New analysis on Bipolar treatment, and vaccines for malaria

Bipolar disorder affects almost 40 million people worldwide, but finding the right treatment is complex, and nearly half of patients struggle to follow their prescribed treatment plans.   In the first part of this episode, we discuss new research which aims to help patients and their doctors identify the right treatment. Michele De Prisco, psychiatrist and researcher at the Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques, joins us to discuss his team's comprehensive umbrella analysis of bipolar disorder treatment options.   Also this week, with the malaria vaccines RTS,S and R21 passing regulatory hurdles, and becoming available for populations around the world, the fight against malaria is shifting. Gillian Turner, Principal Research Associate at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, explains the logistical challenges of the malaria vaccine rollout and what steps are needed next to control the disease. Reading list:   Evidence based interventions for bipolar disorder across phases and age groups   Scaling up Malaria Vaccines in Africa