This revolutionary new cell therapy developed by Khalid Shah and his team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital could be a game-changer for the treatment of deadly brain cancer. Instead of using inactivated tumor cells, the team repurposed living tumor cells by using the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer them to release tumor cell killing agents and immunomodulatory agents to both destroy primary tumors and stimulate the immune system. The approach was successful in mice models and has the potential to translate clinically in the future. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
