Futures in Biotech 40: Virus Reborn

Please note: we recorded this about a month prior to the appearance of the swine flu. It is still quite relevant as Dr. Palese talks about the fundamental biology of influenza. Dr. Vincent Racaniello also joined me as a co-host and did a fantastic job! Thanks Vincent!

World leading virologist explains why he revived a virus that killed 50 million people...

Hosts: Marc Pelletier and Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Dr. Peter Palese; Professor & Chair of Microbiology, Mount Sinai, NYC

In the winter of 1918-19, fifty million people died horrible deaths from the Spanish flu. The threat of this happening again today is ever so present. And while we have drugs that are fairly effective against influenza, they are not fool-proof.

The possible devastation to humanity from this threat is at par with a large catastrophic asteroid hurling toward earth. The world will look to the best and brightest scientists and clinicians in hopes that they know and understand the virus well enough to fight it.

Well, Dr. Palese has made great contributions to our understanding of influenza, and his scientific endeavors have given us the knowledge and tools to prevent this potential devastation.

LISTEN

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Transcripts thanks to Podsinprint

Thanks to Phil Pelletier and Will Hall for the opening and closing themes!