Raw Talk Podcast

#100 Years Later: Insulin and Beyond

In honour of our 100th episode here at Raw Talk Podcast, we are celebrating another anniversary this year: 100 years since the discovery of insulin, a life saving treatment for diabetes that happened here at the University of Toronto. This discovery earned the scientists behind it the 1923 Nobel Prize in Medicine, and was a pivotal moment in Canadian medical science research. In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Daniel Drucker, a senior scientist at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute who gave us a crash course on diabetes, insulin, and the research leading up to the discovery of insulin. Next, we spoke with Jennifer Da Cruz, a diabetes patient, educator and public health nurse at Unison Health and Community Services in Toronto. Finally, we met with Dr. Paraish Misra, a nephrologist, and a PhD candidate in the Nostro lab at the University of Toronto, who told us about some of the exciting new frontiers in stem cell research for diabetes treatment - or possibly even cure.

Dr. Daniel Drucker
Diabetes Canada
Dr. Paraish Misra
Open Insulin Foundation
Article - The absurdly high cost of insulin, explained
Article - Why people with diabetes can't buy generic insulin
Review Article - Stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells

#99 Refugee Healthcare in Canada

Humanitarian crises from around the world, attributed to various causes such as war and climate change, have resulted in the displacement of millions of people worldwide. Some of these displaced individuals journey to other countries, such as Canada, to settle and start new lives. However, a refugee’s journey doesn’t end once they arrive in their new home, they must navigate a new system to access housing, healthcare, and education, while potentially facing numerous barriers along the way. In this episode of Raw Talk, we interview experts to gain a Canadian perspective on the unique health experience of refugees, and the resettlement process for refugees living in Canada. Steve Meagher discusses who refugees are and the barriers they face to accessing healthcare services in Canada. Dr. Praseedha Janakiram sheds light on the diversity of refugees and their journeys from leaving their homeland to settling into a new life. Dr. Meb Rashid speaks to the routine health issues that refugee families face and how primary and community healthcare is tailored to those needs.

Centre for Refugee Children
Women’s College Hospital Crossroads Clinic
The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC)
The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference - Dr. Janakiram speaking
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture

#98: Podium Pills: Fame or Folly?

Have you ever wondered how the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decides what substances are banned in professional sport? Or what it’s like to get tested for prohibited substances? In this episode of Raw Talk, we interview experts on anti-doping and the use of performance enhancing drugs. James Fitzgerald explains the many tools that WADA uses to combat doping in sport, from dried blood spot analysis to machine learning. We also speak to two Canadian Olympic athletes, Evan Dunfee and Maddy Kelly, about their experiences getting tested, what kinds of pressures they felt to perform, and the tainted beef controversy. Lastly, Dr. Dean St. Mart tells us about the health risks of steroids - in the context of bodybuilding - from androgen receptors to “blasting and cruising”, and explores whether its possible to use such performance enhancing drugs safely. We hope you enjoy the expertise and diverse perspectives our fascinating guests shared with us on this week’s episode.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO)
Yes, Evan Dunfee is the Kraft Dinner guy
Supplement Needs

#97: Let‘s Talk Grad School

Post-graduate education. This is where students learn the joy and importance of scientific discoveries and advancement firsthand. This is also where students face realities of research and of adulthood all at once. In today’s episode, we have a roundtable discussion to exchange views on our hopes and struggles as a graduate student. From sharing our unique stories, we see common themes such as building a healthy relationship with our supervisor, networking with peers, managing stress from the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and coping with failure to prevent burnout. Our fellow graduate student Samantha Ing-Esteves, the founder of the Graduate Representation Committee (GRC) in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto, also joins us and speaks to the data collected by GRC representing our financial struggles. Sam also explains to us how GRC strives to advocate for domestic and international graduate students. From the good, the bad, and the ugly, we gain rich learning experiences as a graduate student and continue to contribute to science the best we can. The struggle is real, but so is the adventure. We have fun together, we support each other, and we grow stronger. And most importantly, we keep it raw.

GRC Student Finance and Living Survey 2021-2022
GRC Student Finance and Living Report 2019
U of T Community of Support
Tips and Secrets to Choosing your IMS Courses
100 Reasons Not to Go to Graduate School

#96: Genetic Testing: What it Means for Families and the Future

The Human Genome Project -- to sequence all genes in human DNA -- took over a decade and about $5 billion dollars to complete. Today, we can get the same results in 2 months for about $5000, or even over a weekend if we really need it. As a result, more and more people have access to genetic testing. For many families affected by inheritable conditions, these tests can be invaluable. But is this the precision medicine revolution we've been promised? In this episode of Raw Talk Podcast, we gather experts in genetic testing and genetic counselling to find out. We'll explore what genetic testing really looks like, what the results can mean for families, and learn about the growing field of genetic counselling. First, we spoke with Dr. Raymond Kim, medical geneticist at the University Health Network, who told us about the history and future trajectory of medical genetics. We also sat down with genetic counsellors Stacy Hewson and Laura Zahavich, who direct and lecture for the genetic counselling master's program here at the University of Toronto; they shared with us their challenging but rewarding experiences supporting families to order, interpret, and process genetic tests. Finally, we heard from Huntington's Disease researcher and carrier Dr. Jeff Carroll, who shared his story with genetic testing personally and while family planning. We hope to shed a light on the exciting fields of medical genetics and genetic counselling, and the growing number of genetic tools that might truly revolutionize healthcare as we know it.

Written by: Adrine de Souza

Dr. Raymond Kim - Webpage
Stacy Hewson - Webpage
Laura Zahavich - Webpage
Dr. Jeff Carroll - Webpage
University of Toronto MSc in Genetic Counselling Program
Article - Prioritizing diversity in human genomics research
gnomAD: Genome Aggregation Database
Raw Talk Podcast - Season 5 Listener Survey

#95: Live or Be Alive: Medical Assistance in Dying

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in 2016 under Bill C-14 after decades of public dialogue and debate. This episode takes a deep dive into MAiD, the death and dying experience, and what these mean to patients, families, care providers, and others involved in the health system. We had the pleasure to sit down with and learn from Sally Bean, Director of Policy and Ethics at Sunnybrook Hospital; Dr. Madeline Li, Psychiatrist and Lead of the Psychosocial Oncology Division, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Dr. Ahmed Al-Awamer, Palliative Care Physician and Director of Postgraduate Medical Education, University Health Network; and Steve Legere, a patient diagnosed with incurable cancer who has been approved for MAiD, and his partner, Christine Legere. Each of these individuals takes us through a different aspect of living and dying at the end of life and how MAiD has impacted their respective lives and professional roles.

Written by: Larkin Davenport Huyer

Canada's new medical assistance in dying (MAID) law
Madeline Li's Maclean's article
Article: Medical Assistance in Dying - Implementing a Hospital-Based Program in Canada

#94: Child Maltreatment: Healing and Breaking the Cycle

For many people, childhood memories hold a special place in our hearts. Childhood experiences also impact our journey through life, shaping our personality, relationships, and conceptions of right and wrong. But not all childhood memories are bright, and many children suffer significant trauma through maltreatment by family members or other trusted adults. In this episode, we explore the difficult topic of child maltreatment with the help of our esteemed guests. First, Dr. Tracie Afifi, a Professor in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, describes the scope of child maltreatment in Canada, and describes intervention and prevention strategies. Next, Dr. Robert T. Muller, a Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at York University, and bestselling author on trauma therapy, tells us about the goals, pitfalls, and successful strategies in psychotherapy for patients with childhood trauma. Finally, Dr. Katreena Scott, an Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist at the University of Toronto, explores the complex familial contexts in which child maltreatment can arise, and describes the unique intervention program she and her team have pioneered to help break the cycle.

Written by: Tsukiko Miyata

Local Children's Aid Societies (Ontario)
Profile - Dr. Tracie Afifi
Profile - Dr. Robert T. Muller
Profile - Dr. Katreena Scott
Book - Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up: From Avoidance to Recovery and Growth
Book - Trauma and the Avoidant Client: Attachment-Based Strategies for Healing
Caring Dads
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Global look at Child Maltreatment (WHO)
Child Maltreatment in Canada
Indigenous people and Child Maltreatment

#93: The Future of Antibiotics

Since their discovery in the 1920's, antibiotics have allowed the field of medicine to make leaps and bounds in innovation. The ability to treat bacterial infections reliably and effectively have made transplant surgeries, cancer chemotherapy, and treating what were once considered deadly infections, like pneumonia, a routine part of our health care. However, antibiotic resistance can occur when the bacteria being targeted change in response and render the antibiotic ineffective. Antibiotic resistance is a global threat and there are concerns that by the year 2050, antibiotic resistant infections could cause more than 10 million deaths annually. In this episode, we explore the drivers of antibiotic resistance around the world and speak to researchers tackling this issue through their research on innovative therapies and solutions. First, Dr. Thomas Van Boeckel explains the major driving forces and global trends in development of antibiotic resistance and system wide policy level changes required to tackle the threat. Dr. Erin Duffy takes us through the innovative work being done at CARB-X, a non-profit initiative to accelerate research in the field globally. Finally, Chidozie Ojobor from the University of Toronto, talks to us about his research on tailocins, a promising new technology he is researching for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Written by: Anam Islam

CDC antibiotic resistance threat report, 2.8 million AR cases each year in the USA
Global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animals in low- and middle-income countries
Dr. Van Boeckel's university profile page
Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations
CARB-X portfolio
Davidson Lab at UofT

#92: Producing and Pricing Drugs in Canada

Pharmaceutical drugs are a pillar of modern healthcare - from preventative medicines to life-saving therapies. We therefore rely on pharmaceutical companies to discover, develop, and deliver new drugs to patients in need. We know that this process is both risky and expensive, but does that justify the drug prices we see in Canada today? Who decides what’s a fair drug price anyways? And what is the role of academic science in this whole operation? Join us as we answer these questions and more, with our expert guests: Dr Alison Symington, consultant with Life Sciences Ontario, describes the process of drug discovery and the relationships between academia and industry. Dr. Wong-Rieger, President and CEO of Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, describes the challenges faced by individuals with rare diseases. Dr. Nigel Rawson, Senior Fellow with the Fraser Institute, introduces us to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and their upcoming changes. Finally, Dr. Joel Lexchin, Emergency physician at the University Health Network and Canadian drug policy expert, explains some of the challenges to setting fair drug prices in Canada.

Written by: Adrine de Souza

Profile - Dr. Alison Symington
Profile - Dr. Durhane Wong-Rieger
Profile - Dr. Nigel Rawson
Profile - Dr. Joel Lexchin
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB)
Proposed PMPRB changes
Canada Pharmacare Act (Bill C-213)
Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD)
Innovative Medicines Canada
Article - academic vs industry for drug discovery
Drug Discovery @ U of T

 

#91: Social Determinants of Health: Care beyond the Clinic

Many factors including income, food security, or housing can have a huge contribution to our health. These are known as the social determinants of health (SDoH). In this episode, we discuss some common SDoH, how they impact our health, and what some leading physicians are doing to tackle the issue. Our guests, Dr. Andrew Boozary, Dr. Andrew Pinto, and Dr. Kate Mulligan discuss topics such as, the teaching of SDoH in the medical curriculum, how the SDoH have been exacerbated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as current and future efforts to address the SDoH and decrease the associated health disparities. All of our guests are actively working to change our health system and the way we provide care to improve the health disparities we see in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and beyond.

Written by: Larkin Davenport Huyer

Dr. Andrew Boozary's Twitter
Dr. Kate Mulligan's Twitter
Dr. Andrew Pinto's Twitter
Upstream Lab
Social Medicine at UHN as reported by Toronto Star
Public Health Ontario's report on SDoH in COVID19