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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Wednesday, November 23, 2022

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First hour: The team from NeuroGenesis on new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, and bringing its work to Rochester

Second hour: New words in the dictionary in 2022

More than two million people across the globe live with multiple sclerosis (MS). While there is no known cure, researchers are developing and improving therapies to treat it. Researchers at a company called NeuroGenesis are among those doing that work. Originally based in Israel, NeuroGenesis now calls Rochester home. The company's therapy uses a patient's own stem cells to target and regenerate areas of the body damaged by neurodegenerative diseases like MS and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The therapy is still in the trial stage, but data from small studies show positive results. This hour, we have a conversation about new medical therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, about bringing new businesses to Rochester, and more. Our guests:

  • Tal Gilat, CEO of NeuroGenesis
  • Andrew Goodman, M.D., professor of neurology, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center, and chief of the Neuroimmunology Division in the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center
  • Rami Katz, COO of Excell Partners, and board member for NeuroGenesis
  • Dennis Kessler, entrepreneur, Edward and Agnes Ackley Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, and director of entrepreneurship at the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester
  • Dan Jacobson, M.D., patient with progressive multiple sclerosis who was treated with the NeuroGenesis therapy

Then in our second hour, it's one of our favorite traditions: discussing new words added to the dictionary! Both Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary have added hundreds of new words to their lists this year. Put down your "dumbphone;" it won't help you with our 'new words' quiz. Besides, you can "pwn" on your own. We discuss the new words and how language evolves with our guests:

  • Amanda Chestnut, professor and artist
  • Chris Fanning, director of communications at Writers & Books
  • Linda Sue Park, author of "Prairie Lotus," "The One Thing You'd Save," and many more
  • Julie Williams, avid reader, and administrative assistant for radio and technology at WXXI
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.