Dose of Discovery

Søren Hough
  • 5.0 (1)
  • LIFE SCIENCES

Dose of Discovery is BioXconomy's monthly science podcast about the ideas, research, and people shaping modern biomedicine. Hosts AJ and Søren bring their scientific training to make sense of biomedical discovery for listeners. The show brings thoughtful, accessible conversations to subjects that often feel closed off or over-complicated. Each month, they sit down with leading scientists to explore research shaping oligo therapeutics, mRNA technology, and advanced therapies, and more, tracing how those ideas move from research toward real-world impact. For biotech professionals, researchers, and curious listeners, Dose of Discovery offers smart, grounded science conversation with a warm over-coffee feel.  Be sure to check out BioXconomy for more deep-dive conversations about the latest in biomedical research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Serendipity and siRNA: Julia Alterman on Expanding RNA Therapeutics

    22 APR

    Serendipity and siRNA: Julia Alterman on Expanding RNA Therapeutics

    Welcome to Dose of Discovery: a dose of breakthrough medical discoveries, delivered with your morning coffee. (Coffee not included.) In this first episode, hosts AJ and Søren speak to Julia Alterman, assistant professor at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at UMass Chan Medical School, about how siRNA technology has evolved from a useful laboratory research tool into a promising therapeutic modality. Their conversation explores innovations in siRNA chemistry and how these changes have enabled researchers to craft potent siRNA drugs. Julia talks about her unlikely beginnings as a theater major before finding her way into biology – eventually leading her into the biotech industry and academia. Along the way, she discusses the challenges of delivering siRNAs beyond the liver into harder-to-reach tissues such as the brain and muscle, and the serendipitous discovery that helped launch Atalanta Therapeutics. In this episode: 04:23 – Explainer: What are siRNAs?08:42 – Meet Julia Alterman12:39 – Julia’s history in industry16:33 – UMass and a PhD pivot18:28 – siRNAs versus ASOs21:39 – siRNAs versus CRISPR28:33 – A serendipitous breakthrough38:02 – Baby steps and big leaps42:10 – Stability and the therapeutic window46:27 – The importance of strong science communication50:55 – Scientists and VC funding54:28 – Wrap up and reflections About the guest Julia Alterman is an assistant professor at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at UMass Chan Medical School, where she develops new siRNA therapies for genetically defined diseases. Her work spans RNA chemistry, delivery, and pharmacology. Her earlier research into siRNA scaffold was licensed to Atalanta Therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. https://www.umassmed.edu/khvorovalab/People/faculty/Julia-Alterman/ Dose of Discovery is cohosted by Søren Hough and Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi (AJ) and produced by Suze Cooper. LINKS: RNA Fact Sheet from the National Human Genome Research Institute BioXconomy’s coverage of the Alterman and Khvorova labs: "siRNA backbone modifications boost therapeutic potential, study finds" by Nnenna Ohaka (Exploration of exNA) "Cutting-edge siRNA therapy improves ALS symptoms, survival in mice" by Søren Hough (Exploration of divalent siRNAs) "Long-lasting siRNAs could help cancer patients and older people resist muscle loss" by Søren Hough (Including a photo of a Belgian blue cow) "Oligo-based therapies lead charge against prion disease" by Nnenna Ohaka Read more at Bioxconomy, sign up to our newsletter, and don’t forget to check out our upcoming events. You can find a fullly annotated transcript of the episode here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 2min
  2. Dose of Discovery - Trailer

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Dose of Discovery - Trailer

    Dose of Discovery is a monthly science podcast about the people, ideas, and challenges shaping modern biomedicine. Tune in as hosts Søren and AJ have thoughtful, accessible conversations with leading scientists about complex subjects, following emerging therapeutics as they move from research to real-world impact. Dose of Discovery — BioXconomy’s flagship podcast — is for biotech professionals, researchers, and curious listeners alike. Subscribe now for your regular dose of breakthrough medical discoveries delivered with your morning coffee. (Coffee not included). Read more at BioXconomy: https://bioxconomy.com/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.bioxconomy.com/events 7898c6b0-4922-11f1-be3b-27c072cdfbe0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2 min

Trailer

About

Dose of Discovery is BioXconomy's monthly science podcast about the ideas, research, and people shaping modern biomedicine. Hosts AJ and Søren bring their scientific training to make sense of biomedical discovery for listeners. The show brings thoughtful, accessible conversations to subjects that often feel closed off or over-complicated. Each month, they sit down with leading scientists to explore research shaping oligo therapeutics, mRNA technology, and advanced therapies, and more, tracing how those ideas move from research toward real-world impact. For biotech professionals, researchers, and curious listeners, Dose of Discovery offers smart, grounded science conversation with a warm over-coffee feel.  Be sure to check out BioXconomy for more deep-dive conversations about the latest in biomedical research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Søren Hough
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Informa PLC
  • Show Website
    Dose of Discovery