Beyond the Symptoms | An Expert Interview Series by LUF | Live UTI Free
Beyond the Symptoms is an interview series by Live UTI Free (LUF) that explores the science, solutions, and stories behind pelvic health, UTIs, and chronic urinary infections.
Host Melissa Kramer engages in deep conversations with leading medical experts, researchers, and healthcare innovators who share breakthrough insights beyond conventional diagnoses and treatments.
Each episode uncovers cutting-edge research on biofilms, embedded infections, antibiotic resistance, and innovative diagnostic approaches while examining how these conditions impact quality of life. Whether you're a patient navigating recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis, or chronic pelvic pain, a healthcare practitioner seeking evidence-based approaches, or a curious mind interested in women's health advocacy, this podcast provides actionable information about complex pelvic health conditions.
Episodes feature world-renowned urologists, urogynecologists, researchers, and patient advocates sharing clinical insights and practical strategies.
Explore our comprehensive resources at liveutifree.com, find additional studies at linktr.ee/liveutifree, watch video interviews on YouTube (@LiveUTIFree), and join our supportive community on Instagram (@liveutifree).
Beyond the Symptoms | An Expert Interview Series by LUF | Live UTI Free
How DNA Sequencing Targets Hidden UTI Causes | Dr. Nick Parkinson with Live UTI Free
In this episode of the LUF podcast, host Melissa Kramer sits down with Dr. Nick Parkinson, Scientific Director at the UK-based Systems Biology Laboratory. Driven by a personal experience with her young daughter’s recurring, culture-negative UTIs, Dr. Parkinson’s team developed a groundbreaking DNA‑based test that bypasses traditional culture and PCR methods. Using nanopore sequencing, they analyze urine and vaginal samples directly, identifying bacteria, yeasts, viruses, plasmids, and phages with precision and speed.
Standard UTI tests often miss infections entirely. Dr. Nick Parkinson shares how his team used nanopore DNA sequencing to detect hidden bacteria, including rare strains like Tinnitignum charliei, that culture and PCR can’t find. This advanced method reveals not just what's present, but how each strain behaves and resists treatment. He also explains why testing both urine and vaginal samples is crucial for uncovering hidden reservoirs that may be causing recurrent UTIs.
What You’ll Learn from This Episode
- What limits current UTI tests like culture and PCR, and how nanopore sequencing overcomes them.
- Why matching the strain, not just the species, matters for understanding how UTI bugs behave and resist treatment.
- How this tool may reshape both diagnosis and treatment planning, including antibiotic guidance and recognition of underexplored conditions like overgrowth syndromes.
Want to learn more about urinary health? Visit LiveUTIFree.com for expert articles on the latest research, or check out our YouTube channel for a video format.
