redefine
c4d, maya, flash, ps • icq: 280690473 mail: Co2_187@hotmail.com
c4d, maya, flash, ps • icq: 280690473 mail: Co2_187@hotmail.com
photography is my passion.
Jun 13th, 2007Thanks for visiting my little page. I am a molecular biologist but sometimes I like to take pictures of seemingly arcane things that strike me as having something else to offer; a hidden nuance or pattern for example. My main passion is to find simple and reliable ways of identifying, weakening or preventing the return of cancer. In the age of cancer vaccines that I hope will be here soon, it will be possible to type and extract the essence of cancer directly at the lab bench. We will then give the stripped down material back to the patient so that malfunctioning proteins are quickly recognised by her immune system. The cancer cells that have resisted surgery or therapy will no longer be able to hide. We are fortunate that cancer cells may be making it easier for us by pinching off little bubbles of their cell surface that we call exosomes. Like the malfunctioning proteins that cancer cells have resurrected or corrupted, they have stolen the idea of exosome release from healthy cells. Normally the exosome system is used by our cells to communicate with one another. In contrast the cancer cells use the exosomes to confuse normal healthy processes, eject control proteins that might slow them down, and enlist surrounding normal cells as their helpers. But the exosomes also contain the cancer’s secrets and we can destroy them if we use this information properly. But we have a problem: how to collect them from the tiny amount of material collected by doctors? Currently methods are complex and time consuming; very little material is produced and it may have lost some of the malfunctioning proteins that we want the immune system to see. At the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute we have developed an approach to quickly collect exosome material that what we call XOSOMES or X0S0MES (XOs or X0s) directly from small amounts of cancer. The X0 approach is quick, easy and high yield: more material to test from smaller samples, and more vaccination opportunities. We can also decorate the X0s with additional parts of the cancer to control the patient’s immune response to the satisfaction of the doctor. Although their use as routine vaccine may be some way off, we are hoping that the X0 approach will soon help doctors in diagnosis and choice of treatment. The final application will be, of course, to use the cancer’s own evil to eradicate itself, creating its own nemesis. Because every cancer is different, the X0 approach will provide each patient with her own personal vaccine. That is why this is the X0S0ME page. I pray that we can make a difference. Thank you for all of your support, particularly my good mates Ben Felda, Phil Fensterer, Mike Braun, Matt Mills and BlaMo (Haralds) who have selflessly provided me with beautiful graphics as inspirational iconography and illustrations for my ideas during presentations. Stay Frosty Steve http://www.atlanticcancer.ca/stevegriffiths.php http://www.discoveriescampaign.com/index2.php?lang=en&page=campagne
Aug 2nd, 2007Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/TheNakedPrince Tumblr: http://thenakedprince.tumblr.com/ Anything else feel free to ask me.
Jun 27th, 2007