ATCC's Podcast: Behind the Biology

ATCC
  • 5.0 (3)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED DAILY

ATCC: Behind the Biology Podcast

  1. Episode 38: Global Vision, Local Impact- A Journey to Biotech Leadership

    OCT 30

    Episode 38: Global Vision, Local Impact- A Journey to Biotech Leadership

    ATCC's Podcast: Behind the Biology

    20 min
  2. Episode 39: Sterile, Strategic, and Bold- Transforming Biomanufacturing

    OCT 30

    Episode 39: Sterile, Strategic, and Bold- Transforming Biomanufacturing

    ATCC's Podcast: Behind the Biology

    24 min
  3. Episode 37: Curiosity, Crisis, and the Call to Lead

    OCT 29

    Episode 37: Curiosity, Crisis, and the Call to Lead

    In this episode, Becky Bradford, a senior vice president at ATCC, shares her inspiring journey from a science-loving child in Oklahoma to a leader in biomanufacturing. With over twenty years of experience, she reflects on her early career during the human genome sequencing boom and her diverse background in various biology fields. Becky emphasizes the importance of operational knowledge, quality materials, and educational opportunities in advancing her career. She highlights ATCC's commitment to quality and adaptability in responding to health crises, showcasing the significance of resilience in biosecurity. Her story illustrates the vital role of science in national preparedness and global health.

    31 min
  4. Episode 33: Fueling the Future- BAT, Bile Acids, and Beyond

    JUL 22

    Episode 33: Fueling the Future- BAT, Bile Acids, and Beyond

    In this episode, Dr. Aaron Cypess discusses the future of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) research at the NIDDK, focusing on three pillars: integrative physiology, noninvasive imaging, and clinical trials. First, there's integrative physiology, where scientists use cell lines to dig into how fat cells work, how they burn energy, and how they respond to obesity treatments. Then there's noninvasive imaging—think PET-CT and MRI—which helps researchers actually see where fat is in the body and how active it is. And finally, clinical trials are testing treatments like mirabegron to see if they can activate brown fat and boost metabolic health. Dr. Cypess highlights the importance how taking this combined approach to studying BAT and WAT physiology can open doors to real, meaningful benefits to patients.

    24 min
  5. Episode 32: BAT Breakthroughs and the Bridge from Bench-to-Bedside

    JUL 15

    Episode 32: BAT Breakthroughs and the Bridge from Bench-to-Bedside

    In this episode, Dr. Aaron Cypess discusses two pivotal moments that led him to change his approach to research. Initially planning to major in biology, he was encouraged to study chemistry, which provided a strong foundation in precision and quantitative analysis. During his endocrinology fellowship, Dr. Cypess shifted his focus to clinically relevant research, leading to his entry into the Clinical Investigator Training Program. This program allowed him to leverage his dual MD and PhD training to study human brown adipose tissue (BAT). Dr. Cypess also reflects on the pressures of being a physician-researcher and how the supportive environment at the NIH's NIDDK has enabled him to continue his impactful research. He highlights the benefits of the NIH's collaborative environment and resources, such as the NIH Clinical Center and the post-baccalaureate fellowship program, which have been instrumental in his research on BAT and its implications for human health.

    21 min
  6. Episode 31: Brown and White Adipocytes- A Hot Topic in Metabolism

    JUL 8

    Episode 31: Brown and White Adipocytes- A Hot Topic in Metabolism

    In this conversation, Dr. Aaron Cypess discusses his research on brown adipose tissue (BAT), an organ that burns fat to generate heat. Initially thought to be present only in small mammals and young children, functional BAT was discovered in adult humans in 2009, spurring global research into its potential for treating obesity and metabolic diseases. Dr. Cypess explains the differences between BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT), and how BAT communicates with other tissues through hormones. Dr. Cypess then focuses on BAT's role in diabetes and obesity, highlighting the collaborative environment that supports his research.

    22 min
  7. Episode 30: Methylation, Metadata, and More

    JUN 24

    Episode 30: Methylation, Metadata, and More

    In this episode, David Yarmosh and Briana Benton discuss the future of the ATCC Genome Portal, focusing on upcoming data types and platform enhancements. Benton reveals that by the end of 2025, researchers will gain access to methylation data for the bacteriology collection with future plans to annotate virology genomes, integrate antimicrobial susceptibility data, and enable advanced search features such as taxonomy browsing and gene-based queries. As the portal evolves into a dynamic “digital twin” platform, it will offer more than genome sequences, incorporating valuable metadata like microscopy images and QC results. Benton underscores the pivotal role of customer feedback in driving these innovations and highlights ATCC’s Supporting Membership, which expands data accessibility to researchers beyond those purchasing physical products. With a vision to establish the portal as a trusted, comprehensive reference for authenticated microbial data, ATCC continues to advance reproducibility and innovation in biological research.

    22 min
  8. Episode 29: From IRAD to Impact

    JUN 17

    Episode 29: From IRAD to Impact

    In this episode, David Yarmosh and Briana Benton revisit the origins and evolution of the ATCC Genome Portal, tracing its journey from an ambitious research concept in 2017 to a groundbreaking resource for high-quality, traceable genomic data. Benton shares how early internal research proposals—including her push for long-read sequencing and Dr. Marco Riojas’ vision for sequencing ATCC’s collection—laid the foundation for the portal. Their work, along with challenges in microbiome research where public genome assemblies failed to match known inputs, underscored the need for a reliable genomic resource. Launched in 2019 with just 250 genomes and basic sequencing tools, the portal has since expanded to over 5,500 genomes, backed by automation, a larger team, and advanced sequencing capabilities. The portal is continually evolving and now includes data from bacteriology, virology, mycology, and protistology collections, all accessible via a secure REST-API. Looking ahead, ATCC plans to enhance the portal with methylation data, expanded annotations, and additional QC-related metadata, striving to create a comprehensive “digital twin” of each organism to reinforce scientific reproducibility and informed decision-making.

    20 min
See All (36)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

ATCC: Behind the Biology Podcast

Information

You Might Also Like