LSHTM Viral

By LSHTM

What's LSHTM Viral about?

An award-winning podcast focusing on the science behind public and global health, and solutions to improve health and health equity worldwide. Brought to you from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

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LSHTM Viral episodes:

08.13.2021
S3E10: Season 3 reflections and goodbye for now!
Join Amy and Karl as they reflect on the LSHTM Viral season 3. They discuss how far have we come with vaccinations worldwide and key takeaways from the expert discussions throughout the season. Thank you to all the experts who...
07.21.2021
S3E9: Where are we with COVID-19 vaccines and what’s next?
In this episode of LSHTM Viral, Karl Byrne speaks with Beate Kampmann, Professor of Paediatric Infection & Immunity and Director of the Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. They delve into the future of vaccines,...
06.01.2021
S3E8: Vaccine equity - it's not over everywhere unless we share
The explosive COVID-19 outbreak in India has shone a striking light on one of the biggest moral issues of our time - vaccine equity. Subsequent halting of vaccine exports is severely affecting Africa and developing countries, and although 1.9 billion...
05.20.2021
S3E7: Signed, sealed, delivered - vaccine purchasing and distribution
How do countries get access to COVID-19 vaccines in the first place? In this episode, Prof Daniel Bausch of LSHTM shares his thoughts on the global vaccine purchasing and distribution systems. An expert in the control of emerging viruses, Dan...
05.11.2021
S3E6: From lab to jab - How to make a vaccine
This week, Karl Byrne talks about the latest vaccination figures as well as other breaking COVID-19 news, including an exciting citizen science project where over the last year gamers playing EVE Online- a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, have carried...
04.20.2021
S3E5: Who gives the green light for COVID-19 vaccines anyway?
Who are the experts and groups around the world approving and regulating the new COVID-19 vaccines? And what do they need to consider amidst the urgency of vaccinating the world? In this episode ahead of World Immunization Week, Naomi Stewart...
04.08.2021
S3E4: How do we know vaccines are safe?
In this episode we explore the crucial stages of clinical trials and testing vaccines. How do clinical trials account for different demographics? How do we know vaccines are safe for everyone? We are joined by Dr Ed Parker, Research Fellow...
03.24.2021
S3E3: What's in a vaccine?
Vaccines have arguably made the greatest contribution to global health of any human intervention apart from the introduction of clean water and sanitation. With new vaccines being developed at an incredible rate to tackle the current pandemic, we take a...
03.09.2021
S3E2: A brief history of vaccines
How did vaccines come to be and how have they changed over time? In today's episode, Naomi Stewart speaks to historian Dr Gareth Millward from the University of Warwick, on the history of vaccines and how vaccination programmes have evolved...
02.23.2021
S3E1: Will vaccination end the COVID-19 pandemic?
Welcome back to a new season of LSHTM Viral, where we will be taking a deep-dive into vaccines and speak to experts working real-time on COVID-19. LSHTM modeller Roz Eggo reacts to the UK’s roadmap announcement on 22 February for...
02.17.2021
Season 3 trailer
Launching February 23rd 2021 Vaccines are widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of modern civilization, but how vaccines work, How do you create a vaccine? And perhaps most importantly, how do you produce enough to vaccinate the entire world? Join...
01.06.2021
S2E8: The future depends on planetary health
How exactly did planetary health come to be, and where is it headed? In this season finale, we speak to two pioneers of the field - Prof Andy Haines of LSHTM and Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet. They discuss...
12.03.2020
Bonus: Vaccine Special - Confident or hesitant?
Welcome to a special episode of LSHTM Viral! The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with mass national roll out following as early as the next couple of...
11.26.2020
S2E7: Blue sky thinking - using satellites to track air pollution
We hear a lot about reducing air pollution, but why do we need to? Join Amy, Naomi and Karl exploring the ins and outs of air pollution including, how the particles affect the human body, and where they come from....
11.19.2020
S2E6: What if we can't handle the heat?
Will climate change make it too hot for humans to live? In today's planetary health episode of LSHTM Viral, we explore the deathly impacts of excess heat driven by global warming. Shakoor Hajat explains what actually happens to our body...
11.12.2020
S2E5: What do we know about climate change & COVID-19?
The links between the environment and infectious diseases are extremely complicated with many factors to consider. With a novel virus like COVID-19, there are still many unknowns. In this episode, we ask expert ecologist, Dr Kris Murray, about the emergence...
11.05.2020
S2E4: Environmental changes and infectious disease
From Africa’s meningitis belt to the link between malaria and rice cultivation, and from mosquitoes in the Mekong Delta to mangoes in Mexico, the links between environmental change and infectious diseases are complex and, at times, surprising. Join Karl Byrne, Amy...
10.29.2020
S2E3: Food, Health and Sustainability - Part 2
What role does the private sector play in achieving sustainable yet nutritious food systems? In today's episode, Naomi Stewart explores the relationship between the private sector and climate change when it comes to the production of food, from small scale...
10.22.2020
S2E2: Food, Health and Sustainability - Part 1
Healthy and sustainable diets are essential for planetary health. Poor diets are a leading cause of ill health and death globally, and the food system is responsible for between 20% and 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. On-going environmental changes...
10.15.2020
S2E1: Introducing LSHTM Viral Season 2 - What is Planetary Health?
Welcome to LSHTM Viral Season 2, which deep dives into planetary health with researchers from the newly formed Centre on Climate Change & Planetary Health at LSHTM, and other experts. In this episode we introduce the podcast team, Naomi Stewart,...
09.11.2020
S1E39 (Bonus episode): Vaccine Confidence
In this bonus episode, we speak to Prof Heidi Larson, Director of the 'Vaccine Confidence Project'. Heidi and her team have just published a 5 year study looking at public confidence in vaccines worldwide across 149 countries. She discusses increases...
08.28.2020
S1E38: A modern history of pandemics and public health: Where does COVID-19 fit in?
In our final episode of LSHTM Viral's first season, we dive into the history of pandemics and public health in the last few centuries, from the bubonic plague to AIDS and H1N1. Researchers from the Centre for History in Public...
08.20.2020
S1E37: World Mosquito Day 2020: How does COVID-19 impact the fight against malaria?
For World Mosquito Day 2020, we explore the impact of COVID-19 on malaria control and prevention. A recent report from WHO says the continued disruption to malaria prevention could revert mortality to levels seen two decades ago. In this episode we...
08.13.2020
S1E36: Tracking COVID-19 rumours in Africa
COVID-19 cases are starting to rise across Africa. Researchers at The MRC Unit The Gambia, LSHTM, have developed a COVID-19 rumour tracking app to combat rumours and misinformation about COVID-19 circulating amongst the populations in The Gambia and neighbouring Senegal....
07.30.2020
S1E35: COVID-19 Live Q&A #4 with Peter Piot, John Nkengasong & Sarah Boseley
We bring you our fourth live Covid-19 Q&A;, broadcast on Twitter and YouTube on 28 July with Professor Peter Piot, Director of LSHTM, Dr John Nkengasong, first Director of Africa CDC and presented by Sarah Boseley, Health Editor at The Guardian.
07.23.2020
S1E34: Ask Prof Peter Piot and Dr John Nkengasong your questions on COVID-19
Next Tuesday 28th July we are hosting our fourth COVID-19 Live Q&A; with Peter Piot, Director of LSHTM, and John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC. Join our Q&A; streamed on LSHTM’s Twitter and YouTube channels to ask your questions direct...
07.02.2020
S1E33: Looking back to think ahead
It has now been six months since the first case of COVID-19 was announced in China. There are over 10.5 million infections worldwide, and tragically 500,000 deaths. We listen back to our very first episode with LSHTM's Prof John Edmunds...
06.25.2020
S1E32: Controlling the spread of disease with the help of social science
The way people act and behave inside health clinics can impact the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, TB and Ebola. Understanding how this happens is essential for effective, long-lasting public health solutions. We speak to Alison Swartz, Aaron Karat...
06.18.2020
S1E31: Building a healthy and sustainable economy post-pandemic
Efforts to curb the devastating effects of COVID-19 have halted the global economy and left governments striving to repair the damage. As we tackle the global recession in the wake of this pandemic, there’s a unique opportunity to push ahead...
06.11.2020
S1E30: What is the impact of racism and colonialism on healthcare?
As the momentum behind Black Lives Matter and placing social justice before social distancing grows worldwide, we speak to Dr Lioba Hirsch, a Research Fellow who is studying the colonial history of LSHTM. Dr Hirsch walks us through some of...
06.05.2020
S1E29: Working to protect our communities: A brief reflection
Amidst the tragic headlines, we look at highlights from our previous LSHTM Viral episodes to reflect on the global efforts to protect those most vulnerable to disease and health burdens.
05.29.2020
S1E28: Developing a COVID-19 vaccine - are we close?
In this episode we speak to Professor Beate Kampmann, Director of the The Vaccine Centre at LSHTM. We ask Beate about the latest progress in finding a vaccine for COVID-19 and discuss the challenges of producing one on such an...
05.27.2020
S1E27: Is it paw-sible for dogs to detect COVID-19?
Medical detection dogs have previously been able to sniff out malaria, cancer, Parkinson's, and other disease. Could they now be trained to detect COVID-19? Prof James Logan of LSHTM discusses the current research under way with Clare Guest of Medical...
05.21.2020
S1E26: The one that finally got me: Peter Piot’s battle with COVID-19
In his first interview since being hospitalised with COVID-19, LSHTM Director and world-leading virologist Peter Piot gives a personal account of his experience with the novel coronavirus. He shares lessons learned from his work on Ebola and HIV, the role of...
05.07.2020
S1E25: Your questions. Expert answers #3 *Modelling Special* – LSHTM Viral LIVE
Broadcast on 1 May, we ran a third live Q&A; session with two of our infectious disease modelling experts, Professor John Edmunds and Dr Petra Klepac of LSHTM. John and Petra answer on a range of topics proposed by the...
05.05.2020
S1E24: Children's mental health during COVID-19: How can they cope?
Without their social networks and the same understanding of the pandemic as adults, children may be struggling with their mental health and well-being during COVID-19. Professor James Logan from LSHTM has recently co-authored a book with illustrator Lydia Monk to...
04.27.2020
S1E23: New virus, new life: Will this pandemic affect pregnancy?
What do we know about the impact of viruses on pregnancy? Can vaccine trials involve pregnant women? And how has the process of labour changed in light of COVID-19? We discuss all of this and more with maternal and newborn...
04.24.2020
S1E22: Anthropogenic pandemic: COVID-19 and climate change
Human health is influenced by earth’s natural systems, the wildlife around us, and the environment we create. The spread of infectious diseases may be linked climate factors and animals, but the consequences can tell us even more about the health...
04.21.2020
S1E21: Reducing the toll of COVID-19 in Africa: What can be done?
Is Africa the new COVID-19 epicentre? Professor Francesco Checchi of LSHTM discusses his latest paper, using mathematical modelling to look at what can be done in low-resource settings across the continent, and how to protect the most vulnerable populations without...
04.09.2020
S1E20: COVID-19 - high stakes in low-resource settings
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting each country differently. Healthcare structures, the government and the characteristics of a particular population create unique challenges that require a tailored response. Dr Mishal Khan and Professor Rashida Ferrand from the London School of Hygiene...
04.03.2020
S1E19: Clinical trials and international collaborations
Can the world work together to find COVID-19 treatments and vaccines? We speak with Professor Dan Bausch, a physician and virologist specialising in emerging tropical viruses, and Director of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. He shares insights into...
03.27.2020
S1E18: Your questions. Expert answers #2 - LSHTM Viral LIVE
Streaming remotely from our homes, we bring you another live COVID-19 Q&A;, broadcast on Twitter and YouTube on 25 March 2020. Heidi Larson, an anthropologist and Professor of Risk and Decision Science at LSHTM, and Jimmy Whitworth, Professor of International Public Health at LSHTM, answer...
03.20.2020
S1E17: Is washing your hands enough?
Is hand-washing enough to stop the spread of COVID-19? In this episode, LSHTM professor Wendy Graham joins Prof Stephanie Dancer from NHS Lanarkshire to explain the science behind hand-washing and give tips on keeping clean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sam...
03.18.2020
S1E16: Changing the way we live to fight COVID-19
The UK's response to COVID-19 has dramatically changed in recent days. Dr. Adam Kucharski, outbreak modeller from LSHTM is working to provide robust scientific evidence for the government and other decision-makers. Adam talks us through the evidence behind the government's...
03.16.2020
S1E15: On the frontlines of the pandemic in the UK
We speak to Professor Liam Smeeth, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at LSHTM, and also a practising GP in north London. As cases spread across Europe, Prof Smeeth discusses what it's like on...
03.10.2020
S1E14: Your questions. Expert answers – LSHTM Viral LIVE
Broadcast on 5 March 2020, we ran a live Q&A; session with two of our outbreak experts, Professor Jimmy Whitworth and Dr Roz Eggo. Jimmy and Roz answer on a range of topics proposed by the audience including vaccines, current...
03.04.2020
S1E13: Turning the tide on COVID-19: lessons from the Diamond Princess
In this episode we speak to Annelies Wilder-Smith, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease at LSHTM. With a team of scientists, she has just published a paper on the success and failures of quarantining the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with their...
03.02.2020
S1E12: Communicating COVID-19: behind the scenes with LSHTM’s press office
In a special behind-the-scenes episode, we here at LSHTM share what it is actually like to be working on communications during COVID-19. James Barr, Media Manager of LSHTM’s Press Office, takes us through a day in the life of a...
02.26.2020
S1E11: Misinformation contagion
Misinformation during an outbreak has serious consequences, but how do we prevent it? Professor Heidi Larson, Director of Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and former head of immunisation communication at UNICEF discusses public...
02.21.2020
S1E10: Viruses don’t discriminate
There are now daily reports in the media of racist abuse and attacks against Chinese and East Asian people due to the coronavirus outbreak. We speak to LSHTM statistician Edmond Ng and Jabez Lam from Hackney Chinese Community Services about...

What's LSHTM Viral about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LSHTM Viral episodes:

S3E10: Season 3 reflections and goodbye for now!

S3E9: Where are we with COVID-19 vaccines and what’s next?

S3E8: Vaccine equity - it's not over everywhere unless we share

S3E7: Signed, sealed, delivered - vaccine purchasing and distribution

S3E6: From lab to jab - How to make a vaccine

S3E5: Who gives the green light for COVID-19 vaccines anyway?

S3E4: How do we know vaccines are safe?

S3E3: What's in a vaccine?

S3E2: A brief history of vaccines

S3E1: Will vaccination end the COVID-19 pandemic?

Season 3 trailer

S2E8: The future depends on planetary health

Bonus: Vaccine Special - Confident or hesitant?

S2E7: Blue sky thinking - using satellites to track air pollution

S2E6: What if we can't handle the heat?

S2E5: What do we know about climate change & COVID-19?

S2E4: Environmental changes and infectious disease

S2E3: Food, Health and Sustainability - Part 2

S2E2: Food, Health and Sustainability - Part 1

S2E1: Introducing LSHTM Viral Season 2 - What is Planetary Health?

S1E39 (Bonus episode): Vaccine Confidence

S1E38: A modern history of pandemics and public health: Where does COVID-19 fit in?

S1E37: World Mosquito Day 2020: How does COVID-19 impact the fight against malaria?

S1E36: Tracking COVID-19 rumours in Africa

S1E35: COVID-19 Live Q&A #4 with Peter Piot, John Nkengasong & Sarah Boseley

S1E34: Ask Prof Peter Piot and Dr John Nkengasong your questions on COVID-19

S1E33: Looking back to think ahead

S1E32: Controlling the spread of disease with the help of social science

S1E31: Building a healthy and sustainable economy post-pandemic

S1E30: What is the impact of racism and colonialism on healthcare?

S1E29: Working to protect our communities: A brief reflection

S1E28: Developing a COVID-19 vaccine - are we close?

S1E27: Is it paw-sible for dogs to detect COVID-19?

S1E26: The one that finally got me: Peter Piot’s battle with COVID-19

S1E25: Your questions. Expert answers #3 *Modelling Special* – LSHTM Viral LIVE

S1E24: Children's mental health during COVID-19: How can they cope?

S1E23: New virus, new life: Will this pandemic affect pregnancy?

S1E22: Anthropogenic pandemic: COVID-19 and climate change

S1E21: Reducing the toll of COVID-19 in Africa: What can be done?

S1E20: COVID-19 - high stakes in low-resource settings

S1E19: Clinical trials and international collaborations

S1E18: Your questions. Expert answers #2 - LSHTM Viral LIVE

S1E17: Is washing your hands enough?

S1E16: Changing the way we live to fight COVID-19

S1E15: On the frontlines of the pandemic in the UK

S1E14: Your questions. Expert answers – LSHTM Viral LIVE

S1E13: Turning the tide on COVID-19: lessons from the Diamond Princess

S1E12: Communicating COVID-19: behind the scenes with LSHTM’s press office

S1E11: Misinformation contagion

S1E10: Viruses don’t discriminate

S1E25: Your questions. Expert answers #3 Modelling Special – LSHTM Viral LIVE