Calling guys who may know a gene editing gal

I received a mail this morning from someone I haven’t spoken to in years. However, I follow her via social media or get updates via mutual friends. Geography and different life stages have meant that our relationship has in recent years been more superficial. However, a wonderfully rich, shared history – having worked together in both Australia and South Africa – means that I often think of her. A person I rate highly – both professionally and as a super smart and fabulous human. Here is her email:

Hi Carel,

I’m sorry that my first email to you in years is so out of the blue and contains an ask for a favour but I’m reaching out to people who I think may “know a guy who knows a gal” so here we are. Maybe even someone you heard about through TED? 

Long story short, I’ve been diagnosed with myelofibrosis. I don’t have symptoms yet, but I’m told that my bone marrow will eventually be replaced with scar tissue and I will need a bone marrow transplant before it turns into an even nastier cancer. Seeing as a bone marrow transplant is not super fun to go through, I figured I’d reach out and see if you know anyone who may be doing a clinical trial of alternative therapies, mainly gene editing. My condition is due to a gene mutation (thanks Chernobyl) and we know which gene so technically you’d think it would be ideal for a gene editing treatment. Alas, that’s not available yet hence the search for for work in progress. There’s some promising antibody work in Adelaide and I already have messages out to that team (sounds like they have a bunch of people like me raising their hands, though).

Do you happen to know of anyone working on using gene editing in humans? Of course I’m going to get all the consults needed for bone marrow transplant, and I’ll start working on finding a match, but if there’s another therapy out there, I’d like to see if I’m a fit. Even if it’s experimental. Worst case, I can be used for a clinical study. 

Thanks very much for your help.

If you have any leads I can pass on, please be in touch : carel@cnandco.com