Episode 70: David Sabatini on the discovery of mTOR and its role in disease, longevity & healthspan - a podcast by Dawn Kernagis and Ken Ford

Peter Attia, who was our very first guest on STEM-Talk, describes David Sabatini’s discovery of mTOR as one of his two favorite science stories.



Today, Dr. David Sabatini joins us and gives us a first-hand account of how his research into rapamycin in 1994 as a graduate student led him to the discovery of mTOR, which we now know is a critical regulator of cellular growth.



Our interview with David delves into his continuing research into mTOR, which has led to promising opportunities for the development of new treatments for debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders. He also discusses mTOR’s role in healthspan and lifespan.



David is a molecular cell biologist who, according to Reuters News Service, is on the short list for a Nobel Prize. David is on the faculty at MIT and heads up the Sabatini Lab at the Whitehead Institute.



In today’s episode, we discuss:



Rapamycin, a macrolide antibiotic discovered in the soil of Easter Island

David’s discovery of mTOR while a grad student at Johns Hopkins

mTOR’s role as one of the major growth pathways in the body

mTOR’s role as a nutrient sensor

How mTOR inhibiton has become one of the hottest topics in longevity research

mTOR’s role in diseases, especially its connection to cancer

The role of RAG GTPases as key mTOR mediators

Protein intake and downstream mTOR activation

Research into ketogenic diets effect on longevity and healthspan

Whether David would take rapamycin as a means to enhance his longevity

And much, much more

Further episodes of STEM-Talk

Further podcasts by Dawn Kernagis and Ken Ford

Website of Dawn Kernagis and Ken Ford