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microscope and watched altered healthy cells move in to replace damaged cells, a process called homing. He asked if that method was closer to approval.
Bilousova responded, “We see cells going into the tissue, but it’s relatively few cells. So one ongoing issue is making the homing more efficient.” That will require complex production machinery to be set up in new Gates research laboratories in 2020. Researchers must avoid mistakes or rushing that can set back promising lines of investigation.
“If we don’t do it right, not only do we fail the patient, we fail the whole field,” she told the Attars.
Eileen and Chris understand all this, and accept it on one level, as supporters of science and research. On another level, where they are parents of a beautiful boy who loves Paw Patrol and wrestling his older brother, Leo, and the family jam
sessions that erupt when Brady has his music therapy in the living room, they would do anything to lessen his daily agonies.
Around the conference table, Eileen said, “So much of hope depends on how Brady is doing day to day. On good days when he’s doing well, this all makes sense. And on days when things are not going well or something new has happened, it’s ‘We needed this yesterday already.’ ”
Roop listens and nods. These are the sorts of tensions and contradictions that flow constantly around the Anschutz Medical Campus, between the research towers and the clinics. The families inform and motivate and inspire the professionals.
“I see a parent like you and I have to try not to oversell it,” Roop said. “But we are in fact very optimistic about so many things.”
Brady talks with his doctors while Kristina Byrne, RN, offers encouragement; compression bandages helps soothe his abraded skin and prevent further damage.
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