The Fundamentals

Welcome to The Fundamentals, a podcast where we explore biomedical research here at Michigan Medicine–and meet the scientists behind it.

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 The Fundamentals with hosts Kelly Malcom and Jordan Goebig sitting on a microscope stage under a spotlight from the objective lenses.

Research is fundamental to the University of Michigan’s mission to improve the world.

From basic science, which aims to answer fundamental questions about how life works and how disease takes hold. To translational research, which seeks to find ways to apply discoveries in the lab or the field to treat or prevent illness. To clinical research that tests potential life-changing interventions in people and looks for the best ways to deliver care for the benefit of all.

In The Fundamentals, we'll meet the people behind the research, learn more about their fields and the fundamental questions they are trying to answer – from how do we help relieve pain and stop the opioid epidemic, to how do we use data to personalize healthcare – and discover why the University of Michigan Medical School is such an amazing place for research.

The Fundamentals is 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, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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The Fundamentals
How Can We Achieve Health Equity?
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
Researching Psychedelics for Potential Therapeutic Use
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.
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The Fundamentals
A.I. and Bioinformatics to Reveal Hidden Networks of the Brain
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.
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The Fundamentals
Epigenetics, Inflammation and the Human Immune System
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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The Fundamentals
Psoriasis, Diabetes and Other Inflammatory Conditions
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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The Fundamentals
HPV Home Testing
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.
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