Medical Breakthroughs: The Research Journey – Details, episodes & analysis

Mr Nigel Simpson shares how Leeds became one of the first hospitals to open a clinic dedicated to preventing preterm births. Discover how genetic testing at birth and anonymous health data is giving researchers new tools to support babies—and their families—from day one.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

When Susan took up an invite for a lung health check, she didn’t expect to be told she had early-stage cancer. Now cancer-free, she shares her story alongside Professor Matt Callister and Suzanne Rogerson, as they explain how a mobile screening unit in Leeds is finding hidden cancers—and going national.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

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Professor Mat Callister is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Honorary Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Leeds. His research interest is in the early diagnosis of lung cancer, both through symptomatic detection and screening. He is co-lead for the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial (YLST) and the Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking Study (YESS), both funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Suzanne Rogerson is Lead Nurse for Research and Innovation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. She has experience of working in medical device, drug, gene-therapy and screening research, including commercial, non-commercial and charity funded trials. She has management responsibility for the Yorkshire Cancer research funded Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial and Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking Study teams.

Articles about their work

600,000 people in Yorkshire will be eligible for life-saving lung health checks - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Pioneering Leeds cancer intiative helps drive early cancer diagnosis

Government announces national rollout of Leeds lung cancer screening | University of Leeds

Chancellor of the Exchequer visits the Leeds Lung Health Check

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Meet Professor Tze Min Wah, who performed the world’s first non-invasive procedure to destroy kidney tumours using sound waves, and Michael Wright, whose life was changed by it. Discover the science of histotripsy—and the story of a patient who came close to losing a kidney, only to walk away healthy and full of hope.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

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Professor Wah has been appointed at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) as Consultant in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology since 2003 with sub-speciality interest in Interventional Oncology. She is passionate about practising evidence-based medicine and committed to the highest standards of research methodology. Since 2004, she has established, developed and leads an internationally recognised, clinical and research programme in Interventional Oncology (IO).  

IO is an underrepresented clinical discipline and Professor Wah was inspired by the stories of patients that she had treated, in 2015, she led the formation of Interventional Oncology United Kingdom (IOUK) within British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) to address this gap and was the founding chair for IOUK(BSIR) from 2015-2018. Subsequently, she led a cross-sectional study highlighting the lack of equity for patients to access IO services in the UK (BMJ open,2017-doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016631). 

Her research IO career highlights to date are- Chief Investigator to translate image-guided histotripsy in liver cancer for #Hope4Liver-trial (2021-2023) and featured in NHS-Executive,  This innovative cancer treatment is using focused ultrasound technology and the procedure is ‘scalpel-less’, without radiation and offers faster convalescence time for patients.

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Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

Medical Breakthroughs: The Research Journey is a new podcast from Leeds Teaching

Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), sharing the powerful and emotional stories behind some of the UK’s most significant medical advances. Launching on Wednesday 11 June 2025, the series explores how research transforms lives—through the voices of patients and researchers who are part of that journey.

Each episode offers a rare and moving insight into what medical innovation really means to those living through it. Listeners will hear from Michael Wright, a 64-year-old patient from York, who faced losing a kidney but whose life was saved by taking part in a pioneering clinical trial led by Professor Tze Min Wah. Another episode follows Susan, a

67-year-old woman from Leeds, who was diagnosed with lung cancer after joining the Leeds Lung Health Check programme—an early detection initiative that helped her become cancer free. Other stories spotlight major progress in treating breast cancer, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and more.

Since April 2020, over 120,000 participants have been recruited into research studies across the Trust. Today, 1,413 active research studies are underway—ranging from early detection projects to personalised treatments—demonstrating the depth and ambition of the Trust’s research portfolio and its commitment to improving lives through research and innovation.

Through deeply human conversations, Medical Breakthroughs: The Research Journey brings to life the hopes, fears, and determination behind research progress. The series makes clear that research isn’t just about data and discovery—it’s about people, and the real difference innovation can make in their lives.

Dr Ai Lyn Tan, Director of Research and Innovation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “This podcast is about more than research. It is about the people—patients, researchers, and healthcare staff—whose lives are touched by medical research every day. Their courage, resilience, and passion are what drive innovation forward. These are stories that deserve to be heard.”

Medical Breakthroughs: The Research Journey will be available on all major podcast platforms from Wednesday 11 June 2025, with new episodes released weekly. You can visit our website to learn more about our research studies.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not

constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist,

GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Join Dr Nisha Sharma as she explains how artificial intelligence is revolutionising breast screening. With a national role in reshaping screening guidelines, Dr Sharma discusses how AI is helping clinicians catch cancers earlier and save more lives.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Dr Sunil Daga opens up about the urgent need for more kidney donors, the rise in dialysis patients, and why research must better reflect the UK’s diverse communities. This episode explores how building trust and breaking down barriers can lead to more equitable care for all.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Can high-tech glasses help people with Parkinson’s stay independent for longer? Professor Rory O’Connor and physiotherapist Caroline Gill explore the promise of augmented reality in rehabilitation—offering patients fewer hospital visits and more support at home.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Personalised cancer vaccines are no longer a dream. Professor Chris Twelves takes us inside the cutting-edge research happening in Leeds, where tailored treatments are being developed to train the immune system to fight cancer cells—with powerful, life-extending results.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Dr Ramesh Nadarajah leads a groundbreaking trial using machine learning to detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AF)—a hidden heart condition that dramatically increases stroke risk. Hear how new tech is helping doctors intervene earlier, and what it could mean for the future of stroke prevention.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon

Arthritis affects millions—but there’s hope. Professor Phil Conaghan shares some of the research that’s being done in Leeds into reducing pain- which includes the use of chilli peppers. He also shares how to keep your joints healthy, avoid knee pain, and improve your quality of life through early care and innovation.

Views and experiences shared in this podcast belong to the individuals and do not constitute medical advice. For medical advice please contact your pharmacist, GP or dial 111. In an emergency please dial 999.

This podcast was recorded and produced by Under the Mast– creative audio productions and was presented by Caroline Verdon