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Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita

MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH: TERRA INCOGNITA is a Peabody-winning documentary about renowned stem cell biologist Dr. Jack Kessler and his daughter Allison. When Dr. Kessler was invited to head up the Neurology Department at Northwestern, his research initially focused on using embryonic stem cells to help cure diabetes. However, when Allison was injured in a skiing accident and paralyzed from the waist down at age 15, Dr. Kessler decided to begin looking for a cure for spinal cord injuries using stem cells. Through Kessler's story, the film examines the constantly evolving interplay between the promise of new discoveries, the controversy of modern science and the resilience and courage of people living every day with devastating disease and injury.