A Talk with Dr. Barbara Schillo, Chief Research Officer at the Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute | Podcast #13:
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Ishva Patel and Arshiya Sen speak with Dr. Barbara Schillo, Chief Research Officer at the Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute, to discuss the evolving landscape of nicotine use and tobacco control. Dr. Schillo shares her path that led her to Truth Initiative and the organization's long-term vision for protecting future generations from nicotine addiction. The episode explores how recent media narratives and social media trends have contributed to the perception that nicotine is "back," examining why products like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other emerging nicotine products are often viewed as fashionable or less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Dr. Schillo unpacks common misconceptions about nicotine, the role of marketing in reshaping public perception, and how cultural trends can undermine decades of public health progress.
Truth Initiative also offers several free resources. The EX Program, developed with Mayo Clinic, provides personalized support for people looking to quit vaping, smoking, nicotine pouches, or any other tobacco or nicotine product. To sign up, text EXPROGRAM to 88709 or visit exprogram.com. Vaping: Know the Truth is a free digital curriculum that helps middle and high school students understand the risks of nicotine addiction and make healthy, informed choices. Educators and others can learn more at truthinitiative.org/vaping-curriculum.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Ishva Patel
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Lead Producer: Arshiya Sen
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
A Talk with Dr. Ron Broide | Podcast #12:
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Ishva Patel and Arshiya Sen speak with Ron Broide, PhD, the executive director of biological research at AbbVie. As a double alumni, Broide shares his journey from studying biology as an undergraduate at UC Irvine to earning his PhD at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, pursuing his interests in pharmacology and toxicology. He delves deep into his journey from academia to industry and the lessons he learned along the way. Broide shares lasting advice for students aspiring to enter the science field and what the future holds for them.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Ishva Patel
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Lead Producer: Arshiya Sen
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
In Your DNA: How Nicotine Can Prime the Brain for Meth | Podcast #11: June 26, 2026
Explore how a single genetic variant in the CHRNA6 gene can shape an adolescent brain's vulnerability to methamphetamine addiction following nicotine exposure. Featuring research from the Lotfipour Lab, the discussion highlights how a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the CHRNA6 gene interacts with sex and developmental timing to influence both drug-seeking behavior and dopamine signaling in the brain's reward circuitry. The episode breaks down how nicotine exposure during adolescence differentially primes the nucleus accumbens shell for methamphetamine's effects, with genotype and sex producing strikingly different outcomes across male and female rats. By connecting dopamine overflow data with self-administration behavior, the hosts examine how genetics, sex, and early drug exposure converge to shape addiction vulnerability. Join us as we uncover how something as small as a single letter change in your DNA could meaningfully alter your brain's response to drugs during one of its most critical windows of development.
Based on the manuscript by Diana Carreño, Ph.D., Antonella Facundo, Anjelica Cardenas, Ph.D., and Shahrdad Lotfipour, Ph.D.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Producer: Ishva Patel
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Producer: Arshiya Sen
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #11 Trailer
Podcast #11 Full Version
The Dynorphinergic Lateral Hypothalamus to Posterior Ventral Tegmental Area Pathway | Podcast #10 : June 6th, 2026
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Ishva Patel, and Arshiya Sen explore how a developing brain circuit between the lateral hypothalamus and posterior ventral tegmental area acts as an age-dependent “brake system” for reward and addiction. Featuring research from the Lotfipour Lab, the discussion highlights how dynorphin signaling remains underdeveloped during adolescence, while orexin-driven reward pathways are more prominent. The episode breaks down how this imbalance shifts the adolescent brain toward heightened reward sensitivity, especially in response to nicotine and alcohol, and examines the pathway’s maturation into adulthood. By comparing neural activity, connectivity, and cell populations across age groups, the hosts connect these findings to broader questions about vulnerability to substance use. Join us as we uncover how delayed development of key neural circuits may shape addiction risk.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Alexandra Rogers , Emily M Castro , Shahrdad Lotfipour , Frances M Leslie.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Producer: Ishva Patel
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Producer: Arshiya Sen
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #10 Trailer:
Podcast #10 Full Version:
How to Make a Podcast | Podcast #9: April 6th, 2026
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, host Ishva Patel interviews original creators Michaela Sumortin and Tanvi Garneni about the mechanics of producing a science-focused podcast. Representing the Lotfipour lab at UC Irvine, the students share their expertise on scientific communication as they explain the logistical process of transforming complex research papers into accessible audio content through scriptwriting, recording, and digital promotion. By documenting their methods, the team aims to provide clear guidelines for future students to sustain the podcast endeavor. This episode serves as a practical roadmap for other academic labs to increase public accessibility to science through modern media formats.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-hosts and Lead Producers: Ishva Patel, Arshiya Sen, Michaela Sumortin, and Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #9 Full Version:
A Talk with Yasamin Hajy Heydary | Podcast #8
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin and Tanvi Garneni speak with Yasamin Hajy Heydary, a Ph.D. candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC Irvine and lead author of Unraveling the Role of CHRNA6, the Neuronal α6 Nicotinic AChR Subunit, a review covered in podcast #6 of TAP. Her research includes validating a CRISPR-Cas9 humanized rat model and elucidating the CHRNA6 3' UTR mechanism, confirming microRNA-365 binding. By integrating molecular profiling with in vivo models, she advances the identification of novel genetic targets for nicotine addiction. Join us as Yasamin Hajy Heydary shares her scientific journey and insights for aspiring researchers.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #8 Full Version:
Role of Alpha2 nAChRs Over a Lifespan | Podcast #7: April 6th, 2026
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin, Ishva Patel, and Arshiya Sen examine how the Chrna2 gene, which encodes alpha-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), acts as an age-, sex-, and genotype-specific "switch" in addiction and fear processing. Featuring a 2025 Neuropharmacology study, the discussion reveals that while deleting Chrna2 induces lifelong learning deficits in males, it specifically disrupts fear extinction in adult females exposed to nicotine. The episode breaks down the gene's bidirectional influence on reward, as well as possible clinical directions linking failed extinction to the neurobiology of PTSD and Chrna2 expression in ovarian antral follicles. Join us as we uncover how alpha-2 nAChRs define individual vulnerability to trauma and nicotine across the lifespan.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Alicia Wells, Celina Mojica, Christie Fowler, and Shahrdad Lotfipour.
“Deletion or enhancement of alpha-2 nAChRs (Chrna2) induces unique lifespan behavioral deficits.”
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Producer: Ishva Patel
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Producer: Arshiya Sen
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #7 Trailer:
Podcast #7 Full Version:
Unraveling the role of CHRNA6, the neuronal α6 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit Podcast #6 - March 12th, 2026
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin, Tanvi Garneni, and Ardavan Mehrazma unpack how the CHRNA6 gene acts as a "missing genetic link" in addiction liability. Drawing on the review "Unraveling the role of CHRNA6, the neuronal α6 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit" by Drs. Yasamin Hajy Heydary, Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie, the episode explores how the α6 nicotinic receptor subunit and astrocytes shape the brain’s response to nicotine and alcohol. They discuss why α6 expression peaks during adolescence, creating a critical developmental window of vulnerability, and how targeting these receptors may transform treatment strategies.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Yasamin Hajy Heydary, Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie: Unraveling the role of CHRNA6, the neuronal 𝛼6 nicotinic AChR subunit
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Co-host and Producer: Ardavan Mehrazma
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #6 Trailer:
Podcast #6 Full Version:
Nicotine on the Developing Brain | Podcast #5: December 9th, 2025
Despite being marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, vaping poses significant risks—primarily due to nicotine. In this episode of The Translational Addiction Podcast, hosted by Michaela Sumortin and Ardavan Mehrazma, we examine the article “Nicotine and the Developing Brain” by Drs. Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie, and discuss how nicotine impacts neurodevelopment across the lifespan.
Nicotine interferes with brain development during two critical periods: the fetal stage and adolescence. These disruptions impair prefrontal cortex function, attention, and impulse control, while increasing susceptibility to other addictive substances—a phenomenon known as the gateway effect. Furthermore, nicotine induces epigenetic modifications that alter stress pathways and reward processing, with consequences that can extend to future generations.
Join us as we translate cutting-edge research from UC Irvine’s Lotfipour Lab into actionable insights, highlighting why nicotine exposure during development remains a pressing public health concern.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie:
“Nicotine on the Developing Brain”
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Co-Producer: Ardavan Mehrazma
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Podcast #5 Trailer:
Podcast #5 Full Version:
A Talk with Dr. Michelle Ren | Podcast #4: November 21st, 2025
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin and Tanvi Garneni sit down with Dr. Michelle Ren, a UC Irvine alumna and former researcher in the Lotfipour Lab, to explore her scientific journey and passion for addiction research. Dr. Ren shares how her early curiosity in neuroscience led her to investigate the gut-brain axis and its role in opioid use, culminating in a compelling study on the gut microbiome’s influence on addiction. She reflects on her formative experiences at UC Irvine, the mentorship she received, and how working in the Lotfipour Lab helped shape her identity as a scientist and writer. Now pursuing a career in scientific communication, Dr. Ren discusses the importance of translating complex research into accessible language and offers advice for aspiring researchers. The conversation also touches on misconceptions about addiction and the need for more compassionate, science-informed perspectives. Whether you're a student, scientist, or simply curious about the intersection of biology and behavior, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a humanizing look at the research behind addiction.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
A Talk with Dr. Emily Castro | Podcast #3: October 30th, 2025
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin and Tanvi Garneni sit down with Dr. Emily Castro from the Lotfipour Lab at UC Irvine, author of the article covered in Episode #2 of TAP. Together, they explore Dr. Castro’s scientific journey and passion for addiction research. Dr. Castro shares how her curiosity and drive to understand complex brain mechanisms connected her to neuroscience, with a particular focus on substance use disorders (SUDs). She discusses her current role in the lab, her work on neuroglia’s involvement in addiction, and the challenges and surprises that came with that line of investigation. The conversation touches on the unpredictability of scientific research, especially in the face of funding instability, and how she navigates moments of doubt and unexpected data. Dr. Castro also offers thoughtful advice for aspiring researchers and emphasizes the importance of shifting public understanding of addiction from moral judgment to a neurobiological perspective.
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Glia, Substance Use, & the Adolescent Brain | Podcast #2: September 25th, 2025
In this episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, hosts Michaela Sumortin and Tanvi Garneni unpack how glial cells—astrocytes and microglia—shape the brain’s response to drugs of abuse. Drawing on a 2025 Handbook of Clinical Neurology review by Drs. Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie, the episode explores how opioids and nicotine alter neuroimmune signaling, why adolescents respond differently than adults, and how targeting glia may transform treatment strategies for substance use disorders. You’ll also hear how the gut microbiome intersects with brain inflammation, offering a novel therapeutic angle for addiction research.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Emily Castro, Shahrdad Lotfipour, and Frances Leslie:
“Neuroglia in Substance Use Disorders”
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Co-host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Co-host and Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Writing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Matthew Perry, Opioids, and the Gut-Brain Connection | Podcast #1: July 24th, 2025
In this first episode of the Translational Addiction Podcast, host Michaela Sumortin reflects on the life and legacy of Matthew Perry—best known for his role as Chandler on Friends—and his courageous advocacy for those battling addiction. Using Perry’s story as a springboard, the episode explores groundbreaking research from the Lotfipour Lab at UC Irvine on the gut-brain axis and its role in opioid addiction. Learn how disruptions in gut bacteria can affect mood, behavior, and the brain’s reward system—and why targeting the microbiome may offer a promising path toward more effective treatments for substance use disorders.
Based on the manuscript by Drs. Michelle Ren and Shahrdad Lotfipour:
“The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Opioid Use”
🎙️ Podcast Credits
Host and Lead Producer: Michaela Sumortin
Writing | Recording | Editing | Direction
Creative Producer: Tanvi Garneni
Editing | Music | Animation | Social Media | Creative Direction
Mentorship and Scientific Guidance: Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour
Links & Resources: translationaladdictionpodcast.carrd.co
Matthew Perry, Opioids, and the Gut-Brain Connection (Trailer Video)