Sounds Of Science

We are joined by retiring CEO Jim Foster to discuss his 50 year career at Charles River. Through his decades in the industry, Foster has seen it all - from the shift toward new approach methodologies, through mergers and sales and public offerings, to shaping the future of Charles River's culture. Listen now to hear how it all started, how we got here, and where we are heading in the future.

In this episode of Sounds of Science, Lauren and Matt Noonan share their powerful journey following their daughter Jane’s diagnosis with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome. From unexpected medical challenges to finding community and launching their own nonprofit, the OURS Foundation, they discuss how advocacy, collaboration, and emerging research are shaping new hope for families living with rare diseases. Charles River | ASO Development Charles River | ASO Screening Services Charles River | Rare Disease Charles River | Rare Disease Research for Drug Development Mowat Wilson Foundation

I am joined by Charles River's newest Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific & Innovation Officer Dr. Namandjé Bumpus to discuss her amazing career. From hands on research as Professor and Director of the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to Chief Scientist and later Principal Deputy Commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Bumpus has seen every angle of the industry. She joins me to discuss her research, the discipline she learned from her father's boxing gym, and her perspective on the industry today. 

Patients who need kidney dialysis live all over the world - even in some of the remotest regions. They need updated equipment, trained healthcare staff, and lots of clean water. Chris Atwater, Director of Technical Operations at the nonprofit Bridge of Life, helps bring hope to these areas. He has traveled to six continents for his life's work, using skills he learned as a United States Marine and the education he acquired for this role. If you are interested in learning more about challenges facing dialysis patients in remote areas, check out this video we made about services in the Australian bush. 

When Terry Pirovolakis learned his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease, SPG50, he refused to accept “no options.” What started as a desperate search for hope became Elpida Therapeutics, a nonprofit driving gene therapy innovation for multiple rare diseases. In this episode, Terry shares the remarkable journey from diagnosis to clinical trials, the power of partnerships, and why urgency matters when every day counts.Show NotesFrom Mystery to Medicine: The Science Behind a Mother’s Search | PodcastTaking a Customized and Collaborative Approach to Therapeutic Development | PodcastRare Disease Research for Drug Development | Charles RiverRare Disease | Charles RiverDiscovery | Charles RiverBeyond The Diagnosis

What happens when a rare disease diagnosis turns life upside down? In this episode of Sounds of Science, host Mary Parker sits down with Bo Bigelow, Amber Freed, and David Fischer to explore the breakthroughs, challenges, and human stories behind Hao-Fountain Syndrome. From a father’s fight for his daughter Tess to cutting-edge drug repurposing screens, discover how science, advocacy, and community are rewriting the future for families worldwide. Show NotesRare Disease | Charles River Vital Science Podcast: Strength in Numbers Rare Disease Research for Drug Development Foundation for USP-7 Related Diseases Stronger Every Day Podcast 

When Patricia Weltin’s daughters were diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome after years of uncertainty, she turned her frustration into a global movement. In this episode of Sounds of Science, Patricia shares the story behind Beyond the Diagnosis, a powerful art and advocacy initiative that uses portraiture to humanize rare diseases and inspire empathy in medical professionals, students, and communities around the world. From medical schools to courthouses and even Parisian galleries, the traveling exhibit is reshaping how we see children with rare diseases—not as diagnoses, but as vibrant individuals with stories worth telling. Tune in to hear how Patricia’s mission is bridging the gap between science and compassion, and how you can help carry it forward.Show NotesFrom Mystery to Medicine: The Science Behind a Mother’s Search | PodcastTaking a Customized and Collaborative Approach to Therapeutic Development | PodcastRare Disease Research for Drug Development | Charles RiverRare Disease | Charles RiverDiscove

As we all learned in 2020, getting ahead of the next major pandemic is a matter of global concern. For the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI (cepi.net), it is their reason for existing. Joining me for this conversation are Valentina Bernasconi, Head of Laboratory Science for CEPI, and Marie-Eve Poupart, Lead Scientist In Charles River’s Immunology department. Together we discuss CEPI’s progress so far, how Charles River is contributing to the cause, and how we can plan for the unknown Disease X while simultaneously handling current outbreaks of deadly diseases like Ebola, Marburg, Nipah virus, Lassa Fever, and chikungunya.

What if we could predict how chemicals affect human lungs without using animals? In this episode of Sounds of Science, Mary McElroy, Head of Discovery Toxicology and Pharmacology at Charles River, joins us to explore a groundbreaking collaboration with MatTek Life Sciences. Together, they’re pioneering human-relevant, non-animal models that could revolutionize inhalation toxicology. From 3D lung tissues to computational dosimetry, discover how science is catching its breath and moving toward a safer, more ethical future. Show NotesInhalation Toxicology | Charles River Mini Organs Offer Alternative Method for Predicting Drug Safety and Efficacy Alternative Methods Advancement Project | Charles River Charles River, in Collaboration with MatTek Corporation, Awarded Grant from the Foundation for Chemistry Research and Initiatives to Advance Research Alternatives 

For this episode I am joined by Megan and JC Leston, two parents who are fighting for their son Liam. The oldest of their five children, Liam was born with the rare Cri du Chat or 5p- syndrome. Through years of perseverance, they have created the Cri du Chat Research Foundation and started a movement to find a cure not only for Liam, but for all families affected by this genetic disease.Listen now to hear their story, and find out more about their work and how you can help at www.criduchatresearch.org.

What if one decision could make or break your drug’s success? Join Charles River’s Sarah Gould as she unpacks the high-stakes, emotion-filled world of species selection—and why it’s about so much more than science. Discover how this critical choice shapes safety, speeds development, and drives innovation in today’s evolving research landscape.Show Notes Alternative Methods Advancement Project  | Charles River Animals in Research  | Charles River Research Models and Services | Charles River Research Animals Models | Charles River 

Charles River scientist Nicole Hoekstra, herself a US Navy veteran, used her employer-supported sabbatical to help out local Oklahoma based nonprofit Inner Circle Mental Health, which focuses on aiding veterans and first responders who are struggling with their mental health. I am joined by Nicole and ICMH founder Kate Cooper to discuss what this service means to both of them, how we can support family who are reluctant to accept help, and how the COVID pandemic impacted the mental health of first responders. 

Ryan Cox from Microbial Solutions joins us to discuss the curious creatures living at the edges of life – from microbes pulled from the MIR space station to antibiotic resistant bacteria festering in shark mouths. Meet these and many more on this episode!

When Dalila Sabaredzovic’s sons were diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic condition, she faced more questions than answers. But through resilience, advocacy, and the power of collaboration, her family's story has become a beacon of hope in rare disease research. In this deeply moving episode of Sounds of Science, Dalila shares her journey from despair to discovery—and how a global village of scientists came together to pursue a personalized treatment that could change everything.Show NotesTaking a Customized and Collaborative Approach to Therapeutic DevelopmentDrug Discovery Services | Charles RiverASO Screening Services | Charles RiverRare Disease Research for Drug Development | Charles RiverTwo in Eight Billion | Eureka blog

Chris Magee, Head of Policy and Media for the UK advocacy group Understanding Animal Research, and Naomi Charalambakis, Director of Science Policy & Communications at the US based advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress, joins me to discuss new directives from the US FDA and the EU regarding lab animal use. Join us to cover the realities of lab animal use today, as well as the history or public misinformation dating back before Charles Darwin!

In this episode of Sounds of Science, learn how the Retrogenix® platform is reshaping drug development by identifying off-target risks earlier, reducing animal use, and gaining traction with regulators—now as part of the FDA’s ISTAND pilot program. Guests Nick Brown and Mark Aspinall-O’Dea from Charles River Discovery Services share real-world insights on their role in advancing NAMs and supporting safer, faster therapeutic development.Show Notes Maximize Safer, Targeted Biologic Development with Smarter NAMs-Based Off-Target Screening Paving the Way for Enhanced Drug Development A Status Report on Cell-Based Protein Arrays Retrogenix® Human Protein Library Retrogenix®: The Screen Door of Drug Development Retrogenix® CAR Specificity Testing Charles River Launched New Retrogenix Non-Human Protein Library 

How do researchers keep our dirt clean? How can earthworms, duckweed, birds and bees help us ensure environmental safety? Find out now by listening in with our experts from Charles River's Hungarian site - Szabolcs Gáty and David Esdaile.

For this exciting conversation, I am joined by NanoPalm CEO and co-founder Dr. Ali Alhasan and by Charles River Executive Director Ramin Baghirzade, who joins us to talk about Charles River’s incubator program for startups like NanoPalm. Alhasan and his co-founder, Dr. Samar Alsudir, began NanoPalm to help reach rare disease patients who could benefit from advanced gene therapies. NanoPalm is the first company to conduct a gene therapy clinical trial in Saudi Arabia, with plans for many more treatments in the works. Listen now to learn about the trial, Charles River’s incubator program, and about the current state of biotech startup in Saudi Arabia.

What if a mouse could help shape the future of cancer treatment? In this episode of Sounds of Science, host Mary Parker speaks with Julia Schüler, DVM, PhD, Research Director and Therapeutic Area Lead for Oncology at Charles River. Julia shares how patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models—often described as “avatars” of human tumors—are transforming preclinical oncology research. From preserving tumor heterogeneity to improving translational relevance, PDX models are accelerating the discovery of more effective, personalized therapies. Tune in as we explore how these advanced models are driving innovation across the drug development pipeline—from target discovery to clinical trial design.Show NotesPDX Tumor Organoids : A New Tool in Drug Discovery Testing Realm Organoids: Some Assembly Required Patient-Derived Xenografts- PDX Models 3D Tumor Models In Vitro PDX Assays 

Join me, Charles River’s Miriam Guest, and independent consultant Vanessa Figueroa as we tackle the role of a microbiologist in drug manufacturing. Who is keeping patients safe from contamination, and how are they making sure our life saving drugs are not contaminated? How is manufacturing like yoga? Find out by listening now!