What can microbes living in the dark, mineral-rich corners of a cave tell us about the next generation of medicines?
In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology, Dr. Cassandra Quave talks with biomedical geoscientist Dr. Rachel Washburn, director of the Washburn CHAOS Lab (Complex Host and Abiotic Systems). Her team studies the whole system at once: which microbes are present, what chemistry they are making, and how minerals and water shape it. They take samples from wild caves, polluted caves, and tourist show caves across Kentucky.
Dr. Washburn explains how sequencing, geology, and metabolomics fit together, using a heavy metal concert analogy. She describes the lab’s early finding of new chemical classes in show caves and the recovery of Hidden River Cave after decades as a sewer. Her goal is a predictive “treasure map” that helps natural product researchers decide where to look for new antibiotics, anticancer compounds, and bioremediation tools.
Dr. Washburn also shares her path from Russian studies and Air Force intelligence, through cancer and a PhD, to geoscience. She talks about bringing citizen scientists into the field, and about Scientifically Speaking, her series that treats fictional worlds like real scientific observations.
Learn more about the Washburn CHAOS Lab at https://www.washburnchaoslab.com/.
Join a citizen science experience at https://washburnchaoslab.com/citizen-science-experience.
Follow Dr. Washburn on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @WashburnCHAOSLab.
#FoodiePharmacology #NaturalProducts #Caves #Microbiome #Geomicrobiology #Metabolomics #CitizenScience #SciComm #Bioprospecting #Kentucky
