“Ring That Bell” – A Story of Resilience, Advocacy, and Innovation

“Ring That Bell” brings together Irish musician Mags McCarthy and CAR T-cell therapy pioneer Dr Bruce Levine in a collaboration that blends personal storytelling with scientific progress. The song is inspired by the experience of a patient facing a cancer relapse and the renewed hope that cell therapy can offer at such a moment.

What makes the piece compelling is its focus on the simple yet powerful act of ringing a bell — a tradition in many cancer centres symbolising strength, transition and hope. In the song, that moment becomes a wider reflection on resilience and the communities that carry patients through some of their hardest days.

A Collaboration Rooted in Real Experience

McCarthy, known for her emotive style and Irish-country influences, co-wrote the song with Dr Levine, one of the leading figures behind modern CAR T-cell therapy. Their partnership brings together two very different worlds, music and cutting-edge science,  to honour the patients, families and clinicians who walk the cancer journey together.

Their aim wasn’t to explain the science, but to give voice to the people behind it: the patients whose stories define the impact of cell therapy, and the researchers and clinicians working to push its boundaries.

A Message That Resonates

The song speaks to:

• the emotional toll of a cancer recurrence

• the support systems that help patients keep going,

• the growing role of treatments like CAR T-cell therapy, and

• the universal symbolism of ringing a bell as a marker of hope.

Released in May 2025 and now available on major streaming platforms, “Ring That Bell” has been highlighted in both health and music circles for its unique blend of advocacy, artistry and lived experience.

Why It Matters

For the wider cell and gene therapy community, the song captures something essential: progress in this field is not only measured in clinical results but in the lives behind them. “Ring That Bell” gives those stories a new voice — one that is uplifting, human and deeply connected to the mission of improving outcomes for patients.