The Vitality Lab Podcast

In complex fields like biotech and health, technical brilliance isn’t enough.Judgment, psychological flexibility, and the ability to operate under uncertainty often determine who adapts — and who collapses.In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Ilieva, philosopher and Teaching Associate in Buddhist Studies at the University of Cambridge, joins The Vitality Lab to explore how ideas from Madhyamaka Buddhism and contemporary pragmatism can function as practical tools for thinking clearly under pressure.We examine:Why attaching identity to outcomes distorts judgmentHow the “voice in your head” shapes perception and decision-makingWhy over-identifying with views makes disagreement feel existentialThe difference between discovering yourself and constructing yourselfHow loosening attachment to labels can restore agencyThis conversation isn’t therapy. It’s about internal architecture.If innovation requires navigating ambiguity, failure, and disagreement, then how we relate to identity, language, and ego becomes part of the translational process itself.Because before ideas move from lab to world, they move through a mind.

In this episode, we go beyond genetic and molecular narratives of Parkinson’s disease to explore a bold new frontier: the role of the microbiome as a biomarker, bystander, or therapeutic target in cognitive decline. My guest today is Dr Frederick Clasen, Research Associate at the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London. Dr Clasen completed his undergraduate and master’s work in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology at the University of Pretoria before earning his PhD across the Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London, where he developed mathematical and genome-scale models of host and microbial metabolism.Dr Clasen is first author on a landmark 2025 study published in Gut Microbes that used shotgun metagenomics and machine learning to map both oral and gut microbiome changes across healthy controls and Parkinson’s patients with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Their work reveals that microbes — and specifically oral microbes translocating to the gut with enriched virulence factors — may be linked to Parkinson’s cognitive decline via an oral-gut-brain axis, offering not just associations but mechanistic hypotheses and potential biomarkers.In this conversation we unpack:Why the microbiome may be more than a bystander in Parkinson’s diseaseWhat makes a microbial biomarker credible vs. noiseHow virulence factors and host metabolism may influence brain functionWhat it takes to move from correlation to testable mechanismThe real hurdles — and opportunities — for translating microbiome science into diagnostics and therapiesIf you’re a scientist, clinician, founder, or investor curious about where biology meets translation, this episode will sharpen how you think about mechanism, de-risking, and what truly counts as a target in complex human disease.

Professor Clare Bryant is a Professor of Innate Immunity at the University of Cambridge and one of the world’s leading experts on inflammation, inflammasomes, and immune signalling. Her work focuses on how the immune system detects danger — from infections to misfolded proteins — and how chronic inflammation contributes to ageing and neurodegenerative disease. Her research has helped shape our understanding of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key inflammatory pathway now implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and atherosclerosis.In this episode, we explore what inflammation actually is, why we need it to survive — and when it quietly turns from protector to problem.We unpack:Why chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”) rises with ageHow inflammatory pathways are linked to brain health and neurodegenerationWhat the NLRP3 inflammasome is — explained simplyWhy fasting produces surprising changes in inflammatory markersHow a lipid called arachidonic acid can switch off inflammasome activityWhy common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may have anti-inflammatory effects beyond pain reliefWhether fasting could realistically play a role in managing chronic inflammationThe difference between mouse studies and human biology, and why it mattersWhy biomarkers like ASC “specks” may be more useful than lifestyle hypeThis is a deep but accessible conversation about fasting, inflammation, and brain health, grounded in human data and real biology — not wellness trends. We also discuss the limits of fasting, potential risks, and why personalised approaches to diet and inflammation will likely define the future.If you’re interested in longevity, neuroscience, immune biology, or how lifestyle intersects with disease risk, this episode will change how you think about inflammation.

What role do pets really play in mental health?In this episode, I’m joined by Helen Brooks, Professor of Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing and Mental Health Research Group Lead at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. Helen is also Programme Director for the MSc in Clinical Research and has spent years studying how people manage mental and physical illness in everyday life.We explore her research on pets and companion animals as emotional anchors — not as therapy tools, but as sources of presence, routine, purpose, and non-judgemental support.We talk about:Why animals provide emotional safety when humans sometimes can’tHow pets reduce isolation, intrusive thoughts, and despairPurpose, responsibility, and behavioural activationIdentity, continuity, and dignity after a mental health diagnosisWhy grief after losing a pet is often misunderstoodThe risks, limits, and ethical realities of pet-based supportWhat healthcare systems still fail to recognise about human–animal bondsThis is a conversation about co-regulation, trust, silence, and presence — and what animals quietly teach us about how to support one another when words fail.Whether you’re a pet owner, struggling with your mental health, or simply curious about how connection really works, this episode will change how you think about companionship.

Professor Harry Sumnall is a Professor in Substance Use at the Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, and a member of the UK Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).In this conversation we break down the drug policy terms people constantly confuse — and why that confusion matters in real life.We cover:What decriminalization actually means (and what it doesn’t)Decriminalization vs depenalization vs legalizationWhy illegal markets create unique harms (potency, adulteration, organized crime)The “continuum” approach: prevention → harm reduction → treatment → recoveryWhy education alone rarely changes behaviour — and what doesStigma and dehumanization: how they block help-seeking and worsen outcomesWhy policy is rarely purely “evidence-based” — values and politics always play a roleIf you’ve ever heard someone say “decriminalization = legalization,” this episode will fix that.

Dr Blake Stobie is the Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) in London. With over 25 years of experience treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD and related conditions, Dr Stobie blends deep clinical insight with a warm, evidence-based approach to understanding the mind.We dive into the surprising truth about intrusive thoughts, what they really tell us about how our mind works, and why nearly everyone experiences them — even if they feel bizarre or upsetting. Dr Stobie reframes these thoughts not as flaws or warnings, but as a normal part of human cognition, and shows how anxiety and rumination can take over when we give too much weight to the stories we tell ourselves.If you’ve ever felt pulled into a spiral of worry or wondered why your brain seems to “spam” you with distressing ideas, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a path toward breaking the loop.

Dr Riccardo De Giorgi, MD, DPhil, MRCPsych, is a Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Oxford and an Honorary Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. He teaches psychiatry and psychopharmacology, leads experimental medicine research, and focuses on repurposing immuno-metabolic drugs — including GLP-1 receptor agonists — for cognitive and mental disorders. In this episode, we explore GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) — medications originally developed for diabetes and obesity — and their emerging relevance to psychiatry and brain health. Recent analyses, including work led by Dr De Giorgi, review preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting these drugs may influence cognitive processes, reward pathways, mood regulation, and inflammatory mechanisms implicated in conditions such as depression, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, and other psychiatric or neurocognitive disorders. We discuss:How GLP-1 signalling works in the body and the brainWhy psychiatrists are increasingly interested in GLP-1RAs beyond metabolic effectsThe current evidence for psychiatric and cognitive benefits (and limitations)Mechanistic challenges in translating animal findings to humansThe importance of stratifying patients and integrating biomarkers in future researchThis episode strips away hype to uncover what science currently supports — and what remains an open question — about the psychiatric potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Professor Luigi Nibali is an award-winning specialist periodontist who has been keeping gums healthy and saving teeth for more than 15 years. He is a Professor of Periodontology at King’s College London (Guy’s Hospital) and a leading clinician–scientist in gum disease and oral inflammation.Trained in dentistry in Italy, Luigi Nibali completed an MSc and PhD at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute, where his research focused on the genetic and inflammatory drivers of aggressive periodontitis. His work spans clinical periodontology, systemic inflammation, and the links between oral health and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration.In this episode, we break down what periodontitis actually is, why it often develops silently, and why bleeding gums are an early warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. We explore how chronic oral inflammation can contribute to whole-body inflammation, including its relationship with markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP).We then discuss Luigi’s recent feasibility study using a fasting-mimicking diet alongside standard periodontal treatment — what the protocol involved, what they observed, and why diet may help regulate inflammation without adding more medication.This conversation connects oral health, diet, inflammation, and long-term disease risk, with practical insights on prevention and why gum health remains one of the most overlooked pillars of overall health.Highlights • Bleeding gums aren’t normal — they signal chronic inflammation • Periodontitis often progresses silently for years • Oral inflammation can increase systemic inflammatory burden (CRP) • Diet quality may influence gum disease severity • Fasting-mimicking diets show early promise as an adjunct therapyTopics Periodontitis • Oral inflammation • Systemic inflammation • CRP Oral microbiome • Fasting-mimicking diets • Diet & inflammation • Prevention & oral hygiene • Lifestyle and metabolic health

Professor Pooja Saini is a UK-based academic and practitioner specialising in mental health, suicide prevention, and community-based support, with years of experience working at the intersection of research, healthcare, and real-world services.In this conversation, we explore why mental health is still so hard to talk about, why people often struggle in silence, and how misunderstanding, stigma, and system design shape the way we respond to distress. Rather than slogans or motivation, this episode focuses on understanding — what actually helps people cope, recover, and feel supported before things reach crisis.This episode is for anyone who wants to better understand mental health — whether for themselves, for someone they care about, or simply to have more compassionate and informed conversations.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Emily Hird, a cognitive neuroscientist and research fellow at University College London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, whose research focuses on the brain mechanisms underlying depression and other mental health conditions.Dr Hird’s work examines how changes in reward processing, motivation, and effort-based decision-making contribute to symptoms such as anhedonia and apathy. Her research also explores how dopamine signalling, inflammation, and stress interact in depression — and why physical activity may help by reshaping these brain circuits over time.Together, we unpack why depression isn’t just a change in mood, why everyday tasks can feel disproportionately effortful, and why exercise can be as effective as antidepressants for some people. Rather than focusing on willpower or “pushing through,” this conversation looks at the neuroscience of effort, small wins, and how understanding the brain can make recovery feel more possible.Topics coveredHow depression changes brain functionAnhedonia, apathy, and effort sensitivityDopamine, reward circuits, and motivationInflammation and mental healthWhy exercise helps depression (neuroscience explained)Why starting small mattersThis episode is for education and discussion, not medical advice. If you’re struggling, consider speaking to a healthcare professional.