Cu Bio Bytes

Even if mosquitoes make your skin crawl—or you think of them as nothing more than the flying, biting pests we all can’t stand—you'll be surprised by how fascinating they really are. In this episode of Bio Bytes, Dr. Laura Duvall, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, joins Celine to explore the surprising science behind mosquito behavior.Together, they dive into how blood-feeding and mating trigger long-lasting changes in female mosquitoes, and how neuropeptide signaling shapes their biting and reproductive cycles. You’ll learn how internal physiological states guide behavior in ways that echo patterns in other animals (even us), and how this knowledge could lead to next-generation tools for vector control. The episode also tackles the ethical questions that arise in translating lab findings into public health interventions. Join us to rethink what you know about mosquitoes and learn more about neuroscience, global health, and why mosquitoes really bite.Hosted by Celine Cotran

In this episode of Bio Bytes and our ongoing Bench to Bedside series, we learn about Dr. Meg Rosenblatt, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Morningside and West and Professor of Anesthesiology. She is recognized as the first person to deliver 20% intralipid therapy to treat local anesthetic systemic toxicity in a patient. We explore how she became a leader in anesthesiology, what it means to turn a case report into a career-defining moment, and how she balances clinical work, education, and leadership. Dr. Rosenblatt also reflects on the evolving challenges in the U.S. healthcare system, the importance of mentorship, moments that have most profoundly shaped her career, and offers practical advice. Whether you're an undergraduate student, medical student, practicing physician, or just curious about the people behind life-saving innovations, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of a physician-leader committed to excellence in care and education. Feel free to contact D

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Livnat Jerby, an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Stanford University, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator, and Paul Allen Distinguished Investigator. In this episode, Dr. Jerby shares how her lab is decoding and engineering immune circuits to create next-generation cell therapies, drawing on high-throughput technologies and computational modeling. We explore how multicellular programs shape disease and immunity, revisit her work on immune evasion during her time at the Broad Institute, and discuss the future of synthetic immune systems and interdisciplinary science. Hosted by Emma Chen.

Join us for an illuminating discussion with Dr. Soojin Park, an Associate Professor of Neurology (in Biomedical informatics) and an Associate Attending Physician at Columbia University. Dr. Park discusses her career trajectory in neurocritical care and biomedical informatics as well as the potential of machine learning techniques to leverage clinical data to improve patient care.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. George Hripcsak, the Vivian Beaumont Allen Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. Dr. Hripcsak shares insights regarding his research in biomedical informatics, focusing on how data from electronic health records can be leveraged to transform clinical research and patient care. He discusses his pioneering role in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) coordinating center—an international network with thousands of collaborators and nearly one billion patient records—his career trajectory in the field, and how ChatGPT and large language models are reshaping the future of healthcare and clinical informatics.

Michele Pagano, Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU School of Medicine, takes us through his groundbreaking research on the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Cullin-RING Ligases. As a leading Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Professor Pagano shares insights into targeted protein degradation and its potential for treating “undruggable” cancer proteins. Reflecting on the evolving dynamics within academia, he discusses the challenges and intricacies of managing a research lab and offers his perspectives on the current publishing and peer review systems in scientific journals. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of biomedical science. Link to the paper mentioned in the show: https://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/bcr2742

Join us for an inspiring discussion with Dr. Akiva Mintz, a physician-scientist whose translational research focuses on developing and personalizing cancer therapies using non-invasive molecular imaging. Learn about the role of nuclear medicine in molecular based cancer therapies and the life of a physician scientist.

Stuart Firestein, a professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, walks us through his study of the vertebrate olfactory system. Professor Firestein is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. With a unique career trajectory, Professor Firestein shares his thoughts on the current state of science education and imparts valuable advice for aspiring scientists. Do not miss this thought-provoking discussion on the past, present, and future of the scientific field.

Join us for an inspiring episode as Professor James Manley, the Julian Clarence Levi Professor of Life Sciences at Columbia University, takes us on a journey into the intricate world of gene expression regulation in mammalian cells. Professor Manley discusses the pivotal roles of RNA-binding proteins and alternative mRNA splicing, shedding light on how disrupted gene regulation can contribute to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Discover the real-world applications of mRNA technology and gain valuable career insights from Professor Manley on Columbia University Bio Bytes.

In which Eliah Overbey, PhD, chief scientific officer at BioAstra, and research associate at the Mason lab discusses the innovations and insights from multi-omics sequencing, specifically with regards to astronaut samples. She also shares her journey into the field of space healthcare and her views on the future of biomedical research in promoting long-term human space habitation. [hosted by Kevin Xu and Theodore Nelson]

In which Martin Chalfie, a professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University and Nobel laureate recognized for his contribution to the development of green fluorescent protein (GFP), and Sophia discuss the applications of GFP and his current research on the development and function of touch receptor neurons (TRNs) using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dr. Chalfie highlights the versatility of GFP as a tool for studying biological processes, including the development and function of neurons. He explains the regulation of TRNs by transcription factors and transduction channels and how studying their development and function can provide insights into sensory perception.

Description: In which Sophia speaks with Carol Prives, the Da Costa Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at Columbia University and a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, about her journey researching the structure and function of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. She delves into the importance and regulation of p53, including its relationship with kinases, Mdm2, and the Mevalonate pathway. Editorial Note: During the discussion regarding the mevalonate pathway, the listener should note that genes in this pathway had reduced expression when mutant p53 levels were reduced. Pathway genes, themselves, were not mutated.

In which Ian Maze, professor of Neuroscience and Pharmacological science in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Vaibhav discuss the intersection of chromatin biochemistry and neuroscience. Ian describes the diverse mechanistic functions of neurotransmitters, especially as they pertain to modifying histones and other proteins. He also describes Mount Sinai's Center for Neural Epigenome Engineering, of which he is the inaugural director, and provides advice for young scientists. 

In which Neil Vasan, assistant professor of medicine and medical oncologist at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Vaibhav discuss the biochemistry and structural biology of kinases, as well as their salience in cancer development and progression. Neil tells the story behind his critical discovery of hyper-activating double mutations cooccurring in cis on PI3K alleles, discusses his group's use of deep mutational scanning in elucidating mechanisms of drug resistance and disease pathogenesis, and describes his efforts to illuminate the dark phosphoproteome. As well, he discusses how proteomics complements genomic approaches to understanding cancer and provides advice for aspiring physician-scientists. 

In which Darcy Kelley, Harold Weintraub Professor of Biological Sciences, and James discuss Xenopus as a model organism for understanding the biology of behavior and evolution of neural circuits. Professor Kelley describes several ways in which contemporary methods like single-cell RNA sequencing and optogenetics are helping us understand the true connection between neurobiology and behavior. Additionally, she provides insight on how young scientists can effectively develop themselves after initial exposure to research. 

This episode is cross-posted from our new show, Bioworks, which focuses on topics in life science policy, business, entrepreneurship, and investment. Check out other episodes on Bioworks here: https://anchor.fm/bioworks 

In which Harris Wang, associate professor of Systems Biology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Vaibhav discuss the application of systems and synthetic biology to the study of microbial communities. He describes the motivation and application of many of his group's seminal contributions (MAGE, CAGE, MaPS-seq), the various use cases of synthetically minimal genomes and engineered bacteria, and closes with some advice for young scientists and trainees. 

In which Adam Bass, oncologist and inaugural director of the Columbia Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, discusses the relevance of genomic science and treatments informed by sequencing in modern cancer medicine. Among other things, Vaibhav and Adam discuss current standards of care involving sequencing, the importance of first-principles understanding and research in advancing medicine, and what the future of precision medicine might look like. 

In which Albert Keung, Assistant Professor in the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University, shares many insights on Synthetic Biology. He touches on synthetically perturbing the chemical makeup of chromatin, designing and using DNA databases to store digital information, and the challenges and promise associated with developing cerebral organoids. 

In which Aaron speaks with Zach Abbott, PhD, about his company ZBiotics. ZBiotics is a biotechnology start-up that is focused on engineering microorganisms for consumer benefit. Aaron and Zach talk about the company’s current product, a genetically engineered probiotic designed to breakdown acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol. Additionally, Zach offers insight on his transition from completing a PhD to the biotech start-up space.