Off Protocol with Meri Beckwith

What’s ‘Normal’? The Hidden Burden of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding affects millions — yet it remains one of the most overlooked areas in women’s health. In this episode, guest host Zara Liew sits down with Dr. Michelle Griffin, women’s health expert advisor for Lindus Health, to unpack the hidden burden of heavy menstrual bleeding. Together they explore how misconceptions about “normal” periods have shaped clinical practice, why menstrual health research has lagged behind, and what more inclusive, patient-centred clinical trial design could mean for the future of women’s health. From recruitment challenges to digital symptom tracking to the real-world consequences of undertreatment, this is a deep dive into an area of research that urgently needs more attention.

How Clinical Evidence Builds Strong Consumer Health Brands

What makes a consumer health brand truly trusted? In a crowded market, it’s not just good marketing — it’s good science. In this episode, host Meri Beckwith sits down with Malcolm Fogarty, who has spent over two decades shaping global consumer health brands at companies including Haleon and GSK. Together, they discuss the evolving role of evidence generation in consumer health, how the line between pharma and wellness is blurring, and why science-backed evidence is now the strongest differentiator in building lasting consumer trust.

Why Women Are Not Just “Small Men” in Clinical Trials

Why are women still underrepresented in clinical trials, and what happens when research treats women as just “smaller men”? In this first episode of Off Protocol, host Meri Beckwith speaks with Dr. Anita Phung, Research Physician and Medical Monitor at Lindus Health, about the history behind the gender gap in research, how hormones and life stages shape trial design, and why better inclusion isn’t just equity — it’s good science. Anita also shares her own experience as a trial participant and her vision for the future of women’s health in clinical research.