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PodcastScience Matters

Why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?

As coronavirus case numbers surge, University of Melbourne experts explain why we have effective drugs for bacterial diseases, but relatively few for combating viruses

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Eavesdrop on Experts

Hear researchers obsess, confess and profess – changing the world one experiment, one paper and one interview at a time

  1. Listen22 July 2020 – Astronomy, Astrophysics, Satellites, SpIRIT satellite, Space

    Launching the SpIRIT satellite

    University of Melbourne researchers describe plans to build the SpIRIT satellite– to be launched in space by 2022, with Australian and Italian Space Agencies.

  2. Listen8 July 2020 – Big Data, Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative, Death, Global Burden of Disease, Global Health

    How better data on death can improve lives

    By studying causes of death, Professor Alan Lopez says we can better target health interventions, including increases in cardiovascular disease in Australia.

  3. Listen24 June 2020 – Brain, Depression, Medicine, Mental Health, Psychiatry

    Towards faster treatment for major depressive disorder

    Physiologist Professor Scott Thompson studies how the brain changes in patients with major depression to identify more effective, faster acting antidepressants.

  1. Listen10 June 2020 – COVID-19, Conspiracy theory, Pandemic, Psychology, Social Media

    What’s behind COVID-19 conspiracy theories?

    Robin Canniford studies conspiracy theories at the University of Melbourne, he says people are more susceptible during heightened times of anxiety like pandemic

  2. Listen27 May 2020 – COVID-19, Coronavirus, Disasters, Earthquake, Innovation

    Innovation during crisis

    Mark Quigley, Earth Sciences Professor at the University of Melbourne explains how the Canterbury earthquakes and COVID-19 both inspired innovative responses.

  3. Listen20 May 2020 – COVID-19, Coronavirus, Drug Development, Immunology and Infection, Vaccination

    Lessons for a future pandemic

    Professor Peter Doherty from the University of Melbourne discusses the latest COVID-19 drug and vaccine research, and how best to prepare for future pandemic

  4. Listen13 May 2020 – COVID-19, Coronavirus, Domestic Violence, Family Violence, Self-isolation

    The isolation of domestic violence

    A University of Melbourne expert discusses the risks of family violence during COVID-19 isolation and the learnings of which support services are working well.

  5. Listen6 May 2020 – COVID-19, Coronavirus, Mental Health, Psychology, Self-isolation

    The mental marathon of COVID-19

    University of Melbourne's Dr Grant Blashki helps us understand our mental health during isolation and what we can do to maintain our routines and resilience.

  6. Listen29 April 2020 – COVID-19, Coronavirus, Epidemiology, Infectious diseases, Public Policy

    The dynamics of disease

    Professor Tony Blakely, a University of Melbourne epidemiologist and public health specialist, discusses COVID-19 infection control models and exit strategies.