Cystic Fibrosis Patients Who Changed Medicine Forever

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Who Changed Medicine ForeverConstant Wonder • Season 2022, Episode 888

Feb 25, 2021 • 53m

Cystic fibrosis was not well understood 100 years ago but the fight against it has had a huge impact on medicine. Using the gene-editing technology CRISPR to diagnose and fight many diseases, including COVID-19.

Episode Segments

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Who Changed Medicine ForeverFeb 25, 202137mJoey O’Donnell's underwent intensive treatment for his cystic fibrosis, up to four hours a day. Even as a young child, Joey advocated for himself and other victims in the press, and his family carried on his legacy after his death at age 12. In the fight to find a cure, campaigns established their own patient care centers and research institutes—and most importantly, easily connected patients to the researchers—to hasten innovations in treatment.

Joey O’Donnell's underwent intensive treatment for his cystic fibrosis, up to four hours a day. Even as a young child, Joey advocated for himself and other victims in the press, and his family carried on his legacy after his death at age 12. In the fight to find a cure, campaigns established their own patient care centers and research institutes—and most importantly, easily connected patients to the researchers—to hasten innovations in treatment.

Innovative CRISPR Therapy and CuresFeb 25, 202116mConversations about gene editing are often limited to a “should-we, shouldn’t we?” debate. However, gene-editing could offer relief from diseases that we've never been able to find cures for. And it could help easily diagnose diseases around the world.

Conversations about gene editing are often limited to a “should-we, shouldn’t we?” debate. However, gene-editing could offer relief from diseases that we've never been able to find cures for. And it could help easily diagnose diseases around the world.