Welcome to episode 36 of the Performance Around the Clock podcast. In this episode, Dr. Panda hosts Professor Geoff Wahl who is a renowned cancer scientist who conducted foundational research at the Salk Institute for 46 years. His long history in cancer research has focused on understanding the fundamental cellular and genetic mechanisms driving cancer, with an emphasis on the role of stem cells and the p53 tumor suppressor gene in breast and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Wahl also served as the president of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), utilizing the position to raise public awareness of the terrible toll of cancer and increase grassroots funding for research. Here, Professor Wahl highlights the crucial role of "foundational research" in combating cancer - explaining that cancer is a group of diseases, not a single one, where cells lose the ability to regulate division, with the most lethal factor being metastatic spread to distant organs. While research in breast cancer has led to effective targeted therapies for primary tumors, like Herceptin for HER2-positive cancers, there is a critical need for more research funding and a greater focus on understanding and treating metastatic cancers and intratumoral heterogeneity, which are major causes of mortality. Highlighting the value of funding foundational research, Dr. Tony Hunter’s work at the Salk Institute on tyrosine kinases has ultimately led to life-saving drugs like Gleevec, contributing to the 33% drop in the U.S. cancer death rate since 1991. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you want to support this channel, please like, comment, follow or donate. Thank you for listening.

Guest:

Dr. Geoff Wahl

Professor Emeritus Salk Institute

Profile:

https://www.salk.edu/scientist/geoffrey-wahl/

Cancer statistics, 2023

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36633525/

Host:

Dr. Satchin Panda

X (Twitter): @SatchinPanda

https://x.com/SatchinPanda

Instagram: @satchin.panda

https://www.instagram.com/satchin.panda/

Links:

Donations: https://panda.salk.edu/giving/

Research: https://www.salk.edu/scientist/satchidananda-panda/

More science: https://mycircadianclock.org/

Welcome to episode 35 of the Performance Around the Clock podcast. We’re joined by Dr. Hemal Patel, a distinguished Professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and a VA Research Career Scientist. Holding a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dr. Patel's extensive research career has focused on caveolin and mitochondrial biology. In this episode, he discusses the critical role of cell membranes and mitochondria in cellular energy and disease, highlighting how his lab developed a non-invasive blood-based assay for mitochondrial function. This innovative assay, developed through the NASA Twin Study, can assess overall energetic health and disease states without invasive biopsies. Dr. Patel also shares his work on the therapeutic potential of the protein caveolin in conditions like heart disease and neurodegeneration (ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), and how his recent research has expanded to explore the mind-body connection through the transformative work of Dr. Joe Dispenza. We also talk about how his longtime interest in philosophy and religion has influenced his life and career. Please join us for an wonderful conversion between Dr. Panda and Dr. Patel. If you like this episode, please like, comment or follow. Thanks for listening.

Guest:

Dr. Hemal Patel

Professor and Vice-Chair Department of Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine

VA Research Career Scientist

Profile:https://clre.ucsd.edu/faculty/hemal-patel/

Instagram:@hemalpatelphd

https://www.instagram.com/@hemalpatelphd

Host:

Dr. Satchin Panda

X (Twitter): @SatchinPanda

https://x.com/SatchinPanda

Instagram: @satchin.panda

https://www.instagram.com/satchin.panda/

Links:

Donations: https://panda.salk.edu/giving/

Research: https://www.salk.edu/scientist/satchidananda-panda/

More science: https://mycircadianclock.org/

Welcome to episode 34 of the Performance Around the Clock. In this episode, host Dr. Satchin Panda, welcomes his esteemed colleague, Dr. Pamela Maher from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Dr. Maher is a rare scientist who has taken drug discovery from basic science findings in cells all the way to compounds being tested in human clinical trials. In this episode, they discuss her journey through research on cell membranes and signaling, leading to her pivotal work on cell death pathways like oxytosis and ferroptosis. The conversation also covers the development of potential therapeutics for aging and Alzheimer's disease, including compounds like J147 and CMS-121, and the exploration of cannabinoids for neuroprotection. If you like this episode, please like, comment or follow. Thank you for listening.

Guest:

Dr. Pamela Maher

Research Professor at the Salk Institute

Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory

Profile:

https://www.salk.edu/scientist/pamela-maher/

Host:

Dr. Satchin Panda

X (Twitter): @SatchinPanda

https://x.com/SatchinPanda

Instagram: @satchin.panda

https://www.instagram.com/satchin.panda/

Links:

Donations: https://panda.salk.edu/giving/

Research: https://www.salk.edu/scientist/satchidananda-panda/

More science: https://mycircadianclock.org/