Screen shot from NYSCF’s virtual event
On October 5th, 2021, the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) hosted its Annual Gala and Science Fair, Show Up for Science. Founded in 2005, NYSCF has been focusing on accelerating the development of new therapies and technologies for treating major diseases. This year, due to COVID-19, the Gala was hosted online by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN. The virtual event showcased to donors their stem cell research, findings, and their latest technologies. NYSCF also paid a special tribute to their “Stem Cell Heroes”.
In a lab skit titled Stem Cell 101, with Tony award winner and Emmy nominee Jane Krakowski, and NYSCF’s Senior Vice President, Research Dr. Scott Noggle, Krakowski humorously poses as a researcher in a lab and explains to Dr. Noggle that she has discovered something revolutionary. By peering through a microscope, she can make “something that’s very small appear very large.”
Jane Krakowski in a skit for NYSCF’s annual gala
In all seriousness, this sketch provided viewers with an entertaining introduction to the kind of stem cell research NYSCF conducts in real life. While Dr. Noggle proceeds to walk viewers through how they use stem cells to study various diseases and develop new therapies, Krakowski, although thankful of Dr. Noggle’s innovative work, proceeds to ask what’s on every female viewer’s mind – what can they do about wrinkles?!
As a new member to the biotech community, and admittingly one who has a very limited understanding of the complex formulas scientists are developing to treat major ailments, I appreciated the approach NYSCF took in organizing the subject matter so it would be clear to anyone watching, regardless of how much they know about the field.
Through well-choregraphed and entertaining pieces of pre-recorded video content, the program was peppered with celebrity cameos, funny skits and personal anecdotes. However, what stood out the most were the illuminating conversations between celebrity guests and NYSCF leaders and scientists about the latest advancements in their research and facilities.
L-R Dr. Laura Andres-Martin and Jesse Williams, NYSCF Annual Gala
Through the pairing of celebrities, who for all intents and purposes are “regular people,” with experts in the field, they were able to position their research in a unique way. In a candid conversation between real-life doctor Dr. Laura Andres-Martin and actor/director Jesse Williams, (better known as the hunky Dr. Jackson Avery from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy), the two discussed the NYSCF Women’s Reproductive Cancers Initiative.
Rather than Dr. Andres-Martin just presenting her research to the audience, they engaged in a Socratic dialogue where Williams was able to ask pointed questions inciting an organic and intriguing conversation about NYSCF’s research using stem cell technology. The conversations were effective because they did not bombard viewers with an excessive amount of industry or scientific information but, rather, curated the content to be understood by all viewers.
I found that watching the Gala was a great introduction to the stem cell field. At work, I regularly hear terms like “from bench to bedside,” and words like acceleration, innovation and technology, and they became more real to me in this visual context. Much like CCRM, NYSCF’s goal is to accelerate the development of stem cell research and push technology forward so that real cures and therapies can be delivered to the patients who need them most. In fact, Susan Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of NYSCF, was a member of CCRM’s Board of Directors. To learn more about NYSCF, watch their Show Up for Science gala by clicking here.
Tannen Horber
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