KAET/Eight spotlights Biodesign research – Final segment airs Nov. 4

Julie Kurth, Communication Manager
(480) 727-9386 | julie.kurth@asu.edu

How can microscopic tools lead to new therapeutics and improvements to our quality of life? Learn about the promise that nanotechnology and synthetic biology hold this Sunday at 2 p.m. when KAET/Eight airs "Tools of the Trade," the last segment in a series called ASU Spotlight: The Biodesign Institute. Each of the four segments explores two research topics with an in-depth background report followed by a panel discussion led by world-renowned scientist and policymaker George Poste, director of the Biodesign Institute. 

“The breadth of our research makes it difficult to share with the community the full picture of our efforts,” said Poste. “This series offers a superb opportunity to illustrate for viewers the full potential of our research to positively affect the lives of not just Arizonans, but people around the world.”

Nov. 4 — “Tools of the Trade”
Nanotechnology: Nanoscale engineering can be a powerful tool for improving public health and quality of life.  Working at the nanoscale with organic and inorganic materials (i.e., from DNA strands to gold nanowires), the Biodesign Institute’s applications include improved diagnostic devices, medical implants such as continuous glucose monitoring for diabetics and improved solar power. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Subhash Mahajan, Ph.D., Director, School of Materials, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering; David Guston, Ph.D., Director, Center for Nanotech in Society. Guest interviews include: Joseph Wang, D.Sc. the Biodesign Institute; and Stuart Lindsay, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute.

Synthetic Biology: This emerging field involves creating entirely new therapeutics – even new organisms – using the basic building blocks of life. Due to manipulation of these building blocks, the field has controversial aspects, but holds great promise for treating many diseases and cleaning the environment. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Braden Allenby, Ph.D., Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering; and J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., President, The J. Craig Venter Institute. Guest interviews include: John Chaput, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute; and Roy Curtiss III, the Biodesign Institute.

Topics explored in previous episodes include:

“Energy and Environment”
Alternative Energy: The biofuel developed for ASU’s “Tubes in the Desert” project avoids many of the downsides presented by biofuels such as corn, cellulose or other crops/plants.  Because it uses microscopic bacteria as the fuel source, it doesn’t compete with food crops and could yield a much larger amount of fuel per acre. The bacteria are grown in transparent tubes, hence the name. ASU researchers also are exploring the possibilities of microbial fuel cells – tiny microbes that generate energy by feeding on waste. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Michael Crow, ASU President; and Jonathan Fink, Ph.D., Director of ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability. Guest interviews include: Neal Woodbury, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute; and Wim Vermaas, Professor, ASU School of Life Sciences.

Bioremediation: The Biodesign Institute is seeking ways to clean up the planet using naturally occurring or genetically modified organisms. “Project Neptune” is an international effort to build a real-time monitoring system in the Northwest Pacific to explore many aspects of the ocean. As part of this effort, Biodesign is studying organisms and microbes living in extreme environments, such as deep sea vents. These “extremophiles” may have qualities that could be used in cleaning up pollutants/toxins from the environment. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Paul Johnson, Ph.D., Executive Dean, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering; and Bruce Rittmann, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute. Guest interviews include: Rittmann; and Deirdre Meldrum, Ph.D., Dean, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and research director at the Biodesign Institute.

“Personalized Medicine”
Doc-in-a-Box and the Future of Diagnostics: The Biodesign Institute is designing a system that could allow for faster detection of diseases — even before patients experience symptoms. The “Doc-in-a-Box” system would initially be limited to physician’s offices but could eventually be available for home use. Current blood tests typically measure a handful of indicators based on what the physician believes is the likely diagnosis. Using only a tiny blood sample, this device would allow far more comprehensive testing — i.e., thousands of indicators — from a single sample. If done regularly, this would enable more accurate and rapid diagnosis of disease. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Robert Penny, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman/CEO, Molecular Profiling Institute; and Nobel Laureate Lee Hartwell, Ph.D., President, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Guest interview includes: Stephen Albert Johnston, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute.

New Avenues to Prevent and Treat Cancer: The institute and Mayo Clinic are working collaboratively on a vaccine against multiple forms of cancer. Similar to childhood vaccinations, the inoculation would pre-arm the immune system to prevent the disease. ASU researchers are also working to develop cancer treatments that would result in fewer side effects. The drugs would specifically target cancer cells but leave normal cells alone. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Michael Tracy, D.Phil., Deputy Director, the Biodesign Institute; and Laurence Miller, Director of Research, Mayo Clinic. Guest interviews include: Douglas Lake, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute, and Sidney Hecht, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute.

"Outpacing Infectious Diseases”
Vaccines: ASU scientists are working to meet the health care challenges of developing countries with both new and improved vaccines. Infectious disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and by ensuring vaccines are low cost to produce, oral, heat stable, and single dose, these life-saving medications could be available to people across the globe. The institute is also focused on developing new ways to produce vaccines more quickly. Speed of development is particularly important in the event of a pandemic from a newly emerging threat, such as avian flu, or via bioterrorism. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Roy Curtiss III, the Biodesign Institute; Bertram Jacobs, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute. Guest interviews include: Curtiss; Jacobs; and Kathryn Sykes, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute.

Improving Global Monitoring of Infectious Diseases: Sophisticated chemical, electrical and biological sensors hold the promise of being able to detect pathogens or chemicals in our bodies and our environment. Using technology, ASU scientists are looking for ways to more quickly detect emergent biological threats — via nature or bioterrorism. ASU’s DecisionTheater provides policy makers and community leaders a set of tools to participate in immersive and collaborative decision making. This episode goes behind the scenes to demonstrate the capabilities of Decision Theater that can be collaboratively engaged by the Biodesign Institute or other ASU or community groups. Panelists include: George Poste, DVM, Ph.D., Director, the Biodesign Institute; Sayfe Kiaei, Ph.D., Director, WINTech, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering; Shaun Jones, M.D., the Biodesign Institute. Guest interviews include: Frederic Zenhausern, Ph.D., the Biodesign Institute; Dave Warner, M.D., Ph.D., Consultant, ASU Decision Theater.

About the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University is focused on innovations that improve health care; provide renewable sources of energy and clean our environment; outpace the global threat of infectious diseases; and enhance national security. Using a team approach that converges the biosciences with nanoscale engineering and advanced computing, the goal is to find solutions to complex global challenges and accelerate these discoveries to market. The institute also educates future scientists by providing hands-on laboratory research for more than 250 students per semester.

About Eight/KAET-TV
Eight specializes in the education of children, in-depth news and public affairs, lifelong learning, and the celebration of arts and culture — utilizing the power of noncommercial television, the Internet, educational outreach services, and community-based initiatives. The PBS station began broadcasting from the campus of Arizona State University on January 30, 1961.  Now more than 80 percent of Arizonans receive the signal through a network of translators, cable and satellite systems.  With more than 1.3 million viewers each week, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country.  Arizonans provide more than 60 percent of the station’s annual budget. Eight is a member-supported service of Arizona State University.

 

Spotlight Videos

Alternative Energy

Alternative Energy - Panel Discussion

Bioremediation

Bioremediation - Panel Discussion

Doc-in-a-Box

Doc-in-a-Box -Panel Discussion

New Avenues to Prevent and Treat Cancer

New Avenues to Prevent and Treat Cancer - Panel Discussion