In this episode we're joined by Professor Helen Stoke-Lampard, former chair of the RCGP, chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing and a practising GP near Birmingham. We ask, what long-term effects will the COVID-19 outbreak have on general practice? This brings us to remote consultation, overprescribing, administration and more. 

In this episode, Dr Rohin Francis joins us for a conversation on the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK, and it's effects on the NHS.

Rohin is a practicing Cardiologist and a PhD student at UCL. Through his YouTube channel 'Medlifecrisis', he is actively involved in science communication on the virus.

The discussion begins with how hospitals are preparing for the crisis and what the state of doctor morale is at the moment.

We also discuss reports that the virus can cause cardiovascular pathology, as well as the government's decision to put the country on lockdown.

Rohin's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRBRE1DUP2w7HTH9j_L4OQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MedCrisis?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Sir David Spiegelhalter joins us to discuss all things risk-related and his work as the Winton Professor of Public Understanding of Risk at Cambridge University. 

What is the best way to communicate risk in medicine and the broader public sphere? 
How can our perceptions of risk be dramatically altered by its presentation? 
How can we inform or persuade people using statistics and, moreover, should we? 

Finally, we also discuss how individuals and governments see risk through different eyes and how the risks presented in the media shouldn't always be taken at face value. 

In this episode, Professor Dino Giussani joins us to discuss how hypoxia in utero plays a causative role in adult cardiovascular disease. The conversation covers what is meant by developmental programming, and Dino's research into antioxidant therapy as a future therapy to mitigate the effects of hypoxia. 

Dino discusses his optimism for the future effects of this work, and also the work that still needs to be done in order to bring antioxidants into clinical practice.

Professor Andrew Lever from the Department of Infectious Disease in Cambridge, joins us to discuss prevention of HIV, from pre-exposure prophylaxis, education and the limitations of vaccination, along with new and well-established methods of treating HIV infection. 

Professor of infectious disease at Cambridge University, Andrew Lever, joins us to discuss the prospects of a cure for HIV. Why has curing HIV proved to be so difficult so far? What sort of approaches have been tested so far and what could a cure mean for HIV patients around the world?

How do athletes apply science to their training in order to improve? How can we apply this to our own training? Professor Dan Gordon joins us to discuss everything exercise and performance related. Dan is an exercise physiologist at Anglia Ruskin University and a former Paralympian.

Topics include:
VO2 max
Strength and endurance
Ultramarathons
Dehydration in combat sports
The nervous system and performance

Surgical robots are used in over 5000 hospitals worldwide and this number is ever rising. CMR Surgical co-founder and consultant surgeon Dr Mark Slack joins us to discuss the field of robotic surgery today and where it might find itself in the future. We explore the merits of robotic surgery for patients and surgeons alike, potential risks associated with it and the challenges in developing robotic surgery systems following the official launch of CMR Surgical’s robotic system Versius in Europe. 

Unclean water currently kills more people in the developing world than HIV and malaria combined, and the technology used to test for bacteria in water is 30 years out of date.

Alex Patto joins us to discuss how a portable microscope system developed by his company WaterScope is on the cusp of changing how water is tested for bacterial contamination in the developing world.

The topics we discussed included everything from WaterScope's field testing in a Tanzanian refugee camp, to Alex's experience transitioning from academia into a CEO position, and how he is learning new skills on the job.

WaterScope is a not-for-profit company, founded in 2015, working to bring safe drinking water to rural and urban groups in developing countries. More information on the company can be found at: https://www.waterscope.org/

Cohosts of the Pager Podcast, George Milner and Stan Dale, sit down to explore some love-related questions sent in by listeners for Valentine's Day.

Whether you're interested in the neurobiology of attraction, or want some (very amateur) tips for finding that special someone, this episode has something for you.

Questions included:
'What is the science behind a crush?'
'Why is it that the heart has been historically associated with love?'
'Do animals feel love like humans do?'

And many more!