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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/
• Chiappini Lab website - 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
• Dominic’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames
• Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com
• Socials TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube - @DomJamesHiH
• Produced by Explosive Brands - https://www.explosivebrands.com/

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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
• BBC article on period tracker data risks - 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
• Dominic’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames
• Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com
• Socials TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube - @DomJamesHiH
• Produced by Explosive Brands - https://www.explosivebrands.com/

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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/
• Baringa website - https://www.baringa.com/en/people/experts/hakim-yadi/
• Closed Loop Medicine website - https://closedloopmedicine.com/
• Data saves lives website - https://datasaveslives.eu/
• Dominic’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicjames
• Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.healthinhyperdrive.com
• Socials TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube - @DomJamesHiH
• Produced by Explosive Brands - https://www.explosivebrands.com/