Bioethics are a matter of practical, everyday concern for physicians, and other health care providers, especially as medical science continues to advance, opening up new therapeutic possibilities. In this episode of The Lancet Voice, the bioethicist and oncologist, Ezekiel Emanuel, talks about applying bioethics to some of today's most pressing health problems, globally. Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/piis0140-6736(09)60137-9/fulltext...
Jun 02, 2026•36 min•Ep. 32
Manchuria, 1910. An outbreak of a mysterious illness has claimed tens of thousands of lives. But one doctor has a plan to stop it. Niall and Miriam are joined by Dr Yvonne Ho to discuss the life and legacy of Dr Wu Lien-Teh, and the continuing importance of his story in today's world.
May 01, 2026•34 min•Ep. 31
While cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, almost half of the states of the US have now legalised it for recreational use. But what effect has this had on health, and how are researchers monitoring the situation? Niall Boyce and Mariam Sabin from the Lancet chat with Professor Deborah Hasin, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Columbia University.
Apr 17, 2026•33 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Gavin is joined once again by Richard and Jessamy for a chat about the latest in global health news and the world of Lancet publications, this month covering The Lancet's new Commission, A Citizen-Centred Health System for India, and a new paper in The Lancet Global Health on the effect of global development assistance funding cuts. Click here to access the full content: https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/India-Citizen-Health https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(...
Mar 09, 2026•53 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Those working in clinical trials will recall that in 2025 updates were published for the SPIRIT standard clinical trial protocol items and the CONSORT guideline for reporting randomised clinical trials. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health will be co-publishing the first child and adolescent extensions to the SPIRIT and CONSORT reporting guidelines, along with the BMJ and JAMA Paediatrics. In this conversation with the SPIRIT and CONSORT child and adolescent project leads, Ami Baba and Marti...
Feb 24, 2026•25 min•Season 7Ep. 3
In this episode Jessamy talks to Iris Blom, a medical doctor and researcher with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and co-chair on The Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthcare. Iris details her role at the recent COP30 in the Brazil Amazon, translating research for negotiators and advancing evaluation frameworks for sustainable healthcare, tells her takeaways from the conference and also explains why multilateralism still matters, how city-led co-benefits can drive measurab...
Jan 15, 2026•23 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Jessamy is joined by Chloe to co-host as they meet with Dr Mumtaz Patel President of RCP and Consultant nephrologist. Dr. Patel discusses ongoing challenges for Resident Doctors and reflects on the changes that are needed to improve the current training pathways in the UK. Send us your feedback! Read all of our content at https://www.thelancet.com/?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_generic_lancet Send us your feedback! Read all of our content at https://www.thelancet.com/?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast...
Jan 02, 2026•43 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Gavin is joined by Dr. Seth Berkley, former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to discuss his new book, Fair Doses. Dr. Berkley reflects on the global impact of vaccines, the ongoing challenges to vaccine equity, and the lessons learned from leading initiatives such as COVAX during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the economics of vaccine distribution, the threat of misinformation, the promise of scientific innovation, and the future of global health preparedness, and a vision for strength...
Oct 30, 2025•32 min•Season 6Ep. 21
Gavin is joined once again by Richard and Jessamy as they examine key developments in global health and science. This week's discussion features reflections on the launch of a new Lancet series on Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting advances in prevention, diagnosis, and care, as well as the ethical and practical challenges posed by emerging treatments. We also explore the global landscape of liver cancer, demographic change, the shifting centre of scientific research, and recent studies on human ...
Oct 16, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 20
Gavin welcomes Walter Willett, Shakuntala Thilsted and Johan Rockström to discuss the second EAT- Lancet Commission report. The co-chairs explain the significant updates since the inaugural 2019 commission, including new global evidence on nutrition, advances in food systems modelling, and a greater focus on equity and justice. The panel addresses the health and environmental impacts of dietary choices, the urgent need for systemic transformation, and the practical challenges of achieving sustai...
Oct 02, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 19
Scientific research has traditionally treated the male body as the default, resulting in health inequity and poor outcomes for women in a world not designed for them. The Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) guidelines are an attempt to make sure research is designed for everyone, and that the outcomes better serve everyone. Editor-in-chief of The Lancet Haematology Lan-Lan Smith and editor-in-chief of The Lancet Regional Health Americas Taissa Vila join Gavin to discuss how the history of ...
Sep 19, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy enter the studio once more for a Lancet Voice chat. A new book on Alzheimer's disease causes controversy across the Lancet team, we discuss the new Countdown on Plastics & Health, and a quick look at the problems facing the upcoming UN High Level Meeting on NCDs. You can read the Lancet Countdown on health and plastics here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01447-3/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_August_25_lancet Send us you...
Aug 28, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 17
Where did the 10,000 steps recommendation come from? Why has it proven so stubborn? What's the science behind the new recommendations? How strong is the evidence? Professor Melody Ding joins Gavin to talk about her new systematic review published in The Lancet Public Health , examining the relationship between step counts and health outcomes. We also explore the challenges of measuring physical activity, the importance of inclusive research, and the role of environmental and policy interventions...
Aug 14, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 16
It’s no exaggeration to say that the past decade has revolutionized how we think about and treat obesity. Drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) have dominated headlines, enabling significant weight loss at speeds once considered unthinkable. The market for innovative weight loss medications is booming, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in hopes of developing the next blockbuster drug. However, amid this race for market dominance, many experts are questioning wh...
Jul 31, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 15
The sustainability of our existence relies on the health of every human, every animal, and the environment we all share. Published today, "The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our interconnectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems" highlights challenges like climate change, food security, and antimicrobial resistance to lay out the One Health approach to informing and implementing solutions. Senior Executive Editor at The Lancet Pam Das is joined by lead C...
Jul 17, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Professor Adam Kucharski joins Gavin & Jessamy to discuss the intersection of mathematics, epidemiology, and truth, off the back of his new book, Proof. How do we generate scientific knowledge? How can we communicate uncertainty? What is the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on public trust in science? Adam also tells us about the importance of public engagement, the nuances of misinformation, the importance of transparency in policy, the future of scientific communications,...
Jul 03, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 13
How safe is it to use period tracking and digital contraception apps? Who is your data being shared with? What regulation actually exists in this area to protect app users? Femtech offers women digital tools for tracking reproductive health. Gavin and Jessamy are joined by Dr. Catriona McMillan, Senior Research Fellow in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, to talk about how accurate these apps actually are, significant concerns about data privacy, and what regulatory oversight...
Jun 19, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Richard, Jessamy, and Gavin reflect on developments at the 78th World Health Assembly, including the passage of the pandemic agreement and shifting dynamics in global health leadership. What's next for WHO without US engagement? How has WHA changed over the years? We also address the importance of recommitting to adolescent health following our new Commission, and discuss a controversial recent study about the pace of scientific innovation. You can read the second Lancet Commission on Adolescent...
Jun 05, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy return to the studio to discuss some publications that caught their eye this month, and in doing so set themselves the lofty goal of examining how meaning, purpose, optimism, and social context shape our understanding of health beyond traditional clinical measures. We also ponder the future of research and higher education in the face of funding challenges in both the US and the UK. Articles mentioned in this episode: The Global Flourishing Study: https://www.nature.c...
May 22, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Gavin and Jessamy welcome Dr. Hugh Alderwick from the Health Foundation to The Lancet Voice as we explore the impact of the Labour government's health policies since coming to power in the UK. What might the anticipated 10-year plan for the NHS look like? What are the implications of dismantling NHS England? Will any government get a handle on social care? Hugh also provides expert analysis on the balance between funding and reform, the role of AI in health care, and the pressing issue of improv...
May 08, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Gavin and Jessamy welcome back Oksana Pyzik of UCL to talk about the significant impacts of Trump's actions on health infrastructure in Ukraine and broader Europe. Oksana provides a comprehensive update on the current health situation in Ukraine, the challenges faced by healthcare systems amidst ongoing conflict, and the repercussions of halted aid on crucial programs like HIV and TB. We also explore the response of international institutions responsible for coordinated efforts to address pressi...
Apr 24, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy reunite for another bonus episode, covering the first three months or so of health in the US under Trump. What do the appointments tell us about the administration's agenda? How can institutions stand up to cuts and intimidation? We also look at gender justice in global health as laid out by the excellent new Commission in The Lancet , and highlight that the world's impressive gains on maternal and newborn mortality are slowing - what more needs to be done? You can re...
Apr 10, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Following the discovery of H5N1 influenza of avian origin in a sheep in the UK this week, Gavin is joined by Dr. Abraar Karan of Stanford University to discuss the current state of bird flu in the US, its impact on public health, and the potential for human-to-human transmission. Dr. Karan analyses the ongoing outbreaks and infections in the US, the challenges in detecting and controlling the virus, and the lessons learned from COVID-19. We chat about the complexities of viral evolution, the imp...
Mar 27, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Content warning: discussions of sexual assault, violence, and rape How does society handle sexual assault? What are the health implications for victims and for populations? Did the Pelicot case change attitudes and what can we do to address stigma? Gavin is joined by Professor Betsy Stanko OBE and Professor Katrin Hohl OBE, who together worked on the London Metropolitan Police's Operation Soteria to change how the police deal with sexual assault cases. In this episode, we explore the global burd...
Mar 17, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Gavin is joined by Heather Wardle, Professor of Gambling Research and Policy at the University of Glasgow, and the lead commissioner on The Lancet Public Health ’s Commission on Gambling, to discuss the rapid expansion of the global gambling industry and its profound public health implications. We chat online gambling, technological advancements, and increasing accessibility, and how they are transforming the gambling landscape, leading to widespread health harms. You can read the Commission her...
Feb 20, 2025•33 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Donald Trump has taken office in the US and immediately turned his attention to dismantling the US position as a world leader in global health. How will actions taken so far affect the health of people around the world? Gavin is joined by co-host Miriam Sabin, North American Executive Editor at The Lancet , and they speak to Dr. Gavin Yamey, lead author of The Lancet 's recent Commission on Investing in Health, and Director of the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health at the Duke Global Heal...
Feb 06, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Richard, Gavin, and Jessamy return to the studio for another freeform discussion kicking off with the responsibilities of science and scientific publishing in a time where fact checking and moderation are going out of fashion. We also cover climate change in the US with the recent wildfires, and the importance of retaining institutional memory following traumatic experiences after Richard was particularly struck by a recent trip to Argentina. Send us your feedback! Read all of our content at htt...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Where does power lie in global health? What are the historical and systemic barriers that perpetuate inequities, and what is the impact of political shifts towards nationalism? Catherine Kyobutungi and Madhukar Pai join Gavin to talk about their recent Comment published in The Lancet , "Shifting power in global health will require leadership by the Global South and allyship by the Global North". Join us to learn about the challenges and opportunities for Global South leadership and the importanc...
Jan 09, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 1
The last Lancet Voice of the year delves into the latest findings from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) from our recently released US Special Issue. Ali Mokdad and Emmanuela Gakidou join Miriam Sabin and Gavin Cleaver to explore the comprehensive analysis of the Global Burden of Disease, the alarming trends in obesity and life expectancy, and the critical need for policy changes to improve public health in the United States. Read the US special issue here: https://www.thela...
Dec 19, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 25
In September 2023, Wales passed legislation making the maximum speed limit 20mph in built-up areas. How are speed limits linked to public health? How can researchers engage with governments to enact public health research? And how do you deal with the situation when there is a huge online backlash to your work? Dr. Sarah Jones from Public Health Wales joins Gavin to discuss how her research was implemented, how it's gone so far, and what's next. Send us your feedback! Read all of our content at ...
Dec 12, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 24
