Interdisciplinary Training in Stem Cell Biology, Engineering and Medicine

This proposed training program will develop highly skilled scientists, engineers, and clinical researchers to help ensure California’s continued leadership in biomedical research and engineering. The basic biological research component of this program seeks to identify molecules or biochemical pathways that could function as targets for enhancing or blocking stem cell differentiation. The resulting information could thus serve as a catalyst for drug development. Translational research projects that will be part of the proposed program include development of synthetic materials to support stem cell culture and tissue engineered blood vessel or nerve grafts. The program also includes engineering of novel equipment for imaging and isolation of stem cells. A primary goal of this work is to build new products to be developed and marketed by California biotechnology companies for research and clinical use. The clinical research component of our proposed program will attempt to expand the circumstances under which umbilical cord blood transplantation can be used to cure genetic blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. These conditions afflict a significant number of individuals in California, particularly in underserved populations, and require expensive and tissue-damaging treatment throughout patients’ lives. Success of this program will benefit the State of California by providing extended and enhanced quality of life for patients with genetic blood diseases, as well as a reduction in the anticipated amount of medical treatment cured patients will require over their lifetime.