Beyond Death by Anubix®

William Edwards on Preserving the Past to Teach the Future

This episode, hosts Mark Viner and Lindsay Batty-Smith speak with William (Bill) Edwards, Curator of the Gordon Museum of Pathology. Bill takes us behind the scenes of one of the largest medical museums in the UK, sharing how the museum's vast collection—from 17th-century specimens to contemporary forensic materials—serves a vital educational purpose. From mummification experiments to advising on cold cases, Bill’s stories reveal the enduring power of pathology to inform, teach, and remember.
 
To find out about the museum see:
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/centre-for-education/museums/gordon-museum
To learn more about our work at Anubix check out:
www.anubix.co.uk
 
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William Edwards is the Curator of the Gordon Museum of Pathology and Senior Tutor and Deputy Course Director of the Extended Medical Degree Programme at GKT Medical School. With nearly five decades at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and a background in developmental biology, Bill is a key figure in medical museology, education, and forensic collaboration.
He oversees one of the most unique collections in medical history, including over 8,000 teaching specimens, historical forensic archives, and the preserved remains of Alan Billis, a modern-day mummy. In addition to his teaching and curatorial work, Bill assists police with forensic legacy cases and advises other European medical museums on pathology display and preservation techniques.

FEBRUARY JOURNAL CLUB – Fatal free falls and skeletal injury patterns: insights from PMCT and autopsy

This month, we present the following article:
Woliński F, Sado J, Kraśnik K, et al. Fatal Free Falls: A Clinical and Forensic Analysis of Skeletal Injury Patterns Using PMCT and Autopsy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14:7912. doi:10.3390/jcm14227912.
This study examines skeletal injury patterns in fatal free falls using post-mortem CT alongside autopsy, highlighting how fracture distribution varies with fall height, kinetic energy, and intent. The authors show that suicides are more likely to produce severe, bilateral pelvic and limb fractures, while accidental falls tend to result in more unilateral injuries, reinforcing the added diagnostic value of PMCT in medico-legal investigations.
NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.

Katherine Bryan-Merrett on Art & Grief

This episode, hosts Mark Viner and Lindsay Batty-Smith sit down with Katherine Bryan-Merrett, a portrait and mural artist whose evocative work delves into grief, memory, and the emotional resonance of those we’ve lost. From posthumous portraits to coffin painting, Kat shares how art can become a vital, healing space for families navigating bereavement and the complexities of death.
 
Kat is working with Anubix Ltd and you can find out more about our collaboration at: https://www.anubix.co.uk/memorial-art-keepsakes 
For more information about Anubix Ltd please check out: www.anubix.co.uk 
 
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Katherine Bryan-Merrett is a portrait and mural artist at Kat and Owen Murals (www.katandowen.co.uk)
With over 20 years of experience as a professional artist. Her work spans memorial portraiture, landscape murals, and site-specific commissions, and is often inspired by people, the natural world, and the emotional connections between them.
A passionate collaborator, Kat has created artwork for clients ranging from The Prince’s Trust to football clubs and even a mortuary extension mural for a death dummy business. Her practice embraces vulnerability, memory, and storytelling—offering a unique, creative way to process loss and celebrate life through art.

JANUARY JOURNAL CLUB – Reconstructing homicide injuries with 3D-printed weapon replicas

This month, we present the following article:
Simon G, Tóth D, Heckmann V, Poór VS. The use of 3D-printed replicas of homicide weapons during autopsy.
International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03691-z.
This case series explores how 3D-printed replicas of sharp and blunt weapons can be safely used during autopsy to reconstruct wound direction, force, and mechanism. Through real homicide cases, the authors show how this technique enhances injury interpretation, supports medico-legal conclusions, and improves courtroom communication without compromising evidence.
 
NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.

DECEMBER JOUNRAL CLUB - Global causes of death over the last 30 years globally - a Lancet study

Global burden of 292 causes of death in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Lancet. 2025 Oct 18;406(10513):1811-1872. 
 
This global analysis estimates cause-specific mortality for 292 causes across 204 countries (plus 660 subnational locations) from 1990–2023, adding two policy-useful metrics—probability of death before age 70 (70q0) and mean age at death. The study shows how much the world has changed in three decades: people are living longer, fewer children are dying, and many infectious diseases are now preventable. But it also warns that chronic illnesses, lifestyle factors, and inequality are now the biggest threats to health.
The authors call for stronger, more resilient health systems, ones that can handle both future pandemics and the rising tide of chronic disease, so that progress made in the last 30 years isn’t lost.
 
NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.

Natasha Davendralingam on the Death Cafe

This episode, Anubix co-founders Dr Susie Shelmerdine and Dr Natasha Davendralingam talk about the Death Cafe - a place where people connect, and share their views, thoughts and experiences about death - an often taboo topic. We talk about the importance of open and frank conversation, how we welcome different perspectives and points of view and how to get involved in Death Cafe meet ups and other wellbeing offerings from Anubix Ltd.
 
If you'd like to find out more or join us for a Death Cafe gathering - please do check out: https://www.anubix.co.uk/anubix-wellbeing
 
Or email: info@anubix.co.uk for more information on other upcoming event.
 

Natasha Davendralingam on the After-Life Imaging Clinic (ALIC)

This episode, Anubix co-founders Dr Susie Shelmerdine and Dr Natasha Davendralingam talk about a unique and innovative service - The After-Life Imaging Clinic. This is a place for the bereaved to talk to a radiologist about their relative / loved one's postmortem imaging, have someone explain what the cause of death means and ask the questions they've always wanted to ask but have no idea who to turn to.
 
If you'd like to find out more about the After Life Imaging Clinic please check out: https://www.anubix.co.uk/clinic 
Or email: info@anubix.co.uk to discuss your personal situation.

NOVEMBER JOURNAL CLUB - Postmortem CT Angiography for fetuses and infants

Vanhaebost J, Scholzen T, Coche E, Grabherr S. Postmortem CT Angiography of Fetuses, Infants and Children up to 12 Years Old: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Decision Tree. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2025. doi: 10.1007/s00414-025-03556-5.
This systematic review explores the current landscape of postmortem CT angiography (PMCTA) in young decedents, highlighting significant variability in technique and the absence of standardized protocols. A conceptual decision tree is proposed to guide practitioners in tailoring PMCTA based on age and anatomical considerations, with implications for improving forensic and clinical investigations.
NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.

Jim Emsley on Estate Planning and Avoiding Family Fall Outs!

This episode, hosts Mark Viner and Lindsay Batty-Smith explore the often-overlooked world of estate planning through the eyes of James Emsley, founder of ELM Legal Services. From his personal journey growing up in care to building a leading UK estate planning firm, Emsley offers candid insights into wills, probate, and why so many families fall into turmoil without clear legal preparation.
 
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Jim Emsley is the award-winning Founder of ELM Legal Services, a Bristol-based estate planning firm now celebrating its 25th year. With over 45,000 clients nationwide and generating more than £1 million annually, Jim has built ELM into a leading name in will-writing and probate, known for making estate planning clear, accessible, and stress-free for families across the UK.
Raised in care and diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Jim grew the business from a back bedroom to a thriving operation across two offices, earning recognition in The Guardian and a shortlisting for Boutique Estate Planning Company of the Year at the Today’s Wills and Probate Awards. He is a sought-after media commentator on topics from trusts and inheritance to home ownership and its impact on estates

OCTOBER JOURNAL CLUB - Multimodal Forensic Approaches to Children's Homicides and Suspicious Deaths

This month, we present the following article:
Fragkou, K.; Ketsekioulafis, I.; Tousia, A.; Piagkou, M.; Bacopoulou, F.; Ferentinos, P.; Peyron, P.-A.; Baccino, E.; Martrille, L.; Papadodima, S. From Fragile Lives to Forensic Truth: Multimodal Forensic Approaches to Pediatric Homicide and Suspect Death. Diagnostics 2025, 15, 1383. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15111383
 
In this episode we delve into the complexities of investigating child homicides, where distinguishing between natural, accidental, and intentional deaths is particularly challenging. The review highlights how combining traditional autopsy with cutting-edge tools—like postmortem imaging, molecular autopsy, and toxicology—can improve diagnostic accuracy, guide legal outcomes, and help prevent future tragedies.
 
NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.