BETA
Chapter 1
The body's defense force
Chapter 2
Releasing the biological brakes
Chapter 3
Living drugs and cellular engineers
Chapter 4
The future frontier of healing
YOUR GOAL
Master of The immunotherapy revolution
Ch 4 · The future frontier of healing
futura CAR-T therapies can cost over $450,000 per patient, prompting global efforts to lower manufacturing costs.
futura Researchers are adapting immunotherapy techniques to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Fun Fact
Alligator blood power: Scientists are studying alligator blood because their powerful immune systems can destroy superbugs and even human cancer cells in laboratory tests.
Glossary
immunotherapy (noun)
The treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. In 2015, doctors used this approach to treat former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's advanced melanoma.
The treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. In 2015, doctors used this approach to treat former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's advanced melanoma.
Quiz
How are scientists using immunotherapy concepts to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus?
Quiz
What are "off-the-shelf" (allogeneic) CAR-T therapies that scientists are currently developing to lower costs?
Quiz
How does a therapeutic cancer vaccine differ from a traditional vaccine like the flu shot?
Quiz
In synthetic biology, what is a "logic gate" engineered into next-generation T cells?
Quiz
Which country is a major hub for developing low-cost, localized CAR-T therapies to make the treatment globally accessible?
Quiz
What is one of the primary reasons CAR-T cell therapy is currently so expensive, often costing over $400,000?