OTTAWA,
ON, Nov. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - In honour of Diabetes
Awareness Month, Novo Nordisk, JDRF, Diabetes Canada, the McEwan
Stem Cell Institute, and the filmmakers behind The Human
Trial gathered a diverse and passionate audience at the
National Arts Centre last night, Tuesday, November 7th. This landmark event,
"The Human Trial: Canada's
Moment," brought together some of the brightest minds and
the most passionate voices in the fight against type 1
diabetes.
Esteemed journalist and broadcaster, Catherine Clark, hosted the evening, while
André Picard, a prominent health reporter for The Globe and Mail,
moderated a dynamic panel discussion.
The panel featured a poignant virtual contribution from Canadian
actor Victor Garber, the celebrated
actor and advocate, who is also part of the T1D community. His
involvement underscored the urgency of the cause and the collective
aspiration for a functional cure.
The distinguished panelists – including Michael Scott, VP, Device Development at Novo
Nordisk; Dr. Cristina Nostro, Senior
Scientist at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute; Cate Murray, President
& CEO, Stem Cell Network; and Ottawa-born Lisa
Hepner, filmmaker, discussed the extraordinary
breakthroughs being made in labs across the country, highlighting
how close we are to a functional cure for insulin-dependent
diabetes. Attendees experienced this pivotal moment firsthand and
had the rare opportunity to engage with the panel during a lively
Q&A session.
A private reception was held before the event for industry
leaders, researchers, policymakers, and those directly affected by
diabetes.
"I'm proud to be Canadian, and prouder still that Canadian
researchers are closer than ever to finding a cure for my disease.
Much of the breakthrough stem cell therapies are being pioneered
here in cities across our nation." - Victor
Garber, CM, Actor
The event partners brought together an alliance that included
Novo Nordisk, JDRF, Diabetes Canada, DRIFCan, Beyond Type 1, and
the McEwen Stem Cell Institute, demonstrating the power of unity in
the face of a common challenge.
"If you had asked me 10 years ago that we would be this close to
a cure, I wouldn't have believed it," says Lisa Hepner, the
LA-based director and writer of The Human Trial. "But after being
in the trenches shooting the research, it's no longer hyperbole. I
can see the celebratory press conference I've always wanted to
film."
Please refer to the media kit here for more details
and highlights from the event. Victor
Garber, Lisa
Hepner and fellow panelists are available for media
interviews upon request.
About The Human Trial:
In 2011, Ottawa-born filmmaker Lisa Hepner and her husband Guy Mossman began filming a radical stem cell
treatment for diabetes. More than a decade later, The Human
Trial shows what's possible when breakthrough science is
championed, funding isn't an obstacle, and the private and public
sector collaborate. Could this be Canada's next Nobel Prize in Medicine?
SOURCE Earnscliffe Strategies
