Shows
Discovery Matters99. Re-run: One hundred years of insulinInsulin'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.2024-12-2318 min
Discovery Matters98. Detective work in Parkinson's DiseaseIn 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 diag...2024-12-2025 min
Discovery Matters97. Re-run: The discovery of Protein AIn 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?2024-11-2715 min
Discovery Matters96. Re-run: Tea, jam and protein separationAs 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.2024-11-2117 min
Discovery Matters95. Modality convergence in advanced therapiesJoin 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 2024-10-2420 min
Discovery Matters94. Discovery Maker: Dr Michael HoughtonDive 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...2024-10-1018 min
Discovery Matters93. How sustainable is biopharma?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.2024-09-2627 min
Discovery Matters92. Big data, AI, and the problem of averagesIn 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.2024-09-0526 min
Discovery Matters91. The body as a bioreactorWhat 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...2024-08-2233 min
Discovery Matters90. What's next for advanced therapies?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 aliveIntegrating human endogenous retroviruses into transcriptome-wide as...2024-08-0820 min
Discovery Matters89. Advanced therapiesFrom 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...2024-05-2134 min
Discovery Matters88. Replicants and realityCan 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 di...2024-04-3021 min
Discovery Matters87. Cephalopods: From camouflage to communicationLet'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...2024-04-1129 min
Discovery Matters86. Synthetic biologyIn 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 bi...2024-03-2829 min
Discovery Matters85. Drugging the undruggableTune 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 understa...2024-03-1426 min
Discovery Matters84. Unraveling biotech's AI transformationExplore 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 eyesComputational phylogenetics reveal histories of sign langua2024-02-2230 min
Discovery Matters83. Antibody drug conjugatesLet’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, antibo...2024-01-1929 min
Discovery Matters82. Best of 2023Discovery 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...2023-12-2817 min
Discovery Matters81. Access in developing nationsChallenges 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 th...2023-12-1538 min
Discovery Matters80. Different strokes from different folksJoin 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...2023-11-0224 min
Discovery Matters79. Patient-derived organoids (part 2): Organic electronic materialsLet’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...2023-09-2135 min
Discovery Matters78. Lipid nanoparticles: a special delivery serviceIn 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 sile...2023-09-0726 min
Discovery Matters77. Combination therapies and serendipityThrough 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...2023-08-2422 min
Discovery Matters76. Liquid biopsyIn 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 BladderBBC and hybrid working – Internal Communications SummitIdentification by ears – E...2023-08-1036 min
Discovery Matters75. The state of the industryWhy 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 moth...2023-06-2233 min
Discovery Matters74. Patient-derived organoidsIn 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.2023-05-3023 min
Discovery Matters73. War! What is it good for?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 LibraryProtecting maternal health in Rwanda | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Keywords: medicine, war, m...2023-05-1615 min
Discovery Matters72. Cryogenic cold chains and CAR TOn 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...2023-04-2414 min
Discovery Matters71. Revived therapies (part 2) - Phage therapyConor 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...2023-04-1420 min
Discovery Matters70. Anti-cancer moleculesIn 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...2023-03-2314 min
Discovery Matters69. Never underestimate a cellWe 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 embodie...2023-03-1322 min
Discovery Matters68. CRISPR and molecular agingWhat 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...2023-02-2325 min
Discovery Matters67. Revived therapies (part 1): PsychedelicsPsychedelic 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, ps...2023-02-0924 min
Discovery Matters66. Getting ÄKTA ready in virtual realityConor 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, ÄKTA2023-01-1225 min
Discovery Matters65. Best of 2022Mushrooms 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! Show notes More info on Conor’s favorite: What is Quorn mycoprotein? | Quorn More info on Dodi’s favorite: How We Make Chocolate and Coffee From Plant Cell Culture Technology — The Future of Coffee and Chocolate | California Cultured (cacultured.com) More info on Beth’s favorite: Discovery Makers: Mustapha Bittaye | Cytiva (cytivalif...2022-12-2216 min
Discovery Matters64. Pain in the body and brainIn 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...2022-12-0820 min
Discovery Matters63. Organ on a chip: part 2In 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...2022-11-2418 min
Discovery Matters62. Organ on a chip: Part 1In 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.2022-11-1015 min
Discovery Matters61. Genetic and genomic databasesWe 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 g...2022-10-2726 min
Discovery Matters60. The talk on talentWithin 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...2022-10-1332 min
Discovery Matters59. Microscopic eco-warriorsPlastic 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...2022-09-2922 min
Discovery Matters58. Wastewater epidemiology: Something in the wastewaterWastewater-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...2022-08-2519 min
Discovery Matters57. Special blood and transplantsThis 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, CSO and CEO of Hemarina, to discuss the lugworm. His discovery, that the lugworms’ blood is compatible with human blood, means it can be used in medical applications for transplants. Join us for this eye-opening and insightful conversation.2022-06-3018 min
Discovery Matters56. Understanding and treating Alzheimer’sIn 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...2022-06-1623 min
Discovery Matters55. The injustice of disease burden and access to vaccinesThe pandemic has been a global issue, which has benefitted from the coming together of industry, pharma, academia, non-governmental and governmental support. What the pandemic has also brought into sharp focus is the global imbalance access to healthcare and health inequity between the Global North and Global South. For this important conversation, we are joined by Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, Chief Operating Officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation about the current situation with HIV and TB in Africa, and the impact COVID-19 has had on patients already suffering from communicable diseases. So, what can we do? Lenias Hwenda, founder and...2022-05-2620 min
Discovery Matters54. Mycoprotein v. cell-cultured seafoodWe know meat is problematic for the environment, and seafood has its own issues with overfishing, so do we have to wave goodbye to the foods we love? Well, what if we told you that there are substitutes which you can enjoy without sacrificing taste and texture? We start with mycoprotein, in the form of the well-known meat substitute products of Quorn Foods. Tim Finnigan, Chief Scientific Advisor for Quorn Foods, explains why mycoprotein is such a suitable source of protein, how it is manufactured, the environmental benefits, and how fusarium venenatum, the microfungus, was discovered. And... it's tasty! In...2022-05-1217 min
Discovery Matters53. The future of GMOsAccording to Jacob Moe-Lange from California Cultured, and Natasha Haveman from the UF Space Plant Lab, genetically modified food is the future. Both discuss the way that food is grown and how that is changing. Jacob takes us through cell-cultured chocolate and the environmental and humanitarian benefits. Natasha forces our gaze upwards to the plant experiments happening in spaceflight conditions, where scientists are learning how plants adapt to new environmental stresses. In this episode, Dodi puts forward her argument that plants are better than Conor’s mycelium. Who will win out? Let’s see. Transcript Keywords: cell-culture, chocolate, mycelium, plants in s...2022-05-1120 min
Discovery Matters52. The magical world of fungi (part 2)Fungi are amazing in so many ways, and after learning that they could be used to build habitat on Mars, we have this bonus episode to go into home these mushrooms can be used on Earth. Chris Maurer, principal architect at redhouse studios, explains that he has been using mushrooms to make building materials in low-resource environments in Namibia. These materials prove even better than concrete. Join Dodi and Conor for this episode on a truly amazing use of biology to solve our problems. Transcript Keywords: mycelium, building materials, mushrooms, Namibia, carbon, oyster mushrooms, resources, encroach, bush, low-resource environment, Mars...2022-05-1115 min
Discovery Matters51. Women in STEMMarch is the month of the Woman, and to celebrate International Women’s Day we speak with two agents of change who are passionate about opportunity and diversity within the sciences. Ruchi Sharma, CEO and Founder of Stemnovate Limited, and Sabrina Fleurimé, drug product development scientist and Corporate Partnership Director at BBSTEM, talk to us about what we can all do to become agents of change. Ruchi Sharma is recognized as one of the ones to watch entrepreneurs in the health industry, she is passionate about ensuring equality and equal opportunity. Alongside supporting women in science, she is also a vet...2022-05-1119 min
Discovery Matters50. Biomimicry in space explorationSustained life and colonization in space are closer than ever, and biology holds the key. Biomimetic processes have applications for water filtration and for building homes on Mars. Jörg Vogel, VP of Open Innovation at Aquaporin, discusses how their Aquaporin Inside® Membrane Technology will help filter condensate and urine to make drinking water for astronauts. We are also joined by Chris Maurer, an architect and founder of redhouse studios in Cleveland, Ohio. Chris is working on a project with NASA to build homes on Mars using mycelium. Join Dodi and Conor for this truly ‘out-of-this-world’ episode. Transcript Keywords: biomimicry, biomim...2022-02-2419 min
Discovery Matters49. Discovery Makers: Mustapha BittayeMeet Discovery Maker Mustapha Bittaye, now a senior scientist working on diagnostic assay development at Medicines Discovery Catapult, who previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Jenner Institute helping create the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Born in The Gambia, a scholarship took Mustapha to the UK to study Microbial Proteomics, and from then onwards he has made truly amazing contributions to human health globally. Conor and Dodi examine Mustapha’s story, truly brilliant mind, and how he is looking to the future. Transcript Keywords: vaccine, pandemic, Oxford, Gambia, discovery, trial, AstraZeneca, scientists, COVID-19, scholarship, Jenner Institute, microbial proteomics.2022-01-2716 min
Discovery Matters48. Discovery Makers: Sebastian FalkWhat better way to start off 2022 than with a return to our Discovery Makers series. We celebrate discovery by talking to the scientists changing the world one day at a time. This time we are joined by Sebastian Falk. What drives a scientist? Well, according to Sebastian Falk, it is curiosity that drives him. Sebastian is a structural biologist who is leading a research group at the Max Perutz Labs investigating the structure and function of proteins, and how they work in RNA metabolism. In line with his curiosity-driven mindset, Sebastian also teaches at the University of Vienna where he...2022-01-1322 min
Discovery Matters47. Best of 2021As 2022 rolls around the corner, we look back on the amazing topics we covered in 2021. Conor and Dodi were set an assignment to choose their favorite episode of the year, but as this was such a jam-packed year it made it very hard for them to complete their assignment. But as in all things, they delivered. From fungi forays to an eye-opening conversation with Dr Joan Reede, President of the BSCP, Dodi and Conor discuss the best moments of the year, with a little input from the production team. Our podcast planner intern, Bethany shares her favorite episode, as does...2021-12-2316 min
Discovery Matters46. The pulse of the industry - BioPlan and the Biopharma Resilience IndexFor this episode of Discovery Matters we are focusing on industry surveys and what they can tell us. This includes BioPlan and the Biopharma Resilience Index. Both huge reports providing insight into both the issues and opportunities facing the industry today. Firman Ghouze, Cytiva’s Marketing Director in APAC, explains how the Biopharma Resilience Index came about, the industry issues it uncovers and potential solutions. We are also joined by Eric Langer, from BioPlan Associates, to discuss the BioPlan findings and how they echo many of the same themes. Finally, it was a delight to talk to Dr. Richard Wang, th...2021-12-0918 min
Discovery Matters45. Detecting sepsis: the role of single-cellSingle-cell sequencing is a technology that is giving us new genomic capabilities. Dr. Luciano Martelotto joins us to explain how single-cell sequencing allows scientists to understand cells as building blocks, much like LEGO™, which form part of a much bigger structure such as an organ, a tissue, a disease, and so forth. Dr. James McLaren utilizes this technology to look at septicemia; in his work he is using single-cell analysis to better understand sepsis and to develop a rapid diagnostic test. Single-cell sequencing could hold the key to understanding why the body reacts to infections, and overall to help us ad...2021-11-1117 min
Discovery Matters44. Insects as biotech enginesWe’ve talked about slime, seaweed, mushrooms, and now creepy crawlies. Insects are important biotech engines for medicines and meals. Algenex are using insect pupa to produce recombinant proteins that can be used for vaccines, which also has the potential to replace less sustainable raw materials. Insects are also excellent food sources, not just for bush tucker trials, but Dr. Daylan Tzompa-Sosa explains that insect lipids can make doughnuts, croissants, oils, and hummus! Join Dodi, Conor and their guests Dr. José Escribano, founder and CSO of Algenex, and Dr. Daylan Tzompa-Sosa, a researcher at Ghent University specializing in milk fat, in...2021-10-2820 min
Discovery Matters43. Crossing the finishing line in biotechWe talk a lot about beginnings on Discovery Matters, but what about actually getting biologic drugs to people? Once the biologic is produced, aseptic filling and hybrid glass and plastic vials help to protect the biologic drug and the patient. Join Dodi, Conor and their guests, Chris Weikart the Chief Scientist at SiO2 Material Science, and Ross Gold one of the founders of Cytiva's aseptic filling business, in the latest episode of Discovery Matters, talking about the end of the workflow. Transcript Keywords: vials, packaging, biologic drugs, glass, injectable, aseptic filling, pandemic, plastic, innovation, dosage, patient, coating, molding.2021-10-1415 min
Discovery Matters42. mRNA - the talk of the townWho (in the scientific community) would have guessed that mRNA would be such a popular word in everyone's vocabulary one day? Well, as Conor puts it, "all the research by the people on the edges of the scientific community for the past 20 years are really paying dividends." Join Dodi, Conor, and their guests, Clive Glover the General Manager of Gene Therapy at Pall and James Taylor General Manager in Vancouver for Precision NanoSystems, in the latest episode of Discovery Matters, talking about mRNA revolutionizing the genomics field. Transcript Keywords: mRNA, medicines, technology, disease, genetic, therapeutics, vaccines, RNA, innovation, viral vector...2021-09-1618 min
Discovery Matters41. Seaweed, Agar and AlgaeIn this episode of Discovery Matters, enter into the world of slime: seaweed, agar and algae. Algae gave us the atmosphere that we have today and is still coming to our aid against climate change. Executive Director of the Climate Change Cluster at the University of Technology in Sydney, Photobiologist Peter Ralph, who once called himself Dr. Death, explains how algae has given him newfound hope to fight climate change. Join Conor and Dodi for this fascinating episode! Transcript Keywords: algae, microalgae, seaweed, agar, sugars, protein, agarose, resins, cyanobacteria, climate change, photobiology, witchetty grub.2021-09-0221 min
Discovery Matters40. 'Joan's Ideal': One real story - and advice - on inclusion in the sciencesThe BSCP is working towards greater diversity and opportunities for people of colour and disadvantaged individuals within the biomedical and life sciences. Join Dodi and Conor and their guest, Dr Joan Reede, for this important episode where we learn what more can be done by ourselves and the industry as a whole to further diversity and inclusion. Transcript Keywords: students, color, people, organisations, doctors, opportunities, privilege, pandemic, biomedical science, diversity, representation, life sciences, women, BSCP.2021-08-1917 min
Discovery Matters39. "You won't believe what happened next": a true crime specialHow do you solve linked murders without witnesses? The answer, DNA. In this episode of Discovery Matters, we have been inspired by the true crime genre. We discuss a 32-year-old cold case which was the first to be solved with DNA profiling, and a murder in Las Vegas that was solved with the smallest amount of DNA ever! Join Dodi and Conor, and guest Kathryn Lamerton a former forensic scientist currently a Senior R&D Scientist at Cytiva, with a re-enactment helped by some of our colleagues at Cytiva for this exciting episode of Discovery Matters. Transcript Keywords: DNA, crime, DN...2021-08-0617 min
Discovery Matters38. Innovating with intentWe adore happy accidents. But is that the only way to innovate? We talk to an innovation guru who's all about structure. Then we meet a scientist whose goal with innovation is to scale up. Enter the Testa Center in Sweden. Hear how it all comes together in this episode with Dodi and Conor. Transcript Keywords: innovation, discoveries, Testa Center, Innovation hub, scale up.2021-07-0919 min
Discovery Matters37. The old biotech and the seaShort and sweet. Conor brings an interesting story about the role of horseshoe crabs in the pharmaceutical industry. Our guest and subject matter expert is Ding Jeak Ling - or Lynne, as she prefers to be called. She is a professor at the Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore, and her main research interest is in innate immunity and cancer immunomodulation. Enjoy - and rate us! Transcript Keyword: cancer immunomodulation, immunity, crabs, endotoxin, horseshoe crab, RFC, blood, LAL, bacteria, medicines, rabbits.2021-06-2110 min
Discovery Matters36. The 5 R's in the life sciences industrySure, healthcare and pharma does a whole lot of good in the world - but this doesn't make us exempt from taking our plastic waste seriously. So join Conor and Dodi as they talk about the 5 R's with their guests: Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO at TerraCycle; Cristina Peixoto, Head of Lab at iBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnologica, Portugal) and Joëlle Cristofani from Cytiva.Transcript Keywords: instruments, recycle, refurbished, garbage, sustainability, recycling, filters, syringe, waste, chromatography, refuse, reuse, repurpose.2021-06-0320 min
Discovery Matters35. One hundred years of insulin and the future diabetes vaccineWhat better way to celebrate 100 years of insulin than with the CEO of the company who is on the verge of giving us a vaccine for type 1 diabetes? We spoke to Ulf Hannelius in April and 3 days ago we saw the published results of DIAGNODE-2, a Phase IIb trial that evaluated intralymphatic administration of Diamyd Medical’s lead drug candidate Diamyd® (GAD-alum) in individuals recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Congratulations! Guests who also joined us in this episode are Mark A. Atkinson, American Diabetes Association Eminent Scholar and Anders Ekholm, diabetes patient and parent, and Chairman of the Diabetes Association for G...2021-05-2417 min
Discovery Matters34. Citizen Science and the science of gamificationWhat's the science behind apps like Duolingo and Yousician? Gamification! And what happens when you apply this science to ... scientific discoveries? Join Dodi and Conor and their guests, Zoran Popovic, University of Washington and Helen Spiers, Zooniverse. Reading material: https://www.geekwire.com/2020/protein-puzzle-game-called-foldit-turns-99-promising-ways-confound-coronavirus/https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1412171/1/p79-eveleigh.pdfhttps://dragonbox.com/about/algebra-challengehttps://stemforall2020.videohall.com/presentations/1810Transcript Keywords: game, gamification, protein, puzzles, Foldit, Zooniverse, COVID, MOSAK, dopamine, Endoplasmic Reticulum.2021-04-2924 min
Discovery Matters33. Discovery Makers: Dorraya El-AshryScientists love asking “why?” But they often have intensely personal reasons for solving challenges too. Meet Dorraya El-Ashry, scientist and trailblazer whose work on breast cancer is making the world a better, healthier place. Dorraya is using her three decades of research experience to direct the fight against this deadly disease. Look out, breast cancer. Transcript Keywords: breast cancer, discovery maker, triple negative, breast cancer research, immunotherapy, breast cancer research foundation, metastatic cancer, research funding, estrogen receptor, tumor microenvironment.2021-04-1523 min
Discovery Matters32. Discovery Makers: Robert "Bob" LefkowitzThis episode almost became a 3 hour long one - Robert "Bob" Lefkowitz, PhD., is a phenomenal, infinite source of knowledge. Dodi and Conor are still an awe and deep appreciation for the time spent with the 2012 Nobel Prize laureate for Chemistry (shared with Brian Kobilka). Dive in and listen to the #discoverymakers story of Bob Lefkowitz talking about humor, creativity and resilience in science discoveries. Transcript Keywords: Robert Lefkowitz, Brian Kobilka, Nobel prize, chemistry podcast, science podcast, discovery podcast, science discoveries, curiosity.2021-04-0123 min
Discovery Matters30. Oligos part 2Remember our first episode on oligonucleotides, telling the story of Roy living with spinal muscular atrophy? We were so amazed by this technology, we promised to follow up at a later date - and today is the day! Listen to find out how Roy is doing today, and hear from Harvard medical doctor and researcher, Tim Yu and Nikki Reyes-McIntosh, mother of Miles who also lives with SMA and is treated by oligos. Transcript Keywords: oligo, oligonucleotide, spinal muscular atrophy, science podcast, oligo podcast, SMA, rare diseases.2021-02-2522 min
Discovery Matters29. The science of science denialLonger episode than we're usually used to, but we think it's worth it. Why does science denial exist, how does it work and what's the antidote? Join Conor, Dodi and their guests: Haafizah Hoosen, Ask for Evidence Ambassador at Sense about Science + Dr. Danna Young, Associate Prof Communication & Political Science at University of Delaware. Looking for further reading? Conor recommends this article from VOX. This is a first-person essay with a unique perspective on a complicated issue. Enjoy, share and remember to rate us on your favorite podcast player! Transcript Keywords: covid vaccine, science denial, anti-vaxxer, covid, covid-19, coronavirus, pandemic, con...2021-02-0531 min
Discovery Matters28. The magical world of fungi (part 1)Conor finally brings the 15 minutes of fame to fungi - mushrooms being second only to his "microbiomania". We invite you to the beginning of the journey to understand the importance of fungi and mushrooms. Guests are Clare Blencowe, an amateur mycologist and manager at Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, and Merlin Sheldrake, a biologist and a writer with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the history and philosophy of science. If you want to go down the rabbit whole yourself, follow the #MycoBookClub on Twitter. Transcript Keywords: fungi, fungus, mushroom, life science, microbiome, ecology.2021-01-0725 min
Discovery Matters27. Best of 20202020 wasn't all bad! We met some fascinating scientists during the year who helped us understand topics like quantum biology, how baking bread helps us make medicines, and why we embrace the very, very cold. We hope you have enjoyed Discovery Matters in 2020 and that you'll let us know what you want to hear in 2021! As Conor says, "every day is a school day." Transcript Keywords: Discovery Matters, science, quantum biology, podcast, immune system, biology.2020-12-1115 min
Discovery Matters26. Mapping tissues and tumorsHow do we find our way? Consulting a map is the age-old answer, at least geographically. But the art of mapping - considered a superpower by one of this episode's guests - extends to anything we want to understand better. Join Conor and Dodi on this exploration of data visualization. Your challenge at the end of the episode - spend time on these sites: http://scimaps.orghttps://www.pnas.org/modelinghttps://visanalytics.cns.iu.edu Thanks to our guests Paul Goodwin from Cytiva and Katy Borner at the Indiana University. Transcript Keywords: tumor, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, cancer treatment, anatomy.2020-12-0325 min
Discovery Matters25. It all adds up: mathematical simulations in biopharma researchThis episode is easily one of our favorites: everything from design of experiments, to AI-powered math simulations, to existential questions. Conor and Dodi welcomed Tobias Hahn from GoSilico, alongside two of their colleagues from Cytiva - principal scientist Gunnar Malmquist and advanced chromatography specialist, John Scibetta. Have a listen, share this gem and rate us on your favorite podcast. Transcript Keywords: computer simulation, biopharma, math, biochemistry, biotherapeutic, chromatography, process development.2020-10-2325 min
Discovery Matters24. Breast cancer research during COVID19With the arrival of October we notice the (re)arrival of pink ribbons - it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In this episode of Discovery Matters, Dodi and Conor talk to Dr. Margaret Flowers who is the director of research at The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, BCRF. They discuss cellular nutrition, hormone-positive breast cancer, chemoprevention, and the state of breast cancer research during COVID times. Enjoy the episode, and if you want to find out more about the amazing work that BCRF is doing, simply go to www.bcrf.org. Transcript Keywords: breast cancer, nutrition, breast cancer research, immunotherapy, treatment, b...2020-10-0120 min
Discovery Matters23. Chill out: from cryotherapy to cryopreservationPopular science and cell biology collide in this episode as Dodi and Conor discuss the science of cryogenics and its diverse applications. They are joined by Cytiva Senior Scientists and cryobiologists, Peter Kilbride and Julie Meneghel, as well as Fernanda Fonseca, Research Director at the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE). Executive Producer and PopSci enthusiast, Andrea Kilin, kicks off the discussion by sharing her experience with cryotherapy! Transcript Keywords: Cryotherapy, cryogenics, endangered species, cryopreservation, cryobiology, cell therapies, CAR T cell, cancer patient.2020-09-0323 min
Discovery MattersDiscovery Matters ... because it does!Life sciences has a new podcast! A collection of stories and insights on matters of discovery that advance life sciences. Hosts are Dodi Axelson and Conor McKechnie, friends for gloriously long years and colleagues at Cytiva. Enjoy!2020-09-0200 min
Discovery Matters22. The Molecular Clamp - Perspectives from one team's search for a COVID-19 vaccineWhile it may not be here tomorrow, scientists around the world are racing to develop viable COVID-19 vaccine candidates. In this episode, Dodi and Conor share the perspectives of two researchers on the vaccine development team for the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology - Professors Trent Munro and Keith Chappell. Learn how Trent and Keith's team identified their lead vaccine candidate from an initial field of 200 in just over 5 weeks! Transcript Keywords: vaccine, pandemic, virus, protein, scientists, molecular, immune response, antigen, problem, development, molecular clamp, clamp.2020-08-2120 min
Discovery MattersJuly bonus - Fun scientific factsDodi and Conor welcome colleague Kaycee Palumbo for the Discovery Matters special of "Did you know?" Sources: Drugged-out hallucinating zombie cicadas Zombie ants30 000-year-old fruit in Siberian permafrost50 interesting facts about BiotechnologyThe human genome - about 99.9% of human DNA is the same. It is the other 0.1% that codes for all of the differences that make each person unique.The length of the human DNA compared to the world - each cell contains about 2m worth of DNA, if you stretch it end to end, It would measure up to be twice the diameter of the solar systemSmall water pools in Me...2020-07-2419 min
Discovery Matters21. The brewer, the baker and the biotech makerWithout baking and brewing, there'd be no biotech. Join Dodi and Conor through the discovery of fermentation, bags of wheat at the Stockholm Brewing company, and too much pizza dough on Sundays at The Bakery. Guest on this episode are: Anna Roswall, Head Baker at The Bakery; Michel Ahlin-Wigardt, Head Brewer at The Stockholm Brewery; Nigel Darby, Senior Advisor at Cytiva and Paul Goodwin, Science Director at Cytiva. Transcript Keywords: biotech, fermentation, gene editing, gut microbiome, 3D printing, biochemistry, microorganism, CRISPR, food industry.2020-07-0124 min
Discovery Matters20. Seeing things small: what does biology and telecom have in common?Excited about the combination of biology, engineering and computing being the 21st century's big leap forward? Do you see biological computing actually becoming a thing? Join Dodi and Conor to discuss how all the lines are blurring: where there used to be separate industries we can all learn from each other. Guests on this episode are Prachi Bogetto of Cytiva, and Cristian Norlin from Ericsson. Transcript Keywords: biology, computation, telecom, computational biology, future, engineering.2020-06-1118 min
Discovery Matters19. The discovery of Protein AThe Scandinavians have done it again. In this episode Conor and Dodi are (not really) surprised to find out that, just like chromatography, protein A has also been discovered in the North of Europe. What makes protein A special, though? What about protein G or protein L? Surely protein A is not the most popular because of alphabetical order? This episode's hosts are joined by Josefin Bolik, protein A subject matter expert at Cytiva, Glen Bolton, Director of Bioprocess Development at Amgen, and Jonathan Royce, former colleague of Conor's and Josefin's. Transcript Keywords: protein, protein A, antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, biologic, dru...2020-05-2914 min
Discovery Matters18. Quantum biology: going subatomicHow do birds know where to go in the winter? And why are plants so efficient at making food? Conor and Dodi chat with researchers studying whether quantum biology might offer answers. Transcript Keywords: quantum mechanics, quantum biology, photosynthesis, magnetoreception.2020-05-1118 min
Discovery Matters17. How does your brain discover what it wants?In this episode, Dodi and Conor take 2 minutes to celebrate the birth of Cytiva, company formerly part of GE Healthcare Life Sciences. Yes, only 2 minutes because they're immediately more interested in the science behind choices our brains make. They are joined by Uma Karmarkar, Assistant Professor in Marketing at UCSD focusing on Decision Neuroscience, and Tim Arthur, currently a radio presenter for the BBC and an expert in helping organisations through change. Transcript Keywords: brain, brand, neuroscience, science.2020-04-2325 min
Discovery Matters16. The artistry of vaccine development"Vaccines are a way to educate our immune system to recognize foreign and dangerous stuff," says Daria Donati, Director of Business Development and Innovation at Cytiva. Dodi and Conor embark on a journey in this episode of Discovery Matters: the journey of a vaccine. They are joined by Adrian Hill, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Oxford and Consultant Physician, and Rebecca Chandler, Senior Contributor at WHO's Uppsala Monitoring Center. Transcript Keywords: vaccine, immunization, vaccine development, immune system.2020-03-2722 min
Discovery Matters15. How to: Small biotechs into big companiesHow do big companies stay at the forefront of the industry? How do small companies "make it big"? In this episode of Discovery Matters, Conor and Dodi chat with 3 guests to find some answers. Please welcome Kath Mackay, managing director at Alderley Park, Steve Bates, CEO of the BioIndustry Asociation (BIA) and Oliver Hardick, board member of the BIA and business leader at Cytiva. Transcript Keywords: bioscience, biotech, biomanufacturing, accelerator, innovation.2020-03-1225 min
Discovery Matters14. The story of oligonucleotides and spinal muscular atrophyIn this episode, Conor tells Dodi the story of Roy Muhrbeck. It all started 4 years ago when new parents, Hugo Muhrbeck and Maja Ödmann brought home their first child. They were excited and nervous as so many first time parents are. But after a short while, they started to think that maybe everything wasn’t exactly how it should be. Soon after, their son Roy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Stay tuned to find out how oligonucleotides (oligos) help Roy and where he is today. Transcript Keywords: spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, antisense oligo therapy, genetic disease, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, genom...2020-02-2721 min
Discovery Matters13. Scratched knees, smelly yogurt, and speedy wound healingSo, what does yogurt have to do with wound healing? In this episode, Evelina Vågesjö from Ilya Pharma helps Conor and Dodi see the connection. It’s all about getting help from our small bacterial friends, lactic acid, and chemokines. Tune in to learn how it all connects. Transcript Keywords: wound healing, how to heal wounds faster, heal wounds fast, Ilya pharma, yoghurt.2020-01-3018 min
Discovery Matters12. School’s never out: Educating the next gen biopharma talentsEducation matters for sure. But what is special about biopharmaceutical education? And what does the future hold? Dodi and Conor are about to find out. Their guides in this episode are Killian O’Driscoll at NIBRT, Ireland, and Ron Kander at Thomas Jefferson University, US. Transcript Keywords: education, Thomas Jefferson University, NIBRT, biopharmaceutical education.2020-01-1019 min
Discovery Matters11. Fighting fake news in biotechnology: Sense about ScienceCan you trust the scientific claims on products you buy? Conor's curiosity led him down a three-pronged investigation about what you can and should believe, when it comes to statistics and statements about science. Transcript Keywords: sense about science ask for evidence, sense about science.2019-12-2024 min
Discovery Matters10. Perspectives for health - learning about blockchainBlockchain is everywhere. Is it the technology we've all been waiting for? Sometimes, and sometimes not. Dodi and Conor talk with Dr. Catherine Mulligan about what blockchain is, and how it's most useful for us. Transcript Keywords: blockchain in healthcare, blockchain, blockchain technology, Imperial College London, Dr Cathy Mulligan.2019-12-1322 min
Discovery Matters9. Innovation inside-the-box, cyborgs and jugaad (जुगाड)Follow Dodi as she dives into the world of innovation. More specifically, the difference between talking innovation and being innovative. Meet Tobias the cyborg that likes thinking inside the box and learn what Gaud has to say about the concept of jugaad in India. Transcript Keywords: innovation, cyborg, jugaad, jugaad innovation.2019-11-2919 min
Discovery Matters8. Microbiome transplant: cooties can cure youConor has, what he calls "microbiomania". Whatever the topic, he is able to bring it back to microbiomes in about 3 sentences. So imagine how excited he was to interview Colleen Cutcliffe, CEO of Pendulum whose mission is to make millions healthier through microbiome-targeted medical solutions. Another guest on this episode is Jacques Ravel, professor extraordinaire of The Human Microbiome and Women's Health at the Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland. Enjoy! (We sure did!) Interested in Conor's microbiomania? He writes regularly on his LinkedIn account. You can also read more Discovery Matters on our Medium publication. (with the same n...2019-11-1818 min
Discovery Matters7. Fitness trackers in the 1940s: The Framingham Heart StudyDuring a lively lunch chat about the popularity of wearable fitness trackers, the curious question came up: with all this data we are generating, what if we were able to do it 50-70 years ago - where would medicine and healthcare be now? Hearing the question Dodi immediately remembered The Framingham Heart Study. Its objective was to identify the common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) by following its development over a long period of time in a large group of participants who had not yet developed overt symptoms of CVD or suffered a heart attack or...2019-11-0114 min
Discovery Matters6. CAR-T cell therapy: the story of 2 brave young women fighting cancerThis episode is a more immediately serious story than previous topics we've covered. This story is about a discovery where a number of people had to go through unimaginable pain so that it can become useful for others. This is the story of Emily Whitehead, the first pediatric patient enrolled in a clinical trial investigating CAR T-cell therapy CTL019, now known as tisagenlecleucel, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Emily is now a happy, healthy 14-year-old in remission for the past 7 years. This is also the story of Nicole Gularte, the leukemia patient who beat cancer 8 times (!!!) and is the r...2019-10-1821 min
Discovery Matters5. A map of humankind from the inside outWe humans have been mapping things since the beginning of time. In our endless quest to figure ourselves and our world out, there are projects galore. Does the 150-year-old periodic table ring any bells? In this episode, Dodi takes Conor on an explorer’s journey, destination: Human Protein Atlas project. Strap on your seatbelt, it’s a bumpy ride connecting the dots between explorers, chemists, geneticists…and even sociologists! Transcript Keyword: atlas, periodic table, proteins, maps, protein, elements, project, mapping, discovery, classify, human protein atlas.2019-08-2121 min
Discovery Matters4. The role of AI in pandemicsA pandemic starts with a picnic. But can pandemics be prevented without cancelling feel-good gatherings? Enter Artificial Intelligence into the world of healthcare and life sciences. Dodi meets up with an expert panel on the topic and gets examples of the real potential of this very trendy topic. Transcript Keywords: pandemics, ai, data, infectious diseases, healthcare, outbreak, ebola outbreak, ebola crisis, predict, data sources, spread, humanitarian, infections.2019-07-3013 min
Discovery Matters1. Tea and jam and protein separationDodi and Conor discover how jam played a part in paving the way for biopharmaceutical drugs. 60 years ago, Swedish scientists happened upon a new method of protein separation through chromatography. The very same technique continues to be the foundation for modern biomedical manufacturing. Transcript Keywords: protein separation, chromatography, dextran, jam, protein, gel, Swedish, pectin, affinity chromatography, develop, column, antibodies, separate, pharmacy, sugar, biomedical manufacturing, sephadex.2019-07-1217 min
Discovery Matters2. When a hamster rules the biopharma worldLittle did you know, but a single hamster has been a force of innovation and massive biomedical production. Scientists devote entire careers to so-called CHO cells from this Chinese hamster’s ovary. Dodi and Conor meet a couple of them to figure out why this hamster rules the biopharma world. Transcript Keywords: cells, protein, hamster, CHO, patient, dna molecules.2019-07-1217 min
Discovery Matters3. Kidney surgeon who fixes the plumbingThe list of people needing kidney transplants is tragically long, and donor lists are desperately short. Conor and Dodi find scientists who are coming up with alternative solutions to this problem. Some enable transplantation of less-than-perfect organs, and others dream of 3D printing important organs. Transcript Keywords: organ, transplant, dialysis, kidney, transplantation, donors, patient, organ donation, surgeon, repairing, biomedical.2019-07-1218 min