Lab Rat Chat - Episode 30 with Dr. Agnès LacreuseIn this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle chat with Dr. Agnès Lacreuse, PhD, who is a researcher at the University of Massachusetts in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Department.She utilizes nonhuman primates in her research in order to better understand neurocognitive aging and pathological aging processes, such as those involved in Alzheimer's disease. Two-thirds of Alzheimer's disease cases in humans are women. 2/3 of AD cases in humans are women. For this reason, we also aim to understand how changes in sex hormones, especially estrogens, affect brain and cognitive aging in females.Topics discussed in this episode:Dr. Lacreuse's extensive and impressive background and her journey to get where he's at in her career today.What Alzheimer's disease is, who is primarily affected, how it develops, and the estimated number of people living with the disease in the United States.Why nonhuman primates, particularly Marmosets, are best suited to study Alzheimer's compared to rodents, and why alternative models (e.g., organs on a chip, computer models, etc.) are not viable options.The future application of her research on the human population and what it means for those predisposed or already suffering from the devastating effects of Alzheimer's.Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/Resources & Links:Animal models of Alzheimer’s disease embrace diversity | Lab Animal (nature.com)Americans for Medical ProgressAmericans for Medical Progress COVID-19 ResourcesFollow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!https://twitter.com/thelabratchat https://www.facebook.com/labratchat https://www.instagram.com/thelabratchat All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:How mice, and many other species, benefit from having fat in their bodies.Needless jet injection technology?!Reviving organs in pigs HOURS after deathWhy elephants don't get cancer - we bet you've never even thought about this but it's quite incredible  Links to all these stories can be found belowSign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/            Resources & Links:Benefits of Fat in the Body Story:https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/how-fat-cells-help-kick-parasites-out-of-mice-study-70627Needleless Jet Injection Story:https://www.biospace.com/article/on-the-horizon-needle-free-vaccination-could-offer-better-protection-and-access-/Reviving Pig Organs After Death Story:https://www.science.org/content/article/pig-organs-revived-1-hour-after-animals-deathElephants and Cancer Story: https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2022/10/23/2130664/-Top-Comments-Elephants-Rarely-Get-Cancer-WhyAll Lab Rat Chat episodes are professionally edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:Kinda Baboons and how their social structure affects their developmentHow whale brains are protected through their special blood vesselsTestosterone - a cuddling hormone?!Dogs and their ability to smell when we're stressed out Links to all these stories can be found below Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             Resources & Links:Study: Baby Kinda baboons become independent faster if moms are social, dominant (phys.org)Study Finds That Testosterone Promotes “Cuddling” (scitechdaily.com)Clumps of blood vessels protect dolphin and whale brains during dives | Science NewsDogs can smell when we're stressed out, a new study shows (nbcnews.com)Tour an Animal Research LaboratoryAmericans for Medical Progress All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

Lab Rat Chat - Episode 29 with Dr. Kyle FlippoIn this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff chats with Dr. Kyle Flippo, PhD, who is a postdoc in the University of Iowa Neuroscience and Pharmacology Department.   He studies the role of endocrine signaling in the CNS in regulating metabolism, amongst other things.  One of his current research projects has explored the role of a hormone (FGF21) in suppressing alcohol consumption in monkeys. Not only is this promising for providing a treatment for alcohol use disorders, they've also found this hormone plays a major role in reducing sugar intake as well.  This research is really groundbreaking stuff and thankfully we have scientists out there like Dr. Flippo who works compassionately with laboratory animals to make these sorts of discoveries.Topics discussed in this episode:Dr. Flippo's extensive and impressive background and his journey to get where he's at in her career today.The prevalence of alcoholism in the United States and why Dr. Flippo decided to pursue this area of research.Why vervet monkeys are best suited to study alcohol addiction compared to rodents and why alternative models (e.g., organs on a chip, computer models, etc.) are not viable options.The future application of this research on the human populationPurchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/Resources & Links:A Molecule Tested in Higher Primates Reduced Alcohol Consumption By Half | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org)Americans for Medical ProgressAmericans for Medical Progress COVID-19 ResourcesFollow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!https://twitter.com/thelabratchat https://www.facebook.com/labratchat https://www.instagram.com/thelabratchat All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:Zombie spiders - not quite as horrifying as it soundsRegeneration and restoration of heart cells in micemRNA cancer vaccine developmentA pacemaker implanted into a mini-donkeyAn update on the rare colorful lobster news stories Links to all these stories can be found below Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             Resources & Links:Scientists created 'zombie' spiders — and people are freaking out: 'So f--ked up' (nypost.com)New Technology Repairs and Regenerates Heart Cells After a Heart Attack (scitechdaily.com)mRNA Cancer Vaccine Elicits T Cell Response and Eliminates Tumors in Mice (genengnews.com)Mini donkey successfully receives pacemaker to manage fatal heart condition (dvm360.com)Tour an Animal Research LaboratoryAmericans for Medical Progress All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

Lab Rat Chat - Episode 28 with Dr. Amanda VanderplowIn this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Amanda Vanderplow, a PhD research scientist in the Cahill Lab of Neuroscience Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   She studies dendritic spine plasticity and how synaptic alterations contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.  In other words, she much smarter than the rest of us.  One of her current research projects discovers a potential link between sleep apnea and autism-like behaviors. This could be one of those breakthrough discoveries that allows us to prevent and/or reduce the rising prevalence of autism-like behaviors in society today, and we have Dr. Vanderplow, her team, and her rats, to thank for discovering this link. Topics discussed in this episode:Dr. Vanderplow's extensive and impressive background and her journey to get where she's at in her career today.What sleep apnea is and how prevalent the disorder is in society; the numbers will shock you.How a rat sleep apnea model was developed and how the data regarding autism-like behaviors in animals translate into the human world.The future application of this research and her recent discoveriesPurchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/Resources & Links:Cahill Lab of Neuroscience Research – UW–Madison (wisc.edu)Mothers' sleep apnea may increase risk of autism-like changes in their male offspring (medicalxpress.com)Americans for Medical ProgressAmericans for Medical Progress COVID-19 ResourcesFollow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!https://twitter.com/thelabratchat https://www.facebook.com/labratchat https://www.instagram.com/thelabratchat All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:A promising new drug to prevent and slow the progression of Parkinson's diseasePain relief in the form of implantable nerve cooling devicesHow sound and music can reduce both chronic and acute painDanielle's true calling in life, creating tiny adorable mouse villages Links to all these stories can be found below Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             Resources & Links:New potential drug for Parkinson's -  https://www.science.org/content/article/experimental-drug-targets-early-stages-parkinson-sNerve cooling pain relief story - https://www.aaas.org/news/miniature-implantable-nerve-coolers-enable-targeted-pain-relief?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D41208732208569100191553672894342571103%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1658425655Sound and pain relief - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220524100557.htmAnonymous miniature mouse displays - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/22/metro/swedish-art-group-anonymouse-installs-detailed-miniature-displays-around-boston/Tour an Animal Research LaboratoryAmericans for Medical Progress All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

News Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and some unrelated topics).In this News Bite edition, Jeff and Danielle discuss:The ability of animals to detect harsh speaking tonesBats and echolocationFirst-ever study showing that headbutting animals can and do suffer from traumatic brain injuriesA new incredible imaging technology to image the middle and inner ear Links to all these stories can be found below Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/                                         Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Follow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!             Resources & Links:Traumatic Brain Injuries and Headbutting Animals Story - https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/head-cases-horned-animals-damage-their-brains-head-butting-each-other-say-scientists-1708397%3famp=1Middle Ear Imaging Technology Story - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2022.929574/fullAnimals Interpretating Harsh Speaking Tones Story - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220524100557.htmBats and Echolocation Story - https://neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/news/bat-brains-organized-echolocation-and-flightTour an Animal Research LaboratoryAmericans for Medical Progress All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 27 with Dr. Christine LattinIn this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and Jeff chat with Dr. Christine Lattin, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University.   She conducts incredible research using birds as a model to help our understanding of stress and how different neurotransmitters and hormones help wild animals successfully cope with challenges, from predators to disease.  Dr. Lattin's research will advance our understanding of how these hormone and neurotransmitter pathways work in humans as the pathways are very similar amongst all vertebrae species.  We also discuss an extensive and uncalled-for attack campaign by PETA on Dr. Lattin's research and personal life and how she's been able to continue to thrive and overcome these challenges.Topics discussed in this episode:Dr. Lattin's extensive and impressive background and her journey to get where she's at in her career today.Why and how birds are a critical model to use in order to understand her research interests.The future application of her research using birds and how it will be able to benefit humans and society.Why her research has been targeted by PETA, the extensive amount of work and money PETA has spent attacking her and her research, and how she's been able to adapt and overcome.Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/Sign up for the Lab Rat Chat newsletter!https://www.amprogress.org/raising-voices/lab-rat-chat/Resources & Links:What Makes Some More Afraid of Change than Others? (lsu.edu)LSU Biologist Examines Animal Resilience To StressAmericans for Medical ProgressAmericans for Medical Progress COVID-19 ResourcesFollow us on Twitter! Facebook! Instagram!https://twitter.com/thelabratchat https://www.facebook.com/labratchat https://www.instagram.com/thelabratchat All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/ Support the show