What is Hypothesize That!?Hypothesize That! is UCB's science podcast, where curiosity meets hard science and the biggest ‘what if’s’ in pharma R&D come to life. Hosted by health journalist Nicola Hill, each episode pairs UCB researchers with outside experts to debate the trends, theories and open questions shaping the future of drug discovery.Don't miss Crimes Against Innovation - bonus mini-episodes where questionable brilliance takes the stage and bad ideas go head-to-head in a battle of bold gone wrong, and only one will be pronounced guilty for the ultimate act of genius-turned-folly!The courtroom extends to you, too: share your own verdict on social media using #HypothesizeThat and #CrimesAgainstInnovation - do you agree with the ruling, or is there a case Nicola missed? Listen on Spotify Produced by UCB's R&D organization, featuring UCB scientists alongside external researchers, clinicians and patient advocates.Themes covered so far:Multi-specific therapiesClinical trial design and the future of drug developmentGene therapy and patient engagementClinical trials design and decentralizationAI and digital drug discovery. Episode 5: Beyond one: how will multi-specific therapies redefine modern medicine?Guests: Dr Joe Rastrick, Head of Resolution of Inflammation Research at UCB, and Prof. Raj Chovatiya, Associate Professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.Are multi-specific therapies the future of medicine?Dr Joe Rastrick and Professor Raj Chovatiya discuss everything you need to know about multi=-specific therapies. From uncovering the patient value of multi-specifics to navigating regulatory hurdles and debating whether AI and omics data will guide the right combinations for the right patients, our guests explore the true potential of whether medicines engineered to target multiple pathways can outpace single-target drugs for complex disease.You might also be interested in: Drug modalities Episode 5 (BONUS) Crimes Against Innovation: Academic system vs irreproducible scienceGuests: Dr Joe Rastrick, Head of Resolution of Inflammation Research at UCB, and Prof. Raj Chovatiya, Associate Professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.It's time for the crimes.In this Crimes Against Innovation special, host Nicola Hill invites Dr Joe Rastrick and Professor Raj Chovatiya to nominate the scientific offences that could be preventing innovation.Raj argues that the traditional academic model stifles curiosity and collaboration, trapping young researchers in funding pressures. Joe points the finger at irreproducible published studies that waste time, resources and mislead drug discovery. Which poses the bigger threat to innovation?You might also be interested in: Drug modalities Episode 4: Smart drugs, dumb trials: rethinking the foundations of drug developmentGuests: Prof. Maddie Parsons, Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks at King's College London, and Dr Graham Price, Head of Global Clinical Development at UCB.Are today's clinical trials fit for the future of medicine, or are they holding innovation back?Host Nicola Hill explores this question with Professor Maddie Parsons and Dr Graham Price. From failing to capture deep biological insights to missed opportunities in bridging the gap between clinical practice and basic science, listen to our guests explore whether our trial frameworks are fit for the future or whether outdated systems need a re-boot.You might also be interested in: Clinical studies Episode 4 (BONUS) Crimes Against Innovation: Secrecy in Science vs. Risk Adverse FundingGuests: Prof. Maddie Parsons, Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks at King's College London, and Dr Graham Price, Head of Global Clinical Development at UCB.Think you already know the biggest Crimes Against Innovation in science? It may be time to think again.In this Crimes Against Innovation mini-episode, Nicola Hill moderates as Professor Maddie Parsons and Dr Graham Price argue two different culprits: is playing it safe with high-risk research the problem, or is secrecy in science the bigger threat to progress?Who makes the stronger case? Listen now and decide.You might also be interested in: Clinical studies Episode 3: Gene therapy's future: will patient engagement eclipse science?Guests: Laurence Woollard, Patient Advocate and Founder of On The Pulse, and Dr Emma Lane, UCB's Global Patient Engagement Lead.Could patient engagement be just as important as scientific breakthroughs to the success of gene therapy, if not more so?Host Nicola Hill welcomes Laurence Woollard and Dr Emma Lane. Together, they explore how deeper patient partnership, from clinical trial design to long-term care, could reshape what gene therapy delivers for the people who need it most.You might also be interested in: Drug modalities Episode 3 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - Gender Bias in Trials vs. The Five-to-Ten-Year PromiseGuests: Laurence Woollard, Patient Advocate and Founder of On The Pulse, and Dr Emma Lane, UCB's Global Patient Engagement Lead.False promises in drug development timelines. Gender inequalities in clinical trials. Both undeniable injustices – but which will host Nicola Hill deem the greatest crime against innovation?Laurence Woollard and Dr Emma Lane face off to make their case.You might also be interested in: Clinical studies Episode 2: Within the next 10 years, will traditional clinical trials be obsolete?Guests: Craig Lipset, Co-Chair of the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance, and Lewis Millen, UCB's Global Clinical Sciences & Operations Innovation Lead.Could the rise of fully virtualized, decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) mean the end of clinical trials as we know them?Host Nicola Hill poses that very question to guests Craig Lipset and Lewis Millen. The conversation asks whether digital health technology is helping or hindering clinical research.You might also be interested in: Clinical studies Episode 2 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - Theranos Deception vs. Incrementalism's TrapGuests: Craig Lipset, Co-Chair of the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance, and Lewis Millen, UCB's Global Clinical Sciences & Operations Innovation Lead.Scandal and deceit take the front seat in this bonus mini-episode.Lewis Millen argues that Theranos was a crime not only in the legal sense, while Craig Lipset ‘confesses’ his own crime against innovation. It is up to host Nicola Hill to decide which argument steals the spotlight.Think you can crack the case?You might also be interested in: Clinical studies Episode 1: The end of wet labs? How digital is virtualizing pharma researchGuests: Prof. Russ Altman, Stanford University, and Dr Alistair Henry, UCB's Chief Scientific Officer.Introducing Hypothesize That! In the first episode of this new podcast, host Nicola Hill is joined by Professor Russ Altman and Dr Alistair Henry.Together, they explore how AI and digital tools are reshaping drug discovery.Could digital tools fully replace hands-on lab work, or is a hybrid approach the future of pharma research? Episode 1 (BONUS): Crimes Against Innovation - The Milestone Myth vs. The Hunger for InnovationGuests: Prof. Russ Altman, Stanford University, and Dr Alistair Henry, UCB's Chief Scientific Officer.Think you know the biggest crime against innovation?In this bonus mini-episode, host Nicola Hill moderates a lively debate as Professor Russ Altman and Dr Alistair Henry give two very different answers.Are rigid milestones stifling scientific creativity, or is over-resourcing the real problem?You might also be interested in: Innovation Frequently Asked Questions What is Hypothesize That!? Hypothesize That! is UCB's science podcast, hosted by health journalist Nicola Hill. Each episode brings UCB scientists, academic researchers and patient advocates together to debate the questions shaping the future of Pharma R&D - from AI and digital drug discovery to decentralized clinical trials, gene therapy and multi-specific medicines. Who hosts Hypothesize That!? Nicola Hill, a health journalist and TV presenter with more than 30 years of experience covering health and science stories. Who produces Hypothesize That!? Hypothesize That! is produced by UCB's R&D organization. Each episode pairs a UCB scientist or pipeline leader with an external voice - an academic researcher, industry expert, or patient advocate. What is Crimes Against Innovation? A bonus mini-episode format within Hypothesize That! Two guests put questionable concepts on trial, examining the bold ideas that went spectacularly wrong and asking what we can learn from innovation's greatest mishaps. Where can I listen to Hypothesize That!? Every episode is embedded on this page, and the full show is available on Spotify and Youtube. What topics has Hypothesize That! covered? Topics include AI and digital tools in drug discovery, decentralized clinical trials, gene therapy and patient engagement, clinical trial design, and multi-specific therapies, with perspectives from UCB scientists, academic researchers, and patient advocates. Who are the guests on Hypothesize That!? Each episode pairs a UCB scientist or R&D leader with an external guest, including academics from Stanford University, King's College London and Rosalind Franklin University, plus independent patient advocates and industry experts.
