From Organ Donation to Drug Safety: The Power of HLA
How is a decades-old scientific tool that revolutionized organ transplantation now being used in cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune disease?In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Terri Somers talks to experts in immunogenetics and histocompatibility about human leukocyte antigens, or HLAs, which are biomarkers on our cells that provide crucial information about our immune system. HLAs have been used for decades now to match the right donated organ or cells to a patient in need. As science has gained a deeper understanding of the immune system, the utility of HLAs has expanded significantly, helping to transform healthcare.Guests-at-a-Glance Name: Marcelo Fernandez Vina💡 What they do: Director, Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory💡 Company: Stanford Blood Center💡 Noteworthy: International leader in HLA research with over 30 years of lab and academic experience💡 Where to find him: LinkedIn💡 Name: Dave Lowe💡 What they do: Senior Director, R&D – Transplant Diagnostics💡 Company: Thermo Fisher Scientific💡 Noteworthy: Leads global development of HLA testing tools for transplant and immunogenetics💡 Where to find him: LinkedIn
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Gene Therapy: A New Era of Medicine Bringing Fresh Hope to Patients
Imagine a future where diseases like leukemia, sickle cell anemia and multiple sclerosis are no longer life sentences, but treatable and even curable. That is the promise of gene therapy.In this episode, Namritha Ravinder, director of cell biology at Thermo Fisher Scientific, explains the groundbreaking technologies that correct the genetic errors in our cells that lead to disease. These gene therapies may offer permanent solutions with single-dose treatments. Namritha also provides an expert’s view on what’s to come from more than 2,000 gene therapies in the pipeline, and the innovation needed to make these new treatments accessible to patients.
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Advancing Sustainability in Laboratories: A Conversation with My Green Lab’s James Connelly and Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Alyssa Caddle
Laboratories use up to ten times the energy of typical office spaces, making sustainability in science a pressing issue. In this episode of Science with a Twist, host Terri Somers speaks with James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab, and Alyssa Caddle, Senior Director of Global Sustainability at Thermo Fisher Scientific, about steps laboratories can take to reduce their environmental impact. From energy-efficient cold storage to sustainable lab products, James and Alyssa discuss how the life science industry is evolving to meet ambitious climate goals.
Listen to the conversation as they discuss:How health equity is a key component of Thermo Fisher’s core business.How Thermo Fisher leverages its capabilities and customer relationships to further its impact.Initiatives that improve health equity through accessibility to drug-resistant HIV testing, next-generation sequencing to diagnose lung and breast cancer in 30 underserved countries, increasing the accessibility to and diversity in clinical trials, and more.New programs in 2024.
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Access to Clinical Trials: Eliminating Barriers to Enrollment for Women
Dr. Blackburne shares insights into:The challenges of recruiting women and minority groups for clinical trials, noting the logistical and societal barriers they face.Innovative solutions, such as telemedicine and flexible scheduling, to make trial participation more accessible. Recent advances in clinical research, including a groundbreaking preeclampsia test and contributions to COVID-19 vaccine trials, highlighting Thermo Fisher's pivotal role in these developments.
It’s almost impossible to overstate how many aspects of daily life are impacted by science. From technologies that help ensure the quality of the water we drink, to medicines that deliver lifesaving treatments – it’s all thanks to science. Each month, members of Thermo Fisher Scientific's team talk to experts who are on the cutting-edge of redefining how we exist. This is Science with a Twist.
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