In this special celebratory milestone episode, we mark our 100th episode with a vibrant recap of year. Get ready to dive into fascinating conversations, from the squirrely intelligence of cephalopods and their chameleon-like abilities to cutting-edge antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) revolutionizing cancer treatment, to an enlightening chat with Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Houghton on the crucial path to combating hepatitis C.

Insulin'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.

In 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 diagnosis, synaptic homeostasis, Parkinsonism, biomarkers, machine learning, REM sleep disorder, inflammatory pathways, dopaminergic cells, predictive diagnostics, early intervention.

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?

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.

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 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 you anything but wise!’ Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 27, Issue 6, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00054-9.
• Taquet, MaximeLone, Nazir et al. ‘Cognitive and psychiatric symptom trajectories 2–3 years after hospital admission for COVID-19: a longitudinal, prospective cohort study in the UK.’ The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 11, Issue 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00214-1

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.

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 Austin, we'll explore the "problem of averages" and much more.