Science Magazine Podcast

Turning anemones into coral, and the future of psychiatric drugs

Nov 2, 2023

Guest Christie Wilcox discusses efforts to turn anemones into corals by manipulating their genes. Then, Steve Hyman explores challenges in developing drugs for brain diseases. Lastly, Thomas Fuchs delves into the potential of AI in healthcare including disease identification and treatment recommendations.

39:05

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Episode guests

Christie Wilcox

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Scientists are trying to make anemones act like corals by inserting coral genes into them to study biomineralization processes.

The development of psychiatric drugs is lagging behind other medicines due to issues like a lack of diverse genome sequences, but researchers are working to overcome these obstacles.

Deep dives

AI in Healthcare: A Powerful Tool for Better Patient Care

AI and machine learning have the potential to greatly impact medical research and clinical care. In healthcare, AI is helpful because it can bridge the gap caused by a shortage of medical professionals, improve physician experience and reduce burnout, and enhance patient care by providing accurate and timely diagnoses. However, challenges exist, such as the limited availability and regulatory clearance of AI systems, the need for education and training for healthcare professionals, and the importance of responsible AI development and regulation. Despite these challenges, AI is crucial for advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes.

Introduction

2min

Sea anemones as coral: understanding mineral production

10min

Wrapping up and Introducing the Topic of Developing Drugs for Brain Diseases

2min

Challenges in Developing Treatments for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

12min

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

2min

The Definition, Evolution, and Potential Impacts of Artificial Intelligence

7min

The Potential of AI in Addressing Diagnostic Mistakes in Healthcare

2min

Why scientists are trying to make anemones act like corals, and why it’s so hard to make pharmaceuticals for brain diseases

First up on this week’s show, coaxing anemones to make rocks. Newsletter Editor Christie Wilcox joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss the difficulties of raising coral in the lab and a research group that’s instead trying to pin down the process of biomineralization by inserting coral genes into easy-to-maintain anemones.

Next on the show, a look at why therapeutics for both neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric illness are lagging behind other kinds of medicines. Steve Hyman, director of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, talks with Sarah about some of the stumbling blocks to developing drugs for the brain—including a lack of diverse genome sequences—and what researchers are doing to get things back on track.

Finally, in a sponsored segment from the Science/AAAS Custom Publishing Office, associate editor Jackie Oberst discusses with Thomas Fuchs, dean of artificial intelligence (AI) and human health and professor of computational pathology and computer science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the potential and evolving role of AI in health care. This segment is sponsored by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Christie Wilcox; Sarah Crespi

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm6756

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