There has perhaps never been more important to have access to understandable and accurate information about immunology, vaccines, and public health. Fortunately, many AAI members are working hard to translate scientific discoveries and principles for the public in a variety of forms, including podcasting. Next time you’re on your commute or doing chores around the house, consider loading up one of these podcasts that delve into new immunological research and the human stories behind them.
The ImmunoVerse
The ImmunoVerse is a project of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, and focuses on developments in immunotherapy. Moffitt Center president and CEO Patrick Hwu, MD, (AAI 1996) hosts the program and interviews scientists about their latest research, advances in the field, and the foundational work that enabled the latest discoveries.
The ImmunoVerse bridges the gap between interested non-scientists and immunologists. Dr. Hwu delves into his guests’ entry points into science and has them describe their scientific paths. All episodes are also available as video content.
Member interview highlight: Reprogramming Macrophages: From Tissue Repair to Cancer Immunotherapy, ft. Dr. Miriam Merad
The Immunology Podcast
For several years, the Immunology Podcast has been a media partner for the AAI Annual Meeting. Each year, Jason Goldsmith, MD, PhD, and Brenda Raud, PhD, put out daily episodes discussing meeting highlights. In addition, they record special live episodes in front of audiences of meeting attendees.
Produced by Stemcell, the Immunology Podcast has been releasing biweekly episodes featuring in-depth interviews with immunologists, many of whom are AAI members. They also cover recent immunology publications and news in each episode.
Member interview highlight: T Cells Under Pressure, ft. Dr. Martin Prlic
Immune
Immune, a weekly podcast on the MicrobeTV podcast network, is hosted by three AAI Members: Brianne Barker, PhD (AAI 2012), Stephanie Langel, PhD (AAI 2022) and Cindy Leifer, PhD (AAI 2007). Like all of the shows on their network, Immune is an accessible podcast that communicates recent research to the public in clearly understandable language.
Like a journal club, the hosts discuss the findings in new papers and go through the methodology so that listeners can understand not only what has been discovered, but why the research question was asked, and how the experiment operated. And like a journal club, they have a great time with the discussion. In their “Immune Booster” episodes, a host interviews an immunologist about their research and experiences as a scientist.
Member interview highlight: Immune regulation and science communication, ft. Nicholas Jackson
Help! Make it Make Sense!
Each episode of Help! Make it Make Sense with Dr. Toni and Dr. Aimee is a lively conversation between two friends, Toni Eysallenne, MD, PhD, and Aimee Bernard, PhD (AAI 2018). Eysallenne is an internist and pediatrician, and Bernard is an immunology professor. Together, they walk listeners through often confusing headlines to separate fact from fiction.
Dr. Bernard is the new chair of the AAI Public Outreach Core Committee and has long been committed to finding ways to effectively communicate science to a broad audience. Help! Make it Make Sense has been on hiatus recently, but Dr. Bernard tells us that new episodes are in the works.
Member interview highlight: Dr Aimee’s Career Journey
People, Parasites, and Plagues
People, Parasites, and Plagues is hosted by David Peterson, PhD, and Kim Klonowski, PhD (AAI 2006), two infectious disease researchers from the University of Georgia, which supports the program. Through interviews with other scientists, they tell the lively stories of some of the world’s most perplexing diseases, from influenza to seed pathogens.
PP&P covers not only the science, but the history behind infectious diseases and how we have dealt with them. Many episodes bring on experts to discuss public policy approaches to diseases and parasite. The podcast has also featured Book Club episodes and interviews with trainees about life in the lab.
Member interview highlight: Rebuilding Immunity: The Thymus, Your Immune System’s Hidden Architect, ft. Nancy Manley
