• Question: Do you ever work with doctors to improve the heart and cure diseases

    Asked by Lclark to Michael, Loan, Gemma, Cristina on 10 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Cristina Villa del Campo

      Cristina Villa del Campo answered on 10 Nov 2015:


      Yes, many times Lclark! It is very important to work with doctors to see how what we study can be applied to human patients. If we discover a new cell type or molecule that can help the heart we start the mechanism to test them in human patients. We talk to doctors and see how we can make a therapy out of what we have discovered.
      Other times it doesn’t happen like that and you discover something that can’t be yet used in human. But it doesn’t matter, it helps us all learn a little bit more about how it all works.

    • Photo: Gemma Barron

      Gemma Barron answered on 10 Nov 2015:


      Hi @Lclark,
      Thank you for your question. Yes, I have worked with doctors many times to help understand a variety of different diseases. I am working with a group of doctors at the moment and I think we are both teaching each other something new every time that we meet to discuss the project. I work with cells and with them I want to find out how things work or affect the cells, for example, if they are treated with different drugs etc. I believe that communication between lab scientists and doctors is a very important one and we need to maintain it if we are to continue to improve our understanding of the heart and cure diseases as you mentioned in your question. Talking is the key to all of our success. I hope that answers your question. Thanks, Gemma

Comments