What the HEK is Immunotherapy?

14: What the HEK is autoimmunity? How can immunotherapy help?

So we have talked a lot about immunotherapy for cancer - but its also used to treat autoimmune diseases! In this episode we talk with Dr. Marc Horwitz, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia, about what autoimmunity is and how immunotherapy is being used to treat autoimmune diseases. Dr. Horwitz also recently co-started a research cluster called the Autoimmune Biomedical collaborative [https://autoimmune.ubc.ca/] to get researchers, clinicians, and patients together to better tackle autoimmune diseases. -- Interested in learning more about immunotherapy? Check out our other episodes and give us a follow on instagram @wthisimmunotherapy and twitter @WTHisImmunoT! And check out our website ⁠wthisimmunotherapy.com⁠ [wthisimmunotherapy.com⁠]. Or feel free to reach out to us at ⁠wthisimmunotherapy@gmail.com⁠ if you have any questions or any ideas for episodes! -- Creators & Producers: Gillian Savage, Grace Bernard, and Dr. Pauline Loos  Podcast Logo is designed by Mia Portelance  Music is by Lara Antebi (⁠https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠ [https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠])

13: What the HEK is patient engagement in research?

Patients are the centre of why we do what we do in immunotherapy research - so shouldn’t they have a say?? Well that's where patient engagement in research comes in! It is becoming increasingly common to involve patients throughout the research pipeline since patients provide lived experience that we as scientists often do not see. To discuss how this works, their own personal journey with patient engagement, and how to get involved in patient engagement, either as a scientist or a patient partner, we are joined by two special guests. First, Dr. Manoj Lalu, a scientist and anesthesiologist who has been paving the way of what patient partnerships in research should look like. And second, Nadine, a patient partner in the lab of your host’s Gillian and Grace (Evgin Lab). Nadine and Dr. Lalu mentioned many resources throughout the episode which are provided below: CIHR’s definition of Patient Engagement [https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45851.html⁠] CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) [ttps://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48413.html]- Patient Engagement Framework LabPartners [https://labpartners.ca/⁠] (patient engagement in preclinical research) Additionally if you want to learn more - reach out to us and we can connect you with Dr. Lalu and his team! -- Interested in learning more about immunotherapy? Check out our other episodes and give us a follow on instagram @wthisimmunotherapy and twitter @WTHisImmunoT! And check out our website ⁠wthisimmunotherapy.com [https://www.wthisimmunotherapy.com/]⁠. Or feel free to reach out to us at ⁠wthisimmunotherapy@gmail.com⁠ if you have any questions orideas for episodes! -- Creators & Producers: Gillian Savage, Grace Bernard, and Dr. Pauline Loos  Podcast Logo is designed by Mia Portelance  Music is by Lara Antebi (⁠https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠ [https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠])

12: What the HEK are clinical trials? (from a scientist's perspective)

You've heard of clinical trials - but how do they actually work? We get into the nitty gritty of clinical trials in part 1 of our miniseries on clinical trials where we here about it from the scientist's perspective! In this episode we are joined by Dr. John Bell to discuss his experience on taking therapies from his own lab into the clinic for treating patients! Learn more about the exosome work Dr. Bell is excited to take to the clinic here. -- Interested in learning more about immunotherapy? Check out our other episodes and give us a follow on instagram @wthisimmunotherapy and twitter @WTHisImmunoT! And check out our website ⁠wthisimmunotherapy.com⁠. Or feel free to reach out to us at ⁠wthisimmunotherapy@gmail.com⁠ if you have any questions or any ideas for episodes! -- Creators & Producers: Gillian Savage, Grace Bernard, and Dr. Pauline Loos  Podcast Logo is designed by Mia Portelance  Music is by Lara Antebi (⁠https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠)

11: What the HEK are cancer vaccines?

Vaccines not only prevent infectious diseases - they can also help cure cancer! To learn how this works and all about the field of cancer vaccines we are joined by Dr. Brian Lichty, an associate professor in Medicine at McMaster University. More information of the startup Dr. Lichty talks about can be found on their website: https://espherasynbio.ca/ [https://espherasynbio.ca/] -- Interested in learning more about immunotherapy? Check out our other episodes and give us a follow on instagram @wthisimmunotherapy and twitter @WTHisImmunoT! And check out our website ⁠wthisimmunotherapy.com⁠. Or feel free to reach out to us at ⁠wthisimmunotherapy@gmail.com⁠ if you have any questions or any ideas for episodes! -- Creators & Producers: Gillian Savage, Grace Bernard, and Dr. Pauline Loos  Podcast Logo is designed by Mia Portelance  Music is by Lara Antebi (⁠https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/⁠)

10: What the HEK is perioperative immunotherapy?

How can we improve outcomes for cancer patients undergoing surgery? With Immunotherapy! In this episode we discuss perioperative immunotherapy with Dr. Rebecca Auer, a Surgeon-Scientist and the CEO & Scientific Director at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. She discusses how her background in surgery and interest in research led her to explore how we can enhance the immune system after surgical removal of cancers to prevent relapse. More information about the clinical trial using a blood thinner to boost the immune response after colon cancer removal: News article [https://www.ohri.ca/newsroom/story/view/1521?l=en] Medical Journal publication [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9468899/] -- Interested in learning more about immunotherapy? Check out our other episodes and give us a follow on instagram @wthisimmunotherapy and twitter @WTHisImmunoT! And check out our website ⁠wthisimmunotherapy.com [wthisimmunotherapy.com]⁠. Or feel free to reach out to us at ⁠wthisimmunotherapy@gmail.com⁠ if you have any questions or any ideas for episodes! -- Creators & Producers: Gillian Savage, Grace Bernard, and Dr. Pauline Loos  Podcast Logo is designed by Mia Portelance  Music is by Lara Antebi (⁠https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/ [https://laraantebi.bandcamp.com/]⁠)