logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2025
26m 29s

The Life Scientific: Anthony Fauci

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Welcome to a world where medicine meets politics: a space that brings together scientific research, government wrangling, public push-back and healthcare conspiracies…

Dr Anthony Fauci was the Director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades, during which time he not only helped study, treat and prevent viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Covid-19; he also advised seven US Presidents, from Ronald Regan through to Joe Biden.

Along the way, Tony Fauci's picked up a public profile and taken a fair amount of flack; not least because of his complicated relationship with President Donald Trump. But he's also made great strides in medical research and policy, from working with activists who initially challenged him on the government response to HIV/AIDS - to spearheading the USA's PEPFAR project to share vital medication with developing nations.

In a candid conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Tony discusses his childhood in Brooklyn, the dark early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and lessons from the Covid-19.

Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor Reversion for World Service by Minnie Harrop

Up next
Oct 12
The Life Scientific: Edith Heard
Imagine looking at a map of a city you thought you knew inside-out, only to discover a collection of tightly knit neighbourhoods that nobody had ever realised existed... Edith Heard has achieved something rather similar with DNA.Edith is a leading expert in epigenetics: put simpl ... Show More
26m 28s
Oct 5
The Life Scientific: Ginger Kerrick
What do you do when your childhood dream of becoming an astronaut is grounded at the final hurdle?If you’re physicist Ginger Kerrick, you go on to help run the missions instead.After failing the medical of her astronaut application process, Ginger went on to become Nasa’s first n ... Show More
26m 28s
Sep 28
The ocean within us
Here's a little fact you might have heard before: humans are around 70% water. About the same percentage as a sweet potato, incidentally. But what does that actually mean? Sure, there's blood, that accounts for some of it. And the lymphatic system has a fair amount too, sloshing ... Show More
26m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Titans of Science: Anthony Fauci
Time for the next installment in Titans of Science! This week's very special guest is the former chief medical advisor to the White House during the pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci. He tells Chris Smith his fascinating story, from a boyhood flair on the basketball court, his rise to p ... Show More
30m 32s
Jun 2024
A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t the first public health crisis Dr. Fauci helped Americans navigate, or the first time he’s come und ... Show More
31m 25s
Sep 2022
Is the pandemic actually over? It's complicated | Anthony Fauci
“Be spreaders of facts and truths,” says scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Having advised seven US presidents on various disease outbreaks including COVID-19, he shares insights on the present and future of pandemics, backed up by decades of experience in public healt ... Show More
29m 10s
Oct 2022
Is the pandemic actually over? It’s complicated | Anthony Fauci
“Be spreaders of facts and truths,” says scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Having advised seven US presidents on various disease outbreaks including COVID-19, he shares insights on the present and future of pandemics, backed up by decades of experience in public healt ... Show More
29m 17s
Jun 2021
Navigating the pandemic: Dr Anthony Fauci
From the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, one expert came to the fore as a trusted voice, not just in his home country of the United States, but around the globe: Dr Anthony S Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 
28m 40s
Jan 2022
Navigating the pandemic: Dr Anthony Fauci
From the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, one expert came to the fore as a trusted voice, not just in his home country of the United States, but around the globe: Dr Anthony S Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 
28m 45s
Dec 2024
Anthony Fauci Is Worried about Bird Flu—And How Our Divisions Could Help It Hurt Us
Anthony Fauci speaks with Tanya Lewis, senior editor for health and medicine at Scientific American, about his remarkable career, as detailed in his new book On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service. They discuss the experiences he faced while guiding the U.S. through the pa ... Show More
21m 34s
Sep 2020
Dr Fauci: America's doctor on working with Trump
Anthony Fauci is the most important doctor in America, and he's the public face of the battle against Covid-19 in the US. Does President Trump listen to his advice?Guest: Rhys Blakely, science correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: CNN, NBC, MSNBC, Sky News, US ... Show More
26m 36s