The Science of Cures

I am making a documentary film, The Science of Cures, following the work of Irv and Ann Weissman who are on a mission to cure metastatic breast cancer using purified stem cells.

Here is the trailer for the film: https://vimeo.com/1114378752/e8c620c0e8?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Irv is known as the “father” of stem cell biology. He was the first scientist to define blood-forming stem cells. His group then went on to isolate stem cells of other tissues including brain, muscle, gut and skeletal stem cells.

Irv discovered that purified stem cells could be used in a bone marrow transplant to ensure that no cancer stem cells were being transferred back in the blood used to rescue the patient.

Irv used this discovery to develop a cure for metastatic breast cancer, an affliction that kills an estimated 250,000 women a year. In the phase one clinical trial which started in 1998 the women who took part in the trial had multiple metastases and had been given only two to three years to live. However, 1/3rd of the women who took part in that trial are still alive to this day, 25 years later. They were completely cured. The rest of the patients lived an average of ten years, instead of 2 years for the control group.

Despite this miraculous success, the pharmaceutical giant abruptly terminated Irv's stem cell trial in 2000. The decision was likely due to the fact that the pharmaceutical company was at the time pursuing small-molecule drugs that would give a higher return on their investment than the stem-cell treatment.

This experience soured Irv and Ann on the involvement of for-profit companies in the translation of research into clinical treatments that can help patients. As a result, Irv and Ann are redoing this clinical trial and they have donated ten million dollars of their own money to make sure that this upcoming version of the clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer can move forward as a non-profit.

My film, The Science of Cures, will follow Irv and Ann’s research, and will also follow patients who are participating in their new, non-profit, clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer. This is the final step in a 25-year quest to prove that purified stem cells can cure metastatic breast cancer, as well as many other diseases.

I have won an Emmy for best documentary film and have been nominated four times. I was shortlisted for the prestigious Ridenhour Documentary film prize, given annually in recognition of those "who persevere in acts of truth telling that protect the public interest, promote social justice or illuminate a more just vision of society". I have received a Sidney Award for Excellence in Journalism for the Common Good, and a Bending Toward Justice Award from Senator Jeff Merkley. Over my career, my goal has been to capture “life in progress”, showing authentic and relatable stories that allow viewers to see controversial issues with compassion and understanding.