From the Nominator

"Artemis-SCID is a deadly genetic disease, killing half of those who are born with it early in their lives. These children have no immune system and are highly susceptible to infection. 

The “Breaking Barriers” video tells the story of the first child in the world with Artemis-SCID to have his own stem cells harvested, gene-corrected, and re-implanted, rather than using the cells of a donor. The treatment was pioneered at UCSF by two researchers who’ve spent a lifetime working on SCID. The child, HT, lives in Navajo Nation, where Artemis-SCID is more common than in the general population. His journey, and that of his grandmother, his primary caregiver, is an inspiring tale of resilience, bravery and trust.   

Leveraging the power of visual storytelling, we leaned into the story's humanity, which started with the tragic tale of the “Bubble Boy.” We aimed to capture the scientific perspective in an accessible way through the two researchers, but really anchored the film in HT and his grandmother’s lived experiences as they navigated their treatment at UCSF, as well as providing a glimpse into their life back in Navajo Nation. Our crew traveled to Arizona to visit with HT and his family and capture the things HT is now able to do with a healthy immune system. 

The result is an inspiring film about the groundbreaking Artemis-SCID gene therapy research that has been leveraged and distributed in multiple ways to support UCSF’s core mission of advancing health."

From the Judges

The judges applauded the skillful use of mixed media, which added depth and visual appeal to their storytelling. The engaging story, focused on a young boy and his health journey, captivated readers and created a heartfelt connection. The judges recognized the ability to effectively communicate the emotional narrative through a combination of media.