In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking to Prof. Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich from the Cluster of Excellence 'Physics of Life' at the Technical University Dresden, Germany, about The Role of Mechanical Forces in Health and Disease.

Prof. Fischer-Friedrich talks about her interdisciplinary research investigating how stress and mechanical properties influence biological function and delves into the interplay between intracellular forces, deformation, and dynamic mechanical properties.

Rare diseases rarely come alone.In this episode, we uncover how secondary diseases, infections, and treatment side effects often become as life-changing as the rare diseases themselves.🎧 Hosted by Dr Elisabeth Kugler, this discussion brings together two experts who live and lead in the world of rare conditions — exploring challenges, science, and the human stories behind them.👩‍⚕️ Guests:Sue Farrington• President, ‪@FESCAscleroderma‬ • Chair, ‪@PIF-PatientInformationForum‬ (PiF)• Co-Chair, RAIRDA (Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease Alliance)• Chief Executive, ‪@WeAreSRUK‬ Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK)Dr Jesús Zurdo• Director, Ara Biosciences• #Leukaemia Survivor & Patient Advocate• Non-Executive Director, Telomere Therapeutics• Expert Jury Member, EIC Accelerator Programme

In this episode of Keep It Science, we shine a light on the rare autoimmune condition Scleroderma — and the human side of living with it.Host Dr Nick Gaunt is joined by two special guests:

• Prof. Dr Francesco Del Galdo — Susan Cheney Professor of Experimental Medicine, Head of the Scleroderma Programme at NIHR Leeds, Chair of the Scleroderma Forum, and President of EUSTAR.
• Dr Elisabeth Kugler — Director at Zeeks, co-host of Keep It Science, scientist, and patient living with overlapping rare autoimmune conditions including Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis, and Secondary Raynaud’s.

• Why Scleroderma is so difficult to diagnose and treat
• The importance of the clinician–patient relationship
• How patients can support their doctors during clinic reviews
• The role of self-management beyond medication
• Elisabeth’s personal journey balancing science, daily life, and chronic illness
• Breakthroughs in Scleroderma research and what’s on the horizon

• Patients: sruk.co.uk
• Clinicians & researchers: scleroderma-forum.com

Together, they explore:This candid conversation highlights both the science and the stories behind rare diseases, offering insights for patients, clinicians, and anyone interested in how research translates into real lives.🔗 Resources: