The Lancet Voice

Gavin is joined once again by Richard and Jessamy as they examine key developments in global health and science.

This week's discussion features reflections on the launch of a new Lancet series on Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting advances in prevention, diagnosis, and care, as well as the ethical and practical challenges posed by emerging treatments.

We also explore the global landscape of liver cancer, demo...

Gavin welcomes Walter Willett, Shakuntala Thilsted and Johan Rockström to discuss the second EAT-Lancet Commission report. The co-chairs explain the significant updates since the inaugural 2019 commission, including new global evidence on nutrition, advances in food systems modelling, and a greater focus on equity and justice. 

The panel addresses the health and environmental impacts of dietary choices, the urgent need for systemic ...

Scientific research has traditionally treated the male body as the default, resulting in health inequity and poor outcomes for women in a world not designed for them. The Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) guidelines are an attempt to make sure research is designed for everyone, and that the outcomes better serve everyone.

Editor-in-chief of The Lancet Haematology Lan-Lan Smith and editor-in-chief of The Lancet Regional Healt...

Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy enter the studio once more for a Lancet Voice chat. A new book on Alzheimer's disease causes controversy across the Lancet team, we discuss the new Countdown on Plastics & Health, and a quick look at the problems facing the upcoming UN High Level Meeting on NCDs.

You can read the Lancet Countdown on health and plastics here:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01447-...

Where did the 10,000 steps recommendation come from? Why has it proven so stubborn? What's the science behind the new recommendations? How strong is the evidence?

Professor Melody Ding joins Gavin to talk about her new systematic review published in The Lancet Public Health, examining the relationship between step counts and health outcomes. We also explore the challenges of measuring physical activity, the importance of inclus...

It’s no exaggeration to say that the past decade has revolutionized how we think about and treat obesity. Drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) have dominated headlines, enabling significant weight loss at speeds once considered unthinkable. The market for innovative weight loss medications is booming, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in hopes of developing the next blockbuster drug.

However, amid...

The sustainability of our existence relies on the health of every human, every animal, and the environment we all share. Published today, "The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our interconnectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems" highlights challenges like climate change, food security, and antimicrobial resistance to lay out the One Health approach to informing and implementing s...

Professor Adam Kucharski joins Gavin & Jessamy to discuss the intersection of mathematics, epidemiology, and truth, off the back of his new book, Proof. How do we generate scientific knowledge? How can we communicate uncertainty? What is the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on public trust in science?

Adam also tells us about the importance of public engagement, the nuances of misinformation, the importance of ...

How safe is it to use period tracking and digital contraception apps? Who is your data being shared with? What regulation actually exists in this area to protect app users?

Femtech offers women digital tools for tracking reproductive health. Gavin and Jessamy are joined by Dr. Catriona McMillan, Senior Research Fellow in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, to talk about how accurate these apps actually are, signif...

Richard, Jessamy, and Gavin reflect on developments at the 78th World Health Assembly, including the passage of the pandemic agreement and shifting dynamics in global health leadership. What's next for WHO without US engagement? How has WHA changed over the years?

We also address the importance of recommitting to adolescent health following our new Commission, and discuss a controversial recent study about the pace of scientifi...

Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy return to the studio to discuss some publications that caught their eye this month, and in doing so set themselves the lofty goal of examining how meaning, purpose, optimism, and social context shape our understanding of health beyond traditional clinical measures. We also ponder the future of research and higher education in the face of funding challenges in both the US and the UK.

Articles mentioned in ...

Gavin and Jessamy welcome Dr. Hugh Alderwick from the Health Foundation to The Lancet Voice as we explore the impact of the Labour government's health policies since coming to power in the UK. What might the anticipated 10-year plan for the NHS look like? What are the implications of dismantling NHS England? Will any government get a handle on social care?

Hugh also provides expert analysis on the balance between fund...

Gavin and Jessamy welcome back Oksana Pyzik of UCL to talk about the significant impacts of Trump's actions on health infrastructure in Ukraine and broader Europe.

Oksana provides a comprehensive update on the current health situation in Ukraine, the challenges faced by healthcare systems amidst ongoing conflict, and the repercussions of halted aid on crucial programs like HIV and TB. 

We also explore the response of internation...

Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy reunite for another bonus episode, covering the first three months or so of health in the US under Trump. What do the appointments tell us about the administration's agenda? How can institutions stand up to cuts and intimidation? 

We also look at gender justice in global health as laid out by the excellent new Commission in The Lancet, and highlight that the world's impressive gains on maternal ...

Following the discovery of H5N1 influenza of avian origin in a sheep in the UK this week, Gavin is joined by Dr. Abraar Karan of Stanford University to discuss the current state of bird flu in the US, its impact on public health, and the potential for human-to-human transmission. Dr. Karan analyses the ongoing outbreaks and infections in the US, the challenges in detecting and controlling the virus, and the lessons learned from COV...

Content warning: discussions of sexual assault, violence, and rape

How does society handle sexual assault? What are the health implications for victims and for populations? Did the Pelicot case change attitudes and what can we do to address stigma? 

Gavin is joined by Professor Betsy Stanko OBE and Professor Katrin Hohl OBE, who together worked on the London Metropolitan Police's Operation Soteria to change how the pol...

Gavin is joined by Heather Wardle, Professor of Gambling Research and Policy at the University of Glasgow, and the lead commissioner on The Lancet Public Health’s Commission on Gambling, to discuss the rapid expansion of the global gambling industry and its profound public health implications. We chat online gambling, technological advancements, and increasing accessibility, and how they are transforming the gambling landscape, lea...

Donald Trump has taken office in the US and immediately turned his attention to dismantling the US position as a world leader in global health. How will actions taken so far affect the health of people around the world? Gavin is joined by co-host Miriam Sabin, North American Executive Editor at The Lancet, and they speak to Dr. Gavin Yamey, lead author of The Lancet's recent Commission on Investing in Health, and Director of t...

Richard, Gavin, and Jessamy return to the studio for another freeform discussion kicking off with the responsibilities of science and scientific publishing in a time where fact checking and moderation are going out of fashion. We also cover climate change in the US with the recent wildfires, and the importance of retaining institutional memory following traumatic experiences after Richard was particularly struck by a recent trip to...