Podcast: Smart tattoos, the future of the NHS and next-generation vaccines

In this edition: We meet researchers creating colour-changing tattoos, at the forefront of vaccines, and responding to the new NHS long term plan.

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News: Sperm-miscarriages link and wound-healing materials – We uncover a surprising new link between sperm health and recurrent miscarriages, and discover a new bioinspired material that interacts with surrounding tissues to promote healing.

Smart tattoos – We meet a researcher developing a smart tattoo ink capable of monitoring health by changing colour, which could tell an athlete when they are dehydrated or a diabetic when their blood sugar rises. Kieran Brophy interviews Dr Ali Yetisen from the  Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering.

The future of the NHS – The government recently released a new NHS Long Term Plan. But is it achievable and does it go far enough? We get the expert opinion of Imperial medical researchers.

Next-generation vaccines – How can we prepare for the next outbreak or epidemic? We catch up with three Imperial researchers are taking their game-changing ideas to the World Economic Forum – including templates for creating new vaccines rapidly and locally, giving vaccines a longer shelf-life, and preventing future bird flu from jumping to humans.

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The podcast is presented by Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer on Imperial's MSc Science Communication course and the presenter of Click Radio on the BBC World Service, with contributions from our roving reporters in the Research Communications group.