TORONTO, April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blueberries Medical Corp. (CSE: BBM) (OTC: BBRRF) (FRA: 1OA) the Canadian parent of Blueberries S.A.S. (“BBSAS”), the premier Latin American licensed cultivator and producer of medicinal cannabis and medicinal-grade cannabis extracts, (together the “Company” or “Blueberries”), is pleased to report its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020. Blueberries has filed today its audited consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis, both of which are available on Blueberries’ profile at www.sedar.com. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

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Blueberries Medical Reports 2020 Financial Results

SUZHOU and SHANGHAI, China, April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GRCL) (“Gracell”), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing highly efficacious and affordable cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it will participate in the following upcoming virtual conferences:

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Gracell Biotechnologies to Participate in Upcoming Virtual Conferences in May

AUSTIN, TX and DURHAM, NC, April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shattuck Labs, Inc. (Shattuck) (NASDAQ: STTK), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of bi-functional fusion proteins as a new class of biologic medicine for the treatment of patients with cancer and autoimmune disease, today announced that Taylor Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., Shattuck’s Chief Executive Officer, will participate in two upcoming conferences.

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Shattuck Labs Announces Participation in Upcoming May Conferences

STRATHROY, Ontario, April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eve & Co Incorporated (the “Company” or “Eve & Co”) (TSX-V: EVE; OTCQX: EEVVF) is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020. The financial statements and management discussion and analysis for such period are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com and on Eve & Co's website at www.evecannabis.ca.

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Eve & Co Announces Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2020

Basel, May 1, 2021 — Novartis today announced positive one-year results of the Phase III KESTREL and KITE* studies, evaluating the efficacy and safety of Beovu® (brolucizumab) 6 mg in diabetic macular edema (DME). Both studies met their primary endpoints of non-inferiority in change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline for Beovu 6 mg versus aflibercept 2 mg at year one1. In KESTREL, patients on Beovu 6 mg gained a mean of 9.2 letters versus 10.5 letters for patients on aflibercept 2 mg1. In KITE, patients on Beovu 6 mg gained a mean of 10.6 letters versus 9.4 letters for patients on aflibercept 2 mg1. These results will be presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2021 Annual Meeting.

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Novartis Phase III Beovu® data show potential for fluid resolution in more diabetic macular edema patients with fewer injections versus aflibercept

Preclinical data support novel approaches for the treatment of Usher Syndrome 2A and retinitis pigmentosa 4 Preclinical data support novel approaches for the treatment of Usher Syndrome 2A and retinitis pigmentosa 4

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Editas Medicine to Present Preclinical Data Demonstrating Advancements in In Vivo Gene Editing Approach for the Treatment of Genetic Ocular Diseases...

PRINCETON, N.J., May 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: OYST), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies to treat ocular surface diseases, announced today the presentation of data analyses from its Phase 3 ONSET-2 clinical trial evaluating OC-01 (varenicline) nasal spray for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting, being held on May 1-5.

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Oyster Point Pharma Announces Clinical Data Presentation of OC-01 (varenicline) Nasal Spray for Dry Eye Disease at the Association for Research in...

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denali Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: DNLI), a biopharmaceutical company developing a broad portfolio of product candidates engineered to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced final results from Phase 1 and Phase 1b studies of its small molecule LRRK2 inhibitor, BIIB122/DNL151, which is being developed in collaboration with Biogen as a potential treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Safety and biomarker goals were met in both studies, supporting plans to advance BIIB122/DNL151 into late-stage clinical development in Parkinson’s disease by year-end 2021. The results will be presented at the International Association of Parkinsonism and Related Disorders Virtual Congress, being held May 1-4.

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Denali Therapeutics Presents Positive Results from Phase 1 and Phase 1b Studies of Its LRRK2 Inhibitor, BIIB122/DNL151, Supporting Late-Stage...

-- Long-term durability and maintained efficacy; sustained robust aflibercept protein expression observed ---- 60% of patients injection free beyond 1 year following 2 x 10^11 single dose --

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Adverum Biotechnologies Presents Long-term Data through March 10, 2021 from the OPTIC Trial of ADVM-022 Intravitreal Gene Therapy in...

MELBOURNE, Australia and HERSTAL, Belgium, May 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces that Mr. Richard Valeix has joined the Telix executive leadership team in the role of President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

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Telix Pharmaceuticals Appoints Mr. Richard Valeix as EMEA President

Geneva, Switzerland, May 3, 2021 – Addex Therapeutics Ltd (SIX: ADXN and Nasdaq: ADXN), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering allosteric modulation-based drug discovery and development, today announced that it will issue its Q1 2021 financial results on Wednesday May 5, 2021. Tim Dyer, CEO, Roger Mills, CMO and Robert Lütjens, Head of Discovery Biology will provide a business update and review its pipeline during a teleconference and webcast for investors, analysts and the media on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST / 10:00 EDT / 07:00 PDT).

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Addex Therapeutics to Release Q1 2021 Financial Results and Host Conference Call on May 5, 2021

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Santhera Announces Settlement of Convertible Bond Exchange Offer on May 4, 2021

Holzkirchen, May 3, 2021 – Sandoz, a Novartis division, today announced progress in the late-stage clinical development program for its proposed biosimilar aflibercept. Sandoz will begin enrolling the first patient in MYLIGHT, a clinical Phase III confirmatory efficacy and safety study, shortly1.

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Sandoz confirms late-stage clinical development plans for proposed biosimilar aflibercept, a key ophthalmology medicine

MILAN, Italy and NEW YORK, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genenta Science, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy for cancer (Temferon™), announces that Richard Slansky is appointed as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and proposes Anthony Marucci as independent member of the Board of Directors. The news follows the announcement of Stephen Squinto, PhD, as Chairman last November. Both Board appointments will be effective following their approval at the Genenta Shareholders’ Meeting on May 20, 2021.

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Genenta to Appoint Richard Slansky as CFO and Anthony Marucci as Board Member

Montrouge, France, May 3, 2021

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DBV Technologies Reports Q1 2021 Financial Results

Cell and gene therapies are overlapping fields of research and treatments. While both aim to treat and potentially cure diseases, they have slightly differing approaches and have different historical backgrounds. Due to growing interest surrounding this field, the general public still has much to learn and understand about each of these potentially life-saving therapies.

Below, we provide a general overview and brief historical context for each type of therapy.

Cell therapyis the process of replacing damaged or dysfunctional cells with new, healthy ones by transferring live cells into a patient. These can be autologous (also known as self-to-self, using cells from the patient receiving the treatment) or allogeneic (using cells from a donor for the treatment). While this field of treatment has recently begun to expand, some forms of cell therapy like the cancer-treating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) have been in practice for decades.

While many people have heard of bone marrow transplants, few realize that this procedure is a stem cell therapy. While stem cells can be derived from many sources, such as umbilical cord blood and mobilized peripheral blood, bone marrow derived stem cell therapy is the most commonly used today and has been for more than 50 years.

The first transfusion of human bone marrow was given to a patient with aplastic anemia in 1939. After World War II researchers diligently worked to restore bone marrow function in aplasia patients caused by exposure to radiation produced by the atomic bomb. After a decade of work they were able to show, in a mouse model, that aplasia could be overcome by bone marrow treatment.

The first allogeneic HSCT, which led the way to current protocols, was pioneered by E. Donnall Thomas and his team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1957. In this study six patients were treated with radiation and chemotherapy and then received intravenous infusion of bone marrow rich stem cells from a normal donor to reestablish the damaged or defective cells. Since then the field has evolved and expanded worldwide. While almost half of HSCT are allogeneic, the majority of HSCT are autologous, the patient's own stem cells are used for treatment, which carries less risk to the patient.

In 1988, scientists discovered that they could derive stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in a laboratory. These newly derived stem cells, referred to as embryonic stem cells (hESCs), were found to be pluripotent, meaning they can give rise to virtually any other type of cell in the body. This versatility allows hESCs cells to potentially regenerate or repair diseased tissue and organs. Two decades after they were discovered, treatments based on hESCs have been slow in coming because of controversy over their source and concerns that they could turn into tumours once implanted. Only recently, testing has begun as a treatment for two major diseases: heart failure and type 1 diabetes.

In 2006, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying conditions that would allow some cells to be 'reprogrammed' genetically. This new type of stem cell became known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Since this discovery, the field has expanded tremendously in the past two decades. Stem cell therapies have expanded in use and have been used to treat diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's and even spinal cord injuries.

There has also been a growing focus on using other immune cells to treat cancer. Therapies such as CAR T-cellare dependent upon a patient's T-cells, which play a critical role in managing the immune response and killing cells affected by harmful pathogens. These cells are then reengineered to target and kill certain cancerous cells. Several CAR T-cell therapies have been FDA approved, with the first approval being given in 2017 for Yescarta and Kymriah, to be used for the treatment of B-cell leukemia in children and young adults.

Gene therapyis a process that modifies the expression of a gene or alters the biological process of living cells for therapeutic use. This process can take the form of replacing a disease-causing gene with a new, healthy one, inactivating the mutated gene, or introducing a new gene to help the patient's body fight a disease.

While the use of gene therapy to treat humans is fairly new, the science behind it has been used in science for decades. Farmers and geneticists have collaborated for years on crop improvement using cross pollination, genetic engineering and microinjection techniques to create stronger, more resilient crops.

The first human patient to be treated with gene therapy was a four-year old girlsuffering from severe combined immunodeficiencyin 1990. She received treatment for a congenital disease called adenosine deaminase (ADA). Since then, gene therapies have been used to treat diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and hemophilia.In 2017, the FDA gave its first approval of a gene therapy called Luxturna, which is used to treat patients with established genetic vision loss that may result in blindness. Gene therapies are still being studied and developed, with over 1,000 clinical trialscurrently underway.

ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc., is a pioneer and market leader in the development and commercialization of automated cell processing technologies for the cell and gene therapy fields. We market a full suite of solutions for automated clinical biobanking, point-of-care applications and large-scale cell processing and manufacturing with a special emphasis on the emerging CAR-T immunotherapy market. We are committed to making the world a healthier place by creating innovative solutions for those in need.

For more information on the CAR-TXpress multi-system platform, please contact our Sales team.

Disclaimer

Thermogenesis Holdings Inc. published this content on 13 April 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 13 April 2021 07:10:03 UTC.

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ThermoGenesis : The History of Cell and Gene Therapy - marketscreener.com

LCol Laura Laycock on deployment.

LCol Laura Laycock

It was Oct. 7, 2019, and life was not just good, it was amazing.

My career in the Royal Canadian Air Force was going great. I loved my job and was getting promoted. Throughout my Canadian Armed Forces career of over 20years, I had represented Canada around the world with NORAD, NATO and the UN. I had married the most incredible man. We relocated to Ottawa, started to travel the world together, and were ready to start a family.

Then, on Oct. 8, 2019, everything changed.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia(CML) after blood work for vertigo showed extremely elevated white blood cell counts. CML is a blood cancer where the bone marrow overproduces white blood cells, which eventually impairs the development of white and red blood cells and platelets. Its usually caused by a spontaneous mutation in DNA, which contains our genetic code.

LCol Laycock

Twenty years ago, researchers developed a new line of drugs that combat this overproduction of white blood cells. These targeted oral chemotherapy pills have been revolutionary in the fight against CML. Most people who take them do so for the rest of their lives and have good survival rates; however, a stem cell transplant remains the only actual cure. But its risky and not needed for most people.

Its now been about 17months since my diagnosis and my body has not tolerated this targeted chemotherapy. I fall into that small fraction of people who get debilitating or life-threatening side effects from this medication. My doctors are discussing other treatment options, one of which is a stem cell transplant, but my mixed ethnicity (European/Middle Eastern) has made it difficult to find a donor match.

My journey since my diagnosis has been to slow down and educate myself so that I can heal and advocate for my care; to appreciate every little moment of joy; and to do my best to overcome each challenge that arises. I have found strength in the extraordinary support Ive received from my family, my friends and my community, both old and new.

With the help of family and friends, I recently began a social media campaign to increase stem cell donor education and registration in Canada and around the world. Many people are unaware of the potentially lifesaving role they can play by registering to become stem cell donors. Stem cell transplants are vital treatment options for people with a range of medical conditions including spinal cord injuries, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

The process to donate is simple. First, you register online with Canadian Blood Services or Hma-Qubec and do a mail-in cheek swab., and then you wait. It could be months or years before you are identified as a match. During this waiting period, you should update your contact information with the registry if it changes.

When you are matched, you will be contacted to continue with the donation process. This process is similar to giving blood, but it has its differences. The cells are usually collected intravenously from peripheral blood in a non-surgical procedure but, in rare cases, they are collected directly from the bone marrow in a surgical procedure. In either case, the risks associated with donating are minor.

In Canada, individuals aged17 to 35 can register to become stem cell donors (ages18 to 35 in Quebec). Both CBS and Hma-Qubec are part of an international network of donor registries from over 50countries. This network has a pool of over 38million donors but, unfortunately, matches are rare.

Your stem cells could potentially help others around the world, and throughout this process donor privacy is assured at all times.

LCol Laycock on her wedding day.

Stem cell matching relies on Human Leukocyte Antigen typing, which is highly influenced by ethnicity. This means that a patients best chance of finding a matching donor is from those who share similar ethnic backgrounds. Research conducted by Gragert et al.(2014) has shown that the likelihood of finding a match for certain ethnic groups can be as low as 16 percent and as high as 75 percent for others. This disparity highlights the need for more ethnically diverse stem cell donors in our registries.

Today, I am calling on my DND and CAF families to register as stem cell donors to help people, like me, who are fighting for our lives. If you arent able to register, please share this call with those who can. You, or someone you know, could be the match that saves a life a simple swab is all it takes to be a hero.

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Stem cell treatment needed to fight the good fight - Victoria Lookout

From an insight perspective, this research report has focused on various levels of analysis industry trends analysis, top players analysis, company profiles, which discuss the basic views on the competitive landscape, emerging and high-growth segments of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies market, and high-growth regions. Besides, drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities pertaining to Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies market are also predicted in this report.

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Major Participators LandscapeThese market players enjoyed broad industry coverage, outstanding operational ability, and strong financial resources. Manufacturers are focusing on product innovation, brand extension, and the introduction of new brands to cater to the preferences of consumers. Some of them will be endowed with vital future while others will show a weak growth during the prospective timeframe.Major market participators covered in our report are:US STEM CELL, INC. Med cell Europe Pluristem Therapeutics Inc Mesoblast Tigenix Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Regeneus

To Get More Information on The Regional Analysis Of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market, Click Here:https://www.globalmarketmonitor.com/reports/643098-autologous-stem-cell-based-therapies-market-report.html

Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Application AbstractThe Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies is commonly used into:Neurodegenerative Disorders Autoimmune Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases

Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Type AbstractBased on the basis of the type, the Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies can be segmented into:Embryonic Stem Cell Resident Cardiac Stem Cells Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

Table of Content1 Report Overview1.1 Product Definition and Scope1.2 PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) Analysis of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market2 Market Trends and Competitive Landscape3 Segmentation of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market by Types4 Segmentation of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market by End-Users5 Market Analysis by Major Regions6 Product Commodity of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market in Major Countries7 North America Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Landscape Analysis8 Europe Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Landscape Analysis9 Asia Pacific Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Landscape Analysis10 Latin America, Middle East & Africa Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Landscape Analysis 11 Major Players Profile

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Major countries of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world are all exhaustive analyzed in the report. Apart from this, policy mobilization, social dynamics, development trends, and economic development in these countries are also taken into consideration.

Target Audience for this Report Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies manufacturers Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies traders, distributors, and suppliers Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies industry associations Product managers, Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies industry administrator, C-level executives of the industries Market Research and consulting firms Research & Clinical Laboratories

Report SpotlightsDetailed overview of marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprints

About Global Market MonitorGlobal Market Monitor is a professional modern consulting company, engaged in three major business categories such as market research services, business advisory, technology consulting.We always maintain the win-win spirit, reliable quality and the vision of keeping pace with The Times, to help enterprises achieve revenue growth, cost reduction, and efficiency improvement, and significantly avoid operational risks, to achieve lean growth. Global Market Monitor has provided professional market research, investment consulting, and competitive intelligence services to thousands of organizations, including start-ups, government agencies, banks, research institutes, industry associations, consulting firms, and investment firms.ContactGlobal Market MonitorOne Pierrepont Plaza, 300 Cadman Plaza W, Brooklyn,NY 11201, USAName: Rebecca HallPhone: + 1 (347) 467 7721Email: info@globalmarketmonitor.comWeb Site: https://www.globalmarketmonitor.com

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Global Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Survey Report, 2020-2027 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper - KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper

Children and young adults who underwent an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) after achieving complete response with CD19 CAR T-cell therapy experienced durable B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) control, according to the results of a phase 1 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01593696) published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Although a proportion of patients who undergo CAR T-cell therapy go on to receive alloHSCT, the study authors stated that The role for [alloHSCT] following CD19-CAR T-cell therapy to improve long-term outcomes in [children and young adults] has not been examined.

The phase 1 trial evaluated 50 children and young adults with B-ALL who received CD19.28 CAR T-cell therapy. The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of CAR T cells, toxicity, and feasibility of generating CAR T cells in the study population. In addition, this analysis retrospectively evaluated the effect of alloHSCT on survival after CAR T-cell therapy.

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At baseline, the median age was 13.5 years (range, 4.3-30.4), and 40 (80%) of the patients were male. The median number of prior regimens was 4 (range, 4.3-30.4); 22 (44%) patients had at least 1 prior HSCT, 2 (4%) had prior CD19-targeted therapy, and 5 (10%) of the patients had prior treatment with blinatumomab.

Complete response was achieved in 31 (62%) of the patients. Among these patients, 28 (90.3%) were negative for minimal residual disease. Higher rates of complete response were associated with primary refractory disease, fewer prior lines of therapy, M1 marrow, or fludarabine/cytarabine-based lymphodepletion. The median overall survival was 10.5 months (95% CI, 6.3-29.2) during a median follow-up of 4.8 years.

Of the 28 patients who achieved complete response, 21 (75%) proceeded to undergo consolidative alloHSCT. The median overall survival for these patients was 70.2 months (95% CI, 10.4-not estimable), with an event-free survival not yet reached. The rate of relapse after alloHSCT was 4.8% (95% CI, 0.3-20.3) at 12 months and 9.5% (95% CI, 1.5-26.8) at 24 months.

Any grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS) developed among 35 (70%) patients, with 9 (18%) experiencing grade 3 to 4 CRS. Of the 10 patients (20%) who developed neurotoxicity, 4 cases were severe. One cardiac arrest occurred during CRS. All patients with CRS, neurotoxicity, and cardiac arrest recovered.

The authors concluded that CD19.28 CAR T cells followed by a consolidative alloHSCT can provide long-term durable disease control in [children and young adults] with relapsed or refractory B-ALL.

Disclosure: Please see the original reference for a full disclosure of authors affiliations.

Reference

Shah NN, Lee DW, Yates B, et al. Long-term follow-up of CD19-CAR T-cell therapy in children and young adults with B-ALL. J Clin Oncol. Published online March 25, 2021. doi:org/10.1200/JCO.20.02262c

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Durable B-ALL Control With Allogeneic Transplant After CAR T-Cell Therapy - Cancer Therapy Advisor

Kaytlyn Gerbin, left, runs the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. She completed the 93-mile loop in just under 19 hours. Her friend Tara Fraga helped with pacing between miles 30-55. (Ryan Thrower Photo)

When Kaytlyn Gerbin moved to Seattle 10 years ago to attend graduate school at the University of Washington, a friend took her to Kerry Park in the Queen Anne neighborhood on her first visit. The celebrated viewpoint offered Gerbin a glimpse of Mount Rainier that ignited an ongoing passion.

At the time, I had absolutely no idea there was a trail all the way around it, and didnt know the first thing that went into climbing to the summit or running even a few miles on the trails, Gerbin said. Since then, Ive climbed Rainier 10 times, and spent countless hours on the mountain and trails in that park.

Along with her drive to get to know Washington states most famous landmark more intimately, Gerbin achieved her PhD in bioengineering at UW, where her research was focused on the therapeutic and regenerative potential of cardiac cells. For the past four years shes been a scientist at Allen Institute for Cell Science, where she studies stem cells and cardiomyocytes, or cardiac muscle cells.

Our latest Geek of the Week, Gerbin is an accomplished ultrarunner, and she now knows a lot more about that trail that encircles Mount Rainier.

With COVID-19 lockdowns impacting her international race season last summer, Gerbin, a sponsored athlete for The North Face, went after the fastest known time, or FKT, for a run around the Wonderland Trail. Together with teammate Dylan Bowman of Portland and a small crew of local filmmakers, they made Summer of Wonder, a short film about the experience, which you can watch in full here:

The average thru-hiker takes 10-14 days to complete the 93-mile Wonderland Trail, with its 24,000 feet of elevation gain. Gerbin did it in 18 hours, 41 minutes, 53 seconds, and the film is a breathtaking look at her endurance feat.

Gerbins passion for running started with 3-mile commutes back and forth between her apartment, her research lab, and campus during grad school. Eventually she started trail running,essentially as a life hack to see if she could squeeze a five-day backpacking route into a weekend between experiments.

It turned out I was actually pretty good at that, and that opened up opportunities to start racing at some of the most competitive trail races in the U.S. and Europe, Gerbin said.

Shes since raced with Team USA at the Trail World Championships, reached the podium at the iconic Western States 100, and won races such as the Canary Islands Transgrancanaria and Cascade Crest 100 in Washington. She also still holds the womens self-supported FKT for the Rainier Infinity Loop (set in 2019), which combines the Wonderland Trail with two summits and descents of Mount Rainier.

Her preferred racing distance is anything between 50-100 miles long, the more elevation gain and technical the trail, the better. During peak training, Gerbin is usually hitting between 70-90 miles with over 20,000 feet of elevation gain each week. She calls the Pacific Northwest the best outdoor playground there is.

Although I love running fast, Im also really excited about pushing myself on more challenging terrain. So many of my other FKT goals and route ideas are along these lines, with more technical traveling than actual running, she said.

COVID permitting, her highest race priority this year is Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, which is the most competitive world-stage for ultrarunning, at the end of August. The race circumnavigates Mont Blanc, passing through France, Italy, and Switzerland and covering around 105 miles and 33,000 feet of elevation gain.

While Gerbins experience as a scientist does inform her appreciation for what shes putting her body through during ultrarunning, shes equally passionate in the lab. At the Allen Institute shes seeking answers to broad questions about how cells work, including how single cells and all of their components are integrated into a functional system, while using imaging to build predictive models of cell behavior.

I get the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team of badass scientists, biologists, and engineers on really cool problems in cell biology, she said.

Learn more about our latest Geek of the Week, Kaytlyn Gerbin:

What do you do, and why do you do it? Science and ultrarunning for me have always come down to problem solving.

As a scientist, problem solving is inherent to experimental design, data analysis, and interpreting results. By asking hard questions, Im interested in pushing the field of cell biology forward, and challenging the current way of thinking.

As an ultrarunner, its a different kind of problem solving, but I lean on the same mindset to figure out how to push my athletic limits further and faster.

One thing that always amazes me is how adaptable the human body is. My training in cell science gives me context for how all of these stressors and inputs were putting on our bodies are fundamentally happening at the single cell level, and it keeps me thinking about the cells response to external cues in my research.

Whats the single most important thing people should know about your field? Yes, I do think about science and when Im running, and no, I do not geek out on heart rate monitors and training zones and all those numbers when Im running.

Where do you find your inspiration? Im inspired by brilliant women that are pushing whats possible in both science and in sports. I think we often set boundaries for ourselves about what we think is possible, without ever letting ourselves really hit that limit. Im inspired by women who set bold goals and bring others up and along for the ride, redefining whats possible.

Whats the one piece of technology you couldnt live without, and why? My Garmin 935. I use this watch daily to track miles run, elevation gain, etc. The battery life has lasted me for 100 miles of running and ~24 hrs, but its small enough to wear every day.

Whats your workspace like, and why does it work for you? Prior to 2020, I was splitting my time between the tissue culture hood (passaging cells, differentiating cardiomyocytes, setting up experiments), conference rooms (team science and collaboration means a lot of group discussions!), and my computer for writing and analysis. Since then, Ive shifted my work to be more remote while I work on a few different manuscripts. I have an office set up at home with a window, some good tunes, plenty of coffee, and a chair for my dog to wait impatiently on.

Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.) I have always been a to-do list person. Most mornings start with me listing out tasks (and breaking those down into many sub-tasks). I feel productive as I cross things off, and it also helps me prioritize and plan ahead to make sure I can also fit my training runs in.

Mac, Windows or Linux? Mac as a personal preference, Windows for my work computer (I do work at the Paul Allen Institute 🙂

Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? Transporter. I just promise not to use it in races.

Greatest game in history: Lode Runner. I havent played it since I was a kid, but the memories of yelling at the computer with my sister frantically hitting up-down-up-down arrows make me feel like it was just yesterday.

Best gadget ever: Garmin inReach mini satellite messaging and SOS call, all in a device small enough to throw in the bottom of a pack (or shorts pocket) and forget its there. I bring this with me anytime Im headed out into the wilderness/mountains, but I hope I never need to use it.

First computer: iMac G3.

Current phone: iPhone 11.

Favorite app: I have a love/hate relationship with Strava. Ive also been using DuoLingo during the pandemic and have a strong daily streak going!

Most important technology of 2021: COVID vaccines!!

Most important technology of 2023: Advancements in remote/low-resource medical care.

Final words of advice for your fellow geeks: Most problems can be solved with more snacks and some time (works for science and running).

Twitter: @kaytlyn_gerbin

LinkedIn: Kaytlyn Gerbin

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Kaytlyn Gerbin is blazing trails in cell science and as an ultrarunner who has conquered Mount Rainier - GeekWire