What if the key to curing disease like Alzheimer’s lies in the tiny, invisible molecules inside our cells?
In this episode of Holy Shift!: Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, host Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Dr. Felipe Quiroz, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Dr. Quiroz reveals how his lab engineers the invisible — proteins, cells, and genes — to understand and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s. From discovering how disordered proteins shape brain health to inspiring the next generation of scientists, Dr. Quiroz shares how foundational research today builds the breakthroughs of tomorrow that can transform healthcare for generations to come.
Tune in for a conversation that connects molecular science, mentorship, and hope for the future of medicine.
In this episode of Holy Shift!, host Zachary Danziger talks with Dr. Ming-fai Fong, a biomedical engineer at Georgia Tech and Emory University.
Dr. Fong discusses her work on the brain’s amazing built-in power to change and adapt itself, a process called neuroplasticity. Her research team is exploring how to use this ability of the brain to help people with vision loss, including those with amblyopia, or “lazy eye.” By using techniques like light stimulation and machine learning, they’re finding new ways to help the brain see again. Beyond the lab, Dr. Fong also works with blind and visually impaired students to make science more accessible and inspiring for the next generation.
Learn More About Ming-fai Fong:
fong-lab.github.io
Support Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs – Donate Today:
If you want to support the research you heard about on today’s episode, consider a donation to the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. Every contribution—big or small— supports ongoing work and fuels future innovations.
https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46972/donations/new
Connect!
About The Host: Zachary Danziger is a biomedical engineer, educator, and science communicator passionate about making complex research accessible and inspiring to all audiences. As a co-host of Holy Shift!, he brings curiosity, humor, and insight to conversations with today’s leading scientists and innovators. Learn more at https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/danziger/.
Meet The HolyShift! Team:
In this episode of Holy Shift!, host Angela Gill Nelms talks with Dr. Lena Ting, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Dr. Ting shares her work uncovering the connections between the brain and body that lead to movement — from walking and balance to dance and sports. She explains how understanding movement helps us tackle challenges like stroke recovery, Parkinson’s disease, and fall prevention in aging populations.
The conversation also dives into the future of rehabilitation, wearable robotics, and how training programs like dance can reshape the way we move and heal. Dr. Ting’s insights highlight the power of engineering and neuroscience working together to improve quality of life.
Listen now to explore how cutting-edge research in movement science will shape rehabilitation and mobility for the future.
Learn More About Lena Ting:
Support Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs – Donate Today:
If you want to support the research you heard about on today’s episode, consider a donation to the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. Every contribution—big or small— supports ongoing work and fuels future innovations.
https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46972/donations/new
Connect!
About The Host: Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in transforming bold ideas into impactful healthcare solutions. She serves as the Director of Biolocity, accelerating the commercialization of early-stage medical technologies developed at Emory University and Georgia Tech. She is also the Founder and CEO of The AGN Group, and the host of the Badass Leaders Podcast, where she champions courageous, compassionate leadership. Learn more at www.AngelaGillNelms.com.
Meet The HolyShift! Team:
In this episode of Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, host Angela Gill Nelms talks with Dr. Mike Davis, a professor of Biomedical Engineering and Cardiology at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Dr. Davis shares his research journey from catching bees at the Fresh Kills landfill to pioneering stem cell therapies for congenital heart defects and heart failure. Together, they dive into breakthroughs in treating heart defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), new pediatric and adult clinical trials for heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, and how regenerative medicine transforms outcomes for children born with severe congenital heart disease. From replacing invasive biopsies with AI-driven blood biomarkers to inspiring the next generation through community outreach, this episode highlights how biomedical engineering saves lives and reshapes the future of cardiac care.
Learn More About Dr. Mike Davis:
Support Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs – Donate Today:
If you want to support the research you heard about on today’s episode, consider a donation to the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory. Every contribution—big or small— supports ongoing work and fuels future innovations.
https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46972/donations/new
Connect!
About The Host: Angela Gill Nelms is a trailblazer in transforming bold ideas into impactful healthcare solutions. She serves as the Director of Biolocity, accelerating the commercialization of early-stage medical technologies developed at Emory University and Georgia Tech. She is also the Founder and CEO of The AGN Group, and the host of the Badass Leaders Podcast, where she champions courageous, compassionate leadership. Learn more at www.AngelaGillNelms.com.
Meet The HolyShift! Team:
Welcome to Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow —your inside look at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, one of the nation’s leading programs. What is biomedical engineering exactly? All you need to know is that it’s about engineering solutions that improve human health, from new medical imaging tools, better vaccines, to personalized cancer treatments.
In short engaging conversations with the brilliant minds behind the research, you’ll hear how biomedical engineers are shifting the status quo to drive breakthroughs and improve lives. We’ll uncover not just what they’re working on, but why it matters.
Holy Shift! reveals the people, passion, and purpose powering the future of biomedical research.