12 minutes | Sunday, January 11, 2026
Skin Deep: How Melanin Impacts Your Body’s Response To DrugsScientific research is becoming more inclusive, but one area that’s still lacking this diversity is pre-clinical research. Without knowing how medications will react to different ancestries and skin tones, millions of people are being put at risk. Our experts discuss the effect melanin has on a drug’s efficacy and changes the industry can implement right now that will make a big difference. Host: Elizabeth Westfield. Producer: Kristen Farrah. Guests: Sophie Zaaijer, Molecular Biologist, Consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Clinical Trials; Simon Groen, Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Systems Biology, University of California at Riverside Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.