Right Turn: Giving the gift of science

by Stacey Johnson | Dec 2, 2022

The other day someone asked me if I was all ready for Christmas. It wasn’t even December yet! Bah humbug. I don’t have a tree yet, nor am I ready to deal with decorating my house. The only thing I start doing before December is shopping. Not that I’m finished, but I’m...

Right Turn: Experts weigh in on manufacturing of CGTs at JLABS-CCRM event

by Stacey Johnson | Nov 25, 2022

If manufacturing is the gatekeeper to success in the cell and gene therapy space, it’s not surprising that the topic regularly comes up when industry leaders come together to discuss the future or to tackle the challenges we face in commercializing cell and gene...

Takeaway from CDL-CCRM event: Are smart cells the next generation of natural drugs?

by Guest | Nov 17, 2022

Dr. Leili Rohani is a Stem Cell Scientist at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI), St. Paul’s Hospital, and a cross-appointed Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia....

Collaborating with Black communities is key to overcoming barriers to stem cell donation – A TMM 2022 talk

by Guest | Nov 10, 2022

Sylvia Okonofua is a donor recruiter with Stem Cell Club. Over the past six years, Sylvia has worked to address racial disparity in access to volunteer, unrelated stem cell donors. She spearheaded “Black Donors Save Lives,” a national campaign she developed in...

Right Turn: Misinformation and mistrust plenary at TMM 2022 – the Australian contribution

by Stacey Johnson | Nov 4, 2022

Despite valiant efforts by countless people and organizations, misinformation and a lack of public trust in science continue to be prevalent themes in 2022. Day two of the Till & McCulloch Meetings in Vancouver kicked off with an informative plenary exploring...

A trainee’s tips from TMM 2022

by Kevin Robb | Oct 27, 2022

One of the things that sets the Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM) apart from other conferences, in my opinion, is the priority placed on trainee development. In part, the Stem Cell Network (SCN) achieves this through their support of the Trainee Communications...

Emotions matter: How to level up your fight against misinformation with compassion

by Guest | Oct 17, 2022

Jennifer Ma is a scientist-turned-artist and science communicator with a PhD in stem cell bioengineering. Her latest project, Gentle Facts, strives to create social change through Compassionate Science Communication. Drawing from evidence-based best practices in...

Stem cell sweethearts: controlling blood sugar and heartbeats at TMM 2022

by Kevin Robb | Oct 14, 2022

My heart is pounding, and my islets are secreting. Maybe it’s my fifth cup of sugary coffee kicking in, or maybe they’ve been inspired by the plenary session I’m recalling. While the former is more likely, I toy with the idea of the latter. In the “Clinical...

Moving from academia to industry – one postdoc’s experience

by Josh Dierolf | Oct 4, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a transformative period for many. Our values and perspectives have been put to the test as schools, workplaces, and day-to-day operations adjusted to the new ways of living. One aspect of the last few years has been coined “The Great...

Right Turn: Canada’s biomanufacturing capabilities are growing

by Stacey Johnson | Sep 30, 2022

After returning from CellCAN’s 2022 Strategic Forum in Ottawa, Ontario, where Canada’s cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing community came together to share information and network, it is clear that the country’s biomanufacturing landscape is improving. As I and...