Advertise on podcast: Health and Medicine (Audio)

As we age, experiences of loss often become more common, but so can our capacity for resilience. Danielle Glorioso, executive director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, explores the psychological and emotional processes that help older adults adapt to bereavement and other significant life losses. Drawing on current research and clinical insights, participants will learn how resilience develops over time and how it supports healing during periods of grief. Rather than viewing grief as a disorder to overcome, Glorioso reframes it as a natural, adaptive response to attachment that can coexist with personal growth, strength, and healthy aging. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41700]

A federally funded clinical trial played a pivotal role in Tom Mugno’s journey after a diagnosis of lymphoma that was not responding to chemotherapy. With guidance from Dr. Joseph Tuscano at ‪UC Davis Health‬, Mugno enrolled in a National Cancer Institute–funded study exploring a novel immunotherapy-based research approach. His experience offers a personal perspective on how clinical research can translate into real-world impact, and celebrates his complete remission. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41739]

Vaginal microbiome research may offer new ways to understand infections, fertility, preterm birth and other areas of women’s health. Pita Navarro, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Evvy, joins Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, M.D., M.S., of UC San Diego Health, to explain how patient-contributed samples and health information can support research and product development. Navarro describes Evvy’s direct-to-consumer testing model, its work to build a large metagenomic data set and the importance of distinguishing established findings from emerging evidence. She also discusses clinical validation, patient trust, academic partnerships and the challenges of bringing scientific discoveries into everyday care. Their conversation shows why successful health startups need more than promising science: they must solve meaningful problems, fit real-world workflows and stay close to the patients they aim to serve. Series: "UC San Diego Women's Health Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41657]

Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D., is a UC San Diego Health perinatologist and professor who cares for patients with complex pregnancies, including those affected by diabetes. She explains how immigrating from Peru, learning from her grandmother and wanting to serve Spanish-speaking communities shaped her work. Ramos also describes feeling out of place in college and not getting into medical school on her first attempt. Research, mentors, supportive peers and a UC Irvine medical school preparation program helped her strengthen her skills and confidence. Today, she uses her bilingual skills and cultural knowledge to build trust, discuss nutrition and health beliefs, and help patients work toward safe pregnancies and healthy babies. Her experience also shapes the guidance she gives students pursuing medicine. Series: "Career Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Education] [Show ID: 41599]

Sacramento is working on the largest water recycling project on the West Coast, and UC Davis research is behind the technology used to filter and recycle wastewater for such projects. Mike Falk, received his Ph.D. from UC Davis, and was a consultant for the project. He works on large civil infrastructure projects for public utilities like Sacramento Sewer. Falk said federal funding helps advance the science to inform decisions and find new, innovative solutions that preserve public health and the environment. Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41734]

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. UC Davis researcher Alyssa Weakley is working on I-Care, a new technology that's helping Alzheimer's patients live longer in their own homes. At UC Davis, our researchers are working to better understand the causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, its most common form, while advancing understanding and improving care for those affected. Through innovative studies, we’re paving the way for new treatments and strategies to slow, prevent and ultimately transform how we approach these complex neurological conditions. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41737]

Social isolation may influence how the body recovers from pelvic floor injury after childbirth. Lindsay Burnett, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and physician-scientist at UC San Diego, studies factors during pregnancy and postpartum that may affect pelvic floor muscle recovery, including medications, diet, exercise and social interaction. Her research grew from clinical observations connecting patients’ perceptions of traumatic births with physical outcomes such as fecal incontinence. In a preclinical model, social support was associated with improved pelvic floor muscle regeneration and distinct metabolic changes. Burnett is investigating metabolites involved in wound healing and skeletal muscle regeneration, along with possible connections between social interaction, the gut microbiome and systemic metabolism. The research offers a biological perspective on why emotional and social support may matter during postpartum recovery. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41640]

Mechanical forces may help the body coordinate pregnancy and labor. Yunxiao Zhang, Ph.D., of Scripps Research Institute, examines how PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, proteins that open in response to stretch, contribute to uterine contractions and the timing of birth. Zhang finds PIEZO1 in uterine smooth muscle and PIEZO2 in sensory nerve fibers around the cervix. In mouse models, removing both channels weakens labor contractions, delays the start of delivery and increases the time between pups. The findings suggest that PIEZO1 helps prepare uterine muscle for stronger contractions, while PIEZO2 helps sensory nerves detect cervical stretch. Zhang also discusses how fats in cell membranes may change PIEZO1 sensitivity and why uterine cells and sensory nerves have connected roles. This research offers a new way to study how physical forces help regulate labor. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41642]

Feline infectious peritonitis, a form of coronavirus, is almost 100% deadly for cats. Through a federally funded trial, UC Davis researchers found a cure for FIP and the treatment for cats could be used in the future to treat humans with long COVID. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41740]

Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection that is contracted when soil borne spores are disrupted and inhaled. The infections can cause symptoms similar to pneumonia or COVID-19, such as cough, headache, fever and, in more severe cases, meningitis. UC Davis Health patient Rex shares his journey with valley fever and how UC Davis doctors and researchers are advancing earlier diagnosis and better treatments through clinical care and laboratory science. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 41743]

David Brockman suffered a traumatic accident in 2019 that led to the amputation of his hand from the wrist down. Following his surgery at the UC Davis Medical Center, he was connected with engineering professor Jonathon Schofield, who collaborates with Ph.D. students on prosthetic technology. Through federally funded research projects, these students were able to design and provide Brockman with a custom myoelectric hand —a prosthetic he can control electronically. He emphasizes that without federal funding, schools and researchers wouldn’t have the resources to develop these innovations. "My hand prosthetic would not have been available to me without funding.Without that money, these schools can’t do that and give people a chance to see what is possible.” — David Brockman Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41733]

Chancellor May stops by the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab to meet the researchers behind brain-computer interface technology. The technology helped a man with ALS communicate again with his family and used AI to mimic the sound of his own voice. Watch as Chancellor May tries out the technology himself in a lab simulation. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41741]

Menopause care is changing as more patients seek evidence-based guidance for symptoms, prevention, and long-term health. Kathryn Macaulay, M.D., M.S.C.P., F.A.C.O.G., UC San Diego Health, and Rajita Patil, M.D., M.S.C.P., F.A.C.O.G., UCLA Health, explain why many people still struggle to find trained care, even as menopause affects sleep, mood, work, genitourinary health, and cardiometabolic risk. They connect hormone therapy history with today’s demand for reliable, individualized options, including non-hormonal approaches, and outline the UC Menopause Collaborative’s work to expand training, standardize work flows, support flexible care models, and build research-ready data across UC health centers. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41634]

Cardiovascular disease is a major threat to maternal health during pregnancy and the peripartum period, particularly for women with preexisting heart conditions. A UC San Diego cardiologist describes the development of a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics initiative designed to coordinate care for patients with congenital heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and coronary artery disease. The program brings cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine together with other specialties to establish consistent protocols, improve maternal and fetal outcomes, advance research and train future clinicians. As more people born with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood and consider pregnancy, the need for this specialized care continues to grow. Longitudinal surveillance is also helping researchers study outcomes and identify opportunities for better monitoring. Coordinated cardio-obstetrics care can help manage complex cardiovascular risks throughout pregnancy and delivery. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41641]

AI-powered cell imaging may help researchers identify biological differences that are difficult or impossible to see by eye. Yu-Hwa Lo, Ph.D., and Louise Laurent, M.D., Ph.D., describe a system that combines high-speed imaging, cell sorting, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence. The technology creates label-free images of cells, uses AI to classify them, and can isolate selected cells for deeper molecular analysis. Laurent explains how the team is applying the system to human trophoblast stem cells, which give rise to specialized placental cells involved in nutrient transport, hormone production, blood vessel remodeling, and immune regulation. Lo describes how AI can distinguish cell populations and identify features that may not be apparent to human observers. The researchers ultimately hope to connect imaging features with gene expression, proteins, and metabolism, allowing cell characteristics and behavior to be predicted from images alone. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41637]