New Insights Into Dopamine with Raj Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD

New Insights Into Dopamine with Raj Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD

Author: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine April 20, 2026 Duration: 23:23

We are re-sharing this episode on dopamine and subtypes of dopaminergic neurons that may provide new insights into how we think about the role of dopamine. Rajeshwar Awatramani, PhD, and Daniel Dombeck, PhD led this research, and in this episode they explain how the results could change the field of dopamine research and pave the way for new research possibilities, especially concerning Parkinson's disease, a condition marked by a loss of dopamine neurons and motor system challenges.  


Tune into Breakthroughs for a direct line to the labs and minds at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the process of discovery, letting you hear directly from the researchers themselves as they explain the questions that keep them up at night and the moments of insight that change everything. This isn't just about announcing findings; it's about understanding the human effort behind them. You'll get a clear sense of how a single study can ripple out, influencing treatments and shifting our entire approach to wellness. The conversations in this podcast are grounded in the belief that transforming medicine starts with asking better questions. From detailed explorations of cellular mechanisms to broader discussions on public health, the content connects the dots between specialized science and its real-world impact. Listen for thoughtful dialogue that makes complex topics accessible, always pointing toward a future where health is improved for entire communities. Produced by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, this series is for anyone curious about the tangible steps science is taking right now to create a healthier tomorrow.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Breakthroughs
Podcast Episodes
Advancing Skin Cell Biology with Kathleen Green, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:33
Skin diseases from psoriasis to melanoma affect as many as one in three Americans at any given time. Kathleen Green, PhD, has greatly advanced basic molecular research related to skin diseases. She discusses recent disco…
Rewind: How to Stop Antibiotic Misuse with Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:56
Physicians are notorious for prescribing antibiotics as a "quick fix" when they aren't necessary. There are many reasons why, and Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH, dives into those and discusses effective ways to reduce the numbe…
How the Brain Regulates Aggressive Behavior with Ann Kennedy, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
A theoretical neuroscientist, Ann Kennedy, PhD, is investigating neural computation and the structure of behavior. In this episode, she talks about her recent research in the area of aggression and how it's regulated in…
Rewind: Why are Food Allergies on the Rise? with Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:30
There's been an uptick in childhood food allergies in recent years, and new evidence from Northwestern shows they're also becoming more common in adults. Many of the reactions to these allergies are life-threatening. Why…
The Science Behind Culinary Medicine with Melinda Ring, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:03
A Northwestern Medicine course called Cooking Up Health is giving medical students, trainees and health professionals the opportunity to learn culinary medicine and food-as-medicine science concepts. Melinda Ring, MD, cr…