Imagine that we could make tissues indistinguishable from those produced by humans or animals, at will, and at comparable cost to the natural products. With the rate of progress being made, it won’t be imaginary much longer.

If we don’t need to kill animals for food, leather, or other products, then we reduce animal suffering. We increase biodiversity because we don’t need to devote huge land areas to feed farm animals. And we help climate change - the meat industry is a huge contributor to greenhouse gases.

This dream needs more than cultivated cells. We need to organise them into tissues, with multiple cell types in the correct places and doing the right things.

Directing cells to organise into tissue structures such as leather, corneas and cultivated meat has huge implications for medicine, fashion and the food industry.

Che Cannon joins me in this episode to share his work in this area. Che is the CEO of BSF Enterprise PLC, and we delve into the intersection of science and business in developing innovative technologies such as this.

Che shares the complexity of tissue mechanics and the advantages of bottom-up methods over traditional top-down approaches. We also talk about the environmental benefits and ethical considerations of alternative leathers and cultivated meats.

Additionally, Che explains the progress that has been made on the medical device front with corneal repair.

On the business side, we also cover the unusual step by the company to raise funds by listing on the stock exchange.

There are many practical applications of these technologies, and they are surely the future of sustainable materials in various industries, making these developments hugely important.

“Cultivated meat has a good purpose and can lift lots of technologies.” – Che Connon

You’ll hear about:

01:11 Exploring Cell and Material Interaction

03:30 Tissue Engineering and Its Applications

06:22 The Science Behind Lab-Grown Leather

15:31 Cultivated Meat: Innovations and Challenges

20:41 Macromolecular Crowding in Cell Culture

25:27 The Future of Cultivated Meat

28:49 Market Opportunities in Asia

31:46 Corneal Repair Technology

36:06 BSF Enterprise: A Unique Path to Funding

40:01 Future Directions in Research and Development

Connect with Che Connon:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/checonnon/

3D Bio-Tissues - https://www.3dbiotissues.com/

Kerato - https://kerato.co.uk/

BSF Enterprise - https://bsfenterprise.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/

If you need any lab equipment:

Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/

Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

In this episode of The Big Experiment, we are live, recording from the Synthetic Biology UK 2024 conference hosted by the Biochemical Society, at Hinxton Hall near Cambridge, home of the famous Genome Campus.

Synthetic biology is the practice of manipulating biology to achieve outcomes that don’t occur naturally or in some cases are not naturally possible.

Common examples include producing new proteins for therapeutic use, but there are many other applications of lab-derived augmentation of living things.

These include making meat without killing animals, altering plant photosynthesis to improve crop production, using bacteria to clean up contaminated soils, making new vaccines and antibiotics before we need them, and many more.

See here for the Biochemical Society’s useful resource page on this subject, which has lots of articles and info: Synthetic Biology.

There were too many fantastic applications to cover in one show, but I hope this episode gives you an idea of the potential. I take my roving microphone on a tour of the event, talking to researchers showcasing their work. We hear about a wide range of studies including creating affordable CRISPR diagnostics, engineering synthetic microbial communities for enhanced bio-production, and much more.

This episode showcases the future of synthetic biology and some of the great advances we can expect. In some cases, as you’ll hear, I hope we don’t ever need to use them.

It also highlights some amazingly talented young scientists at the coalface of scientific discovery. The professors of tomorrow.

“It’s amazing we can do things in the lab that evolution hasn’t thought of.” – Mark

You’ll hear about:

01:10 - What is synthetic biology?
04:06 - Therapeutics from engineering biology: how and why
08:11 - Ana Pascual Cambridge Uni - CRISPR diagnostics for all?
12:36 - Casey Chen UCL - Making new microbial communities
15:58 - Mark's poster tour interlude
19:48 - Gabrielle Admans Cambridge Uni - Predicting vaccines before pandemics
22:08 - Giuliano Bonfa, Italian Inst Tech - T-rEx fights solid tumours?
25:42 - Max Armitage Nottingham Uni - Finding new antibiotics

Connect with the Biochemical Society:

Website - https://www.biochemistry.org/

X - https://x.com/BiochemSoc

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/

If you need any lab equipment:

Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/

Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

Weight loss drugs are in the spotlight. Obesity is a huge and potentially profitable problem, attracting lots of scientific and medical resources.

But there are circumstances where avoiding weight loss is crucial and where it is beneficial to put weight on. Cachexia is a serious condition affecting cancer patients, which is characterised by significant weight loss and muscle wasting. Appetite is often suppressed, but just eating more doesn’t work anyway.

The resulting frailty and weakening of the body has debilitating effects on the daily lives of cancer patients. Cachexia can even affect the outcome of the cancer itself, both by weakening immune systems and by making it harder for patients to tolerate harsh cancer treatments.

Long thought to be just an inevitable side effect of cancer, the condition is now being studied separately with a view to fidnbing new treatments as adjuncts to cancer therapy.

One company at the clinical trial stage for treating cachexia is Actimed Therapeutics, and I am thrilled to be joined by their CEO, Robin Bhattacherjee.

We discuss the challenges of developing treatments to halt and reverse weight-loss when the mainstream drug industry is going the other way, the innovative approach of Actimed Therapeutics in working with the molecule S-pindolol, and the huge impacts this work can have for the survival rate of cancer patients.

Robin also shares insights from his extensive career in the biopharma industry, and gives excellent advice to people starting their career in this field.

“This could be transformational for cancer patients.” – Robin

You’ll hear about:

00:25 - An introduction to Robin

01:59 - Robin on his journey into science

06:41 - Advice for starting a career in pharmaceuticals

11:15 - What is cachexia?

17:01 - Treating cachexia to fight cancer

18:40 - S-pindolol the lead molecule explained

22:50 - Balancing catabolic and anabolic actions

25:31 - Other mechanisms that need targeting

26:32 - The progress of clinical trials

33:16 - The challenges raising money for anti-weight loss products

Connect with Robin:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-bhattacherjee-4b436613/

Actimed Therapeutics - https://actimedtherapeutics.com/home/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/

If you need any lab equipment:

Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/

Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

Heart valve surgery is one of the most complex procedures in medicine.

Francis White and his company Heart Biotech Ltd are trying to change all of that, by making heart valves in a totally new way. This will make surgery simpler and more accessible globally.

Building on the pioneering work of Professor Magdi Yacoub and colleagues, Heart Biotech are innovating the field by creating living tissue heart valves on a dissolving scaffold using the body's healing mechanisms. We explore the methods being used to produce these and the ways in which they will revolutionise both the procedure and patient’s lives.

Francis discusses the challenges and breakthroughs in tissue engineering, and how they create a biocompatible polymer scaffold that is absorbed by the body.

Heart Biotech’s work is in early stages, with animal studies showing promising results, and aims to secure FDA approval for human trials within three years.

The technology could revolutionise cardiac surgery, reducing risks and improving patient quality of life.

“We’re mimicking the biology that’s there already.” – Francis White

You’ll hear about:

00:52 - An introduction to David and his company
01:44 - How David got into science
05:37 - The scourge of valve disease
08:20 - The risk of repeat heart valve surgery
09:08 - Heart Biotech's body led approach
13:16 - The technology used to make the scaffold
16:04 - The next steps to prove product safety
19:12 - The dissolution of the cellular matrix
25:03 - What's left to do in the lab?
27:28 - What's the end point for Heart Biotech?

Connect with Francis:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciswhite/

Heart Biotech Ltd - https://heartbiotech.co.uk/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/

If you need any lab equipment:

Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/

Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

This episode went live on World Menopause Day.

Menopause is an inevitable aspect of life for half of the global population, but one that requires far more study. New genomic insights could empower women with better reproductive choices and insights into likely future health.

In this episode, I talk with Dr Stasa Stankovic. She has a PhD in Genomic Medicine from Cambridge University, and is on a mission to reshape the future of women's health by developing, and eventually commercialising, prediction tools and next generation therapeutics for female reproductive disorders.

We discuss the complexities of female reproductive health, particularly focusing on ovarian ageing and menopause. We also explore the genetic factors influencing menopause timing, and the importance of understanding reproductive health beyond fertility.

Stasa shares her collaborative work on large-scale genomics, using samples from the UK Biobank to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These have highlighted many genes associated with menopause and thus pave the way for potential new diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions to give women greater control of their reproductive health.

Menopause affects every woman, but also indirectly impacts husbands, partners, colleagues and friends. The work Stasa and her colleagues are doing will have implications not just for women but for all of us.

“We need to empower women with knowledge.” – Stasa Stankovic

You’ll hear about:

01:37 - Stasa's area of research
04:14 - Why the science behind menopause is so important
07:36 - The ovarian reserve and what that means
12:26 - Contributing factors to menopause
17:24 - The key findings of the genome-wide association (GWAS) study
21:21 - Getting the right targets for intervention
27:05 - The challenge of finding animal models for menopause
28:22 - Turning lab science into commercial science
31:40 - Stasa on the choices that women have
38:38 - Is gene intervention possible?

Connect with Stasa:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stasa-stankovic-93723a137/

OvartiX - https://ovartix.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/

If you need any lab equipment:

Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/

Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

What role does 3D genomics have in drug discovery?

In this episode I am joined by Hazel Jones, CEO of Enhanc3d Genomics, to find out more about this cutting-edge technology.

Hazel is a dynamic and flexible senior leader with experience of oncology research, both in pharma/biotech and an academic/charity setting. Making her insights into the workings of not for profit and big pharma invaluable.

We discuss her work at Enhanc3d Genomics and the role of 3D genomics in uncovering the regulatory elements of the genome. As well as its potential in identifying new drug targets and biomarkers. Hazel also shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in the biotech industry and the importance of networking and collaboration to help projects succeed.

Hazel has a wealth of knowledge not just in her specialism but how the whole industry works, so sit tight and get ready to learn!

“We've made huge discoveries both in drugs and diagnosis through genomics.” – Hazel Jones

You’ll hear about:

01:13 - What do Enhanc3d Genomics do?

05:16 - Hazel's experience in not for profit

10:11 - Behind the scenes in big pharma

15:53 - How promoters and enhancers work

24:36 - Regulators and the potential for side effects

31:59 - Hazel on raising money

36:40 - Prevention rather than the cure

37:51 - Hazel on Conexen

Connect with Hazel:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joneshazel/
Enhanc3d Genomics - https://enhanc3d-genomics.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/
Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/
Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

What does it take to get a new drug to market?

I have been involved in the drug industry for 35 years. I’ve worked for big pharma like GlaxoSmithkline, contract research organisations (CROs) like Charles River and IQVIA, and for several biotech and “virtual” drug companies. I’ve consulted for many more. I now run a laboratory instruments company that supplies crucial equipment used by thousands of labs in the biomedical research industry.

In my career, there have been many changes due to advances in technology, testing practices and more. But the key principles remain the same - proving that the drug is safe, and that it works as intended.

In this episode I give an overview of how we get from the idea in the laboratory to the medicine in the bathroom cabinet. From the methods used to find new molecules, to testing them and bringing them to market.

I explain the importance of patenting new molecules and the challenges of testing and developing drugs. The episode preclinical testing, including why some animal testing is still necessary. I talk about clinical trials, the regulatory approval process, the post-approval surveillance process, and more.

Overall, this short introduction provides a glimpse into the complex and costly journey of turning an idea into a medicine. A great primer for anyone who needs to interact with this industry professionally, or is just curious about science or medicine. As always, the content is broken down into digestible chunks.

“1 in 10 new drugs that enter clinical development will make it into a medicine” – Mark Davison

You’ll hear about:

01:11 - When will it be a medicine?
01:50 - A quick tour of how it works
04:46 - Computer predictions and theoretical models
08:02 - Figuring out if a molecule is unique
11:42 - Reaching the point of testing the molecule
13:19 - How am I going to give this medicine to patients?
17:39 - The bar for success is high
22:26 - Phase 3 studies
26:43 - The patent clock
28:49 - The post approval process

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/
Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/
Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/

1 in 2 of us will be affected by dementia in our lives.

Something so prevalent without a cure requires novel approaches for diagnosis.

In this episode I am joined by Professor Zoe Kourtzi, from the University of Cambridge. Zoe is an expert in Cognitive Computational Neuroscience and a pioneer in translating Artificial intelligence to brain and mental health.

We discuss new approaches to diagnosing people at an earlier stage of dementia. She explains how her research combines brain sciences and computational sciences to understand how the brain works and what goes wrong in the case of disease.

Zoe gives insights into how AI can be used to predict dementia and what this early diagnosis can mean for patients and medical practitioners alike. Her work has the potential to improve the efficiency and efficacy of trials and lead to earlier interventions and treatments.

Something we will all benefit from.

“These models are three times more precise than the current standard of care” – Zoe Kourtzi

You’ll hear about:

01:04 - What does Zoe's research cover?
02:12 - Zoe's journey into science
09:15 - The flexibility of post-graduate study
10:17 - What an MRI can see in the brain
12:33 - The different types of dementia
14:49 - Life-style factors to help during warning signs
15:29 - How AI is helping patients
20:54 - The role ethnicity plays in dementia
26:55 - The accuracy of the model
31:08 - Handling the new population of diagnosed patients
33:54 - Taking this forward as a business

Follow Zoe:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-kourtzi-45b59b19a/
Zoe’s work at Cambridge University - https://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/staff/professor-zoe-kourtzi

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/
Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/
Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/