Discovery Matters

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

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.

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

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.

Ever wonder what happens to your body when you leave Earth behind? In this gravity-defying episode, we launch into the weird, wild world of human biology in space. From the first C. elegans in space to the NASA Twins Study to future deep space missions, we have a lot to discuss. Strap in as we float through the science of space adaptation. Spoiler: space may teach us about our Earth-bound health. Show notes• Deane, Colleen S, et al. (2023) Comparative analysis of muscle atrophy during spaceflight, nutritional deficiency and disuse in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (16), [12640]. • Francine E. Garrett-Bakelman et al. (2019) The NASA Twins Study: A multidimensional analysis of a year-long human spaceflight. Science, 364 (8650).• Bokhari RS, et al. (2022) Looking on the horizon; potential and unique approaches to developing radiation countermeasures for deep space travel. Life Sci Space Res (Amst), 35 (105-112).• Glavin, D.P., et al. (2025) Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu. Nat Astron 9 (199–210).• Eyting, M., et al. (2025) A natural experiment on the effect of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia. Nature.

What's new with insulin? Jeppe Sturis and his team at Novo Nordisk have a new hypothesis. They challenge the long-held belief that insulin resistance comes from faulty tissues, suggesting instead that the real culprit is insulin breaking down before it even reaches its target. This fresh perspective could reshape how we fight diabetes.We will also hear from Diamyd Medical’s advancing research on antigen-specific immunotherapy which could change the game by protecting insulin-producing cells and slowing the progression of Type 1 diabetes.

Join us for a fascinating deep dive into how generative AI is revolutionizing healthcare and life sciences! We unveil groundbreaking advancements in drug discovery, clinical trials, and diagnostics—showcasing AI’s growing role in shaping the future of medicine. With expert insights from Shweta Maniar (Google Cloud) and Martin Stumpe (Danaher), we’ll explore how AI accelerates innovation through data-driven breakthroughs while keeping humans at the heart of the process for trust and accountability.Show notesResearchers identify a brain circuit for creativity

Join us in this lite bite episode as Dr. Aravind Asokan, 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 advancements in AAV with CRISPR, CAR T cell therapy, circular RNA, and virus-like particles (VLPs). Show notes Asokan A, et al. ‘An evolved AAV variant enables efficient genetic engineering of murine T cells’. Cell. 2023 Jan 19;186(2):446-460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.022

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?

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.

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.

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 express multiple proteins simultaneously. Justin Eyquem, assistant professor at University of California San Francisco, discusses the potential of in vivo CAR T cell therapy, which could simplify manufacturing and reduce costs. Both approaches face challenges in quality assurance and regulatory approval but hold promise for personalized and more effective treatments.

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 the momentum in biotech, the potential of AI in advancing science, and the importance of making innovative therapies accessible globally. Stay tuned for these insights. Show notes Beneath Everest, a lone caretaker struggles to keep one of the world’s highest laboratories alive Integrating human endogenous retroviruses into transcriptome-wide association studies highlights novel risk factors for major psychiatric conditions Keywords: vaccines, advanced therapies, mRNA, manufacturing, technology, patients, innovation, new modalities.

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 Medicines at Danaher, to discuss the science, progress, and potential of advanced therapeutics. Demaris Mills, Group Executive of Genomic Medicines at IDT, and experts Fyodor Urnov, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Director of Technology & Translation at the Innovative Genomics Institute, cover the technologies used in gene and cell therapies as well as CRISPR to deliver powerful and precise treatments aiming for a healthier future.

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 models, as well as the need for emotional intelligence in AI systems. Keywords: AI, ethical dilemma, bias, misinformation, datasets, diagnostics, drug discovery, healthcare.