Discovery Matters

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 advancement...

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 eradicat...

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 transformatio...

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 Aus...

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...

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 th...

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...

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, prot...

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 A...

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 cos...

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 st...

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 int...

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 ant...

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 po...

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-...

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 o...

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. J...

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 develo...

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...

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% o...

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....

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 episod...

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 conf...