Health Sciences

Collections

  • Slice of human body at lungs

  • Vascularized forearm

  • Jarvik Heart

The research collection in the Health Science Department is comprised of rare and unique specimens, as well as a small selection of pieces of medical importance. The department is actively seeking research collection acquisitions in the areas of anatomy, pathology, histology, and regional medical history.

History

  • Entrance to the Hall of Life

  • Demonstrations in the Hall of Life

  • Nutrition Exhibit in the Hall of Life

  • Exercise Exhibit in the Hall of Life

Health Sciences at the Museum began with the opening of the Museum's first permanent health exhibition in 1987, the Hall of Life. This exhibition helped to grow health science as an attraction for visitors, to support health science education, to expand on hand-on exhibits at the Museum and to incorporate Health Sciences as a core competency. By 1998, the goals were completed and surpassed, and recommendations were made for a health science strategic plan, the renovation of the Hall of Life, and the hiring of PhD level scientists to ensure the quality and scientific accuracy of all health science related exhibits, education, and programming. These recommendations were made part of the Museum's strategic plan, Museum 20/20, and the Health Sciences Initiative was born. In 2004 the Museum officially created the Health Sciences Department and hired its first PhD level health science curator, Dr. Bridget Coughlin. Dr. Coughlin became the content specialist on the health exhibition core team at the Museum. Under Dr. Coughlin,  the new permanent health exhibition, Expedition Health, opened to the public on April 1, 2009. In October of 2009, the Museum hired Dr. Nicole Garneau as a second curator in the Health Sciences Department, and launched the first community-based participatory laboratory that studies molecular genetics.

Research

  • Enrollment in Genetics of Taste

  • Blue-tongued staff & citizen scientists

  • Can you see the DNA pellet?

Genetics of Taste: A Flavor for Health is a community-based, participatory research study in Lab Central in Expedition Health. Its main focus is on a gene cleverly named tas2r38, pronounced "taster 38." This is the gene that determines if you can taste the bitter compound phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and its chemical relatives propylthiouracil (PROP) and goitrin (the bitter compound found in vegetables like broccoli and spinach). The research focuses on how the ability to taste bitter and how well people taste in general is related to overall health, and if ancestry and genotype of tas2r38 are connected.

Outreach

  • Visitors in Biology Base Camp

  • Scientists in Action broadcast

  • Passport to Health Family Day

  • Cardiologist for a Day

The Health Sciences Department serves over 10,000 people a year through the community-based Genetics of Taste laboratory, onsite lectures and events for students and adults, and offsite lectures and multimedia applications like the Blue Tongue Blog.

In one year we:

  • Enroll over 1000 people in the Genetics of Taste research study
  • Paint thousands of tongues blue to show visitors their papillae density
  • Reach students across the country through Scientists in Action

Service

  • 2010 Teen Science Scholars

  • Dr. Garneau presenting at 2010 AChemS

  • Visiting scientists to Genetics of Taste Lab

All staff members in the community-based lab are encouraged to serve the chemoreception field. In this respect, each lab staff person is a member of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences. Regionally, the team attends events held through the Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center. Locally, we serve the Denver community through high school and undergraduate level internships, as well as through the CBSA/PEBC high school science teacher extern program.

Who We Are

The Health Sciences Department serves Museum visitors through the exploration of the biological principles of human biology, with the vision to inspire application of these discoveries in their own lives. This is accomplished through the interactive exhibition Expedition Health, educational programs for students, evening programs for adults, and through the NIH-funded Genetics of Taste study within the citizen-scientist run, community-based research laboratory, called The Genetics Lab.

Upcoming Events

  • Conversations in Local Health Research Got Magnesium? How Mg2+ Lets Cells Know When to Grow, Katherine Brandao, PhD Date: 05/10/2013 Location: Ricketson Auditorium, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  • Science on Screen: Gattaca Nicole Garneau, PhD Date: 07/08/2013 Location: Boedecker Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, Colorado
  • Anschutz Bioscience Roundtable Discussion Nicole Garneau, PhD Date: 07/16/2013 Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Research Complex 1 South, 9th Floor conference room
  • Science on Tap at the Denver Beer Company Nicole Garneau, PhD Date: 07/22/2013 Location: Denver Beer Company, Denver, Colorado Young Professionals Event
  • SciFi Film Series: Limitless Nicole Garneau, PhD Date: 07/31/2013 Location: DMNS, TBD

STAFF

  • umbraco.MacroEngines.DynamicXml
    Bridget Coughlin, PhD

    Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Programs and Adjunct Curator

    Learn More
  • umbraco.MacroEngines.DynamicXml
    Nicole Garneau, PhD

    Curator and Department Chair, Health Sciences

    Learn More
  • umbraco.MacroEngines.DynamicXml
    Rich Busch, MA

    Health Sciences Collection Manager
    Rich.Busch@dmns.org
    303.370.6071

  • Tiffany Derr
  • umbraco.MacroEngines.DynamicXml
    Colleen Carter

    Health Sciences Assistant Collection Manager
    Colleen.Carter@dmns.org
    303.370.6138

  • Kizra Sullivan

    Office and Laboratory Manager
    Kizra.Sullivan@dmns.org
    303.370.6334

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2001 Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO 80205

303.370.6000
Open daily
9am - 5pm
Closed Christmas
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