Scientific Communication, CGT Update, and Psychoactive Drugs

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Mastering Scientific Communication

Benjamin McLeod - Cell & Gene Therapy Scientific Content Creator

My 7 principles for science communication:

1. Analogies are your friend Wherever possible, explain complex science in terms of well-known objects. A popular example: "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell''. No complex explanation of cellular respiration is needed. Put thought into this step. Find simple (but clear) analogies that work for your niche of science.

2. Play to your niche of science You need to understand the science you're explaining really well. You can't simplify science you don't really understand. Play to your strengths. (When starting out, at least)

3. Stories are king Armed with the analogies from the last step, compile them together into a captivating story. A list of random facts won't engage anyone... But stories? Almost always.

4. Visuals are queen I could sit here and do my very best to tell the story of the Krebs cycle. But with no visual reference, you'll get lost very quickly. A picture is literally worth a thousand words. Probably even more.

5. Be concise The more words that come out of your mouth... The higher the chance you'll lose people. Work on keeping things short. And avoid jargon.

6. Consider the audience The way you explain science will be different if it's: - Your Grandma - Your interested neighbour - A room full of scientists vs. BD reps Tailor your message to the understanding level of your audience.

7. You need enthusiasm Can your audience tell that you're interested in your topic? Your passion for the science can become infectious. It'll drive engagement in what you're saying. And it'll leave a lasting impression.

So remember... It's a skill you can master. And it's worth its weight in gold. Now you've just got to start practicing!

The Cell & Gene Therapy Industry: Doubting Present, Hopeful Future

Anis Fahandej-Sadi - Founder and Head Editor of TLDR Biotech

One of the biggest cell & gene therapy events of the year, Meeting on the Mesa, happened in Phoenix, Arizona, at a critical juncture for the CGT industry.

Though the economy is showing signs of recovery and investor confidence in biopharma is rising, there are indicators that money is instead flowing to safer bets (including antibodies and small molecules) and less so towards cell & gene therapy.

High profile struggles amongst approved meds (including those from bluebird bio, Vertex & CRISPR, and BioMarin) aren’t helping matters.

That said, this industry has recovered from much worse before, and what CGT is facing now is more likely a bump in the road than a death knell.?

As there are still so many areas that CGT has yet to significantly improve on - from the fundamental structure and mechanism of these medicines to manufacturing, patient delivery, and payer structures. The sky remains the limit for CGT.

TLDR Biotech was on the ground at Meeting on the Mesa, interviewing industry leaders to get their take on how CGT is doing and where it’s going. We’ll be compiling responses into an industry survey - stay tuned for this in the coming weeks!

Psychoactive Drugs and Spider Webs

Nicolas Hubacz, M.S. - Business Development Manager at Magstim and Founder of NH Sponsorships

In 1995, scientists explored how different drugs influence spider web construction to understand their impact on behavior and motor skills. This research was initiated due to a zoologist's request to alter the time garden spiders build their webs. The team administered various psychoactive substances, such as amphetamine, mescaline, strychnine, LSD, and caffeine, observing changes in web size and shape rather than timing.

Low caffeine doses led to smaller webs with uneven radii, while higher doses resulted in even smaller, irregular designs. Each drug induced different effects: sleeping pills caused drowsiness and incomplete webs, Benzedrine created zigzag patterns, marijuana resulted in missing inner sections, and scopolamine disrupted directional sense.

The study highlighted how drugs affect spider behavior, offering insights into the broader impacts of psychoactive substances across species.

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