Immunotherapies: Speaking the Language of our Immune System to Treat Disease

Immunotherapies have transformed how we treat many diseases, especially cancer and autoimmune conditions. Over the past decade, these therapies have dramatically improved cancer survival rates and even shifted some cancers, such as lymphomas, from life-threatening diseases to treatable conditions. In autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, immunotherapies are used to switch off the inflammatory cells that drive illness. This has allowed many people to achieve long-lasting remission and regain quality of life.

As rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases continue to rise, the chances that you or someone close to you will encounter immunotherapy are increasing. In this talk, Thomas Worthington will introduce the basics of how immunotherapies work, why they have been so successful, and what kinds of side effects or symptoms patients may experience.

Thomas Worthington was born and raised in the UK and completed his undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Exeter. He is currently a fourth year PhD candidate in the department of Microbiology and Immunology, under the supervision of Dr Marc Horwitz. Thomas's research aims to further our understanding of how viral infections contribute to the onset of autoimmune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis.