases by turning raw genomic data —such as a human genome sequence— into usable information to predict disease patterns and treatment outcomes.

In medicine, a biomarker is anything used to determine the presence or development of a particular disease or biological state. They can be used to determine if an injury or disease has occurred, or even if a therapy is working. In this episode, Dr. Kendall Van Keuren-Jensen, a Professor in TGen Neurogenomics Division and Co-Director of TGen’s Center for Noninvasive Diagnostics, discusses how her team is working on ways to use biomarkers — in this case the molecular readout of RNA — as a non-invasive method for studying and treating complex diseases, such as those that affect the nervous system.

Nature vs. nurture? How about nature and nature? Dr. Candace Lewis, a postdoctoral fellow in the Huentelman lab at TGen, walks us through a biological regulatory framework known as epigenomics that changes the behavior of our cells due to our life experiences. Dr. Lewis also discusses the resurgence in psychedelic assisted therapy to treat depression and trauma, and her work in Autism.

Helios Scholar Mario Mosqueda asked 10 TGen scientists for their best career advice in an insightful discussion on charting a path in science.

Did You Know? There are fellows - and ladies - that work in the lab to learn how to lead a lab. They're called 'postdocs.'

Steve, a four-year pancreatic cancer, survivor shares his story of hope.

Students from the inaugural TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy took over the TGen Talks podcast to discuss what they learned during their two-week, immersive summer experience at TGen.

Single-Cell Sequencing promises to bring more precision to 'precision medicine.' Learn how this new technique could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment from Dr. Jonathan Keats.

James Lowey, TGen's Chief Information Officer, discusses how high-performance computing has revolutionized genomics and how our partnership with Dell has created a powerful platform to transform health.

Dr. Jessica Lang, a mother-to-be, discusses a new treatment discovery for ovarian cancer, the deadliest reproductive cancer.

Dr. Jonathan Keats discusses how multiple myeloma can be multiple cancers from a genetic standpoint. Through his work with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's CoMMpass Study, Dr. Keats' team has sequenced 1,150 patients from 90 sites worldwide. What does this mean for patients?

Did You Know? Bioscience is as much about computer science as it is about laboratory science! Make yourself smarter in 2 minutes with our latest TGen Talks podcast!

Dr. John Altin explains how a patient's own immune cells can be transformed into cancer-killers through CAR T therapy — and what this means for the future of cancer treatment.

TGen's Center for Rare Childhood Disorders provides genetic testing to give hope and answers to rare disease patients. As part of their summer project, our Helios Scholars at TGen interns, Hannah and Morgan, interviewed one of our families about their years-long journey to a diagnosis.

Arsenic is a poison, commonly associated with murder mysteries, but did you know that it can be an effective cancer-killer? Learn more from disease detective Dr. Harshil Dhruv at TGen.

Glioblastoma is the deadliest cancer. It has been in the news lately because of the recent diagnosis of Senator John McCain and former Vice President Joe Biden's Moonshot Initiative. What is glioblastoma and why is it so hard to treat?

Welcome to TGen Talks! Dr. Jeffrey Trent, former Research Director for the Human Genome Project, and current President of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, talks about how we use genes to discover the causes of serious diseases and develop smarter treatments for them. Everything from Alzheimer's to Zika virus.