I got a LinkedIn notification from an old colleague today with a link to an 'on-line exhibition' about one of the research groups I used to work in. It was my most rewarding time work-wise as the people there were so dedicated and it was great to see photos of some of my favourite colleagues. When I was working with the group my research supervisor, Prof. Herman Waldmann, had a collaboration with various consultants at the hospital and they were treating patients with very severe and intractable problems. In particular I remember Herman being taken to see a 20 year old called Nicola who was really in the last stages of life - Herman was very upset - she was in so much pain that the nurses had to make a tent to hold the sheets off her skin. She was treated with the antibody that Herman had developed and her condition turned around. The article has updates on a number of patients including Nicola and although she has had (and still has) a very difficult time, it is lovely to read that she is still alive at the age of 43 and now married.
Three GT:
1. My old colleagues, Nigel bumped into one of them at a business meeting recently and he hasn't changed or gone all corporate despite commercial success.
2. Science.
3. I have a spare chocolate advent calendar which I have forgotten - and now remembered. http://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/exhibitions/campath
So wonderful to hear uplifting stories like that Judith...you must be very proud of your work & have felt you were really helping... much job satisfaction!
My bike would be parked outside this shop.......even the lettering looks classic!
@lucypics If the group had stayed in Cambridge I would never have left - Herman went to Oxford to take up the Chair of Pathology - we nearly went but in the end stayed in Cambridge. If anything now it stops me going back because nothing would be as good!
Such a lovely and charming shot of the cake shop complete with the well appointed Cambridge bike.
Fascinating story regarding Prof. Waldmann and your former research group, Judith. You couldn't have asked for a more brilliant and accomplished research supervisor. Was the drug, alemtuzumab, the focus of the team's work?
That's a great story - I started reading the information in the exhibition but unfortunately had to get back to my own work (nothing like as rewarding!) - I'll try to read it later. Love this shot, particularly as a piece of cake would go down extremely well just now!
Great story Judith - and I agree with you whole-heartedly about your good thing no:2. Some years ago I got so angry about the general perception that girls couldn't 'do' science that I wrote a letter to the Telegraph telling them about my science classes at my little convent school in the fifties, all girls, taught by a wonderful fiery little nun called Sister Matilda - and how I went on to study 'science' at university (Zoology) - it got printed as the 'no 1' letter and I was so proud for her in her old age! ooh and btw I love this shot - I love your shots of glimpses of people inside cafes!
@peggysirk That's right - called Campath-1H in my day. The story is in the link but even I didn't read the whole lot! Just picked one or two bits. It was good to read about Martin Lockwood as well - a very talented vasculitis specialist who sadly drowned while sailing a couple of year's later - a real loss to medicine.
My bike would be parked outside this shop.......even the lettering looks classic!
How wonderfully satisfying to have worked among such greatness.
Fascinating story regarding Prof. Waldmann and your former research group, Judith. You couldn't have asked for a more brilliant and accomplished research supervisor. Was the drug, alemtuzumab, the focus of the team's work?
Great story. I really enjoy reading your writings every day. I wish either my life were more interesting or I could verbalise things better.