Lab Rat Chat

A podcast dedicated to providing an accurate and alternate narrative to the public regarding the necessity of humane and ethical animal research. Lab Rat Chat was made possible through the Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach, which is sponsored by the biomedical research advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress.

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Top 10 Lab Rat Chat Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Lab Rat Chat episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Lab Rat Chat for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Lab Rat Chat episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

News Bite - February 2024

Lab Rat Chat

02/15/24 • 40 min

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Hold onto your lab coats as we delve into the astonishing medic skills of the Matabelle ants and their natural antibiotics, a discovery with implications that could ripple through human healthcare. We'll chuckle together at AI's attempts at artistic genius and its more practical uses in the operating room, and then ponder the ethical maze surrounding a pioneering pig liver medical procedure.
Allergies got you sniffling? We've got the scoop on how nanoparticles might be the game-changer we've been sneezing for, thanks to groundbreaking research from Northwestern University. While we're at it, let's not forget about the superhero in the room: breast milk. Discover how this liquid gold is rewriting the rulebook on infant immunity. Prepare to be both enlightened and entertained as we merge cutting-edge science with hearty humor throughout our latest episode.
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7. Combating COVID-19

Lab Rat Chat

05/04/20 • 31 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 07 with Dr. Mark Slifka, Professor at Oregon Health and Science University
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In this seventh episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Mark Slifka from Oregon Health and Science University talks to us about his research involving developing antibody tests for detecting COVID-19.
Check out the video version of this episode on YouTube (link below)! Be sure to comment and let us know if you want to see more of this in the future! And yes, I'm recording from my basement, which is one of the only, actually, it is the only, somewhat quiet place in my house.
Video version of the episode - https://youtu.be/ArmVEja-AD0
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Slifka’s journey through his education and career leading to his current position at Oregon Health and Science University.
Serological (antibody) tests for COVID-19 detection in people.
Why developing these serological tests to be highly accurate is so important to help our country, and our entire world, move past this COVID-19 pandemic.
The general role of animals in vaccine development.
Potential treatment options for those suffering from COVID-19.

Notable quotes:

“We were the first study to demonstrate that immunity can be maintained for up to 75 years after a single vaccination against smallpox.”

“A virus like measles is very very contagious, far more contagious than COVID-19, far more contagious than flu”

“If we got herd immunity in the range of 50-60%, then there’s a good chance that the herd immunity itself would reduce that reproductive number to less than one and the virus would burn itself out”

Resources & Links:

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AMP's COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

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12. All About BRAD

Lab Rat Chat

08/27/20 • 33 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 12 with Dr. Logan France, board-certified laboratory animal veterinarian and Founder and Program Director of BRAD
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Danielle and I had a chance to catch up with Dr. Logan France to talk all about Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD), officially planned for September 17, 2020. If you don’t already know, BRAD is a truly amazing day that celebrates the use of animals in biomedical research that have contributed to both human and veterinary medicine. Anyone and everyone can and should celebrate BRAD and help educate and inform not only the public but also themselves on the importance of animal research. To get started, head to the BRAD webpage in the ‘Resources and Links’ section below and be sure to follow them on all their social media accounts!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. France’s extensive background and experiences throughout her education and career.
An overview of what Biomedical Research Awareness Day is and how it all started.
How BRAD has grown over the years to become a worldwide celebration of laboratory animals and medical advancements.
Ways to get involved and celebrate this annual tradition.
Dr. France’s favorite laboratory animal and a couple of her favorite medical discoveries that have come from the use of animals in biomedical research.

Notable quotes:

“We also created BRAD challenges for this year...we’ve got 18 challenges for people to complete that are focused on showing support for animal research and educating others about the importance for animal research, and by participating they can earn entries for a raffle where we are giving away a bunch of neat prizes.”

“The Principal Investigator (PI) for this lab was on the team of surgeons that completed the first bilateral forearm transplant at John’s Hopkins in a young man who survived a quadruple amputation after an injury in Iraq, and he lost all four limbs and was then able to have this transplant done and he now has two working arms...he’s able to do push-ups and pull-ups.”

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Resources & Links:

BRAD's Webpage (https://www.bradglobal.org/)
BRAD’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BRADGlobal/)
BRAD’s Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brad_global/)
BRAD’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/amp_brad)

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11. Misconceptions Surrounding Animal Research

Lab Rat Chat

08/11/20 • 35 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 11 with Dr. Dale Cooper, board-certified laboratory animal veterinarian
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Dale Cooper, speaks to us about some of the common misconceptions surrounding the use of animals in research. We’ve all heard the argument that animals aren’t useful models for drug development, so take a minute and listen to Dr. Cooper break down the facts on this one and tell us why they are indeed the absolute best model for this and why they are still 100% necessary. Go check out Dr. Cooper’s guest article from a couple years back for Speaking of Research titled, “Predictability and Utility of Animal Models”.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Cooper’s extensive background and experiences throughout his education and career.
A brief overview of the drug development process and alternatives that are utilized before ever testing a drug in an animal.
The ability of animals to successfully predict potential toxicities and safety of a drug before testing it in humans.
Whether or not the use of animals for drug development and testing could be skipped altogether, going straight into human testing instead.
How a drug obtains approval to move from an animal model into human testing and ultimately on to the market.

Notable quotes:

“Some people will think about drug development in a particular animal research as if you one run study on one drug, and that gives you all your answers, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“The vast majority of people, even if they won’t admit that they’re okay with animal research, they are driving the demand that essentially is there asking us to develop drugs, develop within a certain timeframe, within a certain cost, and with a certain level of safety.”

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Resources & Links:

Dr. Cooper’s Guest Post: Predictability and Utility of Animal Models (https://speakingofresearch.com/2017/07/25/predictability-and-utility-of-animal-models/)
Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

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10. Enriching the Lives of Laboratory Animals

Lab Rat Chat

07/03/20 • 38 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 10 with Dr. Tara Martin, Director of the Refinement and Enrichment Laboratory at the University of Michigan
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Tara Martin from the Refinement and Enrichment Laboratory at the University of Michigan joins us to chat about the use of enrichment to stimulate and improve the lives of laboratory animals. Dr. Martin and her team go to incredible lengths to ensure the enrichment they provide to every single animal are both safe and effective.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Martin’s extensive background and experiences throughout her education and career.
The mission and vision of the Refinement and Enrichment Laboratory at the University of Michigan.
What enrichment is and why it must (almost) always be used for laboratory animals.
The process of testing and approving new enrichment items for use with the various animal species.
Specific types of enrichment that may be used for animals based upon the type of study they’re involved in, such as studying cancer or cardiovascular diseases versus depression or anxiety.

Notable quotes:

“The reason we research enrichment is because there are a lot of toys and items available that seem like they would be really fun to us as humans, and then you give them to an animal and the animal is like ‘I have no interest in this item’, or they may even be afraid of the item.”

“We filmed pigs with a bunch of different mats and then a bunch of different toys, and they ignored most of the items we put in, such as Kongs or balls, but the mats they would sleep on and then they would spend a lot of time pushing them around the cage, probably because pigs just love to root items on the ground and that’s just such a normal behavior for them.”

Resources & Links:

Refinement & Enrichment Advancements Laboratory (https://animalcare.umich.edu/animal-use/refinement-enrichment-advancements-laboratory)
REAL Lab Animal Enrichment Database (https://az.research.umich.edu/animalcare/search/all?keys=&type=All&topic=18&category=All)
Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts

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9. Animal Research in the European Union

Lab Rat Chat

05/29/20 • 44 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 09 with Dr. Javier Guillen from the European Animal Research Association
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In this ninth episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Javier Guillen from the European Animal Research Association joins us all the way from Spain to chat about the similarities and differences in animal research regulations and laws in the European Union compared with those in the United States.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Guillen's extensive background and experiences throughout his education and career.
The mission and vision of the European Animal Research Association.
Similarities and differences between United States and EU animal research regulations.
The development of Transparency Agreements and how they may be contributing to increasing public trust.

Notable quotes:

“In these current times of COVID-19, EARA has put together an interactive map to display the biomedical research currently underway across the world to find a cure for coronavirus.”

“Many people don’t really know when, why, and how animals are used. When you explain to someone all the regulations and ethical oversight, they are really surprised.”

Resources & Links:

European Animal Research Association (www.eara.eu)
EARA interactive COVID-19 map (https://www.eara.eu/post/how-animals-are-helping-in-covid-19-research-a-global-overview)
Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

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8. Coronavirus, Vaccines, and High Containment Labs

Lab Rat Chat

05/11/20 • 31 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 08 with Dr. Ricardo Carrion, Jr., Professor at Texas Biomedical Research Institute
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In this eighth episode of Lab Rat Chat, Dr. Ricardo Carrion, Jr., from Texas Biomedical Research Institute, talks to us about the research they are doing down at their institute in San Antonio, TX to help combat COVID-19.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Carrion’s journey through his education and career leading to his current position at Texas Biomedical Research Institute.
The details behind various high containment laboratories that allow scientists to work safely with deadly pathogens.
The use of various animal models to help understand and study SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus behind the COVID-19 disease.

Notable quotes:

"Individuals are actually suited into a space-suit type uniform, it's a single, continuous jump-suit, if you will, that has a zipper...they are tethered to a breathing air-supply line, and they work in the BSL-4 laboratory in that suit."
“The level of collaborations seen in this outbreak, this pandemic, is greater than any other type of collaboration that I’ve seen in the 20 years that I’ve been doing science.”

“If you look at vaccine development, if you look at Ebola for instance, as an example, it was about 7-10 years to license that vaccine. So that in one year, we’re talking about possibly having an FDA licensed vaccine for COVID-19, it’s pretty remarkable”

Resources & Links:

Texas Biomedical Research Institute (www.txbiomed.org)
Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AMP's COVID-19 Resources (https://www.amprogress.org/covid-19-resources/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

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5. Seeing New Perspectives

Lab Rat Chat

02/13/20 • 35 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 05 with Dr. Rick Born, Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard University and member of Society for Neuroscience
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle's conversation with Dr. Born delves into a variety of topics including amazing medical discoveries and even advances in everyday technology that have come from animal research. Dr. Born talks about the role of The Society for Neuroscience in promoting responsible animal research as well as their resources to help protect their members facing opposition from animal rights groups.
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Rick Born’s journey through medical school and beyond, leading to his current position at Harvard University.
Information on The Society for Neuroscience and their role in advancing science and promoting responsible animal research
Amazing contributions to medicine and technology attributed to the use of animals in research
The basics of Dr. Born’s research of the visual system and why this requires the use of non-human primates in order to help us understand vision
An introduction to our listeners about some of the various levels of extremism researchers have faced from animal rights groups
Ways the research community can continue to improve in furthering the trust of the public

Notable quotes:

“It’s important for ordinary people to see that scientists are also ordinary people. We have wives and children, and dogs for pets, and we live in your neighborhood. We believe that what we’re doing is important and justified and humane.”

“Again, it goes to show how deep and necessary animal research is to the entire biomedical enterprise, and not limited to humans, but including the benefits that go to our pets as well.”

“All the software that recognizes you when you’re on Facebook, when you post a picture to Facebook...it recognizes you because it’s using algorithms that were directly patterned after what we’ve learned about vision from the Macaque [monkey] visual system.”

Resources & Links:

The Society for Neuroscience (https://www.sfn.org/)
Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
Come See Our World (https://www.comeseeourworld.org/)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic

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4. Going Above and Beyond the Standards

Lab Rat Chat

01/26/20 • 22 min

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 04 with Dr. Helen Diggs, Senior Director of AAALAC International

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In this fourth episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle talk with Dr. Helen Diggs about why this organization has been so critical to the continued evolution of animal care and use standards. Listen and find out about some of the amazing efforts institutions put forth in order to obtain this voluntary accreditation.
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Helen Diggs' interesting background working in Alaska, which involved working with polar bears and wolves!
The role of AAALAC International
A brief overview of the process to obtain AAALAC International accreditation
Common findings during AAALAC International triennial site visit assessments

Notable quotes:

“It was an amazing introduction to veterinary medicine, they cared for a wide variety of species - wolves, lemmings, a polar bear, arctic foxes, and they studied diseases that are widespread in the Alaskan animal population...”

“AAALAC International promotes the responsible treatment and care of animals used in science through a voluntary, rigorous assessment and accreditation program. ”

“Accredited institutions understand that meritorious, reproducible science depends on superb, consistent animal care. ”

Resources & Links:

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AAALAC International (https://www.aaalac.org)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

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News Bite #3

Lab Rat Chat

03/07/21 • 23 min

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FAQ

How many episodes does Lab Rat Chat have?

Lab Rat Chat currently has 67 episodes available.

What topics does Lab Rat Chat cover?

The podcast is about Animals, Research, Pets, Medicine, Podcasts, Education, Science, Pharmaceutical, Ethics and Drugs.

What is the most popular episode on Lab Rat Chat?

The episode title '11. Misconceptions Surrounding Animal Research' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Lab Rat Chat?

The average episode length on Lab Rat Chat is 32 minutes.

How often are episodes of Lab Rat Chat released?

Episodes of Lab Rat Chat are typically released every 21 days, 13 hours.

When was the first episode of Lab Rat Chat?

The first episode of Lab Rat Chat was released on Jan 15, 2020.

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Lab Rat Chat

Lab Rat Chat

Top 10 Lab Rat Chat Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Lab Rat Chat have?

What topics does Lab Rat Chat cover?

What is the most popular episode on Lab Rat Chat?

What is the average episode length on Lab Rat Chat?

How often are episodes of Lab Rat Chat released?

When was the first episode of Lab Rat Chat?

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