Richard Heller Slated as Guest on 'With Good Reason' Jan. 30

Old Dominion's Richard Heller, whose pioneering research into electrogenetherapy - using short in duration, high-voltage electric pulses to kill cancer cells - has garnered worldwide attention, will be interviewed on the Virginia public radio program "With Good Reason" on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Heller, professor and director of ODU's Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, came to the university in 2008 and has assembled a team of experts in diverse fields of bioelectric research.

The Reidy Center has as its mission increasing scientific knowledge and understanding of the interaction of electromagnetic fields and ionized gases with biological cells, and applying this knowledge to the development of medical diagnostics, therapeutics and environmental decontamination.

"With Good Reason" airs at 1 p.m. Thursday on WHRV-FM (89.5), and on public radio stations across Virginia and around the country. The hourlong show, produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, spotlights the achievements of Virginia public universities in scholarly research and innovation.

This week's "Get Better" show also features Aarthi Narayanan, of George Mason University, speaking about the power of curcumin, a molecule found in turmeric, in stopping the spread of potentially deadly viruses. And Adrian Aron, of Radford University, will discuss a simple diagnostic test developed for sleep apnea.

The show also features a rebroadcast of an interview from 2013 with Sheri Colberg-Ochs, ODU professor of exercise physiology, about her book "Diabetes? No Problema! A Latino's Guide to Living Well with Diabetes."

Audio files of the full program and its companion news feature will be posted the week of the show to the "With Good Reason" website, at: http://withgoodreasonradio.org/2014/01/electric-pulses-killing-cancer-cells/.

"With Good Reason" has twice won the Gabriel Award for Best Documentary/Public Affairs Program. It also is the recipient of top honors from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters and won a second-place award in the Public Radio News Directors competition.

ODU listeners are encouraged to join the show's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/With-Good-Reason-radio/203141233005, and subscribe to the "With Good Reason" podcast, at: www.tinyurl.com/wgrpodcast.