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Professor Edward Bullmore, head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, joins us in the first of two episodes on the relationship between inflammation and depression. We discuss the evidence that inflammation can be a driver of depression, how this relationship might work mechanistically and what this new understanding means for our overall perspective of depression.

In the second part of our discussion of inflammation and depression with Professor Edward Bullmore we turn towards treatments and prevention. How can inflammation be targeted to treat depression? What are the barriers to this and who should be involved? Could this reduce stigma surrounding depression?

How can exercise help us age better? Professor Steve Harridge joins us to discuss the nervous system, muscle signaling, hormones, and exercise within the medical system. The conversation leads us everywhere from the athletics track to the international space station and back. Steve is a professor of Human and Applied physiology at King's College London, as well as the editor in chief of the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

A coronavirus outbreak in the Hubei province of China has garnered attention around the world. Scientists and governments are racing to identify the virus and prevent its spread. 

Just how big is the threat to public health? Has the Chinese response been appropriate? What do we know about the virus so far? 

Chris Smith, a consultant virologist at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's hospital, joins us this episode to discuss these crucial questions.

World-leading bioengineer and entrepreneur Professor Robert Langer joins us to discuss hype and hope in generating artificial organs and how novel drug delivery mechanisms are paving the way for safer and more effective treatments. How can we test cancerous cells with different drugs whilst they're still inside the body and what are some of the challenges in science outside the intricacies of research itself? 

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Last year opioids such as heroin were responsible for more deaths in the US than car accidents. To what extent are pharmaceutical companies and doctors responsible for the current situation? Can journalists help us better empathise with drug users? Swathi Srinivasan joins us to discuss how this crisis emerged, what perpetuates it, and what might be done to resolve it. 

Author and neuroscientist Professor Adrian Owen joins the Pager Podcast to discuss his work imaging the brain for signs of consciousness in patients with brain injuries. In this episode we discuss the causes of disorders of consciousness, how we can communicate with some patients thought to be unconscious and what can be done with the information gained from neuroimaging and communication with such patients. We discuss why we should be cautious about making judgements on quality of life of individuals following brain damage, the chances of recovery from brain damage and what recovery can realistically be expected to mean, along with where the future of care for patients with brain damage might lie. 

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Stem-cells in the brain might hold the key to preventing autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. They will also likely play a role in slowing age-related cognitive decline in the future. Professor Robin Franklin joins us again to discuss this fascinating group of cells and their implications on the future of healthcare.

Cohosts of the Pager Podcast, Stan Dale and George Milner, set out to answer questions sent in by their listeners in a Christmas Special. 

These ranged from intriguing "Do you actually get a cold because it's cold outside?",  "Should we be restricting our calories to live longer?" and "What is science?" to the amusing "Is it safe to listen to the Pager Podcast whilst operating heavy machinery? I've heard it causes drowsiness."

We also touch on new treatments for bacterial infection, sleep deprivation and more. 

In the second part of our discussion with Dr Giles Yeo we touch upon what can be done to reduce rates of obesity. Should we look to taxation for answers? How do we know if an intervention is actually working? What is it about our food environment that promotes obesity? We also explore the potential for more interventional approaches in the obesity crisis, from drugs to bariatric surgery, and finally the challenges and pleasures of communicating scientific ideas to the public.