TRANSLATIONAL CONVERSATIONS
Translational Conversations: From Model to Medicine is a video series and podcast created in collaboration with Lab Rat Chat highlighting discussions between animal and clinical researchers on the important interplay of their approaches for scientific advances in biomedical research.
Each episode brings together a clinical researcher and an animal researcher studying related topics to explore the unique and translational strengths of their work—and how collaboration between both fields drives scientific progress.
Watch episodes below, follow Lab Rat Chat on your favorite podcast platform, and subscribe to BRAD's YouTube channel.
Interested in being interviewed for the series? Click HERE
Looking for additional information or have specific questions about the series? Email Dr. Puralewski.
.png)
Translational Conversations Ep. 1- Development of Extreme Anxiety and Irritability in Youth
Introducing the first episode in a special series - Translational Conversations: From Model to Medicine. Hear from Dr. Ned Kalin, a nonhuman primate researcher, and Dr. Melissa Brotman, a clinical researcher, about how parallel and collaborative animal and human research studies help us better understand anxiety and irritability in youth and develop novel, effective, treatments. Drs. Kalin and Brotman discuss the unique contributions of their approaches, how the translational research process manifests in their own work, and ways scientists of all kinds can approach advocacy for the importance of animal-based biomedical research.
▶ Watch episode on YouTube
.png)
Translational Conversations Ep. 2 - Early Life Adversity and Vulnerability for Mental Illness
In the second episode of the Translational Conversations special series, we talk with Dr. Millie Rincon-Cortes, a rodent researcher, and Dr. Lana Ruvolo Grasser Winters, a human researcher, about how their work in each species is important for examination of ways early life adversity influences the development of our brain and nervous system. Drs. Rincon-Cortes and Grasser Winters share how these complementary approaches help us better understand vulnerability for mental illness, discuss why translational research methods are important to incorporate from training throughout scientific careers, and emphasize the importance of advocacy and outreach to combat misinformation on animal-based biomedical research.
▶ Watch episode on YouTube
Translational Conversations Ep. 3 - Heterogeneity and Neurobiology of Alcohol Use Disorder
In this next installment of Translational Conversations, we talk with Dr. Danny Winder, a mouse researcher, and Dr. Jenni Blackford, a human researcher, about how their years of collaborations across species have revealed important insights into the different ways Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can present in individuals. We learn how their translational research process has led to significant scientific discoveries regarding the relevant brain circuits and sex differences that influence AUD. They share the story behind the start of their collaboration, ways in which their work has inspired one another to explore new directions, and how their continued work together has culminated in the development of a multidisciplinary, cross-species center grant that brings together experts from several institutions around the country.
▶ Watch episode on YouTube
.png)
Translational Conversations Ep. 4 - Love, Loss, and the Treatment of Prolonged Grief
This week on Translational Conversations, we talk with Dr. Zoe Donaldson, a prairie vole researcher, and Dr. Katherine Shear, a human researcher, about how their work has inspired and influenced each other’s research on attachment bonding, love and loss, and the development of Prolonged Grief Disorder. In this episode, Dr. Donaldson and Dr. Shear discuss the role of the brain’s reward system in grief, how grief differs from depression, the special bonding of prairie voles that makes them an ideal species for studying grief, and how their complementary research has inspired novel treatments for Prolonged Grief Disorder. Their discussion further explores the bidirectional process of translational research, how to consider the language we use when communicating findings from different species, and ways we can build better bonds between researchers to advance scientific progress.
▶ Watch episode on YouTube
Related Reading:
When the science alone is not enough: embracing our responsibility as science communicators
Craving Love? Enduring grief activates brain’s reward center by Mary-Frances O’Connor
Neurobiology and treatment advances for prolonged grief disorder by Donaldson and Shear
Thank you for taking time to learn about how these parallel research avenues take us from model to medicine. Until next time- stay curious, intentional, and thoughtful in all your pursuits, especially in research
Translational Conversations was developed by Dr. Rachel Puralewski and created through the ACNP/AMP BRAD Fellowship. To learn more about the program and apply, click here.
Meet our fellows and read about their passion for advocacy.