“What if we could use the programmable power of mRNA vaccines to train our immune systems to recognize not just new viruses, but also rapidly regenerating mutations?”
The question was posed to an audience at Spirit of Wonder, a TEDxUniversity of Arizona event, by Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, inaugural executive director of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, or CAMI.
Bhattacharya, a professor of immunobiology at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, explains how the adaptive immune system works and the potential of immunological therapies such as mRNA vaccines to solve our biggest health challenges in his TEDx Talk, “Hacking the Immune System with Precision Medicine.”
Now, close your eyes and envision the unimaginable – you or a loved one battling a life-threatening illness. Then envision a future where groundbreaking treatments redefine possibilities.
Researchers at CAMI will be at the forefront of that medical innovation, said Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for the University of Arizona Health Sciences, during his TEDx Talk.
Dake says immunotherapies have already made a huge difference in the lives of some people. CAMI holds the promise of improving the lives of a great many more people by harnessing the power of the body’s own immune system.
Closing out the 2024 TEDx University of Arizona event, Bhattacharya and Dake engaged in a captivating interview about how the body’s immune system could be harnessed as the ultimate defense against a wide range of diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
During the discussion, Bhattacharya and Dake answered questions about CAMI and how it could enhance patient care, boost Arizona’s economy and redefine medical research.
Rachel Reinhardt, the associate vice president for communications at the U of A Health Sciences, moderated the interview.
