The Immunology Podcast

Ep. 114: “The Importance of Investing in Science” Featuring Dr. Eric Vivier

Sep 9, 2025
Dr. Eric Vivier, a renowned immunology professor at Aix-Marseille Université, discusses the critical need for investing in scientific research. He argues that funding basic science leads to transformative breakthroughs like monoclonal antibodies. The conversation explores differences in research funding between Europe and the US, highlighting the European Research Council's role in fostering scientific freedom. Vivier also emphasizes the importance of science communication and the need to inspire future generations of scientists.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Basic Research Powers Unpredictable Breakthroughs

  • Basic research drives unpredictable breakthroughs that transform medicine and industry.
  • Funding curiosity-led science is essential because applications often emerge decades later.
ANECDOTE

Monoclonal Antibodies Began As Pure Curiosity

  • César Milstein and Georges Köhler developed monoclonal antibodies to study B-cell allelic exclusion, not to make therapies.
  • That basic curiosity later enabled multibillion-dollar drugs like pembrolizumab.
INSIGHT

ERC Grants Unlock Research Freedom

  • The European Research Council (ERC) changed European science by funding high-risk basic research.
  • Flexible grants give researchers freedom to explore ideas that standard funding would not support.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app