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