Christmas Lunch Meeting

President Carla is pleased to welcome to our lunch on December 17th, James Christian, a Scientist,  who was born and educated in Guernsey, and  is returning to the island to spend Christmas with his family.

James gave an excellent presentation at our Rotary District Conference in Swindon last October. On this occasion, we will have the speaker presentation prior to lunch. 

Cancer Vaccines, Criminals, and COVID-19

James Christian

Our immune systems are constantly at work, fending off diseases new and old. Most people understand how this works – our immune system can target and destroy almost any invader, but learns from the foes it faces, getting better at clearing a disease over time. If the body has time to train, we can clear out the disease - often before symptoms develop, and without side effects. What fewer people know, is that one of the diseases the immune system can fight is cancer.

I am a PhD student, born in Guernsey, taught at Elizabeth College and the University of Bath, and now researching at the Centre for Cancer Immunology in Southampton to make new types of cancer treatment. Having seen both my parents go through the pain of diagnosis, and the burden of chemotherapy, I am dedicated to finding better, and kinder cancer treatments. I’m looking forward to sharing with you some of the latest and greatest developments in cancer immunology; research aiming to use the natural tools of the immune system to prevent, detect, and beat cancer.