New Cell Therapy Consortium
To expand on early progress in the emerging field of cell and gene therapy, five research centers across New York State — Weill Cornell Medicine, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NYU Langone Health, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo and the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute in Rochester — have partnered to launch the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium. Member centers will have expanded access to resources across the network, including Roswell Park’s 20 clean-room GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Facility, and the ability to participate in clinical trials originating out of any of the five member sites — paving the way for faster progress and earlier, more convenient access to innovative therapies for patients.
Weill Award
Dr. Warren Johnson, a professor emeritus of medicine and founding director of Weill Cornell Medicine’s Center for Global Health, has been awarded the institution’s Joan and Sanford I. Weill Exemplary Achievement Award.
Dr. Johnson, an esteemed champion of global health who during his distinguished 60-plus-year career at Weill Cornell Medicine established outstanding research and training programs around the world, accepted his award June 3 at a gala held in his honor. Dr. Johnson also served as chief of the Division of International Medicine from 1986–1995, and chief of the Division of International
Medicine and Infectious Disease from 1995–2008.
White Coats for New Students
Some 106 students in the Class of 2029 participated in Weill Cornell Medical College’s annual White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 12, officially marking the beginning of their medical education. Reflecting a breadth of backgrounds, interests, accomplishments, experiences and talents, the students attended 51 undergraduate institutions across 23 states, and 11 are Cornell alumni. Eighteen percent are first-generation college graduates. The group also has strong global connections: Students were born in 11 countries, and 37% are bilingual or multilingual. Students received white coats and stethoscopes provided by the Moss Family Foundation and the Paul F. Miskovitz, M.D. ’75 Stethoscope Fund for Medical Students.
Alzheimer’s Symposium
At the 12th annual Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute Symposium, researchers shared their latest findings of how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed and treated, including two new disease-modifying therapies and a recent FDA-approved blood test for Alzheimer’s diagnosis. “This is a really huge deal — many more people can be tested earlier, and it’s much more accessible to patients with early symptoms,” said Dr. Li Gan, director of the Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Distinguished Professor in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Helen and Robert Appel established the Institute in 2006.
Illustrations: Bratislav Milenkovic
