as a kid anytime someone would ask me what I want
anytime someone would ask me what I want
anytime someone would ask me what I want to be when I grow up I would always
to be when I grow up I would always
to be when I grow up I would always respond with the same thing a biologist
respond with the same thing a biologist
respond with the same thing a biologist and the President of the United States
and the President of the United States
and the President of the United States to be honest this was mostly because I
to be honest this was mostly because I
to be honest this was mostly because I share a birthday with Charles Darwin and
share a birthday with Charles Darwin and
share a birthday with Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln but in my six-year-old
Abraham Lincoln but in my six-year-old
Abraham Lincoln but in my six-year-old mind that was a perfectly logical way to
mind that was a perfectly logical way to
mind that was a perfectly logical way to pick a career and somehow it came true I
pick a career and somehow it came true I
pick a career and somehow it came true I am a biologist still working on that
am a biologist still working on that
am a biologist still working on that second one but as a scientist I get to
second one but as a scientist I get to
second one but as a scientist I get to study some of the smallest simplest
study some of the smallest simplest
study some of the smallest simplest units of life and ask the most
units of life and ask the most
units of life and ask the most complicated questions and it’s this
complicated questions and it’s this
complicated questions and it’s this methodical system of asking questions
methodical system of asking questions
methodical system of asking questions and testing answers that really
and testing answers that really
and testing answers that really attracted me to basic research in the
attracted me to basic research in the
attracted me to basic research in the first place and has led me to become a
first place and has led me to become a
first place and has led me to become a stem cell biologist and now around the
stem cell biologist and now around the
stem cell biologist and now around the time that my childhood self had settled
time that my childhood self had settled
time that my childhood self had settled on a career was the first time that stem
on a career was the first time that stem
on a career was the first time that stem cells were being grown in a lab nearly
cells were being grown in a lab nearly
cells were being grown in a lab nearly 20 years ago and this was met by a
20 years ago and this was met by a
20 years ago and this was met by a strong response from the media and the
strong response from the media and the
strong response from the media and the public in general dr. James Thompson of
public in general dr. James Thompson of
public in general dr. James Thompson of the University wisconsin-madison had
the University wisconsin-madison had
the University wisconsin-madison had figured out how to grow human embryonic
figured out how to grow human embryonic
figured out how to grow human embryonic stem cells in the lab and there were two
stem cells in the lab and there were two
stem cells in the lab and there were two opposing reactions to this news on the
opposing reactions to this news on the
opposing reactions to this news on the one hand medical professionals and
one hand medical professionals and
one hand medical professionals and patients suffering from degenerative
patients suffering from degenerative
patients suffering from degenerative diseases were excited at the prospect of
diseases were excited at the prospect of
diseases were excited at the prospect of what this meant for them but on the
what this meant for them but on the
what this meant for them but on the other hand a debate ensued just a couple
other hand a debate ensued just a couple
other hand a debate ensued just a couple of years before this there had been a
of years before this there had been a
of years before this there had been a ban on federal funds for any research in
ban on federal funds for any research in
ban on federal funds for any research in which embryos were destroyed
which embryos were destroyed
which embryos were destroyed but private companies could still pursue
but private companies could still pursue
but private companies could still pursue this work so Geron a biotechnology
this work so Geron a biotechnology
this work so Geron a biotechnology company founded in 1990 funded dr.
company founded in 1990 funded dr.
company founded in 1990 funded dr. Thompson in his work to produce
Thompson in his work to produce
Thompson in his work to produce embryonic stem cells from the excess
embryonic stem cells from the excess
embryonic stem cells from the excess embryos that come about during in-vitro
embryos that come about during in-vitro
embryos that come about during in-vitro fertilization and now these excess
fertilization and now these excess
fertilization and now these excess embryos are normally frozen and stored
embryos are normally frozen and stored
embryos are normally frozen and stored at fertility clinics and so for a long
at fertility clinics and so for a long
at fertility clinics and so for a long time the debate circled around this
time the debate circled around this
time the debate circled around this issue the two questions that were always
issue the two questions that were always
issue the two questions that were always asked were one should we consider these
asked were one should we consider these
asked were one should we consider these frozen embryos a life and two if they’re
frozen embryos a life and two if they’re
frozen embryos a life and two if they’re going to be discarded eventually anyway
going to be discarded eventually anyway
going to be discarded eventually anyway wouldn’t it be better to use them for
wouldn’t it be better to use them for
wouldn’t it be better to use them for medical research studying the simple
medical research studying the simple
medical research studying the simple units of life had led not only to
units of life had led not only to
units of life had led not only to exciting scientific questions but also a
exciting scientific questions but also a
exciting scientific questions but also a challenging ethical one but what if we
challenging ethical one but what if we
challenging ethical one but what if we didn’t need embryos to study stem cells
didn’t need embryos to study stem cells
didn’t need embryos to study stem cells what if there’s a scientific solution to
what if there’s a scientific solution to
what if there’s a scientific solution to this ethical problem we’d be able to
this ethical problem we’d be able to
this ethical problem we’d be able to move forward with work that could help
move forward with work that could help
move forward with work that could help us treat degenerative disease without
us treat degenerative disease without
us treat degenerative disease without the ethical concerns and about ten years
the ethical concerns and about ten years
the ethical concerns and about ten years ago that was no longer a what-if
ago that was no longer a what-if
ago that was no longer a what-if question on the same day in 2006 dr.
question on the same day in 2006 dr.
question on the same day in 2006 dr. James Thompson and dr. Shinya Yamanaka
James Thompson and dr. Shinya Yamanaka
James Thompson and dr. Shinya Yamanaka published work in two of the highest
published work in two of the highest
published work in two of the highest impact scientific journals announcing
impact scientific journals announcing
impact scientific journals announcing they could make stem cells from skin
they could make stem cells from skin
they could make stem cells from skin this work has been so impactful that dr.
this work has been so impactful that dr.
this work has been so impactful that dr. Yamanaka who did this originally with
Yamanaka who did this originally with
Yamanaka who did this originally with Mouse skin as a proof of concept was
Mouse skin as a proof of concept was
Mouse skin as a proof of concept was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in
awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in
awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2012 and now the field of stem cells had
2012 and now the field of stem cells had
2012 and now the field of stem cells had two major tasks ahead of it in terms of
two major tasks ahead of it in terms of
two major tasks ahead of it in terms of the science they needed to show that
the science they needed to show that
the science they needed to show that these
these
these in derived stem cells were just as
in derived stem cells were just as
in derived stem cells were just as potent as the embryonic ones and in
potent as the embryonic ones and in
potent as the embryonic ones and in terms of the ethics we are still working
terms of the ethics we are still working
terms of the ethics we are still working on shaking off this controversial
on shaking off this controversial
on shaking off this controversial reputation that’s developed which is no
reputation that’s developed which is no
reputation that’s developed which is no easy task after two decades of scrutiny
easy task after two decades of scrutiny
easy task after two decades of scrutiny and misinformation this technological
and misinformation this technological
and misinformation this technological advancement in stem cell research is
advancement in stem cell research is
advancement in stem cell research is allowing scientists to study and
allowing scientists to study and
allowing scientists to study and potentially treat degenerative disease
potentially treat degenerative disease
potentially treat degenerative disease all without the use of embryos and when
all without the use of embryos and when
all without the use of embryos and when Thompson and Yamanaka set out to figure
Thompson and Yamanaka set out to figure
Thompson and Yamanaka set out to figure out how to make stem cells from skin
out how to make stem cells from skin
out how to make stem cells from skin they had to turn to their embryonic
they had to turn to their embryonic
they had to turn to their embryonic research and ask the question what even
research and ask the question what even
research and ask the question what even makes something a stem cell and there’s
makes something a stem cell and there’s
makes something a stem cell and there’s really just two things that make a stem
really just two things that make a stem
really just two things that make a stem cell special the first is that it has to
cell special the first is that it has to
cell special the first is that it has to be able to reproduce itself indefinitely
be able to reproduce itself indefinitely
be able to reproduce itself indefinitely by dividing over and over again our
by dividing over and over again our
by dividing over and over again our normal cells can’t do this they can only
normal cells can’t do this they can only
normal cells can’t do this they can only multiply a certain number of times which
multiply a certain number of times which
multiply a certain number of times which is why we can’t live forever
is why we can’t live forever
is why we can’t live forever the second characteristic is that stem
the second characteristic is that stem
the second characteristic is that stem cells are actually unspecialized they’re
cells are actually unspecialized they’re
cells are actually unspecialized they’re kind of like a college freshman that
kind of like a college freshman that
kind of like a college freshman that hasn’t picked a major yet but with the
hasn’t picked a major yet but with the
hasn’t picked a major yet but with the proper guidance and cues from its
proper guidance and cues from its
proper guidance and cues from its surroundings that stem cell can become
surroundings that stem cell can become
surroundings that stem cell can become any type of tissue in the body and we
any type of tissue in the body and we
any type of tissue in the body and we have ways in the lab to take those stem
have ways in the lab to take those stem
have ways in the lab to take those stem cells and make beating heart cells
cells and make beating heart cells
cells and make beating heart cells active pancreas cells or even beating
active pancreas cells or even beating
active pancreas cells or even beating active neurons and beating heart cells
active neurons and beating heart cells
active neurons and beating heart cells whichever I didn’t just name all of them
whichever I didn’t just name all of them
whichever I didn’t just name all of them and it’s clear why an embryonic cell
and it’s clear why an embryonic cell
and it’s clear why an embryonic cell would need to be able to divide over and
would need to be able to divide over and
would need to be able to divide over and over again and produce all of the parts
over again and produce all of the parts
over again and produce all of the parts of an organism but it is not so clear
of an organism but it is not so clear
of an organism but it is not so clear how you can take an ordinary skin cell
how you can take an ordinary skin cell
how you can take an ordinary skin cell and make it act like an embryonic cell
and make it act like an embryonic cell
and make it act like an embryonic cell and to understand this it’s helpful to
and to understand this it’s helpful to
and to understand this it’s helpful to think
think
think about what these two things have in
about what these two things have in
about what these two things have in common and that is the skin cell and the
common and that is the skin cell and the
common and that is the skin cell and the stem cell both contain a full copy of
stem cell both contain a full copy of
stem cell both contain a full copy of our DNA at the center of the cell and
our DNA at the center of the cell and
our DNA at the center of the cell and our DNA acts as this giant instruction
our DNA acts as this giant instruction
our DNA acts as this giant instruction booklet that our cells can go read and
booklet that our cells can go read and
booklet that our cells can go read and transcribe portions of to figure out
transcribe portions of to figure out
transcribe portions of to figure out what they’re supposed to be doing
what they’re supposed to be doing
what they’re supposed to be doing the trick is cells only read the parts
the trick is cells only read the parts
the trick is cells only read the parts that are relevant to their function so a
that are relevant to their function so a
that are relevant to their function so a muscle cell in your heart is going to
muscle cell in your heart is going to
muscle cell in your heart is going to transcribe what it needs to know to
transcribe what it needs to know to
transcribe what it needs to know to contract whereas the cell in your
contract whereas the cell in your
contract whereas the cell in your pancreas is going to read what it needs
pancreas is going to read what it needs
pancreas is going to read what it needs to know to secrete insulin and so on
to know to secrete insulin and so on
to know to secrete insulin and so on what Thomson and Yamanaka figured out is
what Thomson and Yamanaka figured out is
what Thomson and Yamanaka figured out is that you can actually force a skin cell
that you can actually force a skin cell
that you can actually force a skin cell to transcribe the parts that a stem cell
to transcribe the parts that a stem cell
to transcribe the parts that a stem cell normally does and they do this using
normally does and they do this using
normally does and they do this using just four proteins which are
just four proteins which are
just four proteins which are appropriately called transcription
appropriately called transcription
appropriately called transcription factors and what these do is get into
factors and what these do is get into
factors and what these do is get into the skin cell and tell it to turn on
the skin cell and tell it to turn on
the skin cell and tell it to turn on genes and produce proteins that will
genes and produce proteins that will
genes and produce proteins that will allow it to divide over and over again
allow it to divide over and over again
allow it to divide over and over again and produce any type of tissue in the
and produce any type of tissue in the
and produce any type of tissue in the body and this process is now called
body and this process is now called
body and this process is now called reprogramming and we have defined
reprogramming and we have defined
reprogramming and we have defined procedures in the lab to take these
procedures in the lab to take these
procedures in the lab to take these reprogrammed cells and make whatever
reprogrammed cells and make whatever
reprogrammed cells and make whatever cell type we’d like and what my adviser
cell type we’d like and what my adviser
cell type we’d like and what my adviser dr. Dennis Clegg at UCSB was interested
dr. Dennis Clegg at UCSB was interested
dr. Dennis Clegg at UCSB was interested in is how we could use these
in is how we could use these
in is how we could use these reprogrammed cells to study blindness
reprogrammed cells to study blindness
reprogrammed cells to study blindness and dr. Clegg has been studying blinding
and dr. Clegg has been studying blinding
and dr. Clegg has been studying blinding diseases for many years he started with
diseases for many years he started with
diseases for many years he started with a disease called age-related macular
a disease called age-related macular
a disease called age-related macular degeneration this disease is the leading
degeneration this disease is the leading
degeneration this disease is the leading cause of blindness amongst the elderly
cause of blindness amongst the elderly
cause of blindness amongst the elderly in the developed world and at the time
in the developed world and at the time
in the developed world and at the time dr. Clegg started this project
dr. Clegg started this project
dr. Clegg started this project scientists were using embryonic cells so
scientists were using embryonic cells so
scientists were using embryonic cells so he and his team with a grant from the
he and his team with a grant from the
he and his team with a grant from the California Institute for regenerative
California Institute for regenerative
California Institute for regenerative medicine
medicine
medicine figured out how to turn those embryonic
figured out how to turn those embryonic
figured out how to turn those embryonic cells into the type of cell in your eye
cells into the type of cell in your eye
cells into the type of cell in your eye that’s destroyed by this disease and
that’s destroyed by this disease and
that’s destroyed by this disease and from that work he and a team at the
from that work he and a team at the
from that work he and a team at the California project to cure blindness are
California project to cure blindness are
California project to cure blindness are currently in a phase 1 clinical trial
currently in a phase 1 clinical trial
currently in a phase 1 clinical trial where they’re actually transplanting
where they’re actually transplanting
where they’re actually transplanting those cells into the eyes of patients
those cells into the eyes of patients
those cells into the eyes of patients with macular degeneration and unlike
with macular degeneration and unlike
with macular degeneration and unlike most stem cell clinical trials which
most stem cell clinical trials which
most stem cell clinical trials which rely on embryonic sources there are in
rely on embryonic sources there are in
rely on embryonic sources there are in fact trials in Japan that are using
fact trials in Japan that are using
fact trials in Japan that are using these skin derived reprogrammed cells in
these skin derived reprogrammed cells in
these skin derived reprogrammed cells in patients with macular degeneration and
patients with macular degeneration and
patients with macular degeneration and unlike the embryonic sources these cells
unlike the embryonic sources these cells
unlike the embryonic sources these cells are from the patient themselves which
are from the patient themselves which
are from the patient themselves which reduces the risk of an immune response
reduces the risk of an immune response
reduces the risk of an immune response just like an organ transplant these
just like an organ transplant these
just like an organ transplant these cells are introducing foreign material
cells are introducing foreign material
cells are introducing foreign material into the body and what the reprogrammed
into the body and what the reprogrammed
into the body and what the reprogrammed cells do is reduce the risk of an immune
cells do is reduce the risk of an immune
cells do is reduce the risk of an immune rejection and also expand how we think
rejection and also expand how we think
rejection and also expand how we think about personalized or precision medicine
about personalized or precision medicine
about personalized or precision medicine it’s due to the advanced surgical
it’s due to the advanced surgical
it’s due to the advanced surgical techniques that exist in the eye as well
techniques that exist in the eye as well
techniques that exist in the eye as well as good endpoint parameters for
as good endpoint parameters for
as good endpoint parameters for measuring rescue of vision that cell
measuring rescue of vision that cell
measuring rescue of vision that cell therapies in the eye are really leading
therapies in the eye are really leading
therapies in the eye are really leading the rest of the field
the rest of the field
the rest of the field unlike macular degeneration there are
unlike macular degeneration there are
unlike macular degeneration there are other blinding diseases that start when
other blinding diseases that start when
other blinding diseases that start when a patient is young like retinitis
a patient is young like retinitis
a patient is young like retinitis pigmentosa this is the most common form
pigmentosa this is the most common form
pigmentosa this is the most common form of inherited blindness it affects about
of inherited blindness it affects about
of inherited blindness it affects about 1 in 3,000 people these patients have
1 in 3,000 people these patients have
1 in 3,000 people these patients have vision when they’re children but it
vision when they’re children but it
vision when they’re children but it starts with a loss of night vision
starts with a loss of night vision
starts with a loss of night vision followed by a gradual loss of peripheral
followed by a gradual loss of peripheral
followed by a gradual loss of peripheral vision and eventually can lead to total
vision and eventually can lead to total
vision and eventually can lead to total blindness on a personal level these
blindness on a personal level these
blindness on a personal level these patients have to cope with the fact
patients have to cope with the fact
patients have to cope with the fact that their site will slowly evade them
that their site will slowly evade them
that their site will slowly evade them they will likely need to learn Braille
they will likely need to learn Braille
they will likely need to learn Braille train a seeing-eye dog or walk with a
train a seeing-eye dog or walk with a
train a seeing-eye dog or walk with a cane and lose some of their independence
cane and lose some of their independence
cane and lose some of their independence currently this diagnosis is a grim one
currently this diagnosis is a grim one
currently this diagnosis is a grim one with little that the doctor can do
with little that the doctor can do
with little that the doctor can do leaving the patient with little hope but
leaving the patient with little hope but
leaving the patient with little hope but where we can look for hope is with
where we can look for hope is with
where we can look for hope is with reprogrammed cells this disease is
reprogrammed cells this disease is
reprogrammed cells this disease is caused by a mutation or simply a typo in
caused by a mutation or simply a typo in
caused by a mutation or simply a typo in the patient’s DNA that’s causing the
the patient’s DNA that’s causing the
the patient’s DNA that’s causing the cells in their eyes to degenerate in
cells in their eyes to degenerate in
cells in their eyes to degenerate in fact there are many different mutations
fact there are many different mutations
fact there are many different mutations across dozens of different genes and any
across dozens of different genes and any
across dozens of different genes and any one of those can be enough to cause
one of those can be enough to cause
one of those can be enough to cause retinitis pigmentosa but until recently
retinitis pigmentosa but until recently
retinitis pigmentosa but until recently we really were not sure how some of
we really were not sure how some of
we really were not sure how some of these typos were causing degeneration of
these typos were causing degeneration of
these typos were causing degeneration of the eye specifically and that’s largely
the eye specifically and that’s largely
the eye specifically and that’s largely what my project is focused on during my
what my project is focused on during my
what my project is focused on during my second year of graduate school when I
second year of graduate school when I
second year of graduate school when I join dr. Clegg’s lab they were focused
join dr. Clegg’s lab they were focused
join dr. Clegg’s lab they were focused on macular degeneration so I can clearly
on macular degeneration so I can clearly
on macular degeneration so I can clearly remember the day I came into lab to find
remember the day I came into lab to find
remember the day I came into lab to find a paper on my desk about an entirely
a paper on my desk about an entirely
a paper on my desk about an entirely different disease retinitis pigmentosa
different disease retinitis pigmentosa
different disease retinitis pigmentosa complete with a little note in the
complete with a little note in the
complete with a little note in the corner that said see me
corner that said see me
corner that said see me exclamation point sign dr. Clegg so I
exclamation point sign dr. Clegg so I
exclamation point sign dr. Clegg so I walked across the hall to his office
walked across the hall to his office
walked across the hall to his office which on UCS B’s campus is complete with
which on UCS B’s campus is complete with
which on UCS B’s campus is complete with a panoramic ocean view bookcases
a panoramic ocean view bookcases
a panoramic ocean view bookcases floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets stuffed
floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets stuffed
floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets stuffed with decades of Xerox research papers
with decades of Xerox research papers
with decades of Xerox research papers taxidermy animals everywhere you look
taxidermy animals everywhere you look
taxidermy animals everywhere you look including a human brain preserved in a
including a human brain preserved in a
including a human brain preserved in a pretzel jar but upon entering what I can
pretzel jar but upon entering what I can
pretzel jar but upon entering what I can remember most is how excited dr. Clegg
remember most is how excited dr. Clegg
remember most is how excited dr. Clegg was about this brand-new type of project
was about this brand-new type of project
was about this brand-new type of project he had for me
he had for me
he had for me clag has worked closely with dr.
clag has worked closely with dr.
clag has worked closely with dr. thompson over the years and Thompson’s
thompson over the years and Thompson’s
thompson over the years and Thompson’s lab had produced reprogrammed cells from
lab had produced reprogrammed cells from
lab had produced reprogrammed cells from a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and
a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and
a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and this is where the potential of these
this is where the potential of these
this is where the potential of these cells really comes into view
cells really comes into view
cells really comes into view imagine you’re that patient maybe about
imagine you’re that patient maybe about
imagine you’re that patient maybe about 14 years old given the diagnosis of a
14 years old given the diagnosis of a
14 years old given the diagnosis of a degenerative disease with no treatment
degenerative disease with no treatment
degenerative disease with no treatment plan but your doctor tells you if you’re
plan but your doctor tells you if you’re
plan but your doctor tells you if you’re willing to give a skin sample scientists
willing to give a skin sample scientists
willing to give a skin sample scientists can make stem cells and functioning eye
can make stem cells and functioning eye
can make stem cells and functioning eye cells to learn about and study your
cells to learn about and study your
cells to learn about and study your disease in the lab so shortly after my
disease in the lab so shortly after my
disease in the lab so shortly after my meeting in the taxidermy office
meeting in the taxidermy office
meeting in the taxidermy office Thompson’s lab sent us a frozen package
Thompson’s lab sent us a frozen package
Thompson’s lab sent us a frozen package full of vials of cells and each one of
full of vials of cells and each one of
full of vials of cells and each one of these little vials contains millions of
these little vials contains millions of
these little vials contains millions of reprogrammed stem cells and there were
reprogrammed stem cells and there were
reprogrammed stem cells and there were some that had this mutation but then
some that had this mutation but then
some that had this mutation but then there were others for which the mutation
there were others for which the mutation
there were others for which the mutation had been corrected using a brand new
had been corrected using a brand new
had been corrected using a brand new gene editing technology at the time
gene editing technology at the time
gene editing technology at the time called CRISPR and so for the past couple
called CRISPR and so for the past couple
called CRISPR and so for the past couple of years dr. Clegg and I have been
of years dr. Clegg and I have been
of years dr. Clegg and I have been working on a disease model where we take
working on a disease model where we take
working on a disease model where we take these mutated and corrected stem cells
these mutated and corrected stem cells
these mutated and corrected stem cells make fully functioning eye cells and
make fully functioning eye cells and
make fully functioning eye cells and then try to find the differences between
then try to find the differences between
then try to find the differences between the two not only can we make one cell
the two not only can we make one cell
the two not only can we make one cell type at a time but we can actually
type at a time but we can actually
type at a time but we can actually produce entire small eyes in the lab
produce entire small eyes in the lab
produce entire small eyes in the lab shown here is a cross-section complete
shown here is a cross-section complete
shown here is a cross-section complete with the DNA in blue light sensing cells
with the DNA in blue light sensing cells
with the DNA in blue light sensing cells in red and a protein we know causes the
in red and a protein we know causes the
in red and a protein we know causes the disease in green we’re doing this not
disease in green we’re doing this not
disease in green we’re doing this not just for the cells that I received but
just for the cells that I received but
just for the cells that I received but also for other mutations that can cause
also for other mutations that can cause
also for other mutations that can cause retinitis pigmentosa and other blinding
retinitis pigmentosa and other blinding
retinitis pigmentosa and other blinding diseases entirely these two incredible
diseases entirely these two incredible
diseases entirely these two incredible technological advancements skin derived
technological advancements skin derived
technological advancements skin derived reprogrammed stem cells
reprogrammed stem cells
reprogrammed stem cells and gene editing using CRISPR are
and gene editing using CRISPR are
and gene editing using CRISPR are allowing us and other scientists to
allowing us and other scientists to
allowing us and other scientists to answer molecular and cellular questions
answer molecular and cellular questions
answer molecular and cellular questions about this disease that the field has
about this disease that the field has
about this disease that the field has been struggling to resolve let’s be
been struggling to resolve let’s be
been struggling to resolve let’s be clear it will be a lot of work before
clear it will be a lot of work before
clear it will be a lot of work before these technologies are widely used in
these technologies are widely used in
these technologies are widely used in patients my dream is for the future
patients my dream is for the future
patients my dream is for the future treatment of degenerative disease to be
treatment of degenerative disease to be
treatment of degenerative disease to be a simple and straightforward process you
a simple and straightforward process you
a simple and straightforward process you could imagine a doctor takes a skin
could imagine a doctor takes a skin
could imagine a doctor takes a skin sample or maybe something less invasive
sample or maybe something less invasive
sample or maybe something less invasive like a cheek swab from a patient sends
like a cheek swab from a patient sends
like a cheek swab from a patient sends those off to a scientist who can make as
those off to a scientist who can make as
those off to a scientist who can make as many stem cells as you’d like
many stem cells as you’d like
many stem cells as you’d like correct any mutations and then bring the
correct any mutations and then bring the
correct any mutations and then bring the cells that the patient needs but in
cells that the patient needs but in
cells that the patient needs but in order for this treatment to be a reality
order for this treatment to be a reality
order for this treatment to be a reality we need to make sure we can make all of
we need to make sure we can make all of
we need to make sure we can make all of these different cell types efficiently
these different cell types efficiently
these different cell types efficiently that we can precisely edit the mutations
that we can precisely edit the mutations
that we can precisely edit the mutations and that we can safely transplant the
and that we can safely transplant the
and that we can safely transplant the cells back into the patients and while
cells back into the patients and while
cells back into the patients and while this is in this somewhat distant future
this is in this somewhat distant future
this is in this somewhat distant future this technology gives me hope and more
this technology gives me hope and more
this technology gives me hope and more importantly it gives the patients hope
importantly it gives the patients hope
importantly it gives the patients hope that future generations won’t have to
that future generations won’t have to
that future generations won’t have to suffer from the same diseases that they
suffer from the same diseases that they
suffer from the same diseases that they currently face and there’s value in hope
currently face and there’s value in hope
currently face and there’s value in hope there’s value and going to a doctor’s
there’s value and going to a doctor’s
there’s value and going to a doctor’s office and being given options rather
office and being given options rather
office and being given options rather than a grim diagnosis with the invention
than a grim diagnosis with the invention
than a grim diagnosis with the invention of reprogram cells we’re learning that
of reprogram cells we’re learning that
of reprogram cells we’re learning that the ethical considerations of stem-cell
the ethical considerations of stem-cell
the ethical considerations of stem-cell research should no longer be a concern I
research should no longer be a concern I
research should no longer be a concern I invite you to embrace this technology
invite you to embrace this technology
invite you to embrace this technology fully so we can further our potential to
fully so we can further our potential to
fully so we can further our potential to improve lives and treat disease thank
improve lives and treat disease thank
improve lives and treat disease thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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