Shows
Life in the LabFrom Heel Pricks to Hope: Beverly Hird on Newborn Screening and Early DiagnosisWhat can a few drops of blood tell you about a newborn? Quite a lot. Bev Hird breaks down how newborn screening saves lives, the ethics of early testing, and her mission to ensure no baby falls through the cracks.2025-04-3018 minLife in the LabThis Episode Will Kill You: Alex Lawson on the Frontlines of ToxicologyWhen a mystery drug shows up in Birmingham, Alex Lawson and his lab are on the case. In this episode, Alex walks us through clinical toxicology—from overdose detection to nitazenes and contaminated vapes, and why his job sometimes saves lives.2025-04-2919 minLife in the LabBugs, Babies and Bill Gates: Elaine Cloutman-Green on Fighting Infections EverywhereFrom GOSH to West Africa, Elaine Cloutman-Green is fighting infections with creativity and curiosity. She talks catheters, cleaning standards, genome sequencing, and how Azithromycin might save babies’ lives. Oh, and yes, she’s worked on a project called Mordor.2025-04-2820 minLife in the LabHormones, IT, and Chest Pain Fixes: Dr. Mayur Patel on Lab-Clinician CollabsDr. Mayur Patel wears many hats: chemical pathologist, digital innovator, and hormone enthusiast. Tune in for a whirlwind tour through his career path, from endocrinology nerd to changing A&E chest pain pathways through troponin testing and IT upgrades.2025-04-2717 minLife in the LabLab Waste, Big Wins: Jyoti Shetye on Sustainability and Centralising LabsLabs aren’t exactly known for being eco-friendly… but Jyoti Shetye is changing that. From reducing stock days through team “league games” to closing labs without layoffs, she shares how she brought sustainability to the forefront of healthcare labs in the UAE.2025-04-2618 minLife in the LabDisparity in Lab Medicine: Octavia Peck Palmer on Equity, Bias, and SepsisLab values aren't always neutral. Clinical chemist Dr. Octavia Peck Palmer takes us inside her mission to tackle health disparities and systemic bias in diagnostic testing—and shares how her sepsis research turned into a movement for equity in laboratory medicine.2025-04-2516 minLife in the LabNanobodies and EDM: Tahir Pillay on Science, Music, and InnovationProfessor Tahir Pillay proves that you don’t have to choose between art and science. In this episode, he unpacks his work on futuristic antibodies (nanobodies!), his creative alter ego DJ Kemp, and why cross-disciplinary science is the future.2025-04-2416 minLife in the LabHeart Science and High Stakes: David Gaze on Troponin and Game-Changing TestsMeet David Gaze, a self-confessed “Mr. Troponins” of the lab world. From childhood fascination with the heart to revolutionising heart attack diagnostics, David walks us through the ups, downs, and lifesaving science of cardiac biomarkers—and why he once helped test a gorilla.2025-04-2319 minLife in the LabFrom Enzymes to Impact: Phillip Monaghan on Cancer Research and Lab InnovationWhat happens when creative science meets real-world patient care? Clinical scientist Phillip Monaghan shares how his love for biochemistry and redox enzymes led to a career-changing lives—from cortisol testing breakthroughs to pioneering cancer biomarkers. Plus, the test that might one day replace scans.2025-04-2216 minLife in the LabCrisis, Chemistry and Care: Katy Heaney on Leading Lab Innovation in a PandemicIn this premiere episode of Life in the Lab, Consultant Clinical Scientist Katy Heaney takes us behind the scenes of the UK’s COVID-19 response—from childhood dreams with a toy syringe to leading national strategies for rapid testing. Katy shares her journey into pathology, the challenges of pioneering Point of Care Testing, and what it really means to lead through crisis. Inspiring, personal, and full of hard-won insights, this is a must-listen for anyone curious about the hidden world of healthcare science.2025-04-2117 min