This episode is all about the purisuit to understand and treat metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Martine Piccart and Dr. Lisa Carey delve into the complexities of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), highlighting why it remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease to treat.
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107. Engineering and preserving the microbiome
We’re fascinated by the microbiome — and for good reason. But how do we protect this invisible ecosystem that plays such a vital role in our health?From engineering live, programmable therapeutics that disarm dangerous gut pathogens to creating a global “doomsday vault” to safeguard the diversity of human gut microbes, we dive deep into the cutting-edge science shaping the future of microbiome research.Show notes1. Ronda, C., Perdue, T., Schwanz, L. et al. Precise virulence inactivation using a CRISPR-associated transposase for combating Enterobacteriaceae gut pathogens. Nat. Biomed. Eng (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01453-12. 2. Dominguez-Bello, M.G., Steiger, D., Fankhauser, M. et al. The microbiota vault initiative: safeguarding Earth’s microbial heritage for future generations. Nat Commun 16, 5373 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61008-5
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106. Zoonotic diseases
In this episode, we explore zoonotic diseases and their growing impact on global health. Professor Clare Bryant, sheds light on strategies to vaccinate animals to prevent pathogen transmission into humans. We also delve into the historical context of the disease, the role of vaccines, and the importance of coordinated public health.Whether you're a public health professional or simply curious about emerging infectious diseases, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the science, challenges, and solutions surrounding zoonotic diseases.
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105. What is pain?
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
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104. Vaccines: Inverse v traditional
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.
Ireland