BEaTS Research Radio's Podcast

<p>Each week on BEaTS Research Radio at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, early-career scientists and investigators deep dive into the ever-changing, rapidly evolving world of Science in one-on-one conversations with some of the planet's most brilliant Scientists, breaking down the science in terms you can understand</p>

Special Episode - Bodies, Borders & Breakthroughs with Sheena Doyle

In this episode, we speak with Sheena Doyle, a Master of Science in Nursing student at McGill University and a Labor and Delivery Nurse Clinician. We explore how she uses the arts as a powerful tool for critical reflection and health advocacy. Join us as we discuss her commitment to decolonizing healthcare and advancing ethical, relational models of care through research and community engagement.

12-11
21:27

Special Episode - Seeing cancer in a different light

Ryan Tu from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Sangeeta Murugkar. Dr. Murugkar is an associate professor in the department of medical physics at Carleton University, where she established the Laboratory for Laser-Assisted Medical Physics and Engineering (LLAMPE). In this episode, Dr. Murugkar discusses her recent research in using the non-invasive imaging technique of Raman scattering microscopy to better understand the chemical changes that occur in breast cancer cells. Learn more: htt...

12-05
14:54

Special Episode - A Patch in a Syringe : Healing the Cornea From the Inside Out

Chris Kachi from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. May Griffith and Andrés Mercado as part of the TMM4950 Science Communication course, exploring cutting-edge advances in bioengineered corneal regeneration. Dr. Griffith is a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a professor in the Faculty of Medicine whose work focuses on regenerative biomaterials and translational ophthalmology. Andrés Mercado is a PhD student in Dr. Emilio Alarcón’s laboratory at the Uni...

12-05
14:51

Special Episode - What's the Motion?

In this episode, co-hosts Sam and Ammi from the University of Ottawa’s TMM program are in conversation with Dr. Kevin Smit, a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon and Clinical Researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The conversation centers around Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), which is an abnormal curvature of the spine with no known cause, and can have a significant impact on the lives of its young patients. Dr. Smit is a part of inspiring new research on a develo...

12-05
15:04

Special Episode - Phage Therapy: Using Viruses as Medicine

Katya Krykunova from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Marisa Azad from The Ottawa Hospital about the first use of phage therapy in Canada. Dr. Azad's patient developed a life-threatening periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of her hip implant. She was allergic to most major antibiotics; the culprit bacteria were resistant to all others, and further surgery would risk her life. All conventional treatments were exhausted. With the patient’s condition declining, Dr. Azad decided to team u...

12-05
14:32

Special Episode - Infecting the Infection: Viruses become our Ally

Mattea Abou Faiçal from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Marisa Azad. Dr. Marisa Azad is an Associate Clinical Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and a Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator. She is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ottawa Hospital. In this episode, Dr. Marisa Azad shares her research on phage therapy and how her team delivered Canada’s first treatment for a multidrug-resistant joint infection. Learn mor...

12-05
14:57

Special Episode - Understanding the Cost of Saving the Day, Every Day

In this episode, James Humber, a Translational and Molecular Medicine student from the University of Ottawa, interviews Dr. Simon Hatcher on behalf of his team for the TMM 4950 Science Communication course. Dr. Hatcher is a psychiatrist at the Ottawa Hospital and Medical Director of Psychiatry at Ottawa Inner City Health. He’s also a scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses o...

12-05
16:09

Special Episode - The Hidden Declines in Long-Term Care

In this episode, TMM students discuss the hidden declines in long-term care, drawing on insights from Dr. Daniel Kobewka, Dr. Sandy Shamon, and Dr. Susan Mitchell. Through examining changes in mental and physical function, the study highlights how this knowledge can guide more informed, dignity-focused decisions for residents and their families. Learn more: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.5635 Soundtrack by The Underground Drive. All rights reserved. Listen more: https://music.apple.co...

12-05
15:00

Special Episode - Beyond the Plaque: How Energy Metabolism Shapes Heart Disease

Jack Cowan from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Morgan Fullerton, a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, on behalf of his team in the TMM4950 Science Communication course. Dr. Fullerton discusses dysregulated cholesterol metabolism, a hallmark of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. He delves into his lab’s recent study examining whether AMPK, the cell’s energy sensor, truly protects against atherosclerosis by limiting cholesterol production, w...

12-05
14:59

Special Episode - Awakening the Temperate Beast

Ananya Jain from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr Adam Rudner about advances in temperate bacteriophage research. Dr. Rudner is a researcher and associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa. He also co-leads the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) associated bacteriophage discovery lab for students in the Translational and...

12-05
14:58

Special Episode - A Little Radiation Goes a Long Way

In this episode of the BEaTS Research Radio, Annie Xiang from the University of Ottawa sits down with Dr. Marcelo Vazquez, radiobiology section head at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. Together, they explore how cosmic and proton radiation affects the human body as astronauts prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Dr. Vazquez shares his journey from aspiring astronaut to NASA researcher, explains the power of human brain organoids as cutting-edge research models, and highlights...

12-05
14:57

Special Episode - Equipping and Empowering Learners

Global challenges like climate change demand urgent action, and chemistry is at the center of these emerging solutions. However, graduates starting chemistry-based careers often leave the classroom unprepared to tackle complex global issues. In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Alison Flynn, Principal Investigator of the Flynn Research Group, about how her team is developing strategies to create more engaging and effective learning experiences for students, including the integration of systems ...

12-05
15:56

Special Episode - Lab-Grown Testes: A New Frontier for Fertility

Listen to this University of Ottawa TMM student discuss 3D testis bioprinting with distinguished guest Dr. Stephanie Willerth. The episode provides an exciting peek into how bioprinting technologies are reshaping reproductive biology research. Learn more: https://bme.ubc.ca/?directory=stephanie-willerth 1:00 | Early Life, Education, and Journey into Research 2:45 | Exploring the Shift to Reproductive Bioprinting 5:20 | Overcoming Challenges 8:10 |&nbs...

12-05
14:47

Special Episode - Lost in Translation

In this episode titled “Lost in Translation”, we dive into the complex world of bringing cell therapies from the lab to human trials. With our guest Matthew Jeffers, author of a recent scoping review on this topic, we explore what regulators look for in promising cell therapies and why inconsistent guidelines can leave researchers unsure of their next steps. By summarizing expectations from various regulatory agencies worldwide, Jeffers et. al’s study offers a clearer blueprint for preclinica...

12-05
12:36

Special Episode - Churro-Inspired Artery Fix

Puksar Kunwar, a student from the University of Ottawa, interviews Dr. Marcelo Muñoz for the TMM4950 Science Communication course, focusing on his work developing miniaturized devices for the on-the-spot generation of small-diameter vascular grafts. Dr. Muñoz is an early-career researcher at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, specializing in clinical peptide therapeutics, biomaterials innovation, and biomedical device design. He was recognized as the top graduating pharmacist in Chile ...

12-05
14:39

Special Episode - A New Era in Transplantation: Keeping Hearts Alive for 48H

Juliet Cruz and Maria Nikokavoura from the University of Ottawa interview Dr. Giovanni Ferrari for the TMM4950 Science Communication course about pushing the limits of donor heart preservation times. Dr. Ferrari is an associate professor of surgical sciences and the Scientific director of the cardiothoracic research program at Columbia University. Dr. Ferrari's research focuses on exploring how the heart functions and how we can better protect it, especially during surgery and organ transplan...

12-05
15:57

Special Episode - Heart to Heart: Studying sex differences in heart diseases

Emily Wu from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Emilio Alarcón on the significance of sex differences in cardiovascular research. Dr. Alarcón is a professor at the University of Ottawa and a scientist at the Heart Institute whose research focuses on developing biomaterials for the regeneration of damaged tissues. In this episode, Dr. Alarcón comments on segments from a previous BEaTS interview between University of Ottawa student Deyanira Hernandez and Dr. Brian Aguado. Dr. Aguado is a ...

12-05
14:59

Special Episode - Breast Cancer: Is the house mouse to blame?

As part of the TMM4950 Sci-Comm special episode, J.P. Doyle from the University of Ottawa interviews Dr. Alexandre Stewart, a distinguished scientist from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and a director of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics. In this episode, Dr. Stewart and J.P. discuss the viral origins of breast cancer, specifically the hypothesis that the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) may cause breast cancer in humans. They explored the "second hit" hypothesis, geographic ...

12-05
14:56

Special Episode: Bodies, Borders & Breakthroughs with Dr. Jaswant Guzder

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the work of Dr. Jaswant Guzder, an internationally renowned transcultural psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and visual artist. Our conversation will touch on her work at the intersection of child psychiatry, culture, and community-based mental health, drawing from her leadership roles in Montreal and Victoria, as well as her research and teaching projects in Jamaica and India. We’ll also reflect on how her South Asian heritage, artistic practice, and decades of ...

10-29
22:10

Special Episode: Bodies, Borders & Breakthroughs with Dr. Jesse Bump

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the work of Dr. Jesse Bump, whose research brings a historical and political economy lens to some of the most pressing challenges in global health. Drawing on history, social science, and policy analysis, Dr. Bump’s research spans local and global scales, offering insight into how societies understand and manage threats to public health. Learn more about Dr. Thirusha Naidu https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/directory/dr-thirusha-naidu

10-29
19:34

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