The recent Biotech Connector showcased exciting advancements in gene and cell therapies in the Frederick area. More than 80 attendees gathered in-person and online to hear experts in the field discuss their work manufacturing difficult therapies for clinical trials, reimagining the supply chain to reduce development timelines, and leveraging automation to reduce risk and save money. By capturing these advances, the Biotech Connector aims to serve as a forum that inspires partnerships and the sharing of ideas.

When snow or freezing rain starts to fall, Frederick’s roads can quickly shift from scenic to treacherous. Whether you’re driving a few miles or making a longer trek, winter weather can turn an ordinary commute into a dangerous situation, making it even more important to be prepared. When you’re prepared, you can stay safe and focus on enjoying the winter weather this season. ...

It’s three minutes before the keynote at the 2025 Spring Research Festival, and the seats are filling up. Chatter thrums through the room. Somewhere within the stir, someone is talking about tumors. A voice at the back keeps mentioning malaria. Like the whirl of hushed conversations, the burgeoning audience is an amalgam.

Werner H. Kirsten student interns Taylor Johnson and Isabella Pressimone, who worked with Occupational Health Services (OHS), demonstrated both leadership and compassion this spring by organizing a fundraiser titled “Spring Into Wins” on behalf of the Recreation and Welfare Club Frederick (R&WCF). The initiative raised over $1,000 for three organizations dedicated to helping children who have cancer. This project was more than a fundraising event—it was a powerful learning experience that deepened the interns’ awareness of the challenges faced by pediatric cancer patients and their families.

NCI Postbaccalaureate fellow Alana Thomas was thrilled to attend the HIV DRP Think Tank for her second time. Professor John Coffin, Ph.D., was attending for his 27th time—and was no less thrilled. Looking on, it was easy to see why. The 27th HIV Dynamics and Replication Program (DRP) Think Tank, hosted by NCI Frederick, was a decidedly intimate gathering as far as scientific meetings go. The 18 short lectures and small guest list played a part in that—just over 130 scientists attended this year, most of them federal or National Laboratory employees—but more pervasive was the current of passion and tight-knit camaraderie.