Today we're entering a world where medicine meets politics, a space that brings together

scientific research, government wrangling, public pushbacks and healthcare conspiracies.

My guest has not only helped prevent, diagnose and treat some of the world's most

dangerous infectious diseases, he's also advised seven US presidents from Ronald Reagan

through to Joe Biden.

Dr Anthony Fauci was the director of America's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for four decades,

during which time he was instrumental in developing life-saving treatments for HIV patients

and leading the United States through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along the way, he's picked up something of a public profile and taken his fair share of flack,

not least because of a complicated relationship with President Donald Trump.

But Anthony maintains his greatest achievements are more about people than medicine.

From winning over activists who initially challenged him on the government response to the

HIV-AIDS epidemic to spearheading a project sharing vital medication with developing nations,

saving millions of lives. He says, when you try to do things that are transformational, it's hard,

but hopefully one day you look back and see them as positive and important. Dr. Tony Fauci,

welcome to the life scientific. Thank you very much. It's good to be with you.

Tony, we're going to be talking about your work around HIV-AIDS, a virus that shaped your life.

But more recently, people remember your public messaging on COVID-19, perhaps also the

differences of opinion with President

Trump. How hard is it being the person who has to speak occasionally unpalatable scientific

truths to power? Well, no one likes to be publicly contradictory to an authority, a political

authority, but as a scientist and a clinician who's devoted

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