8 April 2023
![](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/4LB0W57_Leggott_collage_jpg__ScaleWidthWzEwMF0.jpeg)
RNZ's Kim Hill speaks to a participant in our CAR T-cell clinical trial, poet Michele Leggott.
Michele Leggott's latest book of poetry, Face to the Sky, explores her encounter with 19th-century New Zealand botanical artist Emily Cumming Harris.
But there's more to this story - Michele was battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while working on the book.
In early 2020, Michele received her diagnosis, just as the Covid-19 lockdowns began. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a stem cell transplant in 2021 failed to cure her cancer. Finally, in early 2022, Michele was able to participate in a CAR T-cell therapy trial at the Malaghan Institute in Wellington.
"This is the future ... The Malaghan trial, the goal of that is to get publicly funded CAR T in this country so that you don't have to be on a trial to get it. If that can happen, it'll bring down hospital costs, you'll save lives."
Related articles
![Phase 2 clinical trial underway to confirm effectiveness and safety of NZ’s first CAR T-cell cancer therapy](/assets/Uploads/ENABLE-2-team__FocusFillWyIwLjAzIiwiLTAuMjgiLDY4MCw0NDVd.jpg)
Phase 2 clinical trial underway to confirm effectiveness and safety of NZ’s first CAR T-cell cancer therapy
23 July 2024
![RNZ Our Changing World: Targeting bacteria, and health inequities](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/Tom-M-Sciencelens_MG_6532-v2__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNjgwLDQ0NV0.jpg)
RNZ Our Changing World: Targeting bacteria, and health inequities
4 July 2024
![New clinical research aims to reduce stomach cancer rates and disparities in New Zealand](/assets/Uploads/Tom-M-Sciencelens_MG_6532-1__FocusFillWyItMC4wNiIsIi0wLjQwIiw2ODAsNDQ1XQ.jpg)
New clinical research aims to reduce stomach cancer rates and disparities in New Zealand
28 May 2024
![A revolution in cancer care is near; here’s what’s needed to make it happen](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/GLG-Labshot-1__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNjgwLDQ0NV0.jpg)
A revolution in cancer care is near; here’s what’s needed to make it happen
9 May 2024
![Significant milestone reached in first NZ CAR T-cell trial as preparations made for larger phase 2 registration trial](/assets/Uploads/Images/General/IMG_0446__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNjgwLDQ0NV0.jpg)
Significant milestone reached in first NZ CAR T-cell trial as preparations made for larger phase 2 registration trial
25 March 2024
![RNZ: Engineering immune cells to kill cancer](/assets/Uploads/4L04KD5_cancer_collage_jpg__FocusFillWyIwLjAyIiwiLTAuMzIiLDY4MCw0NDVd.jpeg)
RNZ: Engineering immune cells to kill cancer
5 November 2023