Most people assume clinical trials are purely about testing new medicines. But what if the process of being screened to join a trial could uncover a health condition you didn't know you had?

In this episode, Catriona is joined by Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager at Liverpool's Clinical Research Facility, and Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director of the NIHR-funded CRF at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Together they discuss a research paper exploring the clinically significant findings identified during trial screening, and why that changes the conversation around participation.

They cover:

• What a clinical trial screening actually involves — and why it functions as a comprehensive health check
• The real-world cases their research uncovered, including latent TB, hepatitis B, Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, and a lymphoma diagnosis
• Why the standard phrase "no direct benefit" doesn't tell the full story
• The data behind the findings: roughly 1 in 17 healthy volunteers and 1 in 25 patients had a previously undetected condition identified
• How they worked with communities to rewrite patient information into genuinely accessible language, reducing the reading age from 14-15 down to the recommended 11
• Their discussions with the Phase One Advisory Group at the HRA, and the goal of making this level of transparency standard across all trials

Whether you've ever considered joining a clinical trial or simply want to understand more about how medicines are developed and tested, this conversation offers a perspective that's rarely heard outside research circles.

Guests:

Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility

Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility

My Health Focus is not a medical service. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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When Bridget McNulty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 years ago, she felt like the only person in the world it had ever happened to. She later discovered that almost everyone she spoke to had felt exactly the same way.

Bridget is the founder of Sweet Life, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and a published author. In this episode, Catriona talks to her about why that sense of isolation at diagnosis is so universal, what people with chronic conditions actually need from a community, and why managing diabetes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is exhausting in a way that's almost impossible to explain to people who don't live it.

They also discuss the divide between public and private healthcare in South Africa, why type 2 diabetes carries a stigma that type 1 doesn't, the relief of talking to people who just get it without needing everything explained, and why the language healthcare professionals use around diabetes needs to change.

Connect with Sweet Life: sweetlife.org.za South Africans with Diabetes on Facebook @sweetlife.org.za on Instagram

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My Health Focus is not a medical service. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Dr Max Draper, author of Testosterone Decoded, joins Catriona Williams to discuss the dramatic decline in testosterone levels since the 1980s and its implications for men's health. After experiencing low testosterone following testicular cancer, Dr Draper changed his career focus to specialise in this overlooked area of men's health. In this episode, he explains how testosterone affects far more than muscles and sex drive, influencing energy, mental clarity, mood, and fertility.

Key takeaways:

1. Testosterone levels have been declining across generations since the 1980s, with each decade showing lower average levels than the previous one

2. Low testosterone symptoms include low energy, brain fog, reduced motivation, mood changes, and reduced resilience to stress

3. Proper testing requires checking both total and free testosterone levels, not just total testosterone alone

4. Lifestyle factors including sleep, exercise, diet, stress management, and body composition should be optimised before considering testosterone replacement therapy

5. Testosterone replacement therapy can complicate fertility and requires careful consideration, particularly for younger men who haven't completed their families

Dr Max Draper is a medical doctor, author, and specialist in testosterone and men's health, bringing both professional expertise and personal experience to this crucial health topic.

Follow My Health Focus for more expert health interviews and evidence-based patient education.

My Health Focus is not a medical service. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

JOIN THE MY HEALTH FOCUS COMMUNITY AND SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.