GY007: A Baker's Yeast That Eats Galactose, with Dr. Judy Fridovich-Keil and Dr. Shauna Rasmussen

Welcome New Listeners - What Is This Podcast?

In this short episode, Ryan shares why he started the podcast after his son Elliot was diagnosed with classic galactosemia, the questions that drove him to search for better answers, and the mission behind creating a place where families, patients, researchers, and clinicians can learn from one another. Whether you’re a newly diagnosed family, an adult living with galactosemia, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional, this episode is the perfect introduction to what you’ll find here. Ryan also highlights some of the podcast’s most recommended episodes and gives a preview of what’s coming next, including interviews and presentations inspired by the 2026 Galactosemia Connect Conference.

GY007: A Baker's Yeast That Eats Galactose, with Dr. Judy Fridovich-Keil and Dr. Shauna Rasmussen

In this episode, Ryan sits down with two veterans of the show — Dr. Judy Fridovich-Keil and Dr. Shauna Rasmussen, both of Emory University — to walk through a recent study from their lab in collaboration with a small biotech called GutsyBio. The study tested whether a specially selected strain of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), called GY007, could break down dietary galactose in the gut before it ever reaches the bloodstream. In the rat model, it worked: rats that received the yeast before being given galactose did not show the same Gal-1-P or galactitol spikes in plasma and brain that the untreated rats did.

What To Expect: Galactosemia Conference 2026

Conference Schedule: https://galactosemia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GF-Conference-Packet-2026-1.pdfIn this episode, Ryan sits down with Britt Cudzilo to walk through what to expect, from the new Scientific Day and breakout sessions to research opportunities, networking, and the social events that make conference so special. Whether it’s your first conference or your fifth, this episode will help you make the most of the weekend.

Why BridgeBio Stopped Galactosemia Gene Therapy

BridgeBio recently stopped their research and development of gene therapy for Galactosemia. This came as a shock to many of us. I talked to the CEO of BridgeBio on the phone, and in this episode I report back what he told me.

Gene Therapy for Galactosemia: Feat. Mandy and Clayton from BridgeBio

In this episode of The Galactosemia Podcast, Ryan sits down with Clayton Beard and Mandy Rohrig from BridgeBio to explore the promise and challenges of gene therapy for galactosemia. They break down how gene replacement works, why viruses are used as delivery systems, and what families should know about the current state of research. To get in touch with Mandy - Amanda.Rohrig@bridgebio.com