<p>This episode is another very personal one. </p><p>My son eight year old son William was diagnosed with medulloblastoma nearly a year ago. He’s since on embarked on an incredible journey of brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy – and recently rang the bell completing his treatment right before Thanksgiving.</p><p>His response to this adversity has been nothing short of amazing and awe-inspiring. His smile and laughter has never ceased, his poise and strength are well-beyond his years, and I’ve chronicled his story on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-murtagh-3734ba9_iron-heart-thankful-chemo-bell-friends-activity-7399512137519517697-o2hz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGtAIcBkEtmZCy6WGsOhe3L4uygAsImUy4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a> – where you’ll see his incredible strength and optimism on display. </p><p>Along the way, I’ve met some incredible people and world changers. One of those world changers is Dr. Jim Olson from Seattle Children’s. </p><p>James M. Olson, MD, PhD, is program director for the Invent at Seattle Children&#39;s Postdoctoral Scholars Program, a principal investigator in the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Research, and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. </p><p>He co-founded three biotechnology companies and has mentored more than 30 graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. He chaired a national phase III clinical trial for high-risk medulloblastoma patients that led to a 20% improvement in five-year survival for Group 3 patients. Dr. Olson is the principal investigator on multiple projects that focus on developing effective new therapies for pediatric brain tumors; methods that allow surgeons to better visualize the border of brain cancer and normal brain, and the discovery of immunotherapeutics for several cancers. </p><p>Dr. Olson’s game changing research in immunotherapy could potentially revolutionize the standard of care as we know it – and has the potential to replace radiation and chemotherapy. </p><p>In lab trials, this treatment completely eliminated cancer in 90% of brain tumors that are otherwise universally fatal in children. Mice that received the treatment were alive and disease-free, while the untreated mice died within 18 days.</p><p>In this podcast, we discuss his research, next steps for funding and clinical trials – and what this could mean for families moving forward. </p><p>Please enjoy this conversation and donate to Dr. Olson&#39;s groundbreaking immunotherapy trial <a href="https://give.seattlechildrens.org/fundraiser/6868285" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>