event 2 blog

On May 8th, I had the opportunity to attend the L.A.S.E.R. Talks on Zoom. The talks covered a wide range of topics including regenerative medicine, Dada resistance, Vermeer's art, and the concept of more-than-human time. The panel of speakers consisted of experts in their respective fields, and each presentation was enlightening and thought-provoking.


One speaker who stood out to me was Ravi Majeti from Stanford, who spoke on "Stem Cells and Reprogramming in Human Acute Leukemia." He discussed his research on a novel approach to cancer vaccination that focuses on reprogramming a patient's own immune cells to target and eliminate cancer cells. Specifically, he focused on Precursor B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), which is characterized by a block in normal B cell differentiation at the pre B cell stage. Recent studies have identified genetic mutations in B-ALL that include many transcription factors involved in normal B-cell differentiation.


Majeti's research has shown that by reprogramming a patient's own immune cells, it is possible to eliminate cancer cells in patients with B-ALL. This approach is known as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, and it has shown remarkable success in clinical trials. In a recent study, 94% of patients with relapsed or refractory B-ALL achieved complete remission after receiving CAR T cell therapy.


Listening to Majeti's talk made me reflect on a previous event I attended, Marta de Menezes' talk at EDA Broad Arts at UCLA. De Menezes, a bio-artist, discussed the immune system as the most creative organ in the human body. She emphasized the importance of understanding the immune system and her projects Immortality for Two and Anti-Marta, emphasize the concept of self and non-self – an important part of immunology. Majeti's research aligns with de Menezes' vision of using the immune system to fight cancer.


In conclusion, attending the L.A.S.E.R. Talks on May 8th was an enriching experience. Ravi Majeti's talk on stem cells and reprogramming in human acute leukemia was particularly inspiring. His research on CAR T cell therapy offers hope for patients with B-ALL, and it aligns with the vision of using the immune system to fight cancer. I look forward to attending future L.A.S.E.R. Talks and learning from experts in various fields.




Images:

Coolidge, Leeza. Screenshots of L.A.S.E.R. talks. May 8, 2023.


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