Life in the Lab

Latest episodes

• From Heel Pricks to Hope: Beverly Hird on Newborn Screening and Early Diagnosis

  April 29, 2025 · 19 min

  What can a few drops of blood tell you about a newborn? Quite a lot. Bev Hird breaks down how newborn screening saves lives, the ethics of early testing, and her mission to ensure no baby falls through the cracks.

• This Episode Will Kill You: Alex Lawson on the Frontlines of Toxicology

  April 28, 2025 · 19 min

  When a mystery drug shows up in Birmingham, Alex Lawson and his lab are on the case. In this episode, Alex walks us through clinical toxicology—from overdose detection to nitazenes and contaminated vapes, and why his job sometimes saves…

• Bugs, Babies and Bill Gates: Elaine Cloutman-Green on Fighting Infections Everywhere

  April 27, 2025 · 20 min

  From GOSH to West Africa, Elaine Cloutman-Green is fighting infections with creativity and curiosity. She talks catheters, cleaning standards, genome sequencing, and how Azithromycin might save babies’ lives. Oh, and yes, she’s worked on a…

• Hormones, IT, and Chest Pain Fixes: Dr. Mayur Patel on Lab-Clinician Collabs

  April 26, 2025 · 18 min

  Dr. Mayur Patel wears many hats: chemical pathologist, digital innovator, and hormone enthusiast. Tune in for a whirlwind tour through his career path, from endocrinology nerd to changing A&E chest pain pathways through troponin testing…

• Lab Waste, Big Wins: Jyoti Shetye on Sustainability and Centralising Labs

  April 25, 2025 · 18 min

  Labs aren’t exactly known for being eco-friendly… but Jyoti Shetye is changing that. From reducing stock days through team “league games” to closing labs without layoffs, she shares how she brought sustainability to the forefront of…

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