A relaxed, informal talk explaining immunology, stem cells and scientific jargon that hopefully leads to the audiences’ appreciation of biologically identical avatars for the use of personalised medical therapies. Gory details and bloody pictures can unfortunately not be avoided. The sensitive and squeamish are advised to rather enjoy their Valentines Day sipping pink champagne elsewhere. The hard-boiled and unaffected can later impress their partners and friends with new found knowledge of antibodies and engraftment surgeries.  Antoinette aka "Toinette" Labuschagné has always been curious (about and to the world). Destined to become a grey haired science nerd in her adult life, she was often seen following a single ant for hours on end in the backyard of their Mpumalanga mining town home to compare different ant distances and time traveled per day (and also to escape her three brothers’ shoulder "lammies" if she did not fix them snackwiches on-demand). The family relocated to Joburg when Toinette was approaching her teens (this was when she found her first grey hair). She completed a BSc in Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology, a BSc Hons and MSc (both cum laude) in Medicinal Plant Sciences at University of Pretoria in her twenties. Currently a final year Doctoral candidate in Immunology at UCT, Toinette is in her thirties (and already very grey). Hopefully, by the time she reaches her forties, she'll have an actual life and a few remaining dark strands of hair.

Audience Responses

Toinette was fantastic! She made a complex topic entertaining, exciting and easy to understand - an impressive feat.