Glioblastoma. It’s the most aggressive and least treatable type of brain cancer. Research into treatment has been slow, mostly because of the difficulty in accessing and treating a tumor that exists behind the blood-brain barrier.
 A new two year fellowship into Glioblastoma Multiforme, or GBM, aims to better drug therapies to fight the cancer while developing better tests to determine which drugs are working on an individual patient's tumor and which are not. 
 The fellowship, established by Shawn Lane and the Lori Lane Foundation together with Chris and Florence Spyrow, honors Lori ..read more

In this episode of TGen Talks, we explore the overlooked yet vital world of skin cancer prevention and treatment. Our skin, the body's largest organ, often takes a back seat in discussions about cancer. Join us as we delve into this crucial topic with our guest, Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic.      Dr. Sekulic wears two hats: that of a clinician and a researcher. He shares how his interactions with patients inform his research, leading to groundbreaking advancements in skin cancer treatment. From pioneering clinical trials to developing targeted therapies and immunotherapies ..read more

Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated six million Americans. Diagnosing and treating the disease is challenging, and for families taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s even more difficult. Detecting and addressing the disease early on is crucial due to its progressive nature. However, Alzheimer’s symptoms can resemble those of other non-progressive conditions.  In a recent Cells publication, a team of scientists describe using machine learning models to identify changes in RNA molecules of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) that may hold potential for identifying ..read more

Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, sits down with TGen Talks to discuss the transformational power of education, in particular, how internships help prepare students for future success. Helios Education Foundation supports postsecondary attainment for all students, especially low-income and underrepresented communities, in Arizona and Florida. Earlier this month, Helios committed funding to extend the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy (TBLA) through 2028 (see related story). TBLA spun out of TGen’s Helios Scholars Program in 2018, with a focus on supporting high-s ..read more

More than three years after the beginning of the pandemic, humans still spread COVID to one another every day, though with less severe symptoms in most cases. Scientists also know that we can spread COVID to our pets as well, because of the close relationships many of us have with our four-legged friends. While dogs CAN get COVID from humans, they don’t seem to get very SICK. So, what’s the big deal if we spread the virus to our pets?  Can dogs spread it back to humans or to other animals? TGen scientists are looking to answer these and other questions in a new study called the 1000 ..read more

Today, the world of biomedical science is changing how we think about disease and, certainly, how we treat it ... but did you ever wonder how discovery happens?    What does a lab look like? What type of equipment do they use? Who exactly is working inside? How many scientists and staff? And on what projects?   On this episode of TGen Talks, Kristen Kaus, Manager of TGen's Education and Outreach programs, talks TGen, specifically, what guests and visitors see and hear when they go on a tour.   While you might not learn everything modern research, you will&nbs ..read more

For a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, there are more treatment options than ever and traditional chemotherapies that cause debilitating side effects have been all but completely replaced by immunotherapies, treatments that help a patient's own immune system better fight the disease. But in many patients, a chosen immunotherapy drug can show great promise in early treatments, yet seemingly stop working altogether as time goes by.   In a paper that was published in Nature Medicine, TGen's Dr. Jonathan Keats explains how upwards of 65% of relapsing multiple m ..read more

The phrase "gut health" has become quite a buzzword in recent years, and researchers like this month's guest will tell you quite candidly that we have a lot to learn about the community of microorganisms that live INSIDE the human body. But one thing seems to be clear. The human being with a "healthy gut" is far better able to fight a cancer diagnosis than the human with poor gut health. Regardless the current standard for a healthy human microbiome, the data being compiled on this relatively new topic is vast. One TGen researcher is uniquely qualified to analyze and manage such data, and is d ..read more

Most of us had a summer job when we were in high school or college, and if we were lucky, we had one that helped us make meaningful decisions about college or a career. 
  At TGen, summer interns in the Helios Scholars at TGen program work alongside researchers on projects that are much more than “just” eight weeks of full-time hours inside a lab. Many Scholars choose a field of research they will pursue for an entire career.
   On this episode of the TGen Talks, we connect with Heather Mead, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in TGen’s Pathogen and M ..read more

What if you could take a simple test to find out just how susceptible you are to Covid19, the Flu, or any other virus? What if you could test your exposure and immunity to EVERY virus known to mankind using a single drop of blood? The technology is here, now. And at TGen, researchers are using it to understand the human immune response and predict and track the next global outbreak. What's more, the human immune system not only protects us from viruses and pathogens, it can help prevent the onset of deadly diseases triggered by those infections. This month's podcast is an introduction to somet ..read more