Health in Hyperdrive with Dominic James

#10 - How Robotic Surgery Is Changing What It Means to Be a Surgeon | Mark Slack

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2534244/fan_mail/new] In 10 to 15 years, today's operating theatre may look just as primitive as open surgery did a generation ago. That future is arriving faster than anyone expected.   In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, Dominic James sits down with Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of CMR Surgical, for a conversation that genuinely changed how I think about the future of medicine. We cover the crisis in surgical training, why 60% of patients still don't get the surgery they should, how robotic systems are compressing decades of skill development into weeks, and what happens when you combine millions of surgical data points with AI. Mark also shares the remarkable story of building a surgical robot from scratch in five years, and offers a vision of the operating theatre in 2040 that is more radical, and more imminent, than most people realise.   10x faster surgical training. 50% fewer complications with keyhole surgery. Clinical trials at 1/10th the cost using real world evidence. Robotics is how we get there for everyone.   Key Topics Covered •  Why millions of patients are still getting the wrong surgery, and what it's costing them and the system •  How robotics is turning a 60 hour training task into 30 minutes, and what that means for the future of surgical skill •  How five people went from a sketch to operating on a human in five years, one of the fastest robot builds in medical history •  Why robotic surgery is better for patients, better for surgeons, and better for the bottom line •  Millions of data points, real world evidence, and just the beginning of what robotics and AI can unlock •  How AI is creeping into the operating theatre, and how far it might go •  The 10 to 15 year vision, and why the surgeon of the future might look nothing like the surgeon of today   About Mark Mark Slack is Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of CMR Surgical. A gynaecological surgeon trained in South Africa and based for most of his career at Cambridge University, Mark spent decades teaching, researching, and pioneering new operations before co-founding CMR in 2014. He is one of the world's foremost voices on the future of robotic and minimally invasive surgery.   Links •  Mark's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-slack-3b8a2139/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-slack-3b8a2139/] •  CMR Surgical website - https://www.cmrsurgical.com [https://www.cmrsurgical.com] •  First child in the UK to have robotic surgery - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS - https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/london-first-revolutionary-robotic-surgery-children [https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/london-first-revolutionary-robotic-surgery-children] •  The IDEAL framework for surgical innovation - BMJ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3685515/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3685515/] •  The role of Versius in paediatric surgery - PMC research paper - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9222178/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9222178/] •  Dominic's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames] •  Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com [https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com] •  Socials TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube - @DomJamesHiH •  Produced by Explosive Brands - https://www.explosivebrands.com/ [https://www.explosivebrands.com/]

#9 - How Nano technology Is Rewriting Human Biology | Dr Ciro Chiappini

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2534244/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, Dominic James is joined by Dr Ciro Chiappini, a Reader at King’s College London and a pioneer in nanomaterials with five international patents. Together, they explore how nanotechnology is giving us unprecedented access to the inner workings of human biology, enabling us to sense, diagnose, and influence cellular behaviour at the molecular level. The Chiappini Lab engineers millions of “nano‑needles” a thousand times thinner than a human hair. These structures can enter cells without damaging them, allowing researchers to deliver edited genes, extract molecular information without a biopsy, and monitor disease in ways that were previously impossible. At this scale, materials behave in extraordinary ways e.g. gold, for example, changes colour depending on particle size. These unusual properties are opening the door to new sensing and diagnostic technologies.  The potential patient impact is profound. Nano‑enhanced bandages could deliver corrective genes directly into the wounds of children with epidermolysis bullosa. Non‑invasive molecular sampling could spare cancer patients from repeated biopsies. And targeted nanoscale delivery systems could make gene therapies safer, more precise, and more accessible. This is medicine operating at the smallest possible scale with the power to transform lives. Key Topics Covered * How nano needles slip into cells and move molecules in or out * Why materials behave in surprising ways at the nanoscale * How gold changes colour when it becomes extremely small * The real challenge behind getting CRISPR safely into human cells * How nanoscale engineering is shaping early ideas in nanorobotics * How nano bandages could transform treatment for epidermolysis bullosa * How nanotech could reduce biopsies and make gene therapy safer * Why rare diseases are powerful launchpads for breakthrough science About Dr Ciro Chiappini A Reader at King’s College London, developing nanomaterials for cell interrogation and manipulation at the interface of nanotechnology, bioengineering, and cell biology.  Awarded over £3M in research funding, including an ERC Starting Grant. Author of 50+ publications (7000+ citations) and holder of 5 international patents. Links * Ciro’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchiappini/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchiappini/] * Chiappini Lab website - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/chiappini-lab [https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/chiappini-lab] * Nature paper on tissue engineering – https://chiappinilab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nat.-Mater.-2015-Chiappini.pdf [https://chiappinilab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nat.-Mater.-2015-Chiappini.pdf] * Dominic’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames] * Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com [https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com/] * Socials TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@domjameshih] / X [https://x.com/DomJamesHiH] / Insta [https://www.instagram.com/domjameshih/] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@domjamesHiH] - @DomJamesHiH * Produced by Explosive Brands [https://www.explosivebrands.com/] - https://www.explosivebrands.com/ [https://www.explosivebrands.com/]

#8 - Reimagining Women’s Health with Ethical AI for Everyone | Amber Vodegel

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2534244/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, Dominic James sits down with Amber Vodegel, CEO of 28X and one of the most influential innovators in women’s digital health to explore how menstrual health tracking is being reimagined through ethical design, privacy‑first technology, and scalable models that serve not just the top 1% but the global majority. Menstrual health affects 1.8 billion people, yet 500 million still experience period poverty. This impacts education, employment, and wellbeing worldwide, with nearly two million girls in the UK missing school each year due to their periods. Digital tools can help close these gaps, but only if they are accessible, affordable, and safe. Amber brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience, technical insight, and social mission. As the founder of Pregnancy+, she supported over 150 million women across more than 100 countries. Now, with 28X, she is building a new generation of women’s health technology that protects privacy, eliminates unnecessary subscriptions, and empowers users with clinically sound, culturally sensitive education.   Key Topics Covered • Why menstrual health and period poverty remain major global issues • Why many health apps collect too much sensitive data and put users at risk • How on device AI keeps women’s health information private and under their control • Why subscription health apps only serve the top 10 percent and how 28X is built for the other 80 percent • How Amber plans to reach 100 million women for free at a scale similar to major social platforms • How simple, culturally sensitive education can improve women’s health worldwide • What Amber learned scaling Pregnancy Plus to 150 million users without VC funding • The surprising value of listening closely to early customer feedback • Why this is a new commercial model that can transform health for billions of men and women globally About Amber Amber Vodegel, CEO of 28X, a pioneer in women’s health innovation and digital health strategy. She founded Pregnancy+, the world’s most-used pregnancy app, supporting over 150 million women in 100+ countries, with 2 million daily active users. Now, she’s driving 28X, an impact-driven venture dedicated to revolutionizing health education, accessibility, and ethical digital solutions.   Links * Amber’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-vodegel-0995556/ * 28X website - www.my28x.com [https://www.my28x.com/] * BBC article on period tracker data risks - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmj6j3d8xjjo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmj6j3d8xjjo] * UNICEF and WHO Facts on Menstrual Health - https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/10-fast-facts-menstrual-health-schools [https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/10-fast-facts-menstrual-health-schools] * Dominic’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames] * Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com [https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com/] * Socials TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@domjameshih] / X [https://x.com/DomJamesHiH] / Insta [https://www.instagram.com/domjameshih/] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@domjamesHiH] - @DomJamesHiH * Produced by Explosive Brands [https://www.explosivebrands.com/] - https://www.explosivebrands.com/ [https://www.explosivebrands.com/]

#7 - Precision Medicine: Ending the Era of Average Healthcare | Hakim Yadi OBE

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2534244/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, Dominic James is joined by Hakim Yadi PhD OBE, a biotech entrepreneur and industry leader, to explore one of the biggest shifts in modern healthcare: precision medicine. They look at how data, genomics, AI and smarter drug development are helping us move beyond standardised treatment.  Precision medicine has the potential to change how we treat people, not just conditions. By combining real-world data with pharmacology, it helps move care away from generic averages and towards what actually works for each individual. That means fewer side effects, better results, and a stronger chance patients stay on treatment. It is not just good medicine, it is smarter, fairer, and more sustainable for health systems like the NHS. In fact, adverse drug reactions cost the NHS an estimated £2 billion a year, and precision approaches could help bring that number down significantly. Together, Dominic and Hakim explore how this approach can improve outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and make treatment more tolerable. They also dive into GLP-1 therapies, the push for better women’s health, and the business model challenges that still slow innovation. Along the way, they ask what it would take to make personalised care the standard, not the exception. Key Topics Covered * Why most drug dosages are still based on outdated trial data * The rise of GLP-1 therapies and what they mean for patient experience * The dangers of self-dosing advice on Reddit, TikTok and Instagram * The business model challenge behind scaling innovation * Why personalised care benefits patients and health systems * What it means to “nibble” a medicine in 2025 * How health data saves lives and why we should all donate data * The North–South health divide in England and its link to 1 million premature deaths * In 2035, our Children today will view medicine today as draconian About Hakim Hakim Yadi PhD OBE is a biotech entrepreneur and Partner at Baringa, focused on global health innovation. He co-founded Closed Loop Medicine, delivering personalised care through drug and digital integration. With a PhD in immunology and an OBE awarded for services to healthcare technology and the economy, Hakim bridges clinical innovation with system transformation. Links * Hakim’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hakimyadi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hakimyadi/] * Baringa website - https://www.baringa.com/en/people/experts/hakim-yadi/ [https://www.baringa.com/en/people/experts/hakim-yadi/] * Closed Loop Medicine website - https://closedloopmedicine.com/ [https://closedloopmedicine.com/] * Data saves lives website - https://datasaveslives.eu/ [https://datasaveslives.eu/] * Dominic’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames] * Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com [https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com/] * Socials TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@domjameshih] / X [https://x.com/DomJamesHiH] / Insta [https://www.instagram.com/domjameshih/] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@domjamesHiH] - @DomJamesHiH * Produced by Explosive Brands [https://www.explosivebrands.com/] - https://www.explosivebrands.com/ [https://www.explosivebrands.com/]

#6 - The Hidden Impact of Cultural Taboos on Your Health | Lauren Redfern

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2534244/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, Dominic James is joined by Lauren Redfern, medical anthropologist and founder of Hormonally, for a candid conversation about the taboos that still shape our health. From periods and menopause to mental health and obesity, Lauren explains how silence and stigma can stop people getting the care they deserve. Together, they explore how better language, education and technology can help dismantle taboos and give people the confidence to take charge of their wellbeing. For decades, women’s hormonal health has been overlooked and underfunded. From menstruation to menopause, millions have faced misdiagnosis and silence. In the UK, one in ten women live with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause irregular periods, fertility challenges and symptoms like acne or excess hair. Lauren’s PhD research into perimenopause and menopause shows how misdiagnosis often happens when people lack the language to explain their experiences, and when the textbooks used to train clinicians contain errors. She also shares the story behind Hormonally, a nonprofit platform offering evidence based resources, and explains how tools like the Vulva Map are helping to normalise conversations about anatomy and care. It is a timely and engaging look at how anthropology, technology and community can come together to challenge stigma, improve communication and make a real difference to health outcomes. Key Topics Covered * Health in Hyperdrive on tour in Barcelona: bringing taboo‑breaking conversations to a global stage * What anthropology, technology and community can achieve when they converge to challenge stigma * How medical textbooks are wrong, and the impact of outdated or inaccurate anatomy teaching * Testosterone treatment for both men and women, and why it remains misunderstood * The Vulva Map: the most “vulvas and vaginas in any podcast” and why bold tools spark real change * Why women’s hormonal health has been overlooked, stigmatised and underfunded for decades * Envisioning a future where talking openly about health is the norm, not the taboo About Lauren Executive Director, Hormonally Lauren Redfern is a medical anthropologist and the founder of Hormonally.org, a platform dedicated to transforming how we understand and support hormonal health. She earned her PhD in Medical Anthropology from the University of Exeter and combines academic insight with digital innovation to challenge stigma, improve education, and build inclusive systems of care. Through storytelling, research, and advocacy, Lauren’s work bridges culture, technology, and public health. Links * Lauren’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-redfern-04052213b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-redfern-04052213b] * Hormonally website - https://hormonally.org/ [https://hormonally.org/] * UK parliament report on medical misogyny -https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/news/204316/medical-misogyny-is-leaving-women-in-unnecessary-pain-and-undiagnosed-for-years [https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/news/204316/medical-misogyny-is-leaving-women-in-unnecessary-pain-and-undiagnosed-for-years]/ * Dominic’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames/]  * @DomJamesHiH socials - TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@domjameshih] / X [https://x.com/DomJamesHiH] / Insta [https://www.instagram.com/domjameshih/] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@domjamesHiH] * Produced by Explosive Brands [https://www.explosivebrands.com/]