ScienceMind

Welcome back to another incredible episode at ScienceMind Podcast! In this episode, Apeksha and Laziza sit down with Dr Adela Alcolea-Medina, Consultant Clinical Scientist at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.She created a new diagnostic test that is able to differentiate various microorganisms in a single sample. Unlike methods used before, this method allows clinicians to receive results using a single sample and within 6-7 hours. This tool greatly benefits patients with respiratory infections in the intensive care unit (ICU). What an amazing innovation! Tune in to listen to Dr. Adela Alcolea-Medina tell us more about the method that is now being implemented in many hospitals across the United Kingdom! Check out the article on the new clinical testing method: 1. Alcolea-Medina, A., Alder, C., Snell, L.B. et al. Unified metagenomic method for rapid detection of microorganisms in clinical samples. Commun Med 4, 135 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00554-3 2. King’s College London. Metagenomics testing: From PhD project to the ICU. King’s College London [Internet]. 2025 Oct 2 [cited 2026 Nov 4];. Available from: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/metagenomics-testing-from-phd-project-to-the-icuFollow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow ScienceMind Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciencemind.podcast/ Check out our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

We want to dedicate this episode to the occasion of International Women's Day! In this episode, Laziza and Apeksha sit down with Tyriah from STEMETTES to discuss the importance of creativity in STEM. We immensely enjoyed recording this episode, so tune in and listen now! Explore STEMETTES: https://stemettes.org Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

In this episode, Apeksha and Aditi sit down with Burinat, the writer of Bionic Breakthrough: How Tissue-Integrated Knees Restore Mobility Following Amputation. We discuss the limitations of current below the knee amputation and how bionic knees is transforming mobility, what the surgical procedure looks like for this and the studies assessing proprioception, obstacle avoidance and mobility tasks.Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

In this episode, Apeksha and Laziza sit down with Mohammad, a second-year student in Biomedical Science here at King's, to talk about the new model of drug testing. The model is called Organs-on-Chips, and the idea is that this artificial model is designed to accurately reflect the outcomes that real organs would. Tune in for a very interesting conversation to find out about this fascinating innovation!Check out Mohammad's article: https://www.sciencemindmag.com/article-details?recordId=rec1b50GOnbncCRIo Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠⁠⁠Check out our website:⁠⁠⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠⁠⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

Why do our bodies actually break down? And why is age the biggest risk factor for cancer? It’s not just "wear and tear", it’s also a biological program, and we might be able to hack it.In this first episode of Semester B, Apeksha, Laziza, and Aditi dive deep into the Biology of Ageing. We break down the famous "Hallmarks of Aging" paper, explain why "Zombie Cells" (Senescence) turn your body into fertile soil for cancer, and debate the controversial question: Should aging be classified as a treatable disease? We discuss:The Paradox: Why the mechanisms that save us when young (stopping cancer) kill us when old.The "Unguarded X": The biological reason women live longer than men but often age with more health issues.Innovation: How 2026 tech like Histotripsy is liquefying pancreatic tumors without incisions.Lifestyle: How sleep and diet physically change your telomeres (backed by the UK Biobank study).References: Hallmarks of Aging:1. López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. Cell. 2023 Jan 19;186(2):243–78.Factors: 2. Castruita PA, Piña‐Escudero SD, Rentería ME, Yokoyama JS. Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity. Current Genetic Medicine Reports. 2022 Sep 26;10(3):25–34.3. Lu WH . Effect of Modifiable Lifestyle Factors on Biological Aging. The Journal of Aging Research & Lifestyle. 2024;Innovation: 4. Cuzick J, Sestak I, Forbes JF, Dowsett M, Cawthorn S, Mansel RE, et al. Use of anastrozole for breast cancer prevention (IBIS-II): long-term results of a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet [Internet]. 2019 Dec;395(10218). Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32955-1/fulltext5. Wedekind S. Cervical cancer treatment breakthrough cuts risk of death by 40% - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News [Internet]. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. 2024. Available from: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/10/14/cervical-cancer-treatment-chemotherapy-cuts-risk-of-death-by-40-percent-interlace/6. University of Cambridge. Addenbrooke’s begins innovative liver cancer treatment for first patients in Europe [Internet]. University of Cambridge. 2025. Available from: https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/addenbrookes-begins-innovative-liver-cancer-treatment-for-first-patients-in-europe7. Masterson V, Shine I, North M. Here are 12 new advances in the battle to beat cancer [Internet]. World Economic Forum. 2025. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/02/cancer-treatment-and-diagnosis-breakthroughs/8. England N. NHS England» NHS rolls out 5-minute “super-jab” for 15 cancers [Internet]. England.nhs.uk. 2025. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/04/nhs-rolls-out-5-minute-super-jab-for-15-cancers/9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). ASCO 2022: 100% Complete Response Rate in MMRd Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Seen in Pivotal “Immunoablative” Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Clinical Trial | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [Internet]. www.mskcc.org. 2022. Available from: https://www.mskcc.org/news-releases/asco-2022-100-complete-response-rate-mmrd-locally-advanced-rectal-cancer-seen-pivotal-immunoablative-neoadjuvant-immunotherapy-clinical-trial

In this episode of ScienceMind, we are joined by Carly, a Paediatric GI Clinical Scientist. Tune in to hear about her journey from engineering background into clinical science, experience and challenges working in paediatric gastroenterology. We also discuss her involvement in research, teaching and the challenges of translating research findings into effective diagnostic methods to improve patient outcomes.

In this episode, Apeksha and Laziza sit down with Luka to explore the ultimate challenge in computer science: building a software that does not fail. We explore how modern programming languages are moving beyond simple bug-testing into the realm of Formal Verification, using mathematical proof to guarantee correctness and security. Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠⁠Check out our website:⁠⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

In this episode, Laziza and Apeksha is joined by Corrine, the author of Not Quite A Man in The Mirror The Impact of Anthropomorphic Design on Human Robot Interaction. Hear more about her inspiration behind this article and the the influence of human perception on anthropomorphic robot design. Read more about Corrine's article: ⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/article-details?recordId=reciUcbCVclq713hIFollow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: ⁠https://linktr.ee/sciencemind⁠Check out our website:⁠https://www.sciencemindmag.com/⁠Sign up to our newsletter for updates:⁠https://sciencemind.ck.page/⁠For any questions, email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠Music: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠⁠ ArtManzh

Welcome back to another year of ScienceMind! We start off this year with a catch with Aditi and Apeksha, and a our new co-host article on the potential of fibroblasts in skin regeneration.Read more about Laziza's article: https://www.sciencemindmag.com/article-details?recordId=rec844oC7awIMjexm Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/sciencemindCheck out our website:https://www.sciencemindmag.com/Sign up to our newsletter for updates:https://sciencemind.ck.page/For any questions, email us at [email protected]: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠ ArtManzh

Aditi and Apeksha are joined by Renuka, an MRes student in Biomedical and Molecular Science, who is researching how the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) can be used to track the growth and spread of breast cancer. Learn more about the significance of NIS in cancer research, how it could improve imaging and treatment, and what this means for future advancements in oncology.Follow ScienceMind on Instagram and other social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/sciencemindCheck out our website:https://www.sciencemindmag.com/Sign up to our newsletter for updates:https://sciencemind.ck.page/For any questions, email us at [email protected]: Jazz Funk Groove Instrumental⁠⁠ ArtManzh