The Threshold

Global health is facing a tipping point. Scientific advancements have changed how we respond to epidemics like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria – and the pipeline of breakthrough innovations has never been stronger. But funding is down and priorities are shifting. Will the science come to scale so these diseases can finally be ended? Or will they surge instead? On The Threshold , reporters from around the world cover this unfolding crisis from all sides—talking to scientists, politicians, civil society leaders, pharmaceutical executives, and others. The Threshold is a seven-part Foreign Policy podcast hosted by acclaimed broadcast journalist Henry Bonsu and made possible through funding in part from the Gates Foundation.

The Threshold is a science podcast hosted by Foreign Policy, with 9 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Foreign Policy hosts The Threshold, a science show with 9 episodes published.

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  Episode #8

  ‘The Threshold’ Live

  Feb 5, 202658 minS1

  <p>We hosted a live virtual podcast taping of The Threshold on World Neglected Tropical Disease Day. Host Henry Bonsu spoke with Sabena Solomon, GSK vice president and head of global health access, and Sam Macintosh, the END Fund’s vice president of global strategic partnerships, about pharmaceutical companies’ unique role in the fight to end NTDs. Since 2000, dozens of countries have eliminated at least one NTD. This is in part thanks to pharmaceutical industry partners, who have donated over 30 billion tablets and vials toward ending NTDs. During this special event, which was made possible through funding from the Gates Foun...

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  Episode #7

  The Path Toward Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases

  Nov 20, 202533 minS1

  <p>In our season finale of The Threshold, we delve into what it will take to end neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which impact about 1.5 billion people. The World Health Organization considers 21 diseases to be NTDs, a classification that marks a disease as underfunded and prioritized relative to its burden. What is encouraging is that a growing number of neglected tropical diseases are closer than ever to being eliminated.</p> <p>Our episode begins with the personal story of Rehema, whose account was produced by Sharon Kiburi. Rehema’s path towards a diagnosis demonstrates much of what is challenging with neglected tr...

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  Episode #6

  How to Stop Diseases from Spreading

  Nov 13, 202534 minS1

  <p>What are the best ways to stop the spread of infectious diseases? One key element is diagnostics. For diseases like tuberculosis, there are millions of people unaware that they have the disease. So improving diagnostic tests and making them accessible are critical. </p> <p>Thankfully, new scientific breakthroughs could dramatically improve rapid TB diagnostic tests. These tools may soon transform countries like India, where the toll of TB looms large. </p> <p>Reporting from Mumbai, India, journalist Chhavi Sachdev speaks with Dr. DJ Christopher, professor of pulmonary medicine at Christian Medical College, Vellore, a top ranked teaching medical college. Ch...

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  Episode #5

  Out-of-the-box Innovations Against Malaria

  Nov 6, 202537 minS1

  <p>Malaria kills nearly six hundred thousand people every year, with 95 percent of deaths occurring in Africa. Most of them are children under five. While progress on curbing malaria has flattened in recent years, new scientific breakthroughs may bring the world closer than ever not only to controlling malaria outbreaks, but potentially also eradicating the disease. </p> <p>In this episode, we focus on the best mosquito control strategies to eliminate malaria. Host Henry Bonsu interviews Dr. Fredros Okumu, professor at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and a scientist at Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania. His research evaluates many o...

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  Episode #4

  Turning the Page on Tuberculosis

  Oct 30, 202528 minS1

  <p>Tuberculosis claimed more than 1.25 million lives in 2023, overtaking COVID as the world’s deadliest infectious disease. For the last century, there has been a vaccine protecting children from TB. Now, there is hope for a new solution: a potential vaccine for adolescents and adults. </p> <p>On this episode, reporter Elna Schütz visits an M72 TB vaccine trial site in Worcester, South Africa, one of the world’s TB epicenters. First, Elna speaks with participants about their experiences in the M72 trial and with TB more generally. She also interviews South Africa Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) Director Mark Hather...

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