Discovery Matters

Pain. It comes in many forms: physical and emotional. But do we really understand it?This episode will attempt to answer fundamental questions about what pain is, how it is experienced, and why it is such a critical aspect of human existence. We speak with Prof Jeff Mogil to discuss sex differences in pain. His work has been influential in promoting the inclusion of both sexes in pain research, ensuring that treatments and pain management strategies are more effective for everyone. We are also joined by Steve Ruston, CEO of Persica, to discuss non-opioid intradiscal injection to treat chronic low back pain caused by bacterial infection. Show notesNanoparticle gel could help save degraded coral reefsPlants struggled for millions of years after the world's worst climate catastrophe

Today, we're diving into a topic that's not just reshaping the world of vaccines—it's flipping it on its head. We're exploring the cutting-edge realm of inverse vaccines with Prof Lawrence Steinman and how they're revolutionizing the approach to treating autoimmune diseases. Plus, we'll chat with CancerVax, who are using the immune system in a radically different way, aiming to make it attack cancer cells just like it would fight off a virus like measles.

Ever wonder what happens to your body when you leave Earth behind? In this gravity-defying episode, we launch into the weird, wild world of human biology in space. From the first C. elegans in space to the NASA Twins Study to future deep space missions, we have a lot to discuss. Strap in as we float through the science of space adaptation. Spoiler: space may teach us about our Earth-bound health. Show notes• Deane, Colleen S, et al. (2023) Comparative analysis of muscle atrophy during spaceflight, nutritional deficiency and disuse in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (16), [12640]. • Francine E. Garrett-Bakelman et al. (2019) The NASA Twins Study: A multidimensional analysis of a year-long human spaceflight. Science, 364 (8650).• Bokhari RS, et al. (2022) Looking on the horizon; potential and unique approaches to developing radiation countermeasures for deep space travel. Life Sci Space Res (Amst), 35 (105-112).• Glavin, D.P., et al. (2025) Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu. Nat Astron 9 (199–210).• Eyting, M., et al. (2025) A natural experiment on the effect of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia. Nature.

What's new with insulin? Jeppe Sturis and his team at Novo Nordisk have a new hypothesis. They challenge the long-held belief that insulin resistance comes from faulty tissues, suggesting instead that the real culprit is insulin breaking down before it even reaches its target. This fresh perspective could reshape how we fight diabetes.We will also hear from Diamyd Medical's advancing research on antigen-specific immunotherapy which could change the game by protecting insulin-producing cells and slowing the progression of Type 1 diabetes.

Join us for a fascinating deep dive into how generative AI is revolutionizing healthcare and life sciences! We unveil groundbreaking advancements in drug discovery, clinical trials, and diagnostics—showcasing AI's growing role in shaping the future of medicine. With expert insights from Shweta Maniar (Google Cloud) and Martin Stumpe (Danaher), we'll explore how AI accelerates innovation through data-driven breakthroughs while keeping humans at the heart of the process for trust and accountability.Show notesResearchers identify a brain circuit for creativity

Join us for a fascinating deep dive into how generative AI is revolutionizing healthcare and life sciences! We unveil groundbreaking advancements in drug discovery, clinical trials, and diagnostics—showcasing AI's growing role in shaping the future of medicine. With expert insights from Shweta Maniar (Google Cloud) and Martin Stumpe (Danaher), we'll explore how AI accelerates innovation through data-driven breakthroughs while keeping humans at the heart of the process for trust and accountability.Show notesResearchers identify a brain circuit for creativity

In this special celebratory milestone episode, we mark our 100th episode with a vibrant recap of year. Get ready to dive into fascinating conversations, from the squirrely intelligence of cephalopods and their chameleon-like abilities to cutting-edge antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) revolutionizing cancer treatment, to an enlightening chat with Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Houghton on the crucial path to combating hepatitis C.

Insulin's discovery in 1921 transformed diabetes from a certain death sentence to a manageable chronic condition, revolutionizing modern medicine. In this episode of Discovery Matters, we look back to our episode on a fascinating journey through 100 years of insulin advancements and its profound impact on diabetes treatment. Listen in to appreciate 100 years of ground-breaking science and anticipate what the future holds for diabetes treatment.

In this episode of Discovery Matters we delve into groundbreaking advancements in Parkinson's disease research. Dodi and Conor transport us to the frontier of medical innovation, exploring the latest discoveries and techniques that hold promise for early diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Show notes • Decet, Marianna et al. ‘A candidate loss-of-function variant in SGIP1 causes synaptic dysfunction and recessive parkinsonism', Cell Reports Medicine, Volume 5, Issue 10. • Hällqvist, J., Bartl, M., Dakna, M. et al. ‘Plasma proteomics identify biomarkers predicting Parkinson's disease up to 7 years before symptom onset'. Nat Commun 15, 4759 (2024). • Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity Keywords: non-invasive procedure, early diagnosis, synaptic homeostasis, Parkinsonism, biomarkers, machine learning, REM sleep disorder, inflammatory pathways, dopaminergic cells, predictive diagnostics, early intervention.

In this re-released episode we revisit protein A. We will dive back into the history and science of protein A. But what exactly sets protein A apart? Is it really the top choice for antibody purification because of its alphabetical ranking, or is there more to the story? And what about its counterparts, proteins G and L?

As we approach our one hundredth episode, travel back with us to the origins of the podcast in our premiere episode, "Team and Jam and Protein Separation." In this debut, we explored the vital process of protein separation—an essential technique in biochemistry and pharmaceuticals that continues to impact human health in significant ways.

Join us as Dr. Aravind Asokan from Duke University explores cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing advanced therapies, including CRISPR, mRNA, viral vectors, and cell therapies. He shares key lessons from past challenges, discusses scalability, product quality, and how integrating various therapeutic approaches is shaping the future of disease treatment. This episode covers exciting advancements in AAV with CRISPR, CAR T cell therapy, circular RNA, and virus-like particles (VLPs). Show notes: Asokan A, et al. ‘An evolved AAV variant enables efficient genetic engineering of murine T cells'. Cell. 2023 Jan 19;186(2):446-460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.022

Dive into the fascinating world of virology as we welcome Nobel Prize-winning virologist Dr. Michael Houghton on this episode of Discovery Matters. We explore Dr. Houghton's groundbreaking work in identifying the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and his enduring quest to combat this global health threat. From the monumental discovery of HCV in 1982 to the revolutionary diagnostic tests that nearly eradicated transfusion-related hepatitis C by the mid-1990s, Dr. Houghton provides an engaging and insightful journey through decades of scientific innovation. Show notes Richard D Roberts, Patrick C Kyllonen, ‘Morningness–eveningness and intelligence: early to bed, early to rise will likely make you anything but wise!' Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 27, Issue 6, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00054-9. Taquet, MaximeLone, Nazir et al. ‘Cognitive and psychiatric symptom trajectories 2–3 years after hospital admission for COVID-19: a longitudinal, prospective cohort study in the UK.' The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 11, Issue 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00214-1

Eco-design, collaboration, circular economy. These are the bywords of sustainability in biopharma. Join Ryan Walker, Senior Director of Sustainability at Cytiva, and Aude Arkham, Global Head of Eco Design and Circular Economy at Sanofi, as they explore how eco-design and circular economy initiatives are shaping the future of healthcare. We delve into challenges, achievements, and the transformational potential of sustainability efforts within biopharma. From Sanofi's life cycle assessments to industry-wide data difficulties, this episode navigates the complex landscape of creating greener solutions without compromising innovation and compliance.

In this episode of "Discovery Matters," we dive into the powerful intersection of big data and artificial intelligence. Joined by Matej Macak, a partner from McKinsey, we unravel how AI and machine learning are revolutionizing our approach to finding new, effective medications. With Tom Yankeelov, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Diagnostic Medicine, Oncology at the University of Texas for Austin, we'll explore the "problem of averages" and much more.

What does 'the body as a bioreactor' mean? In this discussion how scientists use the body's machinery to produce therapeutic proteins. Scott Ripley, General Manager of Nucleic Acids at Cytiva, explains that traditional bioprocessing uses external bioreactors, while the new approach leverages the body's natural processes. This method offers benefits like longer protein half-life and the ability to express multiple proteins simultaneously. Justin Eyquem, assistant professor at University of California San Francisco, discusses the potential of in vivo CAR T cell therapy, which could simplify manufacturing and reduce costs. Both approaches face challenges in quality assurance and regulatory approval but hold promise for personalized and more effective treatments.

We're diving into advanced therapies with industry leaders. Emmanuel Abate, President of Genomic Medicine at Cytiva discussed the strategies to accelerate clinical work and reduce costs. Nathaniel Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of Replicate Bioscience highlighted their ground breaking self-replicating RNA technology, showcasing impressive clinical results for a rabies vaccine. Both experts emphasized the momentum in biotech, the potential of AI in advancing science, and the importance of making innovative therapies accessible globally. Stay tuned for these insights. Show notes Beneath Everest, a lone caretaker struggles to keep one of the world's highest laboratories alive Integrating human endogenous retroviruses into transcriptome-wide association studies highlights novel risk factors for major psychiatric conditions Keywords: vaccines, advanced therapies, mRNA, manufacturing, technology, patients, innovation, new modalities.

From gene and cell therapies, to the use of CRISPR and other precision engineering technologies, this episode dives into the opportunities and challenges of the emerging field of advanced therapies. On Discovery Matters this week, Dodi and Conor are joined by Daria Donati, Chief Scientific Officer of Genomic Medicine at Cytiva, as well as Jen Moody, Vice President of External Innovation of Genomic Medicines at Danaher, to discuss the science, progress, and potential of advanced therapeutics. Demaris Mills, Group Executive of Genomic Medicines at IDT, and experts Fyodor Urnov, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Director of Technology & Translation at the Innovative Genomics Institute, cover the technologies used in gene and cell therapies as well as CRISPR to deliver powerful and precise treatments aiming for a healthier future.

Can you tell the difference between a human and AI? Of course you can…right? We challenge Conor and Dodi to tell the difference between Conor and Conor BOT all while uncovering how AI is transforming the life sciences. Uncover how AI is transforming the life sciences. Together with an AI-bot the pair explore the potential applications of AI in drug discovery, personalizing medical treatments, protein folding, and more. They also consider the ethical considerations required when developing AI models, as well as the need for emotional intelligence in AI systems. Keywords: AI, ethical dilemma, bias, misinformation, datasets, diagnostics, drug discovery, healthcare.

Let's explore the remarkable colour-changing abilities of cephalopods. Joined by Dan Wilson from the Costas Research Institute at Northeastern University, the team dive into the fascinating research behind the development of paints that respond to environmental stimuli, such as sunlight. They also discuss titanium dioxide and how it acts as a facilitator of the colour-changing process. Professor Alon Gorodetsky, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, talks about his research on developing energy-responsive dyes to mimic the features of octopi. Discover the potential applications of these dyes from diagnostics to resource-constrained initiatives, and more. Listen in and discover this remarkable evolutionary adaptation and the incredible ingenuity of cephalopods.

In this episode of Discovery Matters, hosts Dodi and Conor explore how synthetic biology can lead to transformative breakthroughs when it comes to dealing with global health problems. Through their conversation with Justin Vigar, a PhD student in Dr. Keith Pardee's lab at the University of Toronto in Canada, we learn how his paper-based diagnostic tool has the potential to provide faster, more cost-efficient, and accessible diagnostics for underserved locations. This is complemented by Amir Pandi and Tobi Erb's discussion of using AI and synthetic biology to develop new antimicrobial peptides. Show notes • U of T PhD student uses synthetic biology to create low-cost diagnostic tools. • Pandi, A., Adam, D., Zare, A. et al. Cell-free biosynthesis combined with deep learning accelerates de novo-development of antimicrobial peptides. Nat Commun 14, 7197 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42434-9 • Khalek IS, et al. Synthetic development of a broadly neutralizing antibody against snake venom long-chain α-neurotoxins. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Feb 21;16(735). https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adk1867 • Josh A Goldstein, Jason Chao, Shelby Grossman, Alex Stamos, Michael Tomz, How persuasive is AI-generated propaganda?, PNAS Nexus, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae034

Tune in to Discovery Matters to see how we can drug the undruggable. Dodi and Conor talk to Mark Bray, a second year PhD student in the Bowman Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, about the concept of “drugging the undruggable” for drug discovery and development. They discuss advances in medical research which has enabled us to drug molecular targets that were previously inaccessible, and the strategies that are used to devise and find effective drugs. Vicky Richon, CEO at Entact Bio, elucidates the importance of a revolutionary “induced proximity” modality for unprecedented drug treatments. Listen to this episode to understand modern approaches to treating diseases and uncovering cures.

Explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to revolutionize biomedical research and make personalized healthcare a reality. Tune in to Discovery Matters to see how AI and machine learning will be the future of biomedical research. Featuring interviews with Professor Kourosh Saeb-Parsy and Dr Namshik Han — leaders in the AI and biotech space — this episode delves into the significance of advanced technology for unlocking discoveries in transplantation, understanding the causes of diseases, precision medicine, and more. Show notes: This AI learnt language by seeing the world through a baby's eyes Computational phylogenetics reveal histories of sign languages

Let's explore the world of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and their potential for improving human health. Our two guests—Principal Investigator Sasha Ebrahimi from GSK and oncologist Dr. Paolo Tarantino—discuss the development and advantages of ADCs, and how they can be used to personalize treatments for cancer and other illnesses. Sasha explains how ADCs combine the targeting capabilities of antibodies with the cytotoxic effects of drugs, while Dr. Tarantino delves into his research with breast cancer and immunotherapies. Learn more about the possibilities of ADCs in this insightful episode of Discovery Matters. Keywords: antibody drug conjugates, adc, chemotherapy, antibodies, cancer, oncology, patient, breast cancer.

Discovery Matters is back with our best episodes and insights from the past year. Dodi and Conor re-explore some cutting-edge ideas and technologies pushing the frontiers of science and medicine forward. We look back on some of our favorite episodes including therapies such as psychedelic drugs, the sentience of brain cells, and the potential of marine microbes to fight cancer. They explore the potential of DNA to create medicine, the use of organoids in drug testing, and the use of cryopreservation for cell therapies. Join us as we uncover newer and better ways of improving health through science. Find out why Discovery Matters to you and the world by tuning into this episode.

Challenges of improving access to healthcare in developing countries - it's a conversation we need to have. With the help of Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute, we discuss vaccination and immunization programs as a key aspect of public health and global development – especially in developing nations, where access to life-saving medicines is often limited or non-existent. Karen Heichman, Deputy Director of Diagnostics, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, takes us on a journey on the critical role of diagnostics in the fight against diseases. Tune in to hear how technology and innovation could help to bridge the gap in access to healthcare and potentially save lives in the process.

Join Conor and Dodi in the latest episode of Discovery Matters, as they explore the wonders of ground-breaking scientific discoveries from multidisciplinary collaboration. MIT's Professor Pete Dedon expresses how multidisciplinary approaches and unique combinations of experiences can help to produce unexpected results. Professor James Evans of the University of Chicago then brings in the concept of surprise and hypergraphs to uncover the connections between different fields of knowledge. With insights from their guests, the latest episode of Discovery Matters dives deep into the mechanics behind groundbreaking discoveries. Jump in and listen to discover new ways to think about innovations and uncover the next amazing breakthrough! Keywords: multidisciplinary, ideas, papers, surprise, science, combinations, teams, antibiotics, compounds, infectious diseases, malaria, space, serendipity.

Let's explore the world of organoids and their potential to revolutionize disease treatment. Joined by Matthias Zilbauer and Roisin Owens, we look at the interplay of the gut-brain axis with organic electronic materials. Dive into the advances in organoid and microbial models used to develop treatments for illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. Join Dodi and Conor to discover how bioengineering could change our understanding of health and disease - and our lives. Show notes Shi, F., Evans, J. Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines. Nat Commun 14, 1641 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36741-4. Moon landing: India's home-grown tech cut the costs (nature.com) Keywords: microbiome, patient, model, cells, tissue, disease, gut, biological systems, microbes, biology, pediatric gastroenterology, science, organoids

In this episode of Discovery Matters, we discuss the exciting potential of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver genetic material and therapeutics to target cells and tissues. We are joined by Lloyd Jeffs, Senior Director of Biopharma Services at Precision NanoSystems, and Prof Dan Peer, Director of the Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine at Tel Aviv University. Dan shares how his team has developed siRNA LNPs to deliver treatment more efficiently for ovarian cancer patients. From Dan's unique perspective, learn why this technology is cutting-edge, and why it may help defeat one of mankind's biggest enemies— cancer. Show notes Therapeutic gene silencing of CKAP5 leads to lethality in genetically unstable cancer cells | Science Advances Neuroscientists decoded a Pink Floyd song using people's brain activity (sciencenews.org) Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Does Pizza Consumption Favor an Improved Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis? (mdpi.com) Keywords: ovarian cancer, nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, genomic medicine, tumour, nucleic acids, cells, chemotherapy, drug, mrna, patients, sirna, rna.

Through a discussion of combination therapies, Dodi and Conor delve into the mysterious power of the human microbiome, and antimicrobial resistance. With evidence of the microbiome being a key factor in fighting diseases, this episode highlights the importance of understanding and treating the microbiome and its potential to improve lives. Tune in to find out more and explore the possibilities of the microbiome with Dr Saman Maleki, and the power of serendipity with Prof Pete Dedon! Show notes Routy, B., Lenehan, J.G., Miller, W.H. et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation plus anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced melanoma: a phase I trial. Nat Med 29, 2121–2132 (2023). A novel combination therapy counters antibiotic-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus infections (MIT news) 'Blight' warns that a future pandemic could start with a fungus (sciencenews.org) Hildebrandt, T., Peyser, D. The gut microbiome in anorexia nervosa. Nat Microbiol 8, 760–761 (2023). Keywords: microbiome, patients, immunotherapy, immune system, cancer, study, people, combination therapy, tumor, immuno-oncology, fungus, fecal transplant, anorexia nervosa, oncology, higher bmi

In this episode, we dive into the potential of liquid biopsies as a method to detect deadly diseases. We speak with three experts – Marta Herreros, Rik Bryan, and Doug Ward – to learn more about the non-invasive nature of liquid biopsies and the process of detecting biomarkers within a patient sample. Rik and Doug discuss their GALEAS Bladder test, which can identify key mutations present in 96% of bladder cancer patients. Tune in to learn more about the potential of liquid biopsies and the importance of early detection! Show notes GALEAS Bladder test – Galeas Bladder BBC and hybrid working – Internal Communications Summit Identification by ears – Ear identification: A multi-ethnic study sample - ScienceDirect Keywords: bladder cancer, patient, liquid biopsy, urine, cells, bladder, urine test, urine sample, mutations, tumor, DNA, cancer, clinical trials, sequencing, samples, biomarkers.

Why do China and US have different government regulations? Why can't we do business above the fray? These are just some of the struggles biopharma executives report impacting their business. Our guests are of the same view – the industry needs fixing. Yingke He, CEO and Co-Founder of Forecyte Bio, explains how China's industrialized experience is limited and in its early stages compared to the US. Listen to this episode to understand the industry tensions and areas showing promise. Show notes The Biopharma Resilience Index - Biopharma Resilience | Cytiva (cytivalifesciences.com) Pessimists Archive - Pessimists Archive Caesarean babies and their mother's microbiome - 'Vaginal seeding' boosts the development of babies born by C-section | New Scientist Keywords: talent, industry, manufacturing, collaboration, pandemic, therapies, challenges, government, regulators, biopharma resilience index, policies, solutions, companies, China, genomic medicine, cell and gene therapy.

In this episode of Discovery Matters, we explore the incredible advances in precision medicine enabled by organoid technology. Vicky Marsh Durban and Oksana Sirenko contribute to the conversation, talking about how machine learning and robotics are used to scale up organoid culture and analyse data, as well as the potential of organoids to revolutionise regenerative medicine. Listen to this episode for an insightful and informative deep dive into the potential of organoids for transforming the face of modern medicine. Keywords: patient, cells, tissues, cardiac, drugs, assays, cancer, organoids, data, technology, stem cells, tumors, automation, ai.

War! What is it good for? Well in this episode of Discovery Matters, Dr Smith explains how military medicine first shaped state medicine and how wartime creates an opportunity to innovate. From advances in prosthetics, psychology, and cosmetic surgery to the mass production of penicillin during World War II, this episode dives deep into the life-saving innovations brought over the line due to conflicts. Show notes: More is Better: English Language Statistics are Biased Toward Addition - Winter - 2023 - Cognitive Science - Wiley Online Library Protecting maternal health in Rwanda | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Keywords: medicine, war, military, wartime, innovation, doctors, civilian, patient, ai, medical, human, diseases, historian, psychiatry, navy, history.

On the latest episode of Discovery Matters, Dodi and Conor are joined by John Morris, a scientist at the forefront of cryopreservation technology. They discuss the impact of cryopreservation on the development of CAR-T therapies, why freezing cells is essential to these treatments, how tracking the samples ensures quality, and the potential for frozen cells to treat solid tumors in the future. Tune in to find out how cryopreservation has transformed the life sciences and how it could revolutionize how we treat disease in the future. Show notes: Pioneers and Visionaries docu-series. Keywords: patient, cells, freezing, therapies, gene therapy, car-t, t cells, john Morris, cytiva, podcast, stabilizing, cryogenics, cold chain

Conor and Dodi explore the new and exciting world of bacteriophage therapy. Join them as they speak to Anton Peleg, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and the Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Alfred Hospital and Monash University, about this new, emerging field. Together they discuss how phages, viruses that specifically target bacteria, are being used to fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs, as well as the challenges of producing them at scale and getting them approved by regulatory bodies. Tune in to Discovery Matters to learn all this and more, and join the conversation about these important advances in life sciences. Show notes For more information on Professor Anton Peleg's work with phages: Old cure revived in fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs (smh.com.au) RNA in space: Oba, Y., Koga, T., Takano, Y. et al. Uracil in the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu. Nature Communications 14, 1292 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36904-3 Keywords: phage, bacteria, infection, antibiotics, rna, therapies, bacterial infections, penicillin, patients, antibiotic resistant bacteria, cholera, phage therapy, superbugs.

In the latest episode of Discovery Matters, Dodi and Conor are joined by Dr. Bradley Moore from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to discuss his research into the medical and synthetic implications of using marine microbes to fight aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma. By leveraging salinosporamide A, Dr. Moore proposes that these deep-sea organisms could potentially be scaled up for human use and repurposed for medicinal and synthetic purposes. Dive into this episode to hear how the ocean has the power to bring forth new discoveries that could save lives! Show notes For more information on this 'anti-cancer weapon': Scientists Discover How Molecule Becomes Anticancer Weapon | Scripps Institution of Oceanography (ucsd.edu) Keywords: glioblastoma, salinosporamide A, Scripps, chemicals, organisms, coral, ocean, genomes, dna, molecules, medicine, bacterium, drug, oceanography, sequence, sea.

We should not underestimate cells. Conor and Dodi talk with Dr Brett Kagan who conducted research to understand the brain and test ‘sentient' brain cells, using the 1970s game, known as ‘Pong'. In another conversation, Professor Petra Levin and Kunaal Joshi explain how they have demonstrated that there is no mythical ‘average' cell which mimics the stochastic behaviors of any individual cell. At the end of this episode, we hope to have proven that cells are not to be overlooked and still have so much to tell us about human health. Show notes In vitro neurons learn and exhibit sentience when embodied in a simulated game-world Beyond the average: An updated framework for understanding the relationship between cell growth, DNA replication, and division in a bacterial system Keywords: cells, replication, pong, gamification, average, machine learning, brain cells, dna replication, intelligence, sleep, biology, biomass, bacteria, neurons.

What do CRISPR and longevity have in common? Not much, except it's all molecular. We speak to two different CEOs focused on improving human health. We begin with Dr Benjamin Oakes, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Scribe Therapeutics who takes us through the discovery, potential, and possible limitations of CRISPR. Then we are joined by fellow visionary, Kristen Fortney, the CEO and co-founder of BioAge, which is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing therapies that treat disease by targeting the biology of ageing. You cannot miss these fascinating conversations. Keywords: ageing, crispr, molecules, age, technology, disease, muscle, engineering, treat, understand, genome editing, human, jennifer doudna.

Psychedelic treatment is a therapy which is on the rise according to the increasing number of studies on the use of psylocibin, ketamine and MDMA to treat mental health disorders such as PTSD. In this episode, Conor talks to Prof. Eric Vermetten, a psychiatrist who has been working with the military in the Netherlands for the last 25 years helping Dutch armed forces and the uniformed people in the face of PTSD and psychotraumatology. Show notes For more info on Prof. Eric Vermetten's work: Eric Vermetten - Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl) Keywords: MDMA, psilocybin, psychedelics, PTSD, compounds, therapy, drugs, psychotraumatology, trauma, ketamine, revived therapies

Conor and Dodi try their hand at learning to operate an ÄKTA ready in virtual reality. Their virtual journey takes them to Singapore and Miami, without leaving Sweden, Amersham, and Edinburgh. Join us on a journey into the metaverse. Show notes For more info on using virtual reality for customers: cytiva.com/vr You can view the video version of the episode here, where you can see virtual Dodi and Conor interact with virtual Arron Greig (our expert guide). Keywords: virtual reality, meetings, vr, learning, training, virtual, instructions, ÄKTA

Mushrooms on Mars, life-saving blood from worms, cell-cultured seafood. It's been a year filled with surprise, serendipity, and everything in between. Conor, Dodi and the podcast team look back on a fascinating year and highlight their favourite interviews and topics of the year. See you in the new year!

In this episode, we focus on the microbiome and how it is increasingly linked to disease and illness. It seems that this is true for understanding the illness of the body and the brain. Dr Amir Minerbi, the Deputy Director of the Institute for Pain Medicine at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel talks to us about how the microbiome may hold the secrets of fibromyalgia. This chronic disorder causes widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and potentially dozens of other symptoms. We are also joined by Prof Illana Gozes, Director of Elton Laboratory for Molecular Neuroendocrinology in the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Tel Aviv University. She elaborates on her research surrounding the role of specific microbiota signatures as a biomarker for PTSD. Show notes Minerbi, Amir, Gonzalez, Emmanuel, Brereton, Nicholas, Fitzcharles, Mary-Anna, Chevalier, Stéphanieh, Shir, Yorama. (2022) ‘Altered serum bile acid profile in fibromyalgia is associated with specific gut microbiome changes and symptom severity', PAIN Vol.10 (1097). doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002694. Levert-Levitt E, Shapira G, Sragovich S, Shomron N, Lam JCK, Li VOK, Heimesaat MM, Bereswill S, Yehuda AB, Sagi-Schwartz A, Solomon Z, Gozes I. (2022) ‘Oral microbiota signatures in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) veterans,' Mol Psychiatry. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01704-6. Keywords: microbiome, pain, ptsd, fibromyalgia, bacteria, gut microbiome, microbiota, bile acids, tel aviv university, veterans, symptoms, composition, biomarkers, patients

In this second episode in a two-part series on organ-on-a-chip technology, we sit down with Christos Michas, R&D scientist and engineer at Curi Bio, and Alice White, professor of mechanical engineering at Boston University. Christos and Alice are taking the organ on a chip to another level with the miniPUMP, a heart on a chip which is the first step in understanding the interaction of therapeutic drugs with the heart. As cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of death in the industrialized world, there is a lot of interest in understanding how this disease emerges, and how we can develop therapeutics. Show notes Christos Michas and Alice White et al. (2022) ‘Engineering a living cardiac pump on a chip using high-precision fabrication', Science Advances 8(16). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm3791. Keywords: organ on a chip, chip, cells, organ, heart, technology, tissue, structural elements, challenge, structure, model, drugs, photon, system, resin, material, function, miniPUMP.

In this first in a two-part series on organ on a chip technology, we discuss with Jan Turner, formerly part of Safer Medicines Trust, how these organoids can help us move away from the inefficient animal model. Show notes Emulate study on LiverTox - Liver-Chip Publication | Qualifying a human Liver-Chip for predictive toxicology (emulatebio.com) Keywords: chips, drugs, organ, human, model, cells, technology, testing, animal models, animal testing, microbiome, preclinical testing, animal, organ on a chip, drug development.

We have a lot of information at our fingertips, so how do we make sense of it all, especially in human health? Conor and Dodi speak to two experts who are making sense of this information overload by creating genetic and genomic databases. Dr Artem Babaian, a computational biologist and now Assistant Professor leading The Laboratory for RNA-Based Lifeforms at the University of Toronto, explains how he and his team uncovered 100,000 novel viruses in old genetic data that could help us predict future pandemics. Professor Jinchuan Xing, Associate Professor at Rutgers University in the Department of Genetics conducting research on genomic variation, walks us through his study on using genomic data to predict infertility from aneuploid egg production. Let's dive into the data! Show notes Edgar, R.C., Taylor, J., Lin, V. et al. Petabase-scale sequence alignment catalyses viral discovery. Nature 602, 142–147 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04332-2 Sun, S., Miller, M., Wang, Y. et al. Predicting embryonic aneuploidy rate in IVF patients using whole-exome sequencing. Hum Genet 141, 1615–1627 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-022-02450-z Keywords: viruses, genome, patients, prediction, mutations, data, RNA viruses, computational biology, families, human genome, whole exome sequencing, discovery, machine learning, infertility, chromosomes, scientists.

Within the life sciences industry, there has been a longstanding conversation around one of the industry's most difficult challenges. That challenge is talent. In more detail, it is that the access to a global talent pool remains difficult. In this longer than usual conversation, Conor and Dodi speak with Darrin Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT, Anne-Cecile Potmans, general manager of Fast Trak and CDMO services at Cytiva, and Nikki Soares, global talent acquisition leader at Cytiva. We discuss how the industry is stepping up its resilience for customers and patients. To find, train, retrain, and retain talent is what matters in this episode of Discovery Matters. Keywords: talent, organization, people, biopharma, industry, life sciences industry, training, global, retaining, companies, skills.

Plastic and pollution are two issues that impact our planet. It would be easy to despair but once again biology has come to save us. The Alper Lab at University of Texas at Austin has engineered a plastic-eating enzyme which can shorten plastic degradation from hundreds of years to 48 hours. We speak to Dr Hal Alper, Professor in Chemical Engineering at UT at Austin, who engineered this heroic enzyme. We also speak to Marco Poletto, director and co-founder of EcoLogic studio, which is a design innovation company specializing in biotechnology for the built environment. He explains his use of microalgae to create streetlights, playgrounds, and biofilms on the outside of buildings which can capture 20 large trees worth of CO2 every day. Keywords: enzyme, plastic, protein, biology, ecologic, engineering, machine learning, organism, planet, algae, biomass, degrade, microorganisms, eco warrior, microscopic. Show notes Timelapse of the plastic degradation, courtesy of University of Texas at Austin.

Wastewater-based epidemiology is a relatively new approach to determine the viral make up in any given area. Using chemical analysis of pollutants and biomarkers in raw wastewater, the level of exposure to certain pathogens can be assessed. This technique was used during the pandemic, which has helped realize its potential in public healthcare policy. We speak to Prof. Dominic Frigon, a specialist of biological wastewater resource recovery at McGill University, who used this technique in Quebec through the pandemic to determine areas of vulnerability, including a homeless shelter. We also speak to Dr Kata Farkas, an environmental virologist at Bangor University, to understand the wider applications and importance of this analysis technique. Urine for a treat with this conversation. Keywords: wastewater, viruses, monitoring, pandemic, sewage, samples, population, infection, epidemiology, mutations, surveillance, norovirus.

This episode is all about special blood and transplants. We speak to Jon Adkins, co-founder of XenoTherapeutics, who walks us through their use of xenotransplantation for skin grafts and organ transplantation. We are also joined by Dr. Franck Zal, a marine biologist and co-founder, CSO and CEO of Hemarina, to discuss the lugworm and his amazing discovery of the properties that make its blood compatible with human blood which means it can be used in medical applications for transplants. Join us for this eye-open and insightful conversation.

In this episode, we contemplate the combatting the devastating disease that Alzheimer's is. According to a recent report by the Alzheimer's Disease International, an estimated 50 million people are living with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. We talk to two experts leading two respective early-stage studies into possible treatments for Alzhemier's. One study looks at the tackling of tau proteins, another looks at treating aging rather than the disease itself. Join us for this fascinating discussion! Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, ageing, disease, patients, tau, study, treatment, brain, discovery, protein, sodium selenate, neurodegenerative diseases, frailty, tauopathies, alzheimer's and brain awareness month.