Botox injections in the nervous system, keeping brain tissue alive, and the shifting axis of scientific influence...
In this episode
01:54 - Preparing for brain surgery
Preparing for brain surgery
with Dr.Saptarshi Basu, Neurosciences Institute Kolkata
A patient prepares to have his brain tumour removed. But what will happen to the sliced out tissue? Will it be burnt? Or put in the bin? This patient has decided to donate it to research. Hannah Critchlow spoke with his family, and attending doctor, Dr.Saptarshi Basu, about this decision...
Transcript to follow...
04:36 - Slicing through the brain
Slicing through the brain
with Dr Mark Cunningham, Newcastle University
Brain surgery comes to a successful close. Whilst the patient is being sewn up, we
meet Dr Mark Cunningham, at the Neurosciences Institute, Kolkata. He's set up a laboratory, shipping over equipment from the UK and installing it a few floors above the surgical unit. He had just received the patient's brain tissue and describes the research he will conduct on this brain slice to Hannah Critchlow....
Transcript to follow...
08:56 - Botox injection, anyone?
Botox injection, anyone?
with Dr Hrishikesh Kumar, Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata
How botox, one of the deadliest toxins ever discovered by humans, and found in gone off sausages, helps iron out wrinkles, AND treats people afflicted by uncontrollable tremors....
Transcript to follow...
14:28 - What does a brain slice reveal?
What does a brain slice reveal?
with Dr Mark Cunningham, Newcastle University
What can a human brain slice reveal about epilepsy? We measure the electrical 
activity of tissue removed following brain surgery. Dr Mark Cunningham has set up a laboratory at the Neurosciences Institute Kolkata, India, a few floors above the operating theatre. He describes how he keeps the human brain tissue alive in a petri dish, to Hannah Critchlow.
Transcript to follow...
20:24 - Science power shifting to the East?
Science power shifting to the East?
with Dr Mark Baker, Dr Mark Cunningham, Newcastle University
Why were Newcastle scientists coming all the way to India to conduct cutting 
edge research? Is it easier to do here because ethical regulations in India are looser than in the UK? Hannah Critchlow posed this question to Dr Mark Cunningham, and his colleague Dr Mark Baker, from Newcastle University....
Transcript to follow...
25:47 - How does a vision become a reality?
How does a vision become a reality?
with Dr Robin Sengupta, Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata
The story of a remarkable man Dr Robin Sengupta,who started his career as an eight year old boy, selling fruit in a Bustling Bazar off the Bay of Bengal India, in order to help support his family.
He borrowed school books from friends, and studied at night, gained scholarships and eventually moved to the UK to work within the UK National Health System, in Newcastle, working his way up to become a neurosurgeon.
Inspired by the NHS, raised millions of pounds to set up this 10 storey 150 bed neuroscience specialisation hospital back in his hometown of Kalkuta, India.
The hospital that offers free treatment for those who cannot afford it. And embedded within it, a cutting edge research facility and training ground for future neuroscientists.
I asked one of his colleagues, from Newcastle, what the reaction was back in the UK when Robin announced his grand vision, over a decade ago...
27:07 - A neurosurgeon as a Dad
A neurosurgeon as a Dad
with Anita Sengupta
Anita Sengupta spoke with Hannah Critchlow to reveal what it is like to have an ambitious and visionary neurosurgeon as her Dad...
Transcript to follow...
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