Experts in the emerging field of 鈥減ersonalized medicine鈥� will examine the promise of a new reality where doctors and researchers can better devise treatments for the individual.
The Future of Medicine: from Molecularly Targeted Therapies to Gene Editing will bring together four University of Victoria experts, one from the University of British Columbia and Brad Nelson, director of the sa国际传媒 Cancer Agency鈥檚 Trev and Joyce Deeley Research Centre in Victoria.
At the heart of the event is a range of therapies, some already in use, that are designed 鈥渢o target those exact things that are causing your disease, rather than being more general,鈥� said Perry Howard, chairman of UVic鈥檚 department of biochemistry and microbiology.
鈥淵ou get rid of the bad effects of some drugs and really get them more precise.鈥�
The therapies are being aimed at a number of treatment areas, Howard said.
鈥淪o in a cancerous environment, to understand exactly what are the changes that have happened in that cell to make it a cancerous cell,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd then, importantly, to follow that through time so we can see how those changes are evolving and how the disease is responding to the treatment.鈥�
Other panel events include:
鈥� Myths of the Good Mother 鈥� The discussion focuses on the 鈥渋mpossible ideal鈥� against which the 鈥渟acred鈥� role of being a mother is measured. 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday, Clearihue (CLE)A203.
鈥� Is Feminism Finished? 鈥� Panelists look at the fact that some people say feminist goals have been achieved, while others say there is still a long way to go. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, David Turpin Building (DTB) A110.
鈥� Truth and Reconciliation in sa国际传媒: Coming to Terms 鈥� An examination of the role the church should play in the response to sa国际传媒鈥檚 Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which delved into the abuse of First Nations children at residential schools. 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday, Elliott (ELL)167.
