Rephonic
Artwork for Breakthroughs
Dopamine
Northwestern University
Bedside Medicine
Antimicrobial Resistance
Atrial Fibrillation
Alzheimer's Disease
Immune System
Regulatory T Cells
Retina
Lyme Disease
Parkinson's Disease
Long COVID
Lung Injury
Aging
Infectious Diseases
Fetal Surgery
Fetal Monitoring
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Schizophrenia
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Breakthroughs is a podcast about groundbreaking research and the scientists leading these discoveries at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We are driven by our mission to transform the practice of medicine and profoundly impact human health beyond the individual patient. We believe better answers only come from discovery.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for Breakthroughs

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Peter Penzes, PhD, director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses a recent discovery of a schizophrenia biomarker and how this research could one day offer ear... more

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Fetal surgery can be lifesaving for babies diagnosed with complex conditions before birth, but it comes with significant challenges, including limited ability to monitor the fetus in real time. A Northwestern Medicine team has developed a first-of-it... more

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As the new chief of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Jennie Kwon, DO, is working in a rapidly evolving field rich with opportunities for discovery and impact. Her own research focus is one of the most pressi... more

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We are re-sharing this episode on dopamine and subtypes of dopaminergic neurons that may provide new insights into how we think about the role of dopamine. Rajeshwar Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD led this research, and in this episode the... more

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Recent Guests

Peter Penzes
Director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: What is the Genetic Overlap Between Autism and Schizophrenia? with Peter Penzes, PhD
Aimen Shaaban
Professor of surgery and pediatrics at Northwestern University, fetal surgeon at Lurie Children's Hospital, director of the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD
Jennie Kwon
Physician-scientist, Chief of Infectious Diseases, Jean Stollerman Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: Is Antimicrobial Resistance Threatening Modern Medicine? with Jennie Kwon, DO
Raj Awatramani
Professor of Neurology, dopamine neuron diversity researcher
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: New Insights Into Dopamine with Raj Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD
Daniel Dombeck
Professor of Neurology, technology-driven neuroscience researcher
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: New Insights Into Dopamine with Raj Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD
Claudia Hawkins
Expert in viral hepatitis, HIV co-infection; Director at Havy Institute for Global Health, Northwestern
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: Improving Testing and Diagnosis of Hepatitis C with Claudia Hawkins, MD, MPH
Igor Koralnik, MD
Chief of Neuroinfectious Diseases and Global Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern Medicine
Episode: Decoding Long COVID's Impact on the Brain with Igor Koralnik, MD
Molly Bright
Senior author of the study; assistant professor in Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
Episode: Improving Imaging of the Spinal Cord with Molly Bright, DPhil
Brandon Jutras
Associate professor of microbiology immunology, Lyme disease researcher
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Episode: New Paths for Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease with Brandon Jutras, PhD

Host

Erin Spain
Host of Breakthroughs

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Unique perspective & access

    Topics are varied and interesting! Host Erin does an excellent job of including informative background knowledge and asking the right questions of guests. Episode length is just right. As someone in the research/medicine world, this gives me new insights and exposure to topics I would otherwise ignore. Thanks and keep the episodes coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baba138780
    United States7 years ago
  • Thoroughly captivating!

    I look forward to each new episode - this podcast really provides great insight into new medical discoveries and I love meeting the people behind the science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NicoleMarie_123%++
    United States8 years ago
  • One of my favorites!

    Excellent podcast involving some great minds in medicine. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in medical/educational podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Johnny304
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episode length is just right and provides new insights for researchers and clinicians.
Excellent podcast with great minds in medicine; highly recommended for those into medical education.
Topics are varied and interesting! Host Erin does an excellent job of including informative background knowledge and asking the right questions of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rewind: The Role of Dopamine in Habit Formation and Compulsive Behavior with Talia Lerner, PhD
Q: What was the surprising finding about the descending spiral, and why is it important clinically?
We found evidence for a descending spiral that could help shift behavior from habitual back to goal-directed, which may be therapeutically useful for breaking bad habits and treating neuropsychiatric disorders like addiction or OCD.
How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD
Q: What does this technology mean for the timeline to clinical use and FDA approval?
We are starting FDA interactions with planned clinical trials and iterative prototype refinements; approval could come within years rather than months, with the hope of some direction toward clinical care later this year.
How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD
Q: What was the most surprising finding as you tested this device and pushed toward clinical applications?
I was surprised by the probe's capabilities beyond simple oxygenation monitoring; we discovered it could assess multiple parameters and even reflect organ-level physiology, offering richer data than current standard fetal monitoring.
How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD
Q: Could you share some of the complications that you're trying to treat and give me some examples?
We commonly handle conditions like spina bifida, where we operate in utero to cover and close the spinal canal, aiming to preserve neurological function for the baby; the center manages a wide range of complex pregnancies with a multidisciplinary team.
Studying T-Cell Therapy for Potential Lung Tissue Repair with Benjamin Singer, MD
Q: How do IT regs differ from naturally occurring T regs, and what did your study reveal about their stability and lung repair potential?
ITregs are lab-made versions of regulatory T cells generated from conventional T cells; the study showed their stability and ability to reach the lung depend on UHRF1, and when stable, they promote faster lung repair in influenza-infected mice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Breakthroughs

What is Breakthroughs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features Northwestern Medicine researchers and clinicians who discuss cutting-edge medical science, translational research, and diagnostics. Episodes cover antimicrobial resistance, neuroscience and dopamine subtypes, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases, long COVID brain effects, advanced spinal imaging, Lyme disease, cytoskeleton and neurodegeneration, retina-based aging biomarkers, immune roles in heart disease, and other frontier topics. A notable strength is the throughline from bench to bedside, with guests often highlighting collaborative pathways across academia, industry, and clinical care, plus practical implications for patient outcomes and health systems. Listeners can expect accessible explanations of complex sci... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Breakthroughs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Breakthroughs:

1. The Daily
2. The Wirecutter Show
3. MANIFEST with Sarah Prout
4. Empire: World History
5. The Mel Robbins Podcast

How many episodes of Breakthroughs are there?

Breakthroughs launched 8 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Breakthroughs?

Recent guests on Breakthroughs include:

1. Peter Penzes
2. Aimen Shaaban
3. Jennie Kwon
4. Raj Awatramani
5. Daniel Dombeck
6. Claudia Hawkins
7. Igor Koralnik, MD
8. Molly Bright

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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