In this interview, Dr. Stephen Mawdsley takes a look back at the early 1950s when gamma globulin was being tested for the prevention of polio. He explains how successful publicity ultimately compromised the integrity of the clinical trial.Dr. Stephen Mawdsley is Wellcome Trust Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland and specializes in the history of American race, medicine, and health.Full article: www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.170232To request a transcript of this podcast, contact cmajgroup@cmaj.caSubscribe to CMAJ Podcasts on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also follow us directly on our SoundCloud page or you can visit www.cmaj.ca/page/multimedia/podcasts.