“If someone can do it, you can do it.” These were the parting words of Kin San Lee, a science technician, to his colleagues Dr. Himanshu Brahmbhatt and Dr. Jennifer MacDiarmid two decades ago. This simple yet profound statement ignited a relentless pursuit of a cancer cure, culminating in the development of the EnGenIC Dream Vector (EDV), a microscopic “Trojan Horse” designed to target and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This groundbreaking innovation is the focal point of a new two-part documentary, The Cancer Killers, premiering on SBS.
Based in their Sydney laboratory, Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid have been at the forefront of cancer research, facing both scientific and institutional challenges. Their journey was first highlighted in a 2011 episode of ABC’s Australian Story, and now, this new documentary delves deeper into their fight against the disease and the resistance they encountered from medical and business establishments.
The Birth of a Revolutionary Idea
Dr. Brahmbhatt recalls the pivotal moment inspired by Lee’s words, “Kin San Lee was an amazing scientist. [His words] spun me around 1000 times. After that, I just sat in the Sydney University well into the night and kept on studying… That’s when I realised, there’s got to be something better… And we developed this nano-cell technology that is able to go after cancer and hence, even when people are at the end stage, we are pulling them out into complete remission.”
Despite the promising results, the road to making EDV widely available is fraught with challenges. “We get asked by patients, ‘Why can’t I get the treatment now?’” says Brahmbhatt. The stringent regulations and entrenched dogmas in oncology pose significant hurdles. “For 70 years, oncology has been plagued with dogmas that, ‘This is the way it has to be done’. And when you come up with something out of the box, people will keep rejecting it.”
Seeking Support and Overcoming Skepticism
The documentary follows the scientists as they travel to the United States in search of patents and funding. Brahmbhatt recounts a memorable encounter with a wealthy potential investor, “I was amazed when I met one of those hundred-million-dollar-plus people who was in his late 70s. I did a presentation and he sat there and listened for an hour. And at the end, he said, ‘Just tell me one thing … This cancer thing – is it painful?’ That shocked me.”
Dr. MacDiarmid highlights a cultural bias that often undermines Australian scientific achievements. “There’s even a cultural cringe here,” she says. “When we had our first patent, the Australian patent office was the first to review it. And their actual comment was, ‘Surely this would have been done in America?’”
The Human Element and Personal Loss
Filmmaker Judy Rymer, who narrates the documentary, has been documenting the scientists’ journey for 15 years. She notes the challenges they faced, “We all faced problems with funding, and with shocking timelines. They’re very selective about how they want to expose themselves to the public because of somebody trying to copycat it… But I do think that the biotech industry in Australia doesn’t get the kind of exposure that we would probably like it to.”
The scientists maintain a strong working relationship, starting each day with a breakfast debate. “We throw everything that’s in our minds on the table,” says Brahmbhatt. “By the time the breakfast is over, we have come to consensus views on several issues.” MacDiarmid adds, “We get on famously. I think he’s brilliant. I’m more focused and can reel him in, but we work off each other very well.”
Tragically, the team recently lost another colleague to cancer, their first postdoctoral scientist. “We were gutted that [due to protocol], we couldn’t get the EDV into someone who worked on it,” says MacDiarmid. “It was heartbreaking. And there’s a long line of people like her waiting.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid remain committed to their mission. MacDiarmid offers a message of hope to patients, “Even when you think that there’s nothing to be done, we can do something and have done something. We’re on your side.”
The Cancer Killers premieres at 9.30 pm on Tuesday, November 4, on SBS. The documentary promises to offer an intimate look at the triumphs and trials of these dedicated scientists as they continue their quest to change the landscape of cancer treatment.
