Immunotherapy drugs fight cancer by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. These drugs have revolutionised cancer treatment over the last decade, improving survival for many people with different types of cancer.  However, researchers are still unsure of the best way to give immunotherapy, which can come with unpredictable side effects.  

In this episode, Clinical Fellow Sophie Merrick discusses how the REFINE trial hopes to address this problem, by testing if giving immunotherapy less frequently can still treat the cancer effectively, whilst improving the quality of life for patients, reducing side effects and costs. 

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Further information is available on the REFINE study page at www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk

For questions or feedback on the series, message us at mrcctu.engage@ucl.ac.uk 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3DgIDE2

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in future by filling in this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Motivational Day

The REFINE trial: How can we improve the way we give cancer immunotherapy?

In the final episode of this series of Generation One, we take a look at cities and climate action. With many elections happening around the world, what are cities actually doing to adapt to climate change, mitigate climate impact on populations, and reduce emissions?  

Our hosts discuss urban adaptation and transformation with UCL Professor Lauren Andres (Director of Research at the Bartlett School of Planning) and Mark Watts, the Executive Director of C40 Cities, a global network of mayors taking urgent climate action.  

C40 Cities website: https://www.c40.org/ 
The Bartlett School of Planning: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/planning/bartlett-school-planning 

For the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast 

Date of episode recording: 11th April 2024 
Duration: 33.46 minutes 
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  
Professor Lauren Andres, UCL 
Mark Watts, C40 Cities 
Producer: Adam Batstone

Season 4: Post elections – What are the world's leading cities doing to combat the climate crisis?

Zainab Mahdi talks to Dr Dhiaa Kareem Ali, lecturer at the University of Kufa and Nahrein Network - British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI) Visiting Scholar. Dr Dhiaa talks about his work with the Mandaean community, both in Iraq and the Diaspora. 

Transcription link: 
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/transcript-conversation-dhiaa-kareem-ali


Date of episode recording: 2024-04-25T00:00:00Z
Duration: 26:47
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Zainab Mahdi
Guests: Dhiaa Kareem Ali
Producer: Zainab Mahdi

Confectionery

THE MANDAEANS IN IRAQ - A Conversation with Dhiaa Kareem Ali

In this episode we interview Professor Jim Griffin from the Department of Statistical Science at University College London. This is the first in a series of interviews with Statistical Science academics about how their research crosses over with the discipline of Sustainability. We discuss the potential of environmental DNA analysis for biodiversity monitoring, highlighting its cost-effectiveness but also the challenges associated with reliability. Jim emphasized the crucial role of statistics in environmental monitoring and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of mathematical modelling and statistical modelling to quantify environmental phenomena. They also acknowledged the need for better data and understanding to inform decision-making and lead to more sustainable outcomes. Finally, the importance of statistical literacy in comprehending environmental concerns and improving decision-making in various fields is covered.

Date of episode recording: 2024-05-13T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00:33:43
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Stephanie Dickinson
Guests: Jim Griffin
Producer: Nathan Green

Sustainability in Relation to Statistical Science

Hosted by Olivia Moir, this episode with Dr. Bassel Wattar guides us through heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB); what it is, how common it is, how do we diagnose it, and how do we treat it? We also talk about research in this area, and specifically the importance of including community perspectives in research practise, and how Dr. Bassel Wattar's team has been going about this. Dr. Bassel Wattar has been a guest on the pod previously where we talked about PCOS. If you missed that episode, definitely go and check it out. For anyone who hasn't listened to the PCOS episode, Dr. Wattar is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based in London. He has advanced expertise in various areas including fertility, assisted conception, endocrine gynaecology, menopause and importantly for today, heavy menstrual bleeding! I also have to mention, he is the co-leader of a research group dedicated for evidence synthesis at UCL, which is something so important and we have focused a lot on in this pod, the importance of evidence based research.

To read more about Bassel's work, visit: https://basselwattar.info/ 
Charities and Communities affiliated with HMB: 
Menstrual Health Project: https://linktr.ee/menstrualhealthproject 
Wellbeing of Women: https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/what-we-do/.

Date of episode recording: 2024-05-14T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00:26:57
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Olivia
Guests: Dr. Bassel Wattar
Producer: Olivia, UCL changemakers

Heavy Periods

In Episode 1 of Oral Health Matters, we’re asking whether oral health is a luxury for the wealthy few or a fundamental human right for everyone. We’re also discussing the need for greater partnership working between scholars, practitioners and policy makers and the importance of gaining the trust of communities in order to co-create interventions that work for the people who live in them. 

To discuss this, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation with Dr Carol Guarnizo-Herreno from the University of Colombia and Professor Marco Peres from the National Dental Centre in Singapore. 

Credits Presenter: Professor Richard Watt, University College London Editor and producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Artwork and audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic 

Date of episode recording: 2024-04-24T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00:26:39
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Richard Watt
Guests: Dr Carol Guarnizo-Herreno; Professor Marco Pere
Producer: Christie Garrington

Oral health: luxury for the few or fundamental human right?

Zainab Mahdi talks to Fatimah Al-Muqdadi, Architect, Researcher, and Heritage Professional in Iraq. In this episode, Fatimah discusses the current state of heritage in Iraq and the steps needed to preserve and promote Iraq's cultural and natural heritage within the community. 

Transcription link: 
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/transcript-conversation-fatimah-al-muqdadi


Date of episode recording: 2024-05-14T00:00:00Z
Duration: 43:30
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Zainab Mahdi
Guests: Fatimah Al-Muqdadi
Producer: Zainab Mahdi

PRESERVING HERITAGE IN IRAQ - A Conversation with Fatimah Al-Muqdadi

The MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL is committed to actively involving patients and the public in our trials. All our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) work is overseen by our PPI Group, made up of MRC CTU staff alongside seven patient representatives, with a wide range of experience in different areas. 

In this episode of the Trial Talk podcast, two members of the Unit’s PPI Group, Richard Stephens and Ian Newsome, discuss what PPI means to them, how they got involved as patient representatives in clinical research, and how the MRC CTU at UCL embeds PPI into our trials.

Resources:
• Our PPI group:  https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/patients-public/patient-and-public-involvement/about-our-ppi-group/ 
• PPI resources: https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/patients-public/patient-and-public-involvement/ppi-resources/ 
• Testing Treatments: Better Research for Better Healthcare (book): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK66204/ 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3KlKtak

For questions or feedback on the podcast series, message us at mrcctu.engage@ucl.ac.uk

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in the future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in clinical trials

Thinking differently about the World: Before the West with Prof. Ayse Zarakol In this episode, we host Prof Ayse Zarakol from University of Cambridge and talk about her fascinating book "Before The West".

Date of episode recording: 2024-01-22T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00:29:38
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Dr. Sertaç Sehlikoglu, Hazal Aydin, Meryem Zisan Koker
Guests: Prof. Ayse Zarakol
Producer: ERC, UCL, IGP, Dr. Sertaç Sehlikoglu, Meryem Zisan Koker, Hazal Aydin.

SoundLab Export

Thinking differently about the World: Before the West with Prof. Ayse Zarakol

In this special episode, we look back at the year through some of our favourite moments from Series 4. 

Our hosts Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee explored climate action in a multitude of forms: from groundbreaking climate science and AI, to innovative policy solutions and inspiring stories of individual activism. With fantastic guests spanning multiple disciplines and industries.  

Reflect with us on what’s been done, and what there is still to do, with our Series 4 highlights.  

Transcript link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 28th May 2024 
Duration: 27.16 minutes 
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:   
Ian Townsend, ONS 
Pierre Cannet, Client Earth  
Sims Witherspoon, Google Deep Mind 
Buffy Price, Carbon Re 
Louise Harris, Just Stop Oil 
Annabel Rice, Green Alliance 
Versha Jones, The Climate Reality Project 
Kris de Meyer, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL 
Shirley Rodrigues, previous Deputy Mayor, Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority   
Mark Watts, C40 Cities 
Producer: Adam Batstone

Season 4: The Highlights

The Trial Talk podcast explores how our work at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL is improving health in the UK and worldwide. In this series, we hear from world-leading experts about the studies we carry out. We delve into trials on cancer, infections and neurodegenerative diseases, explore how public and patient involvement shapes our work, and discover new ways to run smarter studies.

The REFINE trial: How can we improve the way we give cancer immunotherapy?

MRC CTU at UCL - Trial Talk podcast

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