The Persistence Lab

Epizode

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  Inside the Mind of a Scientist 25.06.2026 15min

  We often experience science through the breakthrough announced in the news. But that moment comes at the end of a long and arduous process that often began years earlier. Understanding this journey, and the people who dedicate their careers to these efforts, can bring us one step closer to appreciating the value of that breakthrough. In the season finale of The Persistence Lab, a podcast from AbbVie, we revisit our conversations with the scientists and experts from this season to understand how optimism becomes a strategy to drive innovation, not just a mindset. Not intended for UK audiences.For more information on AbbVie’s culture of scientific innovation, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/our-people.html.
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  Can Scientists Slow Down Brain Disorders? 11.06.2026 20min

  Neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, are conditions that lead to a gradual, cumulative loss of neural activity in the brain. There are currently no cures for these conditions, and current care regimens focus on managing the symptoms of these diseases. In this episode, sponsored by AbbVie, we look at the impact of neurological conditions on patients and their families, and the persistence of the scientists and researchers who are exploring new clinical approaches that could potentially change the way these neurological conditions are treated. Not intended for UK audiences. For more information on AbbVie’s efforts in neuroscience, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/areas-of-focus/neuroscience.html.
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  Not Lost in Translation 28.05.2026 20min

  Why do some patients with autoimmune disease respond to treatment while others may not? Understanding these insights can offer scientists potential clues about the underlying cause of disease. This episode, sponsored by AbbVie, explores the approaches scientists use to help drive progress in immunology research like reverse translation – a process that works from “bedside to bench” using clinical observation and patient data to inform and refine drug development earlier on in the process. Not intended for UK audiences.To learn more about AbbVie’s efforts in immunology, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/areas-of-focus/immunology.html
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  The Answer Is Inside You: The Complexities of Autoimmune Research 14.05.2026 19min

  The immune system is our greatest defense – a shield that protects us from harmful diseases. But what happens when it misfires and attacks the body with no pathogens in sight? For decades, scientists have been working to find ways to address the conditions that result from this process, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. This episode, sponsored by AbbVie, traces how scientists’ understanding of immune activation has evolved and explores new clinical approaches that aim to reset the immune system. It’s a story of turning inward to finding the answers already written in our biology. Not intended for UK audiences.For more information about the technologies and platforms informing AbbVie’s therapeutic approaches, visit: https://abbv.ie/092d64
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  Beyond the Skin's Surface 30.04.2026 19min

  What does it really mean to feel good in your own skin? Despite the number of patients who achieve natural-looking results from dermal fillers, social media and online sources have disproportionately amplified stories of the outliers. Providers now play an important role in educating audiences about these medicines – knowledge that can help lead to more informed conversations. In this episode, sponsored by AbbVie, we dive deep into the world of aesthetic medicine, focusing on how education about the science of these treatments can build trust and break down barriers to care. Not intended for UK audiences.For more information about AbbVie’s research in aesthetic medicine, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/areas-of-focus/aesthetics.html.
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  Cancer's Clues: How Biomarkers are Changing the Game for Scientists 16.04.2026 19min

  For patients with tough-to-treat cancers, treatment approaches have advanced significantly over the past several decades. Scientists have made significant progress in understanding cancer biology. In this episode, sponsored by AbbVie, we explore how the discovery of biomarkers – the biological “signatures” for certain cancers – have helped create a paradigm shift in how we treat cancer by focusing on precision medicine approaches to target specific tumors. Not intended for UK audiences.To learn more about AbbVie’s research in oncology, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/areas-of-focus/oncology.html.
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  Smart Packaging 02.04.2026 19min

  Medication access goes beyond the ability to obtain the medication prescribed – it's also about the logistics: developing, manufacturing and delivering a medicine. This episode, sponsored by AbbVie, explores how teams are rethinking operations and manufacturing to prioritize the most important piece of the puzzle: the patient. Behind every package that reaches a patient lies remarkable science, dedication, and ingenuity, ensuring that care makes it all the way to those who need it most. Not intended for UK audiences.To find out more about AbbVie’s operations and manufacturing capabilities, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/who-we-are/our-stories/how-abbvies-integrated-operations-help-prevent-drug-shortages.html
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  Help on the Line 19.03.2026 24min

  For many patients, navigating the health care system can be painstakingly difficult. But a conversation with an advocate can change everything. In this episode, sponsored by AbbVie, we follow the patient journey through the complexities of the health care system. Along the way, we meet people behind AbbVie’s patient support teams, who aim to help patients feel seen, heard, and empowered. Not intended for UK audiences.To find out more about AbbVie patient support, visit: www.abbvie.com/patients/patient-support.html
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  Entering the Fortress: Navigating the Blood-Brain Barrier 05.03.2026 18min

  Is it possible to deliver medicine to the brain when the brain won’t let it in? The blood-brain barrier is the brain’s personal fortress, protecting it from potentially dangerous pathogens. But that same barrier can also prevent the delivery of medicines. In this episode, sponsored by AbbVie, we meet the scientists exploring the use of shuttle technology to navigate the blood-brain barrier and potentially address conditions of the brain. It’s a story of scientific persistence and the new approaches that might develop when you stop trying to knock down the door and learn how to unlock it. Not intended for UK audiences.To learn about AbbVie’s approach to neuroscience research, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/areas-of-focus/neuroscience.html
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  Can We Find Cures Faster? 19.02.2026 22min

  Our health and well-being impact every element of our lives. For patients with some of the most difficult-to-treat medical conditions, a cure is what they’re hoping for. How can we accelerate drug development to spur progress and turn bold ideas into real breakthroughs? We launch our journey into The Persistence Lab, a podcast sponsored by AbbVie, with a look at how the company is empowering scientists to boldly rethink what it means to cure disease and accelerate care for patients. Not intended for UK audiences.To learn more about AbbVie’s approach to scientific discovery, visit: https://www.abbvie.com/science/our-people/community-of-science.html
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  Introducing The People and Stories Driving Health Care Innovation 20.01.2026 2min

  The Persistence Lab, a podcast from AbbVie, invites you to step into the lives of the people who wake up every day determined to solve some of the toughest challenges in medicine and health care. Here, breakthroughs aren’t single moments – they’re the result of questions pursued, experiments refined, and teams who push forward even when the path gets complicated. This is where science meets humanity, and where persistence turns possibilities into real impact for patients. Not intended for UK audiences.