Learning to be immune to cancer - Cafe Scientifique

Cafe Scientifique occurs on the last Thursday of every month. It is a very casual gathering of people interested in hearing the latest in science. The speaker will only talk for 10-20 minutes and the floor is opened for questions. Very relaxed, always interesting!

Immunology is a vibrant and ever-changing branch of biomedical science that deals with the study of the immune system. International Immunology Day is an opportunity to reflect on the research being done to improve the lives of people whose immune systems do not work optimally.

Dr McConnell and colleagues at the Malaghan Institute are attempting to isolate chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells and educate the immune system about them.

• Decades of research costing billions of dollars; what’s holding up a cure?

• Is the progression of cancer as much a failure of the immune system as the success of the cancer cell?

• Can we alert our immune system to the presence of cancer cells?

• Is the cancer stem cell as resistant to immunotherapy as it is to radiation and chemotherapy?

Dr Melanie McConnell grew up on the Kapiti Coast, then enrolled at Otago Uni where she completed a B.Sc (Hons) in Microbiology, followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. She then worked for several years in New York to understand how myeloid leukemia develops and how new drugs could be targeted to this disease.

In 2006, Melanie joined the Malaghan Institute to establish the cancer stem cell programme.

This is an opportunity to discuss the exciting developments in the search for a cure to cancer with a internationally renowned expert.

Supported by: The Malaghan Institute, GNS Science, Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch, Cadillac Diner, Capital E and Hutt City Council.

Event listed by huttcity

View their other events or contact promoter