The Fundamentals

How Can We Achieve Health Equity?

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

In today's episode of The Fundamentals, we talk with Dr. John Ayanian, director of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Dr. Ayanian's research explores underlying factors that contribute to persistent health disparities between minoritized groups and their white counterparts, as well as strategies for ending inequity in health care and improving overall health outcomes for everyone.

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The Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Researching Psychedelics for Potential Therapeutic Use

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Recently, interest in psychedelic research has seen a resurgence, strengthened by better designed and controlled clinical trials and the use of neuroimaging, examining psychedelics' potential therapeutic use for PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and depression. On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. George Mashour, professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology and founder of the Michigan Psychedelic Center about using rigorous scientific methods to unlock the mysteries of psychedelics and investigate their potential as therapeutics.

Episode Transcript

Learn more about the Global Psychedelic Survey 2025, launching 5/1/25

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Using A.I. and Bioinformatics to Reveal Hidden Networks of the Brain

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:30:08 GMT

There are an estimated 86 billion neurons in the human brain. Neuroscientists are actively exploring the importance of single or small groups of neurons versus networks of billions of neurons in the processing of sensory information, storage of memories, generation of movement, and everything else the brain does. Until recently, it simply wasn't possible to study billions of neurons at once. In today's episode, we talk with U-M's Dr. Anne Draelos, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, who is using A.I. and bioinformatics to reveal the hidden networks of the brain, and exploring how gaining this understanding could improve lives.

Episode Transcript

Dr. Anne Draelos

Draelos Lab

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Epigenetics, Inflammation and the Human Immune System

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

People with diabetes often have a host of other conditions including cardiovascular disease and kidney disease driven by inflammation. On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Katherine Gallagher, professor of surgery, professor of microbiology and immunology, and the Leland Ira Doan Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at U of M, who is looking at how epigenetics - the influence of environmental factors and behaviors impact on gene expression - might explain changes in the immune system in people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions related to inflammation.

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Dr. Katherine Gallagher

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Psoriasis, Diabetes and Other Inflammatory Conditions

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, we have a conversation with Dr. Sonya Wolf-Fortune, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, whose work focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of psoriasis, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Wolf-Fortune is trying to uncover what sets off the cascades of inflammation related to these conditions and related diseases.

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Dr. Wolf-Fortune Profile

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HPV Home Testing

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:07:32 GMT

A recent University of Michigan study found that around 20% of cervical cancer cases and cervical cancer-related deaths could be avoided if every eligible person was screened. U-M researcher, Dr. Diane Harper is hoping to lower the barriers to cervical cancer screening by making it more convenient and less expensive. How? By empowering patients with the tools and knowledge needed to collect their own samples at home for testing. This approach has the potential to greatly increase the number of people who are screened overall, and would be transformative in advancing health equity and accessibility for cervical cancer screening.

Episode Transcript

Dr. Diane Harper Profile

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Opioids and Respiratory Depression

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The main cause of death due to opioid overdose is respiratory depression. In other words, the brain of a person under the influence of opioids can simply forget to breathe. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Erica Levitt, associate professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology at University of Michigan Medical School, who is trying to explain this connection, with the hope of maintaining the powerful pain relieving effects of opioids without their potentially deadly effects.

Episode Transcript

Dr. Erica Levitt Profile

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A.I. and its potential to transform healthcare

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Season 3 of The Fundamentals. We're starting this season with a conversation about AI: How could AI potentially revolutionize healthcare delivery? The application of computer algorithms to medical knowledge has a long history, one that has accelerated in recent years to include generative AI platforms like ChatGPT. U-M expert Dr. Cornelius James discusses how AI is touching everything from doctors’ workloads to diagnostics to medical education.

Learn more about A.I. in healthcare

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A transcript of this episode can be found here.

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Addiction is a lifelong disease and not a moral failing

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:08:25 GMT

On today’s The Fundamentals is Dr. Brummett, Professor at the University of Michigan where he serves as the Senior Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology. He has more than 280 publications, including articles in top journals such as JAMA, JAMA Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Annals of Surgery. He is the Co-Director of the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network or OPEN at the University of Michigan, which aims to apply a preventative approach to the opioid epidemic in the US through appropriate prescribing after surgery, dentistry and emergency medicine. Moreover, he is the Co-Director of the cross-campus Opioid Research Institute, which was launched in the spring of 2023. He leads multiple NIH grants studying these concepts and receives funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA, CDC, and multiple foundations.

You can learn more about Dr. Brummett here, and you can follow Dr. Brummett @drchadb and the department of anesthesiology @UMichAnesthesia on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/feeling-hunger-itself-may-slow-aging-flies

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/different-pain-types-multiple-sclerosis-can-cause-difficulty-staying-active

Learn more about other exciting research happening at the University of Michigan, by checking out Health Lab, Michigan Medicine's daily online publication featuring news and stories about the future of healthcare.

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If they don't give up, how can I give up?

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:07:45 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals is Dr. Maria Castro, the R.C. Schneider collegiate professor of neurosurgery, and a professor of cell and developmental biology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Her research program aims to develop immunotherapies for primary and metastatic brain cancer, studying basic immune biology mechanisms leading to clinical implementation. She has been inducted into the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the Latin American Academy of Sciences, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. She has won numerous awards for her contributions to basic science and cancer research and is a diversity ambassador for the Cancer Biology Graduate Training Program.

You can learn more about Dr. Castro here, and you can follow her @castro2355_mg, the Rogel Cancer Center @UMRogelCancer, the department of neurosurgery @umichneuro, and Michigan Neurscience Institute @UM_MNI on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/gene-therapy-brain-tumor-shows-promising-early-results-humans

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/two-genes-linked-autism-implicated-brain-cell-connectivity

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Cannabis and psychedelics: stigmatized substances or powerful therapeutics?

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:06:50 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals is Dr. Kevin Boehnke, research assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. His current research focuses on therapeutic applications of cannabis and psychedelics. His goal is to rigorously assess appropriate use of these substances and to help address the public health harms caused by their criminalization.

You can learn more about Dr. Boehnke here, and you can follow the department of anesthesiology @UMichAnesthesia on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/surgery-patients-now-less-likely-get-opioids-decline-has-slowed

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/1-8-older-adults-use-cannabis-products-suggesting-need-screen-risks

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Can AI Make Us Healthier Humans?

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:05:21 GMT

Dr. Jody Platt. She is an Associate Professor of Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School. Trained in medical sociology and health policy, her research focuses on issues at the intersection of informatics and ethics. She is interested in understanding what makes data-driven health trusted, and the pathways for earning, achieving, and sustaining trust across stakeholders. Dr. Platt is the Academy Health and ABIM Foundation Senior Scholar in Residence advising on issues of measuring and building trust.

You can learn more about Dr. Platt here, and you can follow Dr. Platt @jeplatt and U-M Learning Health Sciences @umichDLHS on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/clinicians-could-be-fooled-biased-ai-despite-explanations

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/can-ai-help-hospitals-spot-patients-need-extra-non-medical-assistance

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Treating Diabetes & Weight: The Ozempic & Wegovy Effect

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:04:40 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest Dr. Martin Myers, Director of the U-M Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute, discusses diabetes research in the context of Ozempic, Wegovy, and other drugs that are changing how people think about weight loss.

You can learn more about Dr. Myers here, and you can follow the department of molecular and integrative physiology @UMPhysiology on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/diabetes-linked-functional-and-structural-brain-changes-through-mri

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/device-makes-lot-sense

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From Patients to Progress: Advancing Autoimmune Research

Mon, 06 May 2024 13:03:17 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest is Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg, an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, the Giles Bole and Dorothy Mulkey Research Professor of Rheumatology and the Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research in Internal Medicine.

Her clinical work is centered on the care of patients with lupus, including those with refractory skin disease. In addition to running her lab, she's an active member of the Immunology Training Program and has received national recognition for her research.

You can learn more about Dr. Kahlenberg here, and you can follow the Kahlenberg Lab @Kahlenberglab and the department of internal medicine @UMIntMed on X.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/obesity-leads-complex-inflammatory-response-inside-fat-tissue

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/could-ginger-help-treat-autoimmune-disease-symptoms

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My Clinical Training is Fundamental to the Kind of Researcher I Am

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:00:07 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest is Dr. Julie Lumeng, the associate dean for research at the University of Michigan Medical School, executive director of the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, and the associate vice president for Clinical and Human Subjects Research for the university. She's also a professor in the departments of pediatrics and nutritional sciences, providing leadership on the strategic vision of the medical school's office of research, as well as running her own research lab focused on applying emerging science in child development and behavior to the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

You can learn more about Dr. Lumeng here, and you can follow the Dr. Lumeng @JulieLumeng and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) @UM_MICHR on Twitter.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

Mapping the brain stem’s control of eating could lead to better treatments for obesity

An atlas of neuronal circuits could help predict targets for medications to control appetite

The feeling of hunger itself may slow aging in flies

Research examines changes in the brain that prompt the drive to seek food

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Even as the Epidemic Shifts, We're Seeing Treatment Disparities

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 12:00:41 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest is Dr. Pooja Lagisetty, an assistant professor of internal medicine and a research scientist at the Center for Clinical Management and Research at the Ann Arbor VA. Her research focuses on addressing access barriers and developing multidisciplinary interventions to better treat chronic pain and addiction across general medical settings. Her research has been influential in understanding stigma and disparities for individuals with pain and addiction.

You can learn more about Dr. Lagisetty here, and you can follow the Dr. Lagisetty @PoojaLagisetty, the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation @UM_ihpi and the U-M Department of Internal Medicine @UMIntMed on Twitter.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

How one state beat national surgery opioid trends

Prescribing guidelines accelerated Michigan’s progress over the rest of the nation, study shows

Zip code and hospital quality may both affect the risk of dying after surgery

People who lived in under-resourced neighborhoods and underwent operations at lower-quality hospitals were more likely to die within 30 days

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Basic Science is the Foundation for Everything

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:00:06 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest is Dr. Jessica Anand, a research assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School, and a co-chair of the Pharmacology's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Her work focuses on developing new molecules to treat different medical needs, like pain with reduced addiction risk, overdose, and potentially mood problems like anxiety and depression. Currently, the main thrust of her research is developing new overdose medications.

You can learn more about the work Dr. Anand's lab is doing by visiting their website, and you can follow the University of Michigan Department of Pharmacology @UMichPharmacology.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

Molecule known to slow inflammation linked to scleroderma, could be treatment target

A variation of the molecule can contribute to fibrosis and scleroderma

Did FDA regulation reduce high rates of opioid-acetaminophen overdoses?

Hepatologists examine data around a 2011 FDA drug mandate

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Combine Data With Knowledge to Build AI Systems That Can Be Trusted

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:57 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, our guest is Dr. Geoffrey Siwo, a research assistant professor in the University of Michigan Medical School’s Department of Internal Medicine and Research Associate at the Michigan Center for Global Health Equity. His research focuses on accelerated and equitable innovation, using emerging computational technologies such as artificial intelligence, programmable biotechnologies such as CRISPR systems, and frameworks for scientific discovery at a global scale such as open innovation challenges. He is a co-founder of Anza Biotechnologies, a startup focused on accelerating discovery and sustainable manufacturing of therapeutics. Previously, he was a research assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame, lead researcher at IBM Research Africa, and a co-founder of Helix Nanotechnologies, a DNA nanotechnology company.

You can learn more about the work Dr. Siwo's lab is doing by visiting their website, and you can follow Dr. Siwo @gsiwo, the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation @UM_IHPI and the U-M Center for Global Health Equity @UM_cghe on Twitter.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

Researchers overcome major barrier in artificial placenta research

Innovative strategy allows artificial circuit to safely support premature sheep without anticoagulation

Artificial intelligence predicts genetics of cancerous brain tumors in under 90 seconds

Researchers hope it will improve diagnosis and treatment, as well as clinical trial enrollment

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Our Microbial Diversity is Reflected in Our Human Diversity

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:00:02 GMT

Today on The Fundamentals, we talk with Dr. Ariangela Kozik, an assistant Professor in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan, and member of U-M Precision Health. Dr. Kozik's primary work involves conducting translational microbiome research to understand inflammatory diseases. Her interests also include the application of biopsychosocial models of disease, and she is an advocate for equity in science and academia. She is the co-founder and vice president of the Black Microbiologists Association, also known as Black In Microbiology. We talk with Dr. Kozik about her work, her advocacy and her vision for the future of academia and scientific research.

You can learn more about the work Dr. Kozik's lab is doing by visiting their website, and you can follow Dr. Kozik @dr_kozik and the Black Microbiologists Association (Black in Microbiology) @BlackInMicro on Twitter.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

Gut bugs control the body’s thermostat

Study reveals the microbiome’s role in regulating body temperature

Algorithm predicts females have higher risk for kidney damage after aneurysm repair

The risk was higher regardless of a female patient’s kidney function or aneurysm size

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Good Collaborators Are Why I Stayed

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:00:12 GMT

In our inaugural episode of The Fundamentals, we talk with Dr. Steven Kunkel about why he chose to build his now 40+ year career at the University of Michigan, why U-M’s research community is so special, the Great Minds Greater Discoveries strategic research initiative, and more.

You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Find out more about the research stories mentioned at the top of the show at the links below:

The why of the silent X

Research unravels the mystery of how one of the X chromosomes in female embryonic stem cells is silenced

Study finds exhaled breath could enhance detection, diagnosis of COVID-19 and variants

Research suggests volatile organic compounds in breath could mark distinction between COVID-19, variants and non-COVID illnesses

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Introducing: The Fundamentals - Coming July 10th!

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:00:46 GMT

Welcome to The Fundamentals, a podcast where we explore biomedical research here at Michigan Medicine–and meet the scientists behind it. Research is fundamental to the University of Michigan’s mission to improve the world. You can learn more about The Fundamentals on our website.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

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