Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea Attacking Cancer: CAR T-Cell Therapy
Aug 26, 2025
Dr. Nicola Gardiner, Chief Medical Scientist specializing in CAR-T cell therapy, reveals the intricate processes behind T cell collection, cryopreservation, and genetic modification. She discusses how these engineered cells travel for treatment and their potential to revolutionize cancer care. Dr. Ruth Freeman shares fascinating updates on AI-generated antibiotics and the impacts of environmental factors on reproductive health. Their insights highlight the cutting-edge fusion of technology and medicine in the fight against cancer.
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AI Designs Novel Antibiotics Fast
- MIT used generative AI to design 36 million candidate antibiotic molecules and filtered them down by safety, novelty and synthesizability.
- Two AI-discovered compounds worked in mice against drug-resistant gonorrhea and MRSA, showing AI can accelerate antibiotic discovery.
Reproductive Timing Tied To Later Health
- Early puberty and early childbirth correlate genetically with higher risk of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life.
- Later puberty and childbirth associate with longer lifespan and slower ageing, supporting antagonistic pleiotropy theory.
Sperm Counts Are Declining Rapidly
- Global sperm counts have fallen sharply, with the decline accelerating in the last decade and average Western counts dropping near half since the 1970s.
- Endocrine-disrupting plastics like phthalates and bisphenols are implicated and can affect fetal testis development.