TED - Sonia Vallabh is on a mission to create a CURE for prion disease — before it’s too late #TEDTalks
The speaker shares a personal journey of losing a mother to genetic prion disease, a fatal condition that strikes in adulthood and leads to death within months. Motivated by this loss and the discovery of carrying the same genetic mutation, the speaker and their husband, originally a lawyer and a transportation engineer, respectively, decided to change careers. They pursued PhDs in biological and biomedical sciences to work on developing a therapy for prion disease. Now, they lead a lab at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to finding a treatment within their lifetimes. This transition, while challenging, has allowed them to meet inspiring people and discover new aspects of themselves.
Key Points:
- Genetic prion disease is fatal and strikes in adulthood, leading to death within months.
- The speaker and their husband changed careers to focus on developing a therapy for this disease.
- They pursued PhDs in biological and biomedical sciences despite their non-biomedical backgrounds.
- They now lead a research lab at the Broad Institute dedicated to finding a treatment.
- The journey has been transformative, allowing them to meet inspiring people and discover new personal strengths.
Details:
1. 🧬 Genetic Prion Disease: A Family's Tragedy
- Genetic prion disease is invariably fatal, with no current cure or effective treatment options.
- The onset of the disease is unpredictable, occurring at some point in adulthood, which makes it challenging to prepare or intervene effectively.
- Once symptoms appear, the progression is rapid, leading to death within a short timeframe.
- Symptoms include cognitive decline, motor disturbances, and neurological impairments, which severely impact quality of life.
- Families face emotional and financial burdens due to the disease's unpredictable nature and rapid progression.
- Research is ongoing, but more funding and awareness are needed to explore potential treatments.
2. 🔄 A Life-Changing Decision: New Careers in Science
- The speaker and their spouse, originally a lawyer and a transportation engineer, decided to transition into the biomedical field after the speaker discovered they carry a genetic mutation linked to prion disease, which had affected their family.
- This career change was driven by the personal loss of a family member and the desire to develop a therapy, highlighting the impact of personal experiences on professional decisions.
3. 🧪 New Beginnings: Pursuing Biomedical Research
- The transition from education to leading a research lab marks a significant career evolution, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in shifting from learning to application.
- Leadership of a 12-person lab at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, signifies a commitment to advancing biomedical research by focusing on therapy development for prion disease, a critical area with substantial health implications.
- Engagement in advanced studies in biological and biomedical sciences underscores the necessity of specialized education in achieving proficiency and innovation in high-level research.
- The lab's focus on developing therapies for prion disease reflects a strategic response to a pressing medical need, demonstrating the practical application of research to solve real-world health challenges.
4. 🚀 Turning Adversity into Opportunity: A Quest for a Cure
- The speaker describes being dealt a 'bad card' in life, which implies facing a significant personal challenge or adversity.
- Despite the adversity, this situation has propelled the speaker onto a meaningful quest, suggesting a search for a cure or solution.
- The journey involves collaboration with a team, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and shared goals in overcoming challenges.
- The experience provides opportunities to meet and interact with 'people's best selves,' indicating personal growth and the positive transformation of relationships.
- The speaker notes that this adversity and quest have led to discovering new versions of themselves and others, highlighting personal development and resilience.