TGen Talks explores the human genome to tackle the latest science and discoveries in cancer, neurological disorders, rare diseases, metabolic disorders and infectious disease. Learn about causes and potential cures in our monthly podcast!
Episdoe 95: Using cell-free DNA to monitor glioblastoma
Glioblastoma—it's a diagnosis no one wants to receive. A deadly cancer with few treatment options, GBM is also incredibly difficult to monitor. Doctors simply cannot 'see' if a treatment is working well or not at all and must rely on MRI scans to try to look at a patient's tumor. Liquid biopsies have shown promise in this and other difficult cancers, and a recent paper by TGen researchers is shedding light on how to get more accurate information through cell-free DNA in a patient's blood. The Barthel Lab is continuing its research into this promising technique, and in this episode, we talk with Sharvari Mankame, a PhD candidate whose research in this field is not only the subject of her doctoral thesis, but likely also her life's work.
20 Aug 2026
Episode 94: Dr. Ignazio Piras talks SuperAgers and Alzheimer's
SuperAgers and Alzheimer’s
The quest for a fountain of youth goes back thousands of years. Stories throughout history have hinted at a secret that could stop time, but no one’s ever found it. While modern science keeps searching for ways to slow physical aging, many of us focus on something closer to home: keeping our brains sharp and healthy for as long as possible. That’s where SuperAgers come in, older adults in their 80s and 90s whose memory and cognitive abilities are just as vital as they were decades earlier. So what’s their secret? In this month’s episode, we meet Ignazio Piras, Ph.D., co-Author of a paper seeking to define what it is that these people have that makes them so unique. Dr. Piras explains what a "SuperAger" is, how his study looked at these individuals, their episodic memory performance, and whether their polygenic risk score (a number that estimates their personal genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease) factored into their prolonged high cognitive abilities.
29 Jul 2026
Episode 93: Dr. John Fryer Discusses Mentorship in Biomedical Research
In this episode of TGen Talks, we explore the art and responsibility of mentorship in biomedical research. Behind every breakthrough is not just data and experiments, but the guidance of seasoned scientists who shape the next generation. And while the results may not appear in a lab notebook, they’re just as important.
TGen neuroscientist and educator, Dr. John Fryer, joins the podcast to share how mentorship transforms careers, fosters resilience, and sparks creativity. From the lessons learned in his own training to the values he instills in his lab today, Dr. Fryer reminds us that science is an apprenticeship at heart, and choosing the right mentor can make all the difference in the world.
Because in the end, the breakthroughs we celebrate are powered not only by experiments, but by the people who take the time to guide others along the way.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
37
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
81
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