The Life Scientific: Raymond Schinazi

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 11 November 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

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Summary

In recent decades, we have taken huge steps forward in treating formerly fatal viruses - with pharmacological breakthroughs revolutionising treatment for conditions such as HIV, hepatitis and herpes. Raymond Schinazi has played a big role in that revolution.

Ray was born in Egypt, where his mother’s brush with a potentially deadly illness during his childhood inspired a fascination with medicine. His childhood was scattered; after his family were forced to leave their homeland and travelled to Italy as refugees, Ray ended up on a scholarship to a British boarding school - and subsequently went on to study and flourish in the world of chemistry and biology.

Today, Ray is the director of the Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology at Emory University in Atlanta, where he also set up the renowned Center for AIDS Research. His work in the early days of HIV studies led to drugs that many with the virus still take today; while his contribution to developing a cure for Hepatitis C has saved millions of lives around the world.

Speaking to Jim al-Khalili, Ray reflects on his route to success and explains why he is confident that more big breakthroughs are on the horizon.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
0:06.5	I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:11.1	I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects,
0:16.0	relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
0:22.3	So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature,
0:28.3	and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience, and maybe that's you.
0:33.6	So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds.
0:38.3	Hello, imagine if you will, the basic building blocks of medicine, substances broken down to a molecular level where if you find the right recipe, particles will snap together in wondrous new forms, creating something that could save lives.
0:52.1	That's the chemical playground inhabited by today's guest,
0:55.4	whose work in biomedical sciences has revolutionised treatments for viruses from hepatitis to HIV.
1:02.6	Raymond Shannazi was born in Egypt, where his mother's brush with a potentially fatal illness
1:07.8	during his childhood inspired an early fascination with medicine. Today, he's a
1:12.7	professor of paediatrics and director of the Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology at Emory
1:18.1	University in Atlanta, Georgia. Indeed, it was Ray who first set up the university's now
1:23.1	renowned centre for AIDS research, where work is currently underway to develop an HIV vaccine.
1:29.4	Rays' work in the early days of HIV studies led to the creation of drugs that the majority
1:33.5	of people with the virus still take today, while his contribution to developing a cure for
1:38.5	hepatitis C has saved millions of lives around the world. These medical milestones have earned
1:43.8	Ray various awards,
1:45.1	including France's highest civilian honour, the Ligion D'onair. Raymond Chenezi, welcome to the
1:50.3	Life Scientific. Thank you so much. Now, what is it about manipulating molecules and creating new
1:55.9	compounds that you find so fascinating? Well, you're basically the creator of something new, completely new
	...

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