Tara Fernandez
Tara Fernandez is a Cell Biologist who commercializes new technology in the biotechnology industry. She reports on innovation and trends in the fields of regenerative medicine, cell therapies and nanotechnologies. Tara is involved in various science communication and public engagement initiatives to promote STEM in the community. Follow her on Twitter @DrTFern.
Posts by: Tara
Unlocking stem cells’ full potential for treating multiple sclerosis – Highs, lows and future opportunities from OHRI’s MESEMS trial
Cells that are programmed to protect can sometimes go rogue, as is the case with multiple sclerosis, or MS. Overactive immune cells mistakenly target the tissues of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, igniting inflammatory flare-ups that destroy myelin, a fatty insulating material that encapsulates nerve fibres. Over time, nerves lose their ability to […]
So you want to be a science communicator? Advice from a professional science writer
This article first appeared in Medium on March 23, 2021, and is reprinted her with permission of the author. It contains some minor edits from the original version. Talking about science is incredibly important, yet sometimes risky business. Take the Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo (1564–1642), for example. In 1633, Galileo was put on trial […]
New gene therapy shows promise, but is it enough to reverse aging?
The last few decades have seen a dramatic leap in life expectancies across developed countries—people are living longer than ever before, and the age of the centenarian could soon be upon us. For example, in the ‘70s Canadians lived an average of 72.7 years. Today, that number has risen by around a decade. Looking ahead, […]
Will Pfizer’s muscular dystrophy gene therapy cross the finish line?
In early 2021, a young boy in Barcelona was the first to receive Pfizer’s investigational gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This was part of a global Phase 3 human trial to test Pfizer’s lead candidate, PF-06939926, in a cohort of 99 patients with DMD—a debilitating genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wasting mostly […]
The secret to growing exCEPTional stem cells
Scientists identify a drug combo that protects stem cells in culture, priming them for research and clinical applications. Picture this: The morning after working late on an important project, you reach for that hot cup of coffee—the caffeinated elixir that perks you up, gets ideas flowing, and keeps you from snapping at your colleagues. What […]
Comments