The Long Game

Sandy & Ross
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  • Entrepreneurship

The Long Game is a podcast that demystifies the science shaping our lives, and explores how great ideas built in Scotland become real-world medicines, devices, and companies at the cutting edge of life sciences.

  1. 4d ago

    Billion-Dollar Blunder? Fleming and the Discovery of Antibiotics

    One contaminated lab plate helped launch a multi-billion-dollar industry, save hundreds of millions of lives, and trigger one of the biggest IP blunders in British history. Ross Cagan and Sandy Weir trace the penicillin story from Alexander Fleming's messy "failed" experiment to the commercialisation race that changed medicine forever. They unpack how Fleming spotted the blue-green mould that killed staph bacteria, why his breakthrough sat ignored for a decade, and how Howard Florey and Ernest Chain turned the discovery into a scalable manufacturing process during World War Two. Along the way, they reveal why the real breakthrough wasn't just scientific, it was industrial, legal, and deeply political.

  2. Aug 20

    E22: Bio-Economics of Murder: The Jigsaw Murders

    A doctor tried to erase two murders so completely that he turned the crime scene into a puzzle. What finally exposed the truth was not a confession, but forensic ingenuity; skull reconstruction, photographic superimposition, and insects that could timestamp death with uncanny precision. Ross Cagan and Sandy Weir unpack the infamous Buck Ruxton case, known as the Jigsaw Murders and Bodies Under the Bridge, and show how a 1935 killing in Moffat helped redefine modern forensic science.

  3. Aug 13

    E21: What Actually is the Placebo Effect? Part II

    The placebo effect is far more powerful, and potentially more dangerous, than most people realise. Expectation can trigger real biochemical changes in the brain, ease symptoms, and even nudge dopamine release in Parkinson's disease, but it can also create side effects out of thin air and quietly distort treatment decisions. In the second part of their examination of the placebo effect, Sandy Weir and Ross Cagan dig further into the science behind placebo and nocebo, showing why "feeling better" is not the same as "being better." They use striking examples from Parkinson's, asthma, COVID vaccine trials, pain relief, and cancer care to show where placebo responses help, where they mislead, and why the line matters so much in real medicine.

  4. Aug 7

    E20: What Actually IS The Placebo Effect? Part I

    A fake surgery that performed as well as the real thing. That’s the kind of result that changes how you think about pain, healing, and what medicine actually is. In this episode Ross and Sandy break down why the placebo effect is not “mind over matter” trivia, but real biology shaped by expectation, trust, ritual, and meaning. They use one of the most famous knee surgery studies to expose the gap between what’s happening in the operating theatre and what the body is actually responding to. If you’ve ever wondered why some treatments work better in practice than they should on paper, this conversation shows you where the hidden power lives. Ross explains the science of precision medicine and the role of meaning in the health system, while Sandy brings the lens of technology, investment, and health innovation. Together they show why medicine is not just chemistry, but chemistry delivered through theatre, and why that distinction matters when patients, doctors, and investors are trying to understand what really works.

  5. Jul 31

    E19: The Bio-Founder's Playbook, Part 2b: How to Raise Funding in Scotland

    Unlock the secrets to launching a biotech startup from Scotland’s leading experts; avoid common pitfalls, tap into critical funding sources, and learn when and how to scale beyond borders. Most founders rush into company formation without the right foundation. Prof Ross Cagan, Director of the McNabb Center, and Dr Sandy Weir, Tech Innovation Leader, expose the biggest mistakes biotech entrepreneurs make when transitioning from research to business. They reveal how to use university resources to de-risk your project, the true role of non-dilutive funding, and the importance of timing in fundraising. Discover why early company formation can hamper your growth and learn the smart steps to validate your idea, protect your IP, and build a credible team before pitching to investors. In this episode, Ross and Sandy continue to share real-world insights from their vast experience, highlighting the difference between innovative science and investable companies. They caution against rushing early, over-diluting, or pitching without thorough market and regulatory understanding. Plus, they offer practical tips for securing any startup milestone, backing Scotland’s vibrant biotech ecosystem, and building a truly global company. Perfect for early-stage founders, biotech entrepreneurs, and researchers eager to turn their innovative ideas into impactful businesses. If you're ready to navigate the complex funding landscape and avoid costly pitfalls, this episode is your ultimate guide to raising capital, scaling smartly, and making a real difference in healthcare.

  6. Jul 23

    E18: The Bio-Founder’s Playbook, Part 2 (a): How to Raise Funding in Scotland

    Unlock the secrets to turning innovative Scotland-based life sciences ideas into global success stories. This episode dives into the practical steps, funding strategies, legal hurdles, and insider tips, needed to transform early research into a thriving company, all while avoiding costly mistakes. Whether you're a scientist at the start of your entrepreneurial journey or an investor looking to spot a winning biotech, this episode will elevate your understanding of the complex landscape of life science startups. Ross, a Professor of Precision Medicine, and Sandy, a Tech Innovation Leader, lay out the critical map for founders: When to stay in academia and when to get out, how university support can be a fortress or a trap, and why dilution and IP are your biggest enemies early on. Discover why forming a company too soon can stall your progress, how early grants can jumpstart your journey, and the subtle art of pitching investors with a sharp focus on milestones, market opportunity, and control—not just science coolness.

  7. Jul 17

    E17: The Bio-Founder’s Playbook (Part 1): Explaining Funding Jargon

    Most biotech founders in Scotland and beyond don’t understand the complex world of venture capital. This episode reveals the insider secrets to navigating early-stage biotech funding, from bootstrap beginnings to Series C success, with insights you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you're a scientist dreaming of transforming your research into a life-changing medicine or an investor eager to unlock the next big breakthrough, this is your ultimate crash course in biotech funding. Ross Cagan and Sandy Weir team-up to demystify the funding pipeline that every life sciences entrepreneur must master. You’ll discover why biotech is so fundamentally different from software startups, and why understanding this difference is crucial if you want your innovation to reach patients, not just papers. They unpack the entire funding journey: from bootstrapping with friends and family, to angel investments, the seed rounds that prove market need, and on to Series A, B, and beyond, culminating in a strategic exit or IPO. Get ready to learn how these stages work in Scotland, the UK, and even compare them to the US landscape, with practical insights on costs, timelines, and what investors are really after.

  8. Jul 8

    E16: The Memory Economy: Dementia and Fighting for Our Future

    In this episode Ross and Sandy discuss the complexities of dementia, exploring its impact, the science behind it, the economic costs, and the biotech industry's efforts in prevention and early detection. The conversation covers the future of disease treatment, encouraging industry to explore opportunities, practical and personal advice for disease prevention. We close with our 'wee bit of joy' and consider Scotland's struggle in the Football World Cup, a family reunion in New York, and establishing a transatlantic traditions.

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About

The Long Game is a podcast that demystifies the science shaping our lives, and explores how great ideas built in Scotland become real-world medicines, devices, and companies at the cutting edge of life sciences.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandy & Ross
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sandy & Ross