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Why Life Sciences: The Patients Behind the Purpose - Blood Cancer
This program is part of BioBuzz's Career Catalyst series, a weekly virtual program designed for students, recent grads, and early-career professionals navigating the life sciences industry. Our sessions are intentionally built to foster direct, high-quality access to the industry leaders shaping it.
Overview
Before there's a pipeline, a platform, or a press release, there's a person.
Life sciences exists for one reason: to turn scientific progress into real human impact, including longer lives, better treatments, and new possibilities for people facing a diagnosis. This fall, we kick off our series by asking the one question that grounds everything else: who is all of this actually for?
In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we'll hear from Betsy Larrabee, childhood cancer advocate and mother of Beaudin Larrabee, a childhood leukemia survivor whose treatment journey ultimately led his family from standard therapy into the world of clinical trials and emerging CAR T-cell treatments.
Betsy will share a caregiver's perspective on what it means to navigate relapse, weigh unfamiliar treatment options, advocate for your child, and make decisions when there isn't always a clear roadmap. Her family's experience also offers a powerful look at the human side of clinical research - what participation in an innovative therapy means not just scientifically, but for the patients and families placing their hope and trust in it.
Today, Beaudin is a teenager and more than five years cancer-free. His story is a reminder that the breakthroughs we discuss as pipelines, platforms, trials, and approvals can represent something much bigger to the people waiting for them.
We'll also highlight organizations and companies helping advance blood cancer research, treatment, advocacy, and patient support, connecting one family's experience to the broader life sciences ecosystem working behind the scenes.
This isn't a session about the industry's mechanics. It's about its mission. For anyone early in their career, or still deciding whether life sciences is the right path, this is a chance to meet the people behind the work - and understand the "why" before getting lost in the "how."
Key Takeaways
A deeper understanding of the patient experience and the impact your work can have in life sciences
Insight into how research, advocacy, healthcare, and industry come together throughout a patient’s journey
Exposure to the regional organizations and innovators advancing blood cancer research and treatment
A stronger connection to the life sciences ecosystem-and the purpose, people, and opportunities that shape it
Agenda
6:00 PM - Welcome & Career Catalyst Introduction
Brief welcome, session overview, and what attendees can expect.
6:05 PM - A Patient’s Journey: From Diagnosis to Hope
Hear a firsthand story of navigating blood cancer and the people, resources, and innovations that made an impact.
6:30 PM - The Life Sciences Ecosystem at Work
Explore the organizations, advocacy groups, and biotechnology companies advancing blood cancer research, treatment, and patient support.
6:35 PM - Live Open Q&A + Career Connections
Ask questions, engage with speakers, and connect the conversation back to your own career journey in life sciences.
Why Attend?
Careers are built on connections.
The people you meet today can become tomorrow's mentor, hiring manager, collaborator, or your biggest advocate. That's why every Career Catalyst session is designed to help you expand your knowledge and your network.
Every Career Catalyst session, you'll have the opportunity to meet and connect with our expert guest directly, BioBuzz's team, and your peers. Don't miss this opportunity to build the relationships that will help you shape what's next.
Join us every Wednesday @ 6pm ET.
SUBSCRIBE to our Career Catalyst calendar for the full schedule of events.
About the Speaker
Betsy Larrabee is a childhood cancer advocate and the mother of Beaudin Larrabee, a cancer survivor whose treatment journey included participation in two CAR-T cell clinical trials.
Beaudin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age six following recurrent fevers and hospitalizations. His initial treatment proceeded as expected, with a strong early response. Despite this, Beaudin later experienced a relapse confined to his central nervous system, shifting his care from established protocols into the uncertain terrain of clinical trials. While preparing to begin relapse therapy, his family connected with the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which helped them explore emerging treatment options and clinical trials.
Through that pathway, Beaudin enrolled in a CAR-T cell clinical trial at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and received his first infusion in March 2021. When the persistence of the CAR T cells declined, he participated in a humanized CAR T cell clinical trial and received a second infusion in August 2021. Although the cells eventually faded, Beaudin’s leukemia did not return. His family entered a period of watchful waiting, and today Beaudin is a teenager celebrating more than five years cancer free.
Drawing from her experience as a mother and caregiver, Betsy speaks about childhood cancer survivorship, clinical decision making, and the realities families face when navigating emerging therapies. She brings clarity, perspective, and humanity to conversations about medicine, uncertainty, advocacy, and what comes after survival.
About the Emily Whitehead Foundation
The Emily Whitehead Foundation was founded in honor of Emily Whitehead, the first child in the world whose cancer was cured with CAR T-cell therapy. Today, the Foundation supports patients and caregivers affected by cancer and rare diseases, amplifies patient voices, connects families with resources and support, and advocates for greater access to advanced cell and gene therapies.
BioBuzz x Emily Whitehead Foundation
BioBuzz is proud to partner with the Emily Whitehead Foundation to help turn our community's commitment to life sciences into direct support for patients and families.
Through our dedicated BioBuzz Fundraising Page, members of the BioBuzz community can make a direct donation or create their own fundraising page to share with colleagues, friends, family, and their networks. This partnership will continue across future BioBuzz webcasts, events, and community initiatives as we work together to keep patients at the center of the science and innovation our industry advances.
About the Host
Sneha Saggurthi
Workforce Engagement Lead, BioBuzz
Sneha Saggurthi is a life sciences professional, educator, and workforce engagement leader passionate about helping people build meaningful careers in biotechnology and beyond.
As Workforce Engagement Lead at BioBuzz, Sneha develops programs and partnerships that connect students, early-career professionals, educators, and employers across the life sciences ecosystem.
Sneha’s background spans quality compliance, GxP training, operational excellence, auditing, and professional development. She also serves as an adjunct biotechnology instructor and is actively involved in initiatives that create more accessible pathways into the industry.
Through Career Catalyst, Sneha brings together professionals, recruiters, advocates, and industry leaders to make life sciences careers feel more understandable and attainable. Her goal is to help participants gain practical tools, learn directly from people across the industry, and recognize how their unique experiences can contribute to improving patients’ lives.
Sponsors
TEDCO
TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland.
Workforce Genetics
Workforce Genetics (WGx) is a premier recruiting firm serving the life sciences, MedTech, and healthcare sectors, supporting companies from startup to commercial. The firm delivers transformative talent strategies through retained and executive search, contingent search, and outsourced talent acquisition.
Important Information
BioBuzz's Career Catalyst sessions are intended to provide insights, guidance, and support for students, recent grads, and early career professionals navigating their careers. These sessions are not a platform for selling services, recruitment pitches, or business solicitations. They are designed for job seekers and those looking to make connections and build community.
Please be respectful of fellow participants and help ensure this remains a valuable, trusted resource for all. By registering for this session, you agree to abide by BioBuzz's Code of Conduct.
Participants who engage in solicitation, promotional activity, or behavior that disrupts the intent of the session will be asked to leave. Repeated or serious violations will result in removal from the session and exclusion from future Career Catalyst events.
Want to be an expert guest?
If you're interested in sharing your knowledge with the BioBuzz community, get in touch via hello [@] biobuzz.io.