Episode 5: Prof. Danny Altmann - Immunology

Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, Danny Altmann has been working on the immunology of new viruses for decades and has now turned his hand to Long Covid. Immunology is the study of the immune system which some say could the root of the body going on to develop Long Covid. Altmann is leading the team that may finally give sufferers the ability have a diagnostic blood test. “I am hopeful it’s going to be 6 months rather than 12 months,” he said. There is currently no single test for people with Long Covid leaving many sufferers at the mercy of whether their doctors subscribe to its existence. Initial data from the team at Imperial have identified autoantibodies in the blood of long Covid patients. These autoantibodies were not found in people who recovered quickly from the virus or had never tested positive. Altmann is all things, fascinating, erudite and charming.. his brilliance adds only to the sheen of his charismatic personality. Drawing on comparisons with other viruses that he’s studied, and on his extensive reading and engagement with the subject, Professor Altmann talks candidly about his scientific knowledge as well as his opinions on the societal, medical and economic impacts of Long Covid.