One of the head-liners of the Dhaka Literary Festival, Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus was present today to speak at the much anticipated session titled ‘The Purpose, Potential and Politics of Science’ at the Main Stage of Bengal Academy. In this session, Harold Varmus spoke to the audience about basic science research, government and science policy and the future of global healthcare.
He started off his session with a discussion on the role and involvement of the political sphere in the field of science in the USA. According to Varmus, it was the scientific inventions of WWII (such as penicillin, radar and the atomic bombs) that really made politicians and world leaders aware of the power of scientific advancements. It was during this time that President Roosevelt first called for federal investment in science. This started a trend of national investment in the sciences, with the latest being President Obama’s initiative in precision medicine.
Varmus then went on to tell the audience about his personal research in science, specifically in molecular biology. He talked about DNA and its function of making proteins that are required for different kinds of cells, as well the mutations of genes that cause cancer. At this point, he stressed the importance of the need to decipher the genetic make-up of DNA for cancer treatment and even prevention.
Varmus also discussed traditional cancer therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as more unconventional therapies that advances in science have made available to us, such as drugs that specifically target mutated genes and proteins. He also gave some very interesting insight into latest research on antibodies, gene therapy and gene editing in order to boost immune response to proteins in cancer cells.
Varmus ended his session with stressing the importance of spreading information on cancer, including sharing latest research on molecular biology. This is already being done through public libraries, open access publishing and pre-print servers and open data, but he said there should be greater focus on a global approach to sharing this information, as well as on coming up with better therapies and strategies for cancer prevention.
Harold Varmus will also be participating at a session with writer Sadaf Saaz on Saturday at 1pm at the Dhaka Lit Fest.
Saturday
1:00pm – 2:00pm
A LIFE IN ARTS AND SCIENCE / Bhasha Stage
Harold Varmus, a Nobel Prize-winning cancer researcher, talks to writer Sadaf Saaz about his lifetime of passion for literature and science.
