The New York Academy of Sciences

The Intersection of Conflicts of Interest and Healthcare by The New York Academy of Sciences

Often cited as the "4th Industrial Revolution" big data has the potential to transform health and healthcare by drawing medical conclusions from new and exciting sources such as electronic health records, genomic databases, and even credit card activity. In this podcast you will hear from tech, healthcare, and regulatory experts on potential paths forward that balance privacy and consumer protections while fostering innovations that could benefit everyone in our society. This podcast was produced following a conference on this topic held in partnership between the NYU School of Medicine and the Academy. It was made possible with support from Johnson & Johnson.

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children in the United States and Europe. Despite prevailing increases in overall survival rates, it continues to be one of the most challenging diseases to treat. This podcast will discuss the latest advancements in pediatric cancer research and how they can lead to newer, faster, and better treatments for children and adolescents with cancer. This podcast was produced using excerpts from the 2018 Sohn Conference: Accelerating Translation of Pediatric Cancer Research (www.nyas.org/Sohn2018) on this topic held in partnership between the Sohn Conference Foundation (www.sohnconference.org) and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is set to become the most common cause of liver transplant in the coming decade. Although almost one-third of adults worldwide suffer from the condition, which is also associated with diabetes and obesity, there are currently no approved treatments. This podcast will discuss the basis of liver disease as well as several cutting edge approaches that are being developed to model the disease and speed the discovery of new therapeutics. This podcast has been made possible with support from Emulate (https://www.emulatebio.com).

In 2016, the WHO declared the Zika virus a global medical emergency when, after six decades of dormancy, the virus arrived in the Americas. After scientists made the connection between Zika and thousands of cases of microcephaly in babies, a race began to better understand the virus. But it turns out that Zika is not so easy to study. In this podcast, we talk to two Blavatnik Award Scholars using the latest genomic technology to track Zika's spread and pave the way for new genomic treatments, therapies, and vaccines. This podcast was produced as part of the 2017 Blavatnik Science Symposium, co-presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the Academy.

In this episode, we continue to look at some of the fascinating and innovative work that researchers are doing in New York State's Proof of Concept Centers. Hear from two companies that are doing something about the weather by trying to better understand the unique meteorology of cities to improve forecasting and creating more effective and efficient wind turbines. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

We hear all the time that building a robust future for STEM relies on engaging diverse groups of young people in STEM fields today. The Academy's Global STEM Alliance program is focused on doing just that. Meet four young women participating in our programs who offer inspiring insights into their hopes for their careers and the field, and hear about the innovative projects they're working on today.

Climate change may be controversial in the political realm, but for three Blavatnik Awards Scholars, all leading experts in environmental studies, there is no debate. The Earth's ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and animals have all been altered by high levels of CO2 and increasing global temperatures. But are these changes permanent? This podcast examines the latest ecological, geological, and biogeographic research related to climate change. This podcast was produced as part of the 2017 Blavatnik Science Symposium, co-presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the Academy.

How can we do more without causing less strain on the environment? In this podcast we continue our discussion with New York entrepreneurs participating in the state's Proof of Concept Centers program. This time, we take a deeper look at two companies addressing garbage and energy storage by taking on what some may think of as the smaller aspects of these problems. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

Clinical trials to evaluate new drugs are typically built around one design, the randomized controlled trial, but this method has come under scrutiny in recent years for being expensive, lengthy, and cumbersome. In this podcast you'll hear from experts asking if alternative designs would be better for determining the safety and efficacy of new therapies. This podcast was produced following a conference on this topic held in partnership between the NYU School of Medicine and the Academy. It was made possible with support from Johnson and Johnson.

The management and removal of industrial waste is a concern that faces companies and governments around the world. In this podcast you'll hear from entrepreneurs in New York participating in the state's Proof of Concept Centers program, who are creating technologies focused on the handling of industrial waste. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

When the UN announced its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, it was clear that the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were even more ambitious than the previous Millennium Development Goals. It was also clear that collaborative partnerships will be the key to achieving them. In this podcast you'll hear how the Academy, business leaders, academia, and government are working together to help make the world a better place for all. You'll also hear from young students working on international teams to tackle some of these same challenges, which might inspire you to think about what you can do in your community to help achieve the SDGs.

Proof of Concept Centers allow emerging technologists to try out their ideas, work with mentors, and develop marketable products. One of the key challenges participants face is turning a product into a viable business. In this podcast you'll hear from participating teams as they pitch their products to potential commercial customers and investors in the clean energy sector. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

You see the headlines all the time linking nutrition to health and aging, but it's not so easy figuring out where the science is behind them. This podcast examines the connections between nutrition and longevity through the eyes of scientists researching the question. This podcast is made possible by a grant from the Abbott Nutrition Health Institute.

In this special podcast, learn about the stories that shaped the Academy's 200 year history. From the emergence of the Academy on a bustling street in downtown Manhattan of 1817 to the professionalization and expansion of the sciences through the 1800s. From our early efforts to help disseminate and share scientific research long before the internet to our efforts today to expand who has access to scientific careers around the globe. Featuring commentary and highlights from Simon Baatz, PhD (John Jay College)

The Academy's After School STEM Mentoring program improves science education and brings science out of the lab and into the community by placing early-career STEM professionals in public middle schools to serve as mentors to students. This is the last podcast in a three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

Are physicists on a path to upend some of the time-tested fundamental theories of physics? This podcast explores the interplay between quantum theory and general relativity, and how these phenomena may be exploited, from black holes to quantum computing. Featuring Daniel Harlow (Harvard University Center for the Fundamental Laws of Nature), Scott Aaronson (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Brian Swingle (Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics), with moderation from George Musser (Spooky Action at a Distance), this podcast features audio from the final event in our series, The Physics of Everything. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

So many of our misconceptions about science come from where we first encountered them the classroom. How can we do a better job of teaching science, both so we make sure we have a new generation of STEM professionals, but also a STEM-literate public? The second of the three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

According to Enrico Fermi, there's a high probability of extraterrestrial life, but we haven't found any yet. Why is that? Listen in as top scientists discuss the question of what and who else might be out there. Featuring Adam Frank (University of Rochester), Louisa Preston (astrobiologist and author), Jason Thomas Wright (Pennsylvania State University), and Stephen M. Gardiner (University of Washington), with moderation by Ira Flatow (PRI's Science Friday ), this podcast features audio from the fifth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Even in the 21st century, there's a significant percentage of people who deeply mistrust science and scientists. Why? And what can we do about it? The first of a three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

Advances in physical sciences, biology, and neuroscience have dramatically enhanced our knowledge of the human species. But can physical sciences solve the biggest mystery the emergence of human consciousness? A distinguished panel of experts, including David Chalmers, PhD, Michael Graziano, PhD, Hod Lipson, PhD, and Max Tegmark, PhD, will discuss in this new podcast. Scientific American's George Musser moderates. This podcast features audio from the fourth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Research only turns into a real-world solution if it becomes something you can buy and use, but there are a lot of challenges to taking a great idea from the lab and making it a viable commercial product. Researchers can become entrepreneurs by studying the marketplace and learning to listen to their potential customers. Learn more about our Proof of Concept Centers here.

Today, more than ever, we can better understand just how complex our world is, from social groups to economic markets to neurons in the brain and our immune systems. But will these new complexity frontiers complement contemporary physics or upend it completely? Listen in to a discussion about the future of complexity with four distinguished speakers: Bernard Chazelle, PhD

Advances in genomic medicine indicate that pediatric cancers may be quite different from their adult counterparts. Hear from experts on why this might be and what scientists are doing to understand it better. Many pediatric cancers do not harbor the same targetable mutations seen in adult tumors, making it imperative that we understand the reasons behind these differences. Following up on the 2016 Sohn Conference, "Pediatric Cancer in a Post-genomic World," presented by The Sohn Conference Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, this podcast gives listeners a glimpse into where research and treatment are today and where they are headed in the future.

Listen in to a discussion with writer Jim Holt, philosophers David Z. Albert and Hans Halvorson, and science writer Kate Becker about the realms where physics and philosophy intersect. For centuries, physics and philosophy walked side by side in pursuit of their shared goal understanding the nature of reality. The progress of science has pushed the frontier of physics into the realm of advanced mathematics, which requires technical skill and levels of abstraction attainable only after years of dedicated training. At the same time, most physicists today do not receive training in philosophy and epistemology, few have the time to ponder philosophical implications of their work, and some even doubt the possibility of a meaningful dialog between physicists and philosophers. However, at its core, physics addresses the fundamental problems that shape our philosophical outlook. This podcast features audio from our second Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

The Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine and the Academy bring together patients, regulators, manufacturers, journalists, and experts to debate the difficult ethical issues surrounding “compassionate use” of pre-approved medicines. Patients with life-threatening illnesses face challenges in accessing potential therapies at the cutting-edge of R

Featuring cosmologist Neil Weiner, string theorist Eva Silverstein, and physicist Vijay Balasubramanian, with moderation from philosopher of science Jill North, this podcast explores what the future holds for physics. Modern physics and its leading theories have been remarkably successful in describing the history of our universe, and large-scale experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, are continuously producing new data that extend our knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, our understanding of some physical concepts that seek to explain our universe dark matter and dark energy, quantum gravity, supersymmetry, and the cosmological constant remain unresolved. This podcast features audio from our first Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

For 2016, the International Year of Pulses, our Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science is looking at the many opportunities provided by pulses edible seeds like dried, lentils, and chickpeas. Pulses provide a non-animal source of protein, appear to be healthy for the gut microbiome, and help replenish the soil where they are grown. In this podcast we'll talk to scientists studying the benefits of pulses about their research and also how we might solve the challenge of moving these important foods from millions of small-scale farmers in India and Latin America to consumers worldwide.

We explore research methodologies for building an evidence base for nutrition and obesity policy that are emerging across disciplines. Well-informed nutrition policy decisions that consider scientific evidence should strive to improve health outcomes on a large scale. But it's not always easy to find the right evidence to back up those policies. At our October 2015 conference, "Towards Evidence-based Nutrition and Obesity Policy," speakers discussed emerging research methodologies, ways to interpret research outcomes, and how these outcomes can be used to inform policy. Listen in to this podcast to learn more about the important relationship between research and policy.

Mobile technology is emerging as a powerful tool for transforming the way clinical research is conducted now and in the future. Acquisition of real-time biometric data though the use of wireless medical sensors will allow for around-the-clock patient monitoring, reduce costly clinic visits, and streamline inefficient administrative processes. With the promise of this technology also comes challenges including digital data privacy concerns, patient compliance issues, and practical considerations such as continuous powering of these devices. This podcast provides an illuminating examination of both the promises and challenges that underpin the implementation of mobile technology into the clinical realm.

It's easier to find people to invest in a great new tech product if you can show that it will be profitable relatively quickly. Unfortunately, that's not so easy to demonstrate. Learn how we're working to change that. The Academy and NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) are teaming up to drive investment in the new technologies that will help revolutionize the way we produce and use energy by supporting Proof of Concept Centers - institutes that bridge the gap between academic laboratories and working companies. In this podcast we learn about Proof of Concept Centers: what they are and how they have the potential to create a sea change in the way new technologies are turned from ideas into realities.

Understanding nutrition's impact on health requires an intricate knowledge of all the different systems within the human body. Learn how a systems approach to nutrition could change the field. Drawing on examples from obesity and diabetes prevention, weight loss threshold effects and the role of physical activity, this podcast highlights the need to bring biology, epidemiology, psychology and other disciplines together in a systemic way. Based on a conference organized by The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and held at the New York Academy of Sciences on April 16, 2015, this podcast is supported by Metagenics.

A recent conference held at the Academy asked a downright outrageous question: Can dementia be prevented by making changes to your diet? In this podcast we look at what the answers might be. Podcast listeners learned a lot over the past two months about neurodegenerative dementia - what it is, what it isn't, and how heartbreakingly little medical science can do right now to treat it. In that context, a recent conference held at the Academy asked a downright outrageous question: Can dementia be prevented by making changes to your diet? In this podcast, we hear answers to that question, some of which are surprisingly optimistic.

In the final episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at some of the innovative approaches that are being taken, and how they hold out new hope for the future. The prospects for a cure for neurodegenerative dementia might seem bleak - there's still so much we don't know about these conditions and about the brain itself, and research funding for it has traditionally been much lower than for other conditions that effect a similar number of people. But there's a new wave of international momentum to better understand and treat diseases like Alzheimer's, and most in the field are optimistic that a big breakthrough is coming soon.

In this episode of the Dementia Decoded series, we'll look at new and innovative ways people around the world are addressing this problem, and offer some tools and strategies for people dealing with dementia in their own families and communities. As the research community continues to work to find new and better medical treatments for neurodegenerative dementia, it's affecting millions more people every year, at a staggering cost to not only these people and their families, but also the world economy. How to best care for people living with dementia, and the millions of unpaid caregivers who are putting their lives on hold to support them, is one of the most crucial public health questions facing the world today.

In the third episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at the current slate of treatment options available to people living with neurodegenerative dementia, and the road toward new and better ones. Dementia isn't like other diseases - the fear and stigma surrounding it often make it difficult to even get someone who may be living with it to get a proper diagnosis, and the perceived lack of options lead many to wonder if a diagnosis can do more harm than good. But while there's no cure yet for Alzheimer's disease, there are definitely ways of approaching it medically, and often things that look like Alzheimer's are really something much easier to treat.

In the second episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at the current state of knowledge about the basic physiology of Alzheimer's, and how scientists are working to unlock its secrets. We've known about the basic pathological signatures of Alzheimer's disease for more than 100 years, but there's still a very great deal we don't know about how the disease works and how to prevent it's devastating effects.

The first episode of our new five-part Dementia Decoded podcast series looks at what Alzheimer's is, how it differs from other forms of Dementia, and whether is it an inevitable part of aging. Polls show that Americans fear Alzheimer's disease more than any other illness. And little wonder - it's debilitating, fatal, incurable, and currently afflicts hundreds of millions worldwide, a number that's going to continue increasing as the world's population both grows and grows older. But what is Alzheimer's? How is it different from other forms of Dementia? And is it an inevitable part of aging? This podcast features interviews with leading experts from every aspect of the study of Dementia: academia, health care, public policy, and beyond.

Leading scientists discuss the latest breakthroughs in lysosome biology and what they mean for treating Batten disease, and more common conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and cancer. This podcast is generously supported by the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation and brings you excerpted coverage from a recent event organized by the Academy in partnership with the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation. Visit Beyond Batten Disease Foundation's website for more information.

In the second of a two-part series, experts look at the links between health and nutrition. They examine everything from how nutrition impacts hospital stays, to cancer and aging, to developing food science innovations, and improving diet. In this second podcast, experts from The Sackler Institute of Nutrition Science discuss how proper nutrition is a crucial piece of global health, highlighting the key role of scientific discovery in optimizing health. This podcast includes interviews with experts from Pfizer, Nestl , Abbott Nutrition Health Institute, Ajinomoto, DuPont, DSM, and the Vitality Institute.

In this first of a two-part series, experts from various sectors explore the available options to reduce "hidden hunger" micronutrient deficiencies in a population. In this podcast series, the many partners of The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science offer perspective on their work to better understand human nutrition, and to find new and better ways of feeding the world. For this episode, experts from DSM, DuPont, Pepsico, Nestl , Pfizer, the Food Fortification Initiative, the Mathile Institute, and Ajinomoto discuss the many ways people are solving the problem of supplying people everywhere with adequate vitamins and minerals.

A young chemist discusses his goal of producing usable clean energy by artificially mimicking the process of photosynthesis. As a Ph.D. student at SUNY Stonybrook, Huafeng Huang (aka Wolf) is using chemistry to create an artificial leaf. His goal is to chemically imitate and adapt the process of photosynthesis to create clean energy. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

Three budding biologists and their teacher discuss the vital work of conservation biology and how students are making important contributions to the field. Biologist Oscar Pineda and students Ines Muravin, Maya Drzewicki, and Arden Feil discuss their research and conservation work with the American Museum of Natural History's Science Research Mentoring Program. Dr. Pineda explains how students can get involved in professional field work to contribute to our understanding of local environmental issues. The three inspiring students share fascinating insights into the complicated connectivity between species and the importance of conservation. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

Designer Josh Treuhaft discusses the issue of food waste and his creative approach to combating the problem. A whopping 40% of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten, which means we're literally throwing out the equivalent of $165 billion per year. This waste becomes an environmental problem as it decomposes and emits methane. To raise awareness about this issue and teach people how to individually make a difference, designer Josh Treuhaft started the Salvage Supperclub. Bringing ideas together from a range of disciplines, the Salvage Supperclub serves scrumptious, multi-course meals made from food that would otherwise be discarded all in a beautifully converted dumpster. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

By inviting the public to enjoy the Bronx River, the Bronx River Alliance is creating sustainability enthusiasts and improving the local ecosystem for both humans and wildlife.

High school student Grace Greenwald connects her peers with world class neuroscientists and mentorship. At the age of 15, Grace came up against a lack of resources to help high school students explore the field of neuroscience. Undaunted, she designed her own neuroscience curriculum and founded The Synapse Project, a virtual learning platform that connects professionals in brain research to high school students, especially young women, offering the next generation of neuroscientists a head start through mentorship, classes, and lab experience.

A diverse panel of leading experts discusses innovative efforts to develop an effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. The search for a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease becomes increasingly urgent as global populations grow and age. In the United States alone, 16 million people are projected to suffer from AD by 2050. In this podcast, leading experts from different sections of the R D pipeline discuss cutting-edge approaches to developing a cure. This podcast is generously supported by the Dana Foundation and brings you excerpted coverage from a recent event organized by the Academy in partnership with the Society for Neuroscience, the Dana Foundation, the NYC Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and the organizers of NYC Brain Awareness Week. Visit the Academy's Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Initiative for more info.

Experts discuss the merits of integrating nutrition and early childhood development interventions to nurture the physical and psychological health of underprivileged children. Almost a quarter of children under the age of five do not reach their full developmental potential as a result of chronic undernutrition, a lack of developmental and educational opportunities, and high social and environmental risks. Children everywhere need access to healthy food to develop their bodies and stimulating activities to develop their minds. Traditionally, these needs have been addressed separately, but would they both be more effective if combined into a single effort? Experts from around the world gather at the headquarters of UNICEF to discuss. Read more in this eBriefing. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Protein is one of the most important nutrients in our diet, but providing an adequate and equitable supply of it to people around the world remains a vexing problem. Population growth and changes in dietary practices globally have led to a tremendous rise in the demand for animal-source foods. While consuming the required amount of protein is fundamental to human health, supplying protein to meet increasing worldwide needs can lead to environmental and health problems. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

The third podcast in our series on the Research Agenda for Nutrition Science focuses on implementation. Creating the agenda was a great first step, but effectively activating it is just as complex and important. A cross-section of experts from around the world discusses this process and their hopes and plans for the future of the field. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Part two of our podcast series on the nutrition research agenda addresses the importance, as well as the challenge, of tackling global nutrition needs in a coordinated, multisectoral way. Experts from all aspects of the nutrition community, from food science to food production and beyond, gather at the Academy to discuss the nutrition science agenda, and how it can best be developed and used to move the field forward. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.