Dr. Dongkyun Kang is an Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Kang is currently leading an NIH-sponsored research project for developing a smartphone confocal microscope and diagnosing Kaposi's sarcoma in Uganda. Through hard research and development, Dr. Kang's lab just might create the next big medical technology. Links: BIO5 Institute: https://bio5.org/ $1 Million Project to Fight Vision Loss: https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/university-of-arizona-eng...
Oct 10, 2022•29 min
Infertility is the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying to conceive. It is estimated that 15% of couples will have trouble conceiving, and globally, nearly 50 million couples experience infertility every year. Many factors can contribute to female infertility, including exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC), which are highly present in many of our everyday products. Reproductive toxicologist Dr. Zelieann Craig is working towards reducing the incidence of infertility by i...
Aug 01, 2022•22 min
Neuropsychiatric illnesses are mental disorders which include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. These illnesses are rooted in identifiable problems within the brain. They are complex conditions whose origins aren’t well-understood, and they are a leading cause of disability in the United States. Physician-scientist Dr. Amelia Gallitano is the Director of Women in Medicine and Science at the UArizona College of Medicine - Phoenix , as well as a professor of basic med...
Jul 19, 2022•28 min
Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in developing countries and ignite grand challenges like pandemics. BIO5 researchers are working to develop better prevention, diagnostic, and treatment strategies to decrease the global burden of these diseases. BIO5 member Dr. Deepta Bhattacharya is a professor of immunobiology , and associate professor of surgery , genetics , and cancer biology . Dr. Bhattacharya merges stem cell biology and immunology to understand the development of white b...
Jul 04, 2022•29 min
Residents of the sunniest state – Arizona – are no strangers to ample sunshine. While sun exposure is beneficial to our wellbeing, it’s also a major cause of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the U.S. At least 5 million people in our country are treated for skin cancer annually, resulting in more than $8 billion in medical expenses. Physician-scientist Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski is a professor of medicine and Director of the Multidisciplinary Cutaneous Oncology Program at the UAr...
Jun 20, 2022•33 min
Some of science’s most difficult challenges like solving world hunger and curing disease involve more than just traditional science fields such as plant and cell biology. Data science brings together computational, statistical, and mathematical techniques to expand our knowledge from big datasets collected from the bench, field or computer. Handling these large datasets can pose a challenge, especially to researchers who might not be familiar with or have the infrastructure to handle big data. N...
Jun 09, 2022•26 min
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both the U.S. and world. To lessen this large disease burden, researchers are actively investigating why and how people develop heart disease. Cardiovascular researcher Dr. Jared Churko takes a single-cell approach to studying the mechanisms of heart disease. Dr. Churko is an assistant professor of cellular and molecular medicine , physiological sciences , genetics , and biomedical engineering , as well as BIO5 member and Director of the iPSC Core ....
May 23, 2022•28 min
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability for individuals under age 44 with an estimated 1.7 million cases occurring in the U.S. every year, and concussion is dubbed a silent epidemic. TBI dismantles circuits in the brain, leading to short and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Dr. Kaveh Laksari utilizes biomechanics to study the underlying processes of TBI and model the injury to aid in prevention and accurate diagnosis. Dr. Laksari is an assistant professor of bio...
May 09, 2022•25 min
Breathing, sleeping, and good health go hand in hand. People with lung diseases and allergies often have problems getting a quality, healthy night’s sleep which in turn can lead to further health challenges. Physician-scientist Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy is a BIO5 member who works at the intersection of chronic illness and sleep. Dr. Parthasarathy is a professor of medicine and clinical translational sciences at the University of Arizona, as well as the College of Medicine’s Division Chief of Pulm...
Apr 25, 2022•40 min
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 ...
Apr 11, 2022•22 min
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 ...
Mar 28, 2022•30 min
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...
Mar 14, 2022•31 min
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 cha...
Feb 28, 2022•29 min
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 t...
Feb 14, 2022•27 min
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 b...
Jan 18, 2022•38 min
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...
Jan 04, 2022•35 min
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 th...
Dec 06, 2021•35 min
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 , res...
Nov 22, 2021•30 min
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 in...
Nov 08, 2021•34 min
Microbes such as bacteria, plants and fungi far outnumber the human population on Earth. BIO5 member Dr. Paul Carini shares how these microscopic organisms are essential to our health, as well as how they support life on Earth through their roles in the carbon cycle and beyond. Carini, an assistant professor of soil/subsurface microbial ecology genetics and plant sciences also discusses the importance of supporting diversity in STEM by not only providing opportunities for underrepresented groups...
Oct 25, 2021•28 min
Transdisciplinary research unites researchers from different backgrounds to integrate and move beyond discipline-specific approaches to address today’s grand bioscience and biomedical challenges. Dr. Taylor Edwards , clinical manager and development scientist at the University of Arizona Genetics Core , shares how the UAGC core facility brings together researchers and samples across the university to tackle projects spanning COVID-19, environmental science, and more. Though the projects vary, Ed...
Oct 11, 2021•30 min
Gastrointestinal cancers collectively represent one of the greatest public health challenges, accounting for more than one-quarter of all global cancer cases and more than 35% of all cancer-related deaths. Many of these cancers, including pancreatic and biliary, have been historically hard to treat. Dr. Rachna Shroff , Associate Dean of clinical and translational research and chief of GI medical oncology at the UArizona Cancer Center , discusses her genomic profiling approach to developing perso...
Sep 27, 2021•29 min
Bacteria were among the first forms of life on earth, and while some strains cause infection or spoil food, others are essential to providing nutrients to plants, fermenting foods, and supporting our gut and reproductive health. Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz , associate professor of basic medical sciences , as well as obstetrics and gynecology at the College of Medicine – Phoenix , explains how the delicate balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria affect the health of the female reproductive tra...
Sep 13, 2021•29 min
Pursuing a doctorate in STEM doesn’t mean one is destined for a life at the lab bench. Dr. Brittany Uhlorn , coordinator of marketing and communications at the BIO5 Institute , shares why she transitioned to science communication after obtaining a doctorate in cancer biology. She also discusses how her training as a bench scientist benefits her new career writing stories for lay audiences and co-hosting Science Talks ....
Aug 30, 2021•33 min
Some of the biggest challenges in STEM are so large that they can’t be addressed at the lab bench. Dr. Walter Piegorsch , director of statistical research & education at the BIO5 Institute and professor of mathematics and public health shares how he uses the power of data science and informatics for environmental and health risk assessment....
Aug 16, 2021•32 min
Ever wonder why pregnant people shouldn’t scoop kitty litter? They might come into contact with toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that infects up to one-eighth of the world’s population that can cause lifelong infection in the central nervous system. Dr. Anita Koshy , associate professor of neurology and immunobiology and BIO5 member, talks about her research to better understand this pesky parasite. She also shares her journey to becoming a physician-scientist, and how she spends her time away from...
Aug 02, 2021•32 min
By engaging students in hands-on experiential learning and providing them with a world-class education, these budding young minds can blossom into productive members of the STEM workforce. Ryan Hun t has taken advantage of several opportunities provided by the BIO5 Institute , including the KEYS high school internship program, undergraduate research, and a student job with the public affairs team. Hunt shares how each role within BIO5 has impacted him both personally and professionally. He also ...
Jul 19, 2021•21 min
Microbes living in the soil play a vital role in global photosynthesis by producing and consuming trace gasses in our atmosphere. Dr. Laura Meredith , assistant professor of ecosystem genomics, genetics, global change, and hydrology and atmospheric sciences, discusses her work to better understand the relationship between microbes, plants, and the atmosphere. She talks about her current field work in Alaska to decipher how this relationship impacts climate change. Dr. Meredith also shares how sh...
Jul 06, 2021•26 min
High school and undergraduate students are tested academically and personally by lessons learned during these transformative years. While seasoned professionals can help to guide students by sharing their knowledge, near-peer mentors can often have a bigger impact through similar experiences. BIO5 Public Affairs Student Assistant Jordan Pilch discusses how her roles in the KEYS summer internship program - both as an intern and as a mentor - have not only shaped her career path but also taught he...
Jun 21, 2021•32 min
Budding professionals, especially those representing historically underserved identities, greatly benefit from mentorship and programs designed to advance their educations and careers. Dr. Michael Johnson , assistant professor of immunobiology at the BIO5 Institute , discusses his passion for mentoring and outreach, as exemplified by two successful programs that he’s spearheaded in recent years: the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship and the National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP) ....
Jun 07, 2021•30 min
