The Fundamentals

Recently, interest in psychedelic research has seen a resurgence, strengthened by better designed and controlled clinical trials and the use of neuroimaging, examining psychedelics' potential therapeutic use for PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and depression. On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. George Mashour, professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology and founder of the Michigan Psychedelic Center about using rigorous scientific methods to unlock the mysteries of psychedelics and investigate their potential as therapeutics. Episode TranscriptLearn more about the Global Psychedelic Survey 2025, launching 5/1/25Learn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

There are an estimated 86 billion neurons in the human brain. Neuroscientists are actively exploring the importance of single or small groups of neurons versus networks of billions of neurons in the processing of sensory information, storage of memories, generation of movement, and everything else the brain does. Until recently, it simply wasn't possible to study billions of neurons at once. In today's episode, we talk with U-M's Dr. Anne Draelos, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, who is using A.I. and bioinformatics to reveal the hidden networks of the brain, and exploring how gaining this understanding could improve lives.Episode TranscriptDr. Anne DraelosDraelos LabLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

People with diabetes often have a host of other conditions including cardiovascular disease and kidney disease driven by inflammation. On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Katherine Gallagher, professor of surgery, professor of microbiology and immunology, and the Leland Ira Doan Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at U of M, who is looking at how epigenetics - the influence of environmental factors and behaviors impact on gene expression - might explain changes in the immune system in people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions related to inflammation. Episode TranscriptDr. Katherine GallagherLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today on The Fundamentals, we have a conversation with Dr. Sonya Wolf-Fortune, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, whose work focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of psoriasis, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Wolf-Fortune is trying to uncover what sets off the cascades of inflammation related to these conditions and related diseases.Episode TranscriptDr. Wolf-Fortune ProfileLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A recent University of Michigan study found that around 20% of cervical cancer cases and cervical cancer-related deaths could be avoided if every eligible person was screened. U-M researcher, Dr. Diane Harper is hoping to lower the barriers to cervical cancer screening by making it more convenient and less expensive. How? By empowering patients with the tools and knowledge needed to collect their own samples at home for testing. This approach has the potential to greatly increase the number of people who are screened overall, and would be transformative in advancing health equity and accessibility for cervical cancer screening.Episode TranscriptDr. Diane Harper ProfileLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The main cause of death due to opioid overdose is respiratory depression. In other words, the brain of a person under the influence of opioids can simply forget to breathe. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Erica Levitt, associate professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology at University of Michigan Medical School, who is trying to explain this connection, with the hope of maintaining the powerful pain relieving effects of opioids without their potentially deadly effects.Episode TranscriptDr. Erica Levitt ProfileLearn more about The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to The Fundamentals on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.