College of the Redwoods Presents
Women in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering

When Medicine and Mathematics Meet

April 6th, 7:00 PM, Wharfinger Building, Eureka

Lisette de Pillis, Mathematician, Harvey Mudd College

Lisette de Pillis is a mathematician at Harvey Mudd College, and she comes to Wharfinger Building in Eureka on Thursday, April 6, to present When Medicine and Mathematics Meet. The talk begins at 7:00 pm at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka and will conclude by 8:30 pm. A short description of the talk follows.

In the quest to understand the cluster of diseases we call "cancer" mathematicians and clinicians are working together to look for answers to a number of questions. In this presentation, we will discuss the following medical mysteries:

• Why does a cancer sometimes "vanish," making a patient appear to have been cured, but then reappear years later?
• Can there be a reason for a tumor to grow when it is treated, but shrink when it is not?
• Is it possible to harness the body's own immune system to combat cancer?
• How do the innate and specific components immune responses (NK cells and CD8+T cells) affect a growing tumor, and how would a cancer vaccine work?

We have used mathematical models both to give us insight into the possible answers to these questions, as well as to hypothesize answers to new questions, such as whether there are better ways to schedule chemotherapy treatments, and whether there is any benefit to combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy? The "magic" of mathematical models is that they help us to investigate a huge array of questions that are difficult if not impossible to address in any other way.

Wharfinger Building:

Address:

Wharfinger Building/Eureka Public Marina
1 Marina Way
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 268-1973

Directions:

Going South from Arcata into Eureka on 101:
Take 101 to Commercial (going south, Commercial is past "A" St.), turn west (right if driving south) going toward the water. Take Commercial to the end, then left on Waterfront. The Wharfinger (Marina) building will be less than a 1/4 mile up on the right.

Coming from the south of Eureka:
Go up to "A" St., then take a left and go across 101 south, then turn left at the next street and make your way to Commercial ("A" St. does not go to the waterfront). Then, right on Commerical, left on Waterfront, and down 1/4 mile to the Wharfinger (Marina) building.