Feeding the Future, Fighting Infection

Milk is often seen as simply a baby’s first food, but it is far more than nutrition. Breastmilk is a complex biological system carrying signals from mother to infant that shape growth, metabolism, and immune development. Scientists now show these early interactions leave lasting biological marks influencing health decades later. In this talk, we will explore the hidden biology of breastfeeding, tracing the journey from genes to milk to lifelong health, and why early-life nutrition matters for future medicine and public health.

The bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes causes a range of diseases from sore throats to an inflamed heart. We and others have been studying the amazing tricks that this bacterium uses to colonise humans and hide from the immune system. Using this knowledge powerful new tools have been produced, including clot-busting drugs, gene scissors towards curing genetic diseases, and our work on superglue for building vaccines. I will describe the life of this dangerous bacterium and the process of re-engineering its secrets, towards broad protection against emerging disease threats of global significance.

We live in an era where we can predict cancer before it strikes, yet for many, these breakthroughs remain out of reach. Join University of Cambridge PhD student Swetha Kannan as she explores the intersection of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) and the cultural barriers that render medical progress invisible to marginalized communities.
This event strips away clinical jargon to expose the raw reality of the "C-word." You will hear an intimate, first-hand account from a cancer survivor who navigated medical shadows and community stigma to choose life-saving surgery. Beyond the genomics, Swetha will discuss insights from her qualitative research with South Asian women in the UK and non-profit work in India supporting cancer patients' mental well-being. Through interactive challenges, you will then confront the disparities in ethnic minority healthcare and learn to build a future where medicine is truly equitable for everyone.