Scientists have learned how to edit DNA and reprogram cells to fix a mutation and fight diseases. But the process requires a lab, is expensive and involves rounds of chemotherapy that are  grueling for the patient. But Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem is working on a new technology with the goal of delivering the gene therapy directly into the body with a syringe. It has the potential to make the procedure far more accessible especially for those living far from hospitals and in need of the therapy most.

More resources:
Hans-Peter Kiem
Kiem Lab

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Scientists have learned how to edit DNA and reprogram cells to fix a mutation and fight diseases. But the process requires a lab, is expensive and involves rounds of chemotherapy that are&nbsp; grueling for the patient. But Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem is working on a new technology with the goal of delivering the gene therapy directly into the body with a syringe. It has the potential to make the procedure far more accessible especially for those living far from hospitals and in need of the therapy most.
More resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.fredhutch.org/en/people/k/hans-peter-kiem.html">Hans-Peter Kiem</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://research.fredhutch.org/kiem/en.html">Kiem Lab</a></li>
</ul>
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Discovery is happening all around Seattle… if you know where to look. On Pocket Science, we dig into the fascinating, weird, and groundbreaking research happening right here in our backyard—and meet the scientists in the thick of it.

From lab benches to tidal mudflats, it all starts with one simple question: what are you working on? The answers might surprise you. Take your curiosity with you on Pocket Science.

Pocket Science launches July 6 with new episodes available every other Monday.

Discovery is happening all around Seattle&hellip; if you know where to look. On Pocket Science, we dig into the fascinating, weird, and groundbreaking research happening right here in our backyard&mdash;and meet the scientists in the thick of it. From lab benches to tidal mudflats, it all starts with one simple question: what are you working on? The answers might surprise you. Take your curiosity with you on Pocket Science.
Pocket Science launches July 6 with new episodes available every other Monday.

Pocket Science

Gabe Spitzer talks to Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center about breakthroughs in gene therapy. He is working on a new way to fight cancer that avoids the grueling process of chemotherapy and instead is administered with a simple shot that sends healthy particles into the body to repair defective cells.

Gene therapy in a syringe: simplifying life-saving cures for millions

Therapy with psychedelic drugs has shown remarkable promise in treating depression, PTSD and the terminally ill. But scientists are still unsure how it works – why going on a single psychedelic journey could help to rewire a person’s brain. Dr. Anthony Back is an oncologist who found his way to this research through his work in palliative care. As part of his training, he took his own psychedelic journey and wrote about it in a medical journal.  We talk about what captivates him about this therapy, what his own experience was like and how it’s made him think differently about the human mind and body.  

More resources:

Anthony L. Back MD

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Therapy with psychedelic drugs has shown remarkable promise in treating depression, PTSD and the terminally ill. But scientists are still unsure how it works &ndash; why going on a single psychedelic journey could help to rewire a person&rsquo;s brain. Dr. Anthony Back is an oncologist who found his way to this research through his work in palliative care. As part of his training, he took his own psychedelic journey and wrote about it in a medical journal.&nbsp; We talk about what captivates him about this therapy, what his own experience was like and how it&rsquo;s made him think differently about the human mind and body.&nbsp;&nbsp;
More resources:
<a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/bios/anthony-back#about-tab">Anthony L. Back MD</a>
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Oncologist Dr. Anthony Back explains how psychedelic drugs can rewire our brains to help people deal with PTSD and stress from terminal illness.

Peeing jellyfish while confronting mortality: The power of psychedelics at the end of life

Our immune systems have evolved to overcome all kinds of flus, plagues and poxes, but the process of adaptation is slow. Harmit Malik is a Professor and Associate Director of the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutch. He is part of a team that is working on a way to put evolution into overdrive to fight future diseases. The novel approach uses the remains of dead viruses that have built up in our bodies over the millennia to help quickly create millions of genetic variants in order to find the right combination that can target the next big virus.

More resources:
Harmik Malik
Malik Lab


Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Our immune systems have evolved to overcome all kinds of flus, plagues and poxes, but the process of adaptation is slow. Harmit Malik is a Professor and Associate Director of the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutch. He is part of a team that is working on a way to put evolution into overdrive to fight future diseases. The novel approach uses the remains of dead viruses that have built up in our bodies over the millennia to help quickly create millions of genetic variants in order to find the right combination that can target the next big virus.
More resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.fredhutch.org/en/people/m/harmit-malik.html">Harmik Malik</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://research.fredhutch.org/malik/en.html">Malik Lab</a></li>
</ul>
 Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/gabriel-spitzer">Gabriel Spitzer</a>, edited by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Gabriel Spitzer talks to Harmit Malik about using the remains of dead viruses that have built up in our bodies to create new variants to target future viruses.

An evolutionary arms race

Moons get no respect. People think of them as dead and cold, often overshadowed (literally) by the superstar planets they orbit around. But planetary scientist Baptiste Journaux would disagree. He’s fascinated by moons and the growing research that has shown that moons are far more active than we used to think. In fact, they contain heat and ice and essential components needed for life. Pocket Science host Gabriel Spitzer talks with Journaux about the latest discoveries of frozen planets and the upcoming NASA mission to explore Titan, the moon orbiting Saturn.

GUEST:

Baptiste Journaux is an astrobiologist, mineral physicist, planetary scientist … and rock collector. He’s an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington.

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Moons get no respect. People think of them as dead and cold, often overshadowed (literally) by the superstar planets they orbit around. But planetary scientist Baptiste Journaux would disagree. He&rsquo;s fascinated by moons and the growing research that has shown that moons are far more active than we used to think. In fact, they contain heat and ice and essential components needed for life. Pocket Science host Gabriel Spitzer talks with Journaux about the latest discoveries of frozen planets and the upcoming NASA mission to explore Titan, the moon orbiting Saturn.
GUEST:
<a href="https://bjournaux.wordpress.com/">Baptiste Journaux</a> is an astrobiologist, mineral physicist, planetary scientist &hellip; and rock collector. He&rsquo;s an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington.
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/gabriel-spitzer">Gabriel Spitzer</a>, edited by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

University of Washington astrobiologist  Baptiste Journaux talks with host Gabriel Spitzer about frozen planets and what they can teach us about the beginning of life on earth.

Gene therapy in a syringe: simplifying life-saving cures for millions

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