When Science Finds a Way: Our podcast

Young people face a growing mental health crisis, but effective treatments remain limited. Alisha and Professor Vikram Patel explore a school-based trial in India testing POD (Problem Identification, Option generation and Do it), a practical approach helping students tackle problems head-on. With counsellor Bindiya Chodankar and researchers adapting the model for universities, this episode asks: can simple, accessible tools reshape youth mental health? 

Hierarchical Phase Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT) is a new imaging technology that allows entire human organs to be scanned in 3D, in unprecedented detail. Alisha speaks with the researchers who pioneered this innovation, uncovering what it revealed about Covid-19 and what it could mean for the future of medicine. 

From malaria to dengue, climate change is reshaping patterns of infectious disease. But could the same data that tracks our warming planet help prevent future outbreaks? Alisha meets researchers using climate models and local insights to map where diseases are likely to spread, turning prediction into a powerful tool for global health.

Alisha speaks with Dr Aimee Grant about ‘Autism: from Menstruation to Menopause’, a groundbreaking study led entirely by autistic people. With input from a neurodivergent Community Council, the project is gathering vital data across the reproductive life cycle to design tools that make healthcare more inclusive and accessible.

From singing to painting, creative outlets have long been linked to better mental health. But how can we harness their therapeutic power in practice? Alisha meets Professor Daisy Fancourt, whose research is establishing the arts as a key ingredient for wellbeing, alongside diet and exercise.

Hearing voices is a challenging symptom of psychosis that treatments have often failed to address effectively. AVATAR therapy is a remarkable approach that could help patients engage with distressing voices and regain control. Alisha meets Dr Vaughan Bell to explore the therapy's potential, talk about findings from the latest clinical trial and hear a personal story of transformation.

Genomics has revolutionised cancer research, offering new hope for cancer diagnosis and treatment. But there are challenges ahead. Alisha is joined by Dr Peter Campbell and researchers Dr Solomon Rotimi and Sara Gómez Trillos to discuss the breakthroughs and the issue of ensuring fair access to advancements for patients worldwide.

Alisha sits down with Professor Iruka Okeke to talk about the factors driving cholera's spread and the innovative mapping techniques being used in Kenya to identify hotspots.

Alisha is joined by Dr Flor M Munoz, a global expert in maternal immunisation to discuss a new vaccine trial, safety considerations and the future.

As rising temperatures challenge vulnerable regions, could ‘cool roofs’ be the affordable, sustainable solution? Alisha joins Dr Aditi Bunker to talk about the remarkable health benefits uncovered in Burkina Faso's trial. Hear firsthand accounts of how this simple intervention significantly reduces indoor temperatures, lowers heart rates and improves overall health.

Alisha meets Dr Jonathan Roiser and his team of researchers to uncover insights from a groundbreaking pilot study exploring brain activity during exercise, including how it could transform the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like depression.

Join Alisha and Dr Nicole Redvers as they explore cultural burning, a traditional Indigenous technique offering a potential solution to modern wildfire challenges. Hear from those bridging traditional practice and science.

Join Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome, as she brings together three experts from the podcast series to reflect on the main themes that have emerged and ask what challenges still lie ahead in the field of global health.

Alisha speaks to Professor Christian Happi about his pioneering use of genomic sequencing during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, and how the technology could unlock the secrets of disease prevention.

Alisha speaks to Professor Vikram Patel to explore how cash transfers could hold the key to coming up with a universally applicable and low-cost breakthrough in the treatment of mental health disorders.

Alisha speaks to Professor Ruth DeFries to discuss how the world has become reliant on a small number of crops (such as corn and rice), leaving us in a vulnerable position if these staples do not grow well as the planet heats.

Alisha speaks to Professor Daniel Freeman about the importance of sleep and its potential in fighting the global mental health crisis.

Danish geneticist Professor Eske Willerslev and Dr Shane Doyle, a member of the Crow Tribe in Montana, USA, join Alisha to discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of ancient DNA research and how to build mutual trust and respect between indigenous communities and scientists.

Human infection studies are a quick and effective way to gather data to see whether or not a vaccine is working. Alisha speaks with Dr Dingase Dula to learn more about the impact of infection studies in combating infectious disease.

Around the world, roughly one billion people live in informal settlements. These communities are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events. Alisha speaks to Professor Karin Leder about projects in Indonesia and Fiji that are collaborating with local communities to address these challenges.

Alisha is in discussion with Professor Iris Sommer to understand more about psychosis – one of the most severe and stigmatised mental health conditions – and hear about an innovative AI project that could help us spot the signs early on.

Alisha talks to Professor John Wright about how one open-ended study of 40,000 people in the city of Bradford is changing lives and bonding communities around the world.

Kathy Baughman McLeod talks Alisha through the realities of what heat stress does to us, how workers across the globe are feeling the heat, and the tangible solutions being implemented to increase resilience.

Professor Susan Golombok joins Alisha to discuss how her research into different family structures has changed laws and perceptions on same-sex parenting.

Dr Anand Anandkumar joins Alisha to correct the misconceptions around antimicrobial resistance and explain what we can do about it.