In a special panel discussion hosted by Intelligence Squared, speakers from the James Martin 21st Century School will describe how they are pushing forward the frontiers of medical science, seeking solutions to some of the critical medical problems of our age – in particular diseases associated with greater life expectancy.

Turning back the clock: Dr Paul Fairchild (Oxford Stem Cell Institute) will explain how a breakthrough in stem cell research – enabling these pluripotent cells to be harvested from the patient’s own cell tissue rather than from embryos – has brought us much closer to the point where we will be able to replace or regenerate diseased and worn out tissue.

Beating Alzheimer's: Scientists at the Institute for the Future of Mind have come up with an important new theory to explain how brain cells degenerate. Professor Susan Greenfield will argue that this could be a crucial step to finding a cure for two of the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

A Cure for cancer: Professor Bleddyn Jones (Particle Therapy Cancer Research Institute) and his colleagues at the Particle Therapy Research Institute are working on a new form of radiotherapy – known as CPT – which targets cancer cells while avoiding the damage that conventional radiotherapy does to healthy tissue. As Professor Jones will show, this could prove a highly effective way of dealing with cancer.

Combating the superbugs: A major problem confronting modern medicine is the spread of “superbugs” resistant to all conventional types of antibiotic. Dr Sonia Contera (Institute of Nanoscience for Medicine) will show how by creating a completely new form of antibiotic made out of nanoparticles, she and her colleagues at the Institute of Nanoscience for Medicine are on the verge of cracking the problem.

Tickets: £20 from www.intelligencesquared.com

Enquiries: Events@21school.ox.ac.uk or info@intelligencesquared.com