Welcome to Hypothesize That!, the UCB science podcast where science meets conjecture and curiosity, and the biggest ‘What If’s’ come to life. Join host Nicola Hill as she delves into the most provocative trends, theories, and questions shaping the future of discovery and development with top scientists, industry leaders, and patient advocates. From the transformative power of AI and virtual labs to the rise of decentralized clinical trials and patient-centred gene therapies, each episode tackles the biggest questions shaping pharma's future.
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Will AI, Data and Robotics Make Clinicians Obsolete?
AI can already diagnose some conditions faster than humans. Robots are entering hospitals. So, are we heading towards a future without doctors?
Nicola Hill sits down with UCB's Vice President and Head of Digital Care Transformation, Erik Janssen and healthcare innovation expert Gary Monk to debate one of healthcare’s biggest questions: what happens when technology becomes capable of doing more of today’s clinical work?
Together, they explore how AI, digital health technologies and connected data could help patients access the right care sooner and improve outcomes, while supporting clinicians to focus on the human aspects of care, including empathy, trust and shared decision-making.
Listen to discover what role clinicians play in the healthcare systems of tomorrow, and why the future may be closer than many people think.
*This podcast is produced and funded by UCB. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional regarding health matters.
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This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
[GL-DA-2600935] - October 2026
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21 Jul 2026
Beyond One: How Will Multi-Specific Therapies Redefine Modern Medicine?
In this episode, we ask a defining question: will multi-specific therapies revolutionize how we treat complex diseases? Host Nicola Hill is joined by Dr Joe Rastrick (UCB) and Professor Raj Chovatiya (Rosalind Franklin University) to examine whether medicines engineered to target multiple pathways can be more effective and personalized than current single-target or broad-spectrum approaches.
Discover how by leveraging combinatorial biology, researchers are working on designing therapies that have more precise targeting, focusing only on the pathways driving disease, while avoiding the ones that maintain health. The episode also discusses practical barriers, from molecule complexity to immunogenicity, trial design and regulatory uncertainty.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB. It discusses combination therapies for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional regarding health matters and prescription medicines and follow the label guidelines.
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GL-OT-2600004 – May 2026
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21 Jul 2026
Episode 5 (BONUS):Academic System vs Irreproducible Science
In this special Crimes Against Innovation episode, host Nicola Hill hears two charges against the research system.
Professor Raj Chovatiya argues that the academic model is putting the brakes on innovation, squeezing creativity and collaboration. Meanwhile, Dr Joe Rastrick condemns the irreproducible published study, which can misdirect future research and waste resources.
Join the debate and decide which crime should carry the greater sentence.
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This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
GL-OT-2600004 – May 2026
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29 Apr 2026
Episode 4 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation: Secrecy in Science vs. Risk Adverse Funding
Deep in the shadowy corridors of laboratories and the silent pages of medical journals, progress can falter, not for lack of brilliance, but because of the systems surrounding it. Ideas are delayed, discoveries are hidden, and bold thinking is quietly discouraged. This is Crimes Against Innovation.
Join Professor Maddie Parsons and Dr Graham Price as they go head-to-head on two major offenders in healthcare innovation. Maddie argues that playing it safe and avoiding high-risk research is suppressing transformative breakthroughs, while Graham challenges that the bigger crime is secrecy in science - a true assassin of progress.
Host Nicola Hill weighs the evidence and delivers the verdict on which of these “crimes” does the greatest damage to discovery.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
GL-OT-2600003 – March 2026
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29 Apr 2026
Episode 4: Smart drugs, dumb trials: rethinking the foundations of drug development
In this episode, host Nicola Hill, is joined by Professor Maddie Parsons, Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks at King’s College London, and Dr Graham Price, Head of Global Clinical Development at UCB, to examine whether today’s trials are fit for tomorrow’s science.
Listen to our guests unpick the tensions in modern drug development from conservative endpoints, missed opportunities and lack of integration across clinical and scientific disciplines. Can smarter design, better data sharing, and deeper collaboration unlock the future of precision medicine?
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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GL-OT-2600003 – March 2026
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4 Aug 2025
Episode 3: Gene Therapy’s Future: Will Patient Engagement Eclipse Science?
Is scientific innovation enough to drive the future of gene therapy, or is patient engagement the missing key? Join host Nicola Hill as she explores this question with Laurence Woollard, a rare disease advocate, and UCB’s Global Patient Engagement Lead, Dr. Emma Lane. Together, they discuss the critical role of patients in co-creating therapies that meet real-world needs, the ethical challenges of gene editing, and how early collaboration can build trust and transparency. Hear real-world insights into how patient voices are reshaping R&D—and how industry can embrace this paradigm shift.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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IE-OT-2500003 – July 2025
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4 Aug 2025
Episode 3 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - Gender Bias in Trials vs. The Five-to-Ten-Year Promise
In the darkened corridors of laboratories and the silent pages of medical journals, there are stories rarely spoken about—tales of brilliance that burned too bright, and ideas that strayed into catastrophe. This is—Crimes Against Innovation.
Laurence Woollard and Dr. Emma Lane debate two pressing issues in healthcare: the under-representation of women in clinical trials and the misleading timelines often promised for new treatments. Host Nicola Hill listens to both sides and selects the most impactful “crime” against innovation.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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IE-OT-2500003 – July 2025
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10 Jun 2025
Episode 2 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - Theranos Deception vs. Incrementalism’s Trap
In the shadowy corridors of laboratories and the silent pages of medical journals, there lie tales that have seldom been told. Tales of ambition that flew too close to the sun, of genius that turned into folly, and of innovation that... well, wasn't quite so innovative. This is—Crimes Against Innovation.
Join Craig Lipset and Lewis Millen as they argue two distinct crimes against innovation. Lewis takes on the Theranos scandal, a cautionary tale of deceit in healthcare, while Craig reflects on how corporate culture can slow down and even stop innovation trials. Host Nicola Hill must choose the most compelling case.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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10 Jun 2025
Episode 2: Within the Next 10 Years, Will Traditional Clinical Trials be Obsolete?
In this episode, host Nicola Hill explores the hypothesis that fully virtualised decentralized clinical trials (DCT), that operate invisibly, will make traditional models obsolete within the next decade.
Joining her are Craig Lipset, Co-Chair of the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance, and Lewis Millen, UCB’s Global Clinical Science and Operations Innovation Lead. Together, they unpack the plausibility, benefits and challenges of this shift, from inclusivity and patient convenience to technological hurdles and regulatory readiness. Is a hybrid model the future, or will decentralized clinical trials render old paradigms irrelevant?
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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14 Apr 2025
Episode 1 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - The Milestone Menace vs. The Hunger for Innovation
Deep in the shadowy corridors of laboratories and the silent pages of medical journals, secrets lie waiting to be uncovered—tales of ambition that soared too high to the sun, ideas that derailed progress, and innovations that should never have seen the light of day. This is—Crimes Against Innovation.
In this episode, Professor Russ Altman and Dr. Alistair Henry go head-to-head as they debate two major issues in healthcare innovation. Russ argues that rigid milestones in research hinder scientific creativity, while Alistair contends that over-resourcing stifles innovation. Host Nicola Hill decides which of these “crimes” deserves the title of the worst offender.
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
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14 Apr 2025
Trailer
Welcome to Hypothesize That!, the UCB science podcast where science meets conjecture and curiosity, and the biggest ‘What If’s’ come to life. Join host Nicola Hill as she delves into the most provocative trends, theories, and questions shaping the future of discovery and development with top scientists, industry leaders, and patient advocates. From the transformative power of AI and virtual labs to the rise of decentralized clinical trials and patient-centred gene therapies, each episode tackles the biggest questions shaping pharma's future.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Apr 2025
Episode 1: The End of Wet Labs? How Digital is Virtualizing Pharma Research
In this episode, we tackle a transformative question: will traditional wet labs be rendered obsolete by digital and AI-powered innovations? Host Nicola Hill is joined by Professor Russ Altman from Stanford University, and Dr. Alistair Henry, UCB’s Chief Scientific Officer, to debate the rise of virtual pharmaceutical research.
Discover how technologies like machine learning, in silico compound screening, and digital twins are redefining drug discovery. From unprecedented advancements to persistent challenges, our experts dissect whether digital simulations can truly replicate—and surpass—the capabilities of physical labs. Will a hybrid model of digital and traditional methods shape the future of pharma research?
This podcast is produced and funded by UCB.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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