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...

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...

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 team's paper-based diagnostic tool has the potential to provide faster, more cost-efficient, and accessible diagnostics for underserved locations. This is complemented by...

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 -...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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,...

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! 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...