The September issue

Although I physically left Fred Hutch a while back some unfinished business remained after departing, such as my two last articles for Science Spotlight. Readers, I give you:

BSCL therapy for ocular GVHD - a sight for sore eyes
An improved method to detect low levels of methylated DNA

In the first piece you can learn about a neat way of treating graft-versus-host disease in the eyes, using bandage soft contact lenses. The second story is of slightly more technical nature, describing an improved method for detection of methylated genes, which in turn may be used as biomarkers for colorectal cancer.

Writing for Science Spotlight this past year has been a wonderful learning experience—challenging at times, but incredibly worthwile. As faculty mentor, Dr. Julian Simon supported the team of editors in the best possible way, and beyond that served as a personal mentor for me concerning all things related to science writing (and science [and life] in general).

In short: this was great. I'm very happy that I was able to do this for a year, and would not have hesitated to apply for a second term, had I stayed at the center.

I hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse of the research that is performed at Fred Hutch—I certainly enjoyed writing about it!

The August issue

Third Monday of the month means a spanking new issue of Science Spotlight. Finally!

I recommend clicking on the links below to read about: i) a new method for reducing chronic graft-versus-host disease by specifically removing certain immune cells (naïve T cells) from stem cell transplants; and ii) the development of a sophisticated measure of emotional distress for improved care of transplanted cancer patients.

HCT improved - less naïve, more useful
A more meaningful, less stressful, distress measure

Awesome stuff, as always! If you don't read it you're clearly out of your mind.

The July issue

The latest issue of Science Spotlight went live as I was piloting my little silver Kia Rio from Anchorage to Talkeetna, but as we all know, good things come to those who wait. Here are the links to this month's two stories from the Clinical Research Division:

CGAT: a vital instrument in the prognostic toolbox for AML
Replacing the western: an improved way to measure cell signaling

The first article gives some interesting insights into the world of chromosomal anomalies, and their impact on outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The second was initially entitled ”99 problems but 69 western blots ain’t one”, but although the investigator claimed to appreciate the Jay-Z reference he gracefully suggested something more ”descriptive”. I gave it some thought and reluctantly agreed. Sometimes my self-perceived wittines is just that: self-perceived, as in ’not necessarily perceived by others’.

Enjoy, folks!

The June issue

Summer reading for everyone! In this month's edition of Science Spotlight I have contributed the following pieces:

CIVO: drug development in the fast lane
Timing of MDS relapse: a multifaceted case to crack

As you can tell by the titles, I've had a thing for colons lately. No, not that kind of colons—the punctuation mark, obviously. Sigh. You're so immature. So very, very immature.

Anyway, read them and educate yourselves! All your friends will think you're cool.

The May issue

Europe came between me and my normal Science Spotlight update, but better late than never: here are your new favorite online articles!

The first demonstrates a tremendous improvement in detection capability of rare mutations in individual cancer cells. Cooler yet, the method can be used for analyzing other samples where cells are rare, for instance in forensics or studies of dinosaurs and other extinct organisms. Pretty awesome!

A ground-breaking method for distinguishing needles from hay

Next, a group of Fred Hutch researchers accidentally stumbled on a gene that may be useful as a predictive marker for characterization of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), potentially advancing the development of individualized treatment plans. I love how seemingly random the initial finding was—I find it quite uplifting, to be honest. You just never know where your research will take you...!

An unpredicted predictor of outcome in pediatric AML

You know the drill by now—if you have questions, just hit me up!

The April issue

My favorite Science Spotlight story this month describes a study that aimed to increase the influenza vaccination compliance of healthcare staff at a large cancer care center (guess which one). Two approaches were explored; one incentive-based ($$$) and one penalty-based (we're going to make it very, very cumbersome to decline the flu shot—why not just go ahead and accept it?). Not surprisingly, folks don't like having to do extra work. Read it! It's a fun study.

For flu shot compliance, stick beats carrot

The next one is exciting in a different way; more biology, more hi-tech futuristic stem cell awesomeness. Intimidating? Perhaps, but give it a try!

A vascular niche for boosted blood stem cell production

Feel free to bombard me with questions about my Science Spotlight articles—I'm writing them, in part, for you.

The March issue

From me, to you: two more Science Spotlight articles. In the current edition I'm using my (limited) powers to promote targeted alpha particle therapy - an experimental treatment modality with great potential for curing a range of cancer forms. Yes, I might be slightly biased, because yes, this is the field I'm working in. ...and yes, I happen to be a co-author of the featured paper. Yes, yes, yes. That certainly doesn't make it less interesting, however.

A for alphas: radioimmunotherapy scores high

The second article offers a sneak peek into the world of cancer genetics. This write-up required a bit of background research on my part, as the topic is quite far off from my normal stomping ground. I learned a lot in the process, though - and so will you if you read it.

From specific to general, and back again

Enjoy!

The February issue

For once, I'm not discussing my seasonal affective disorder; that's getting a little old, don't you think? Instead, I'm referring to the latest edition of Science Spotlight. This time I present the following exciting titles:

Plastic fantastic! Biopolymers efficiently boost T cell therapy
Settling the (risk) score for CGVHD patients

Naturally, both are fascinating in their own way, but if you only have time and energy to peruse through one of them I would recommend the topmost one. I'm not gonna lie: that study is pretty darn spectacular. In fact, our lead editor of the month found it so intriguing he chose to highlight it as our featured article this month. And as if that wasn't enough to make me blush, the story has received a little bit of Twitter attention:

Breaking! @fredhutch scientists work to make T Cell therapy efficient for inoperable #tumors. http://t.co/8TmIPO9fhQ pic.twitter.com/QG5BVAot1W
— STTR Cancer (@sttrcancer) February 17, 2015

IO meets drug delivery: T-cells in biopolymer scaffold! “@sttrcancer: @fredhutch #tumors. http://t.co/LBRzqYkRzn pic.twitter.com/R88ImaEySk”
— CancerProgress by DH (@CPbyDH) February 18, 2015

Oh, stop it... It's not that interesting...

Bah! Who am I kidding? Of course it is; now go ahead and read it!

The January issue

This month's Science Spotlight articles could just as well have been titled ”International postdoc has to study up on kidneys” and ”Freaking out: The unexpected pressure of writing about something one actually understands”, but I chose to go with the more conformist

A potential new marker of post-HCT kidney injury
RIT-NMAT: A new hope for high-risk lymphoma patients

Start the year by learning something new! (I had to.)

The December issue

Whoa! Already? Yup. (Christmas comes early this year.)

How to breed a rare bird: Endogenous T cell therapy made possible
Settling for second best - not so bad, after all

Now: inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale...

The November issue

For each edition of the Fred Hutch newsletter Science Spotlight one of the five editors is appointed head editor and thus bestowed with some extra tasks and responsibilities. We go by a rotating schedule, and if the November issue looks stunningly credible or surprisingly kooky, this person is to blame:

Yeah.

Anyhow, here are the two articles I wrote for this month's edition:

The two faces of NKG2D
AAT: A double whammy for leukemia

Read! Ponder! Form a study group!

Finally, before you say it; I know, I need to learn how to be more concise. (I just love words too much!)

The October issue

Lo and behold! My first two articles for Fred Hutch's electronic newsletter Science Spotlight.

Mixed signals: The liver's perspective
Age is just a number

This is so much fun! I'm already looking forward to writing up my next two stories. If you have any constructive feedback, please feel free to share it with me; I'm doing this to learn, after all.