Fun science—without the homework
If you’re a big science fan and you live in the Seattle area, you should definitely stop by one—or all—of our “Science for Life” lectures, which get under way on Feb. 4. The series breaks down the concepts—and better yet, it skips the homework—while offering you a chance to interact with world-class researchers in a fun, informal and hands-on atmosphere, according to Robbie Phillips, one of the organizers of the event at the Hutchinson Center.
And this year, we have quite a stellar lineup of researchers, with all four recognized as world leaders in their fields. The entire series is open to the public, and we still have a few seats left for the first one this week. All the lectures will be from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Hutchinson Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, in the Thomas Building Pelton Auditorium.
If you want to sign up, give Sarah Tribolet a call at 206-667-4211.
Here’s a description for each of the lectures:
The evolutionary arms race, Feb. 4
Evolutionary change is driven by competition between genes and proteins with opposing functions. As viruses and bacteria develop new ways to outwit the immune system, the immune system must adapt and fight back. By looking at rapidly evolving DNA, Dr. Harmit Malik identifies and studies the changes in our ability to fight infections and diseases like cancer.
A twofold miracle: cord blood, Feb. 11
The miracle of childbirth also has the potential to offer a miracle of another kind—a cure for cancer. Umbilical cord blood is rich with healing stem cells that can cure leukemia. Dr. Colleen Delaney has developed a way to multiply cord blood stem cells 150-fold, making cord blood transplants a viable treatment for desperately ill patients, including those of mixed ethnicity who often have difficulty finding a matching donor.
Your immune system vs. cancer, Feb. 18
What if we could harness the power of our immune system, enhance it, and then target it directly at cancer? The Hutchinson Center’s Dr. Ollie Press is doing just that. Press is an internationally recognized expert in the field of immunotherapy who will discuss his research and how it is changing the face of cancer treatment.
Keeping Tumors at Bay with Vaccines, Feb. 25
For many patients, winning the battle against cancer is more complicated than surviving a first diagnosis—the chance of recurrence can be high. Dr. Nora Disis, Hutchinson Center researcher and University of Washington professor, is working to develop vaccines that boost the immune system to prevent recurring breast and ovarian cancer.
Ignacio Lobos
Quest Editor
