Life Sciences at UCL: The Big Questions

How does the brain change throughout our lives, and what can we do to keep it healthy as we age? In this episode, Professor Simon Gaisford is joined by neuroscientist Professor Tara Keck to explore neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change in response to experience. They discuss learning and memory, the importance of cardiovascular health and social connection, and what we know about maintaining brain health as we age. The conversation also explores emerging treatments for obesity and Alzheimer’s disease, and how medicines will complement the benefits of healthy lifestyles and supportive communities. Tara finishes with her top tips for brain health, including exercising with friends, staying socially connected and eating a balanced diet.

Date of episode recording: 2026-05-22
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Prof Simon Gaisford (UCL School of Pharmacy)
Guest: Prof Tara Keck (Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology)
Producers: Ian McLachlan, Giorgia Siriaco

Every year, millions of unused medicines are left sitting in bathroom cabinets, thrown in household bins or flushed down toilets. But what really happens after we stop taking our medicines, and why does it matter?

In this episode of Life Sciences at UCL: The Big Questions, host Professor Simon Gaisford is joined by Associate Professor Oksana Pyzik from the UCL School of Pharmacy to explore the hidden journey of unused medicines and the impact they can have on our health, healthcare systems and the environment. From expired antibiotics and eye drops to counterfeit weight-loss drugs and medicines purchased online, Oksana explains why proper medicine disposal is essential. 

The conversation explores how pharmaceutical pollution can affect rivers and wildlife, contribute to antimicrobial resistance, and place unnecessary costs on health services. It also highlights the important role pharmacists play in keeping patients safe and protecting the wider community. Whether you're curious about how medicines should be disposed of, concerned about environmental sustainability, or interested in global health and patient safety, this episode offers practical advice and fascinating insights into the life cycle of medicines long after they leave the pharmacy. 

Date of episode recording: 2026-02-18 
Language of episode: English (UK)
Presenter: Prof Simon Gaisford (UCL School of Pharmacy)
Guests: Dr Oksana Pyzik (UCL School of Pharmacy)
Producers: Prof Simon Gaisford, Dr Giorgia Siriaco, Ian McLachlan

In the first episode of Life Sciences at UCL: The Big Questions, host Professor Simon Gaisford is joined by Professor Gail Taylor, Dean of UCL's Faculty of Life Sciences and an internationally recognised plant scientist, to explore one of humanity's greatest challenges: creating a sustainable food system. 

From food waste and ultra-processed foods to biodiversity loss, climate change and global food security, Gail explains why producing more food is only part of the solution. The conversation explores how plant science is helping develop more nutritious crops, the surprising health benefits of watercress, and how fast-growing poplar trees could provide sustainable aviation fuel. 

Along the way, Simon and Gail discuss the difficult balance between agriculture, conservation and economics, the future of gene editing in crop improvement, and why solving the world's food challenges will require science, policy and global cooperation to work together. 

Whether you're interested in food, sustainability, climate change or the future of agriculture, this episode offers fascinating insights into how plant science is shaping a healthier and more sustainable future.