The Long Run with Luke Timmerman Ep184: Jen Adair on Affordable, Accessible Gene & Cell Therapies
13 snips
Aug 28, 2025 Jen Adair, a leading professor at the Horae Gene Therapy Center, dives into the world of affordable gene and cell therapies. She shares her inspiring journey of resilience, overcoming personal challenges to champion healthcare equity. The discussion highlights the innovative approaches needed to make therapies more accessible, especially for underserved communities. Adair also emphasizes the significance of regional manufacturing in enhancing healthcare access globally, and the importance of collaboration and transparency in the research process to address systemic disparities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Humble Beginnings Shaped Her Mission
- Jen Adair recounts being a teen mom on welfare and how that shaped her view of equity and access.
- She credits community support and learning to leverage networks as key to her rise in science.
Thriving Under Academic Pressure
- Jen describes juggling two infants and heavy coursework, sometimes taking three physics labs in one term.
- High pressure and tight deadlines sharpened her focus and produced top grades during her later undergraduate years.
From Technician To Focused PhD
- As a research technician Jen decided to pursue a PhD after seeing the freedom and impact of an NIH-funded PI's work.
- She chose a structured PhD program for predictability and finished in about four and a half years.