The objective of our training program is to increase the number and diversity of highly qualified PhD and postdoctoral level scientists trained in stem cell biology in the California workforce and to provide trainees with the communication skills they need to be successful. Training is being offered through TRANSCEND (Training Program to Advance Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Research, Education and Workforce Diversity), an interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and equality. This year we recruited 2 postdoctoral level trainees and 8 predoctoral trainees. Our mentors come from the Bourns College of Engineering, the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and the School of Medicine. The mentors’ labs provide research training dealing with stem cells and regenerative medicine in the areas of: (1) Bioengineering, (2) Neuroscience and Neurodegenerative Disease, and (3) Prevention and Treatment of Birth Defects and Reproductive Failure. Training is interdisciplinary with cross training in the life sciences, biomedical sciences, and engineering. The current cohort of trainees is working on projects dealing with mechano-electrical control of neural stem cell fate, engineering smart self-oxygenating hydrogels, developing tissue engineering grafts for nerve regeneration, engineering a perfusable stem cell derived skeletal muscle, identification of critical factors needed for lung regeneration, using stem cells to model disease and identify factors that may cause birth defects, understanding factors controlling bone development and maintenance of pluripotency, using organoids to study epilepsy, evaluating intestinal stem cell regulation, and guiding differentiation of corneal tissue. TRANSCEND trainees have attended and presented their research this year at international meetings including the International Society for Stem Cell Research and the Society of Toxicology. In Year 2, three postdoctoral trainees audited our graduate level course in Stem Cell Biology and Medicine (CMDB 207) and five of the predoctoral trainees completed our certificate course in Science to Policy. All predoctoral trainees are currently enrolled in our Stem Cell Ethics class and three postdoctoral trainees are auditing. The program participated in two stem cell seminars this year. One was taught in winter quarter 2023 (CMDB 255) and featured seminars given by graduate students from Inland Empire campuses, including talks given by TRANSCEND trainees. In the spring of 2023, we offered a stem cell seminar course with invited speakers from around the world. All TRANSCEND trainees attended both seminar series. TRANSCEND combined with our CIRM funded Sparks program (called STRIDE) for high school students and Compass program (called RAMP) for undergraduate students to sponsor a Symposium in July 2023 in which our STRIDE and RAMP students presented posters and five of our TRANSCEND trainees gave platform talks. We also featured a keynote address delivered by Jacqueline Hantgan who is CIRM’s Senior Advisor for Community Outreach & Advocacy. Her presentation was titled: “Patient Advocacy & California’s Stem Cell Agency: Impact on Reducing Human Suffering”. Our students also engaged in various outreach activities. These included mentoring local high school students in labs and volunteering at special community events. All the trainees also presented either posters or platform talks at the Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium Symposium on November 3, 2023, which was hosted by California University of Science and Medicine. UCR is located in California’s Inland Empire, which is one of the most highly diversified and medically underserved areas in our state. This year’s recruited trainees are 33% underrepresented with women being 67% of this cohort. We are collaborating with other campuses in southern California to enrich the education of our TRANSCEND trainees. This included a joint retreat with the City of Hope this past January and full participation of City of Hope in our recent Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium Symposium. These activities are broadening the trainees’ exposure to new research areas and help them establish valuable networks with their peers. More information about TRANSCEND can be found on our website: https://transcend.ucr.edu/.