Episode 7: The Aging Immune System with Prof. Dawn Bowdish

The ReSisters speak to Dawn Bowdish, a Professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and Executive Director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health.Prof. Bowdish sheds light on the concept of aging, talks about her research regarding the link between respiratory infections and cognitive decline, and defines “macrophage”, the root of her social media handles. She shares her thoughts on the role vaccines play in society, how we might begin to work through increased vaccine hesitancy, and chats with Christine and MJ about the need for strong science communication in times of public health crises.Prof. Bowdish also explains how her one-woman-show came to be – reaffirming that scientists are often about more than just science!Additional resources:YouTube video with Dr. Bowdish explaining the link between vaccinations and dementia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqOYp8cvOwQDr. Bowdish’ website - specifically the media page where she does her best to keep up-to-date videos/radio:http://www.bowdish.ca/lab/making-news/(some of the headers have lovely pictures of macrophages too).(Macrophage, Cells, Aging, Covid, Pneumonia, Respiratory Illness, Vaccines, Vaccine Hesitancy, Cognitive Health, Science Communication, Mice, Gender in Science Research, Women on Social Media, Long-Term Care, Vaccine Registry)