Physiological Reviews Podcast

In this episode Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon (University of Alabama Birmingham) interviews author Dr. Sophia N. Karagiannis (King’s College London) about the recently published Review article by Cheung et al. The authors review the latest research into antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), referred to as “magic bullets” that kill cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy tissue. What are the main obstacles to manufacturing ADCs and can they be used to treat all types of cancer? Listen now to find out.   Anthony Cheung, Yi Liu, Alicia M. Chenoweth, Hanieh Montaseri, Benjamina Esapa, Vijay Chudasama, James R. Baker, David E. Thurston, and Sophia N. Karagiannis Antibody-drug conjugate design and mechanisms of action for cancer treatment: state of the art and beyond Physiological Reviews, published April 20, 2026. DOI: 10.1152/ physrev.00039.2025

In this episode Associate Editor Dr. Hilary Critchley (University of Edinburgh) and Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon (University of Alabama Birmingham) interview author Dr. Serdar Bulun (Northwestern University) about the recently published Review article by Bulun et al. on the critically important topic of uterine fibroids. Listen as we shed light on this underrecognized and under researched topic in women’s health.   Serdar E. Bulun, Ping Yin, JianJun Wei, Azna Zuberi, Takashi Iizuka, Takuma Suzuki, Priyanka Saini, Jyoti Goad, J. Brandon Parker, Mazhar Adli, Thomas Boyer, Debabrata Chakravarti, and Aleksandar Rajkovic Uterine Fibroids Physiological Reviews, published June 13, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00010.2024

In this episode Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon (University of Alabama Birmingham) interviews author Dr. Laura Crotty Alexander (University of California, San Diego) about the recently published Review article by Masso-Silva et al. on the impact of e-cigarette vaping on the immune system across the body. We discuss in depth how vaping limits the ability of alveolar macrophages to protect the body from pathogens, and cover the impact of vaping on T cells, the powerhouse cells of adaptive immunity, to respond robustly to tumor antigens. Does vaping impact the rate of tumor growth in cancer patients, particularly breast cancer and prostate cancer? Listen now to learn much more.   Jorge A. Masso-Silva, Alexia Perryman, Sophia Karandashova, Avnee Jaya Kumar, Laura Barnes, Nikita Kasaraneni, and Laura E. Crotty Alexander Impact of e-cigarette vaping on the immune system across the body Physiological Reviews, published January 24, 2026. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00011.2025

In this episode Associate Editor Dr. George Cotsarelis (University of Pennsylvania) and author Dr. Ralf Paus (University of Manchester) discuss the Review article by Altendorf on male pattern androgenetic alopecia. We uncover the physiology and function of hair in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation. In addition to producing pigmented protein fibers, the “mini organ” that makes our hair shaft not only senses the environment, it chemosenses the environment. According to Dr. Paus, hair can smell, taste, and see! What is the future of hair research? Listen now and find out more about this fascinating topic.   Sabrina Altendorf, Marta Bertolini, Alizée Le Riche, Antonella Tosti, and Ralf Paus Frontiers in the physiology of male pattern androgenetic alopecia: beyond the androgen horizon Physiological Reviews, published September 15, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00005.2024

In our latest episode, Associate Editor Dr. John Orlowski (McGill University) interviews Dr. Matthias A Hediger (University of Bern) about the new Review article by Gyimesi et al. published in Physiological Reviews on the intracies of a superfamily of membrane solute carriers that is critically important to our understanding of human health and disease. This extensive Review contains over 3500 citations describing the superfamily of solute carriers the authors refer to as “The SLC-ome.” These SLCs comprise the largest group of membrane transport proteins encoded by the human genome and are responsible for moving numerous solutes and other essential biological compounds in and out of cells. Ready to learn more about how the SLC-ome is essential to mediating the movement of nutrients, electrolytes, metabolites and other molecules, such as pharmacological drugs, across cellular and organellar membranes? Listen now to learn more.   Gergely Gyimesi, Susan Tweedie, Elspeth Bruford, and Matthias A Hediger The SLC-ome of membrane transport: From molecular discovery to physiology and clinical applications Physiological Reviews, published September 30, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2024