One of the newest things in cancer therapy is the idea that we can harness the immune system to attack cancer. So how do we make that work? Charles Sentman, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology, explains how specially engineered immune cells—called CAR T-cells—locate and destroy tumor cells. Sentman and his collaborators at the Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering have designed a new line of CAR T-cells that can potentially target 80–90% of all types of tumor cells. His first line of CAR-T cells is currently in clinical trials for seven different kinds of cancer. Learn more about cancer immunotherapy and innovation: http://dartgo.org/campaign-immunotherapy Video Production: Jennifer Durgin and Sarah Sentman, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Animation: Laura Porat, Los Angeles, California. https://lauraporat.com

Some children’s brains are prone to respond to unhealthy food advertisements. Such advertisements actually prompt those children to eat more, even when they are not hungry, according to research by Diane Gilbert-Diamond, ScD, a scientist at Dartmouth College’s C. Everett Koop Institute and an associate professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. The Koop Institute conducts the rigorous scientific studies needed to understand and temper the powerful influences that drive overconsumption of highly processed foods, tobacco, alcohol, and other potentially unhealthy products. Every year, several undergraduates and recent graduates of Dartmouth College contribute to this important work. Learn more about the Koop Institute: http://dartgo.org/campaign-koop

In 2018-19, Geisel medical students Shuaibu “Sha” Ali ’21, Kenny Williams ’21, Laura Herrera Gomez ’21, and Carlos Aramayo ’21 led a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program for local high school students from Hartford, Vermont, and Lebanon, New Hampshire. They quickly realized that their gatherings offered a rich opportunity to discuss issues of race, poverty, and other socioeconomic factors that affect the health of individuals and communities. Through their leadership, the medical students also served as positive role models for the teenagers, especially for the teens of color in this largely white, rural region. Read more about the STEM program here: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/news/2019/stem-program-helps-high-schoolers-make-connections-see-whats-possible/ You can support students like Sha, Kenny, Laura, and Carlos and learn more about Geisel’s vision for Educating Complete Physicians: dartgo.org/campaign-complete-physician.

Dartmouth College undergraduate Sam Neff D '21 fights cystic fibrosis (CF) every day by following a strict treatment regimen, by contributing to CF research in Geisel’s Lung Biology Center, and by participating in a clinical trial at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. “I think there could be a cure to CF in my lifetime,” says Neff. “That is why I’m so interested in getting involved in research so I can help push the science forward and possibly get to that point.” Learn more about Geisel’s Lung Biology Center and its remarkable contributions to the understanding and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Through the Interaction campaign, Geisel aims to attract $10 million in philanthropic gifts to accelerate the pace of discovery within the center and improve the lives of people living with CF and other chronic lung diseases. Learn more: http://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/campaign/geisel-campaign/pursue-bold-ideas/lung-biology-center/