Most of us have never heard the name James Allison. We’ve
never been made aware of his achievements. We’ve had no introduction to his
research. We haven’t even heard about his love of playing blues harmonica. And yet
he may have delivered one of the most amazing things, one of the greatest
scientific discoveries in our lifetime.
JIM ALLISON: BREAKTHROUGH tells the story of Allison from
his earliest years through his current life. As a young boy his mother was taken
from him at an early age due to cancer. Allison took a youthful interest in
chemistry through a store bought chemistry kit on to learning about science
while in school. He challenged his high school teacher on teaching evolution,
forbidden at the time. And he went on to college where he learned even more.
Allison went on to work in various research projects over
the years but the single biggest achievement he found is what makes him so
important. Researching T-cells, the basic building block in the human immune
system, he found that there was more to it than thought. He found that an
antibody blockade of a T-cell inhibitory molecule could lead the body to
fighting cancer on its own creating anti-tumor immune responses.
As with many medicines and treatments this might not save
everyone but it did present a new way to fight cancer and save so many. But in
spite of his discovery it wasn’t something that would see the light of day for
many at first. Pharmaceutical companies make money off of treatments not cures.
Almost all of them turned down his research knowing that funding to carry it on
would cost millions with little financial return in the end. Until one company
came along and got on board, pressed by one of their own members who saw the
value beyond he dollar signs.
This documentary tells Allison’s story in a way that the
everyday person can understand. It may use a technical term here or there but
in such a way that it’s not intimidating. In addition to the technical aspects
of the film there is the back story of Allison and his own personal life, a
longtime friendship with Willie Nelson based around a love of music and his
family. The end result is a look at a man dedicated to helping people and
perhaps some information that’s helpful you may never have heard of.
Never boring and well-made this is a documentary that is
worth taking the time to watch. Look for it and learn something.
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