I’m Pharmacy Podcast wraps up second season focused on life cycle of a drug

Host Mina Tadrous looks ahead to season three

Assistant Professor Mina Tadrous has long been interested in how different fields of science intersect to work toward a common outcome. As host of the second season of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s I’m Pharmacy Podcast, he set out to explore that interest with experts in pharmaceutical science to tell stories of how drugs are discovered and used.

“Science sometimes feels very siloed when you’re zoomed in one specific thing, but when you zoom out, it becomes more like a tapestry,” says Tadrous, Assistant Professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “You see that every little piece builds on each other until you get this final thing ­– in this case, better use of medications and new therapies for patients.”

“This season is a great story about how different types of science fit together all to produce meaningful impact in improving patients’ lives, which is why we do this work."

Throughout the podcast’s eight-episode season, Tadrous has led listeners through the life cycle of a drug, from the early stages of drug discovery in the lab to clinical trials and real-world safety. The last episode of the season, which focused on drug prices, was posted last week.

“This season is a great story about how different types of science fit together all to produce meaningful impact in improving patients’ lives, which is why we do this work,” says Tadrous, whose research is focused on drug policy and real-world drug safety and effectiveness. “From the outside, it looks like our faculty members do very different things, but they all impact the life of a drug and aim to produce better health outcomes for patients around the world.”

The season started by discussing how researchers come up with new ideas and targets for drugs. Later episodes focused on translational research, drug design, drug safety, and optimized medication use. Tadrous interviewed many researchers from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as experts from industry, to discuss their research and how it fits into drug development and use.

“Being a relatively new faculty member, I’ve learned so much about the work that other researchers are doing and how everyone fits together,” he says. “I’m so grateful that all these people took time to share their knowledge.”

Since season two launched in October 2021, episodes have been downloaded more than three thousand times.

I’m Pharmacy Podcast will be on hiatus for a few months, but Tadrous and the production team, which includes Communications team members Steve Southon and Kate Richards, will soon be starting work on season three, with plans to return with new stories in early 2023.

“I left this season thrilled about the future. The innovation that’s coming our way and the new treatments we may see in the next few years are just incredible,” says Tadrous. “I think in Canada and Toronto, we don’t always realize the amazing work happening in this university and in this very Faculty, and it’s exciting to dream about what will happen next.”

The I’m Pharmacy Podcast is available through all major podcast platforms.