If prevention is better than cure, why does health research focus on the fix?

We know that what matters most for our health is the food we eat, the air we breathe, the places we work and the homes we live in. But even though we know a lot about what causes ill health, we know far too little about how to prevent those factors from making us ill.

In this episode, host Tiernan Douieb talks to Nesta's Christina Cornwell about tipping the health research balance away from the biomedical: what happens when you look for solutions to the causes of illhealth - like pollution and inequality?

We hear from the Ella Roberta Family Foundation founder, Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah, about her campaign for better air quality after her young daughter suffered from a fatal asthma attack. 

Finally, Lita Wallace of The Winch, joins Tiernan and Christina to talk about why youth violence is a public health issue and how research led by young people in North London is trying to find solutions.

• Proposal for The Nightingale Centre 
• The Ella Roberta Family Foundation
• The Winch's Take Back the Power and podcast 

Get in touch with the Future Curious team: futurecurious@nesta.org.uk 

Or on Twitter @Nesta_UK, #futurecurious

Future Curious is presented by Tiernan Douieb and produced and published by Nesta's communication team. This episode was recorded at and edited by Wardour Studios. Original music by Ged Flood.