Biomedical researcher Sonia Vallabh shares her quest to cure prion disease, exploring insights on catching and preventing the illness, and honoring the mystery of our brains. She reflects on pivotal life moments, the emotional journey of genetic test results, and the complexity of developing brain-targeted therapeutics. Vallabh's personal journey highlights the impact of a genetic mutation on her family and the proactive approach to combating the disease.

Sonia Vallabh, who lost her mother to a mysterious brain disease, discovers she has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the same genetic mutation. She discusses living with uncertainty, getting test results, and finding comfort in not constantly managing uncertainty.

Reggie Watts, a creative force in comedy and music known for his improvisational flair, shares insights on spontaneity in art and life. Sonia Vallabh, a dedicated biomedical researcher, reflects on her personal journey with prion disease and the power of resilience through science. Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, a prominent conservationist, discusses her pivotal role in establishing national parks in South America, revealing the challenges of blending conservation with community needs. Together, they explore the delicate dance between planning, adapting, and improvising through life's uncertainties.

Biomedical researcher Sonia Vallabh shares her quest to cure prion disease after discovering her genetic mutation. The podcast delves into her journey, from genetic prion disease discovery to research pursuits for therapy. It explores using CRISPR for prevention, challenges of testing new medicines, and reflections on family, genetics, and scientific breakthroughs.

In the mornings, Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel's first job is to get their two garrulous kids awake, fed and out the door to daycare and kindergarten. They then reconvene at the office and turn their focus to their all-consuming mission: to cure, treat, or prevent genetic prion disease. Prions are self-replicating proteins that can cause fatal brain disease. For a decade, Sonia Vallabh has been living with the knowledge that she has a genetic mutation that will likely cause in her the same disease that claimed her mother's life in 2010. Upon discovering she had the mutation, Sonia and her husband made a massive pivot: They went from careers in law and urban planning to earning their Ph.D.s, and founding a prion research lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. On today's episode, Sonia and Eric talk with Short Wave's Gabriel Spitzer about what it's like to run a lab with one's spouse, cope with the ticking clock in Sonia's genes, and find hope in a bleak diagnosis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy