Auction winners get an inside look at the Cell Therapy Processing FacilityOn Tuesday, October 26, three families gathered to tour the Cell Therapy Processing Facility at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Leo I. Gordon, MD, Abby and John Friend Professor of Oncology Research and medical director of the processing facility, and Richard Meagher, PhD, led the tour.  | The Cole/Ledsky's (left) with Dr. Gordon, the Gregory's (center), and the Burrowes' (right) |
This tour group came together as the winners of a silent auction item offered at the past two years’ David T. Burrowes Memorial Golf Outing. This annual event—which to date has raised more than $25,000 to benefit Dr. Gordon’s work—is held in honor of Mr. Burrowes, who passed away in 2007 after a courageous battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His widow Mrs. Jennifer Burrowes and their two children, Colin and Lindsay, joined the other two families for the lab tour. Fascinated with the facility, members of the group were unwaveringly attentive. In particular, Dr. Meagher’s overview of the importance and impact of stem cell research was of interest to the guests. Ranging in age from 10 years to 17 to adulthood, the family members arrived at the facility with a broad range of medical knowledge. Many had read about stem cell research in the media—a few of the kids present expressed their interest in science or medicine as future careers—and asked questions about the cells’ types and originations. Drs. Gordon and Meagher offered clear answers, referencing embryonic stem cells from mice, stem cells harvested from patients, and islet cells. In an email to the doctors following the gathering, Mr. Paul Gregory—who had visited along with his wife and children—expressed his deep gratitude for the tour. “Like many others, cancer has deeply touched our lives. We appreciate the work you are doing with your current patients, along with the research you are doing for the future, and we wish you the best of luck.” | 
