Carl June
A “living drug” that could change the way we treat cancer
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About Carl June
Oncologist, researcher, and professor Carl June is renowned pioneer in the fight against cancer. His revolutionary leukemia therapy, which was recently approved by the FDA, uses genetically engineered versions of a patient’s own T cells, and is the first personalized cell therapy for cancer to be sanctioned in America. Developed by Carl and his colleagues, this method has the potential to help patients with many other types of cancers. Carl is currently Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at the Perelman School of Medicine, and Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania. A graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis and Baylor College of Medicine, he has published more than 350 manuscripts, and is the recipient of numerous prizes and honors, including election to the Institute of Medicine in 2012 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014, as well as being named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2018.
About This Talk
For most people, facing a “fork in the road” is a natural part of life’s journey. For Carl June, Immunotherapy Pioneer, "forks in the road" led him to create the first "living drug" in medicine that cures cancer. With an understanding of the immune system’s process, Carl and his team used genetic engineering to build a synthetic immune system that could detect and kill cancer cells. His invention, CAR T cells, divide and multiply in the body to destroy cancer cells. As a “living drug,” a CAR T infusion has the ability to stay on patrol in the body for decades.
Barring setbacks, adverse reactions, high costs, and more, Carl June has developed one of the first drugs in medical history to successfully treat cancer with a high remission rate. Watch his TEDMED 2018 Talk to uncover the research behind this discovery - as well as the “forks in the road” that led to momentous medical progress.
Barring setbacks, adverse reactions, high costs, and more, Carl June has developed one of the first drugs in medical history to successfully treat cancer with a high remission rate. Watch his TEDMED 2018 Talk to uncover the research behind this discovery - as well as the “forks in the road” that led to momentous medical progress.