Ashley Krull, PhD
Associate Director, Cell Therapy Manufacturing and Engineering
James Cancer Hospital Cellular Therapy Laboratory
Assistant Professor, Hematology
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
I had the distinct honor and privilege of interviewing six amazing ISCT members in 2023 for our Member Spotlight feature in the Telegraft. Our 2023 interviewees spanned the globe and offered a diverse range of perspectives on the current state of our field. Interviewees hailed from Germany, Spain, Singapore, the United States, and Australia. Their roles ranged from academic appointments to entrepreneurs to governmental liaisons. What they all shared was a generosity of spirit and an excitement for their science and the opportunities granted by ISCT to share their work with the wider community.
I started conducting video interviews in 2021, partly out of necessity due to the pandemic and partly out of wanting to add a new dimension to this segment and dig deeper with interviewees. Two years later, this segment has benefited both from the openness and enthusiasm of our phenomenal nominees as well as the return to in-person meetings. 2023 was the first year I was able to interview someone live in the same room as me. That room also happened to be in Paris, so extra special! That conversation was with Dr. Hannah Song, Ph.D., winner of the ISCT 2023 Paris Top Scoring Abstract award, who recently published the work we discussed on CAR T-cell production. I also got to speak in person with Devin McAvoy at the ISCT North America Regional Meeting in Houston shortly after he accepted the Early Stage Professionals Abstract Award at for his work on thymic emigrant T cell reconstitution.
I still never take for granted the power of video interviews in bringing me into conversation with some of the most prominent members of the field as well as new voices gaining prominence in the field. This year, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Sai Kiang Lim, Ph.D., and Dr. Bernd Giebel, Ph.D., both longtime ISCT members and pioneers in the translation of extracellular vesicles and exosome-based therapeutics into the clinic. I also had enthralling conversations with Dr. Jennifer Hollands, Ph.D., and Dr. Maria Fernandez-Garcia, Ph.D., who are focused on the next generation of cellular therapy products and how to effectively advance cell therapy development around the world.
What I most appreciate about these segments is that the final video product often conveys the person’s intelligence, warmth, and passion better than a print interview could. More often than not, I end up forgetting that I am recording an interview and just fall into a natural, fascinating conversation with my amazing fellow members. I hope this ease and genuine interest is palpable for listeners and viewers.
Additionally, in 2023, this segment also was officially incorporated under the ISCT TV umbrella, which will give our featured nominees a broader platform through which to share their work. Over 2023, viewership of these segments nearly tripled from previous levels. I won’t share specific metrics but suffice to say the Member Spotlights were among the most viewed Telegraft pieces of the year. This fact brings me so much joy on behalf of our interviewees, who deserve every recognition we could give them.
2024 promises to be another memorable year of showcasing the outstanding members of ISCT. I cannot wait to conduct more interviews in person with professional production. Maybe this is the year I also take a course in podcasting and get a real microphone! We’re making big moves over here, and I can’t wait to engage you in more incredible conversations in 2024.
If you have any members you wish to nominate for a Member Spotlight feature, please reach out to myself or ISCT HQ. Thank you!
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