LifeArc’s translational science podcast

How partnerships can help the brain drain of African scientists, a first-hand story

We recently partnered with the Francis Crick Institute's Crick Africa Network (CAN), investing £7.5 million to help scientists build their careers on the African continent.
In this episode – a snippet from BBC's 'Focus on Africa' podcast on 21 August – CAN alumni Yaw Bediako shares his first-hand experience bringing world-class biotechnology to Africa and how the Crick Africa Network can help stop the brain drain of African scientists. 

The quest to find treatment by 2030: How our collaborative approach is accelerating the development of new treatments for MND

Does a treatment for motor neurone disease (MND) by 2030 sound far-fetched to you? Here's why it's not.
Join Rob Smith and LifeArc business manager Cornelia "Conny" Roesl as they navigate the finer points of the groundbreaking MND Collaborative Partnership.
They discuss, among other things, which areas of research the collaboration is targeting, how it is co-ordinated, why it's so different from what has come before, and the planned timescales for an effective MND treatment by 2030.

Years not decades: How translational science is accelerating new drug discovery and giving new hope for people living with MND

In this episode, Rob Smith and Paul Wright take a closer look at translational science, a process and way of thinking that is aiming to accelerate new drug discovery for people living with MND. Joining them on the podcast are two of the most eminent scientists in the field of MND research -  Brian Dickie – Director of Research Development at Motor Neuron Association and Prof. Kevin Talbot Head of Dept & Professor of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford.

Living with MND and campaigning to find a treatment : We talk to David and Helen Setters about David’s MND diagnosis, living with MND and involvement in MND campaigning

In this episode, we hear from one of the most high profile campaigners in the MND world, David Setters.  David was diagnosed with MND in 2012 and he is now tetraplegic and dependent on his wife Helen for everything.  In 2021, David was part of the group United to End MND that successfully convinced Government to pledge £50m for targeted research and the setting up of an MND institute.  We also hear from David's wife Helen about daily life as his main carer.

Shaped by Patients. Guided by Experts: How we ensure patient voices are heard and that the real unmet need is uncovered and explored by medical researchers

Rob Smith meets with Dr Jane Haley MBE, Director of Research, MND Scotland, Jessica Lee, Director of Research from My Name'5 Doddie, Paul Wicks a neuropsychologist who is overseeing the creation of LifeArc's MND Patient Insights Group and Dr Paul Wright who leads the LifeArc MND Translational Challenge.
Together they explore why it is crucial that patients are involved in medical research from scoping, inception through to governance and beyond.