CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy Training Grant

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Grant Award Details

Grant Type:

Bridges

Grant Number:

EDUC2-12611

Investigator(s):

Name:

Dr. Bianca Romina Mothé

Institution:

California State University San Marcos Corporation

Type:

Award Value:

$3,606,500

Status:

Active

Progress Reports

Reporting Period:

Year 1

California is a leader in advancing stem cell and regenerative medical research. Our CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research program is designed to create a pipeline for the training and development of the next generation of scientists in the field with a focus on enhancing diversity. The primary component is the placement of trainees at host site labs to engage in stem cell and regenerative medicine laboratory research projects. In the past year, we have recruited and trained a cohort of diverse student interns from our host campus at California State University San Marcos and from our community college partners, MiraCosta College and San Diego Miramar College, Mt. San Jacinto College and Palomar College. These students performed stem cell research at local institutions, including the University of California San Diego, The Salk Institute for Biologicial Sciences, and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, as well as with industry partners, such as Fate Therapeutics, Defined BioScience and Allele Biotech. They assisted in meaningful research contributions to areas in Alzheimer’s, Type 1 diabetes, aging, lung development, and SARS-COV-2 infection in the respiratory system. Despite the influence of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, our interns were able to successfully complete their full year in face-to-face lab research activities. The interns were able to do in person research presentations at the 2022 International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual conference and the 2022 CIRM Bridges Annual Trainee Meeting. Our program is unique because we recruit regionally from CSUSM and four community colleges that offer extensive education opportunities in life sciences and biotechnology. Students attending these institutions are diverse. We train 10 students per year who are representative of our region and often remain in the area to join the scientific workforce. The composition of this cohort reflects the diversity of our student population, including our partnering campuses, MiraCosta, Palomar, San Jacinto and San Diego Miramar Colleges. Of the ten students accepted for the internship, six of them were women, three were Hispanic, two identified as Black, one Asian, and four Caucasian. Additionally, 50% of our cohort were first generation college students. We supplement the internship experience with K-12 outreach, patient engagement and advocacy, mentee training, education, and professional development programming and diversity, equity and inclusion training/discussion. However, we host and attend talks and seminars from patient advocates, both virtually and in person. The interns worked with the Center for Research and Engagement in STEM Education, wherein they developed a lesson plan to explain stem cells to middle school students, which they were able to share at after school programs. The interns also attended a day long workshop on diversity, equity and inclusion at the CSUSM campus, wherein they gained insight into the issues surrounding this area. The interns were able to hone their academic and career goals including building a resume to enable them to successfully join the local workforce once their internships ended. Therefore, California will benefit from this additional pool of well-prepared stem cell scientists from diverse backgrounds that have a broad understanding of the benefits of stem cell research that will continue to advocate and accelerate California’s commitment to advancing stem cell research, treatments, and therapies for human diseases.

Reporting Period:

Year 2

California is a leader in advancing stem cell and regenerative medical research. Our CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research program is designed to create a pipeline for the training and development of the next generation of scientists in the field with a focus on enhancing diversity. The primary component is the placement of trainees at host site labs to engage in stem cell and regenerative medicine laboratory research projects. In the past year, we have recruited and trained a cohort of diverse student interns from our host campus at California State University San Marcos and from our community college partners, MiraCosta College, San Diego Miramar College, Mt. San Jacinto College and Palomar College. These students performed stem cell research at local institutions, including the University of California San Diego, The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, as well as with industry partners, such as Modulo Bio. They assisted in meaningful research contributions to areas in pancreatic cancer, cancer detection, natural killer cells, modeling neurological disorders, lung development, and SARS-COV-2 infection in the respiratory system. The interns were able to successfully complete their full year in face-to-face lab research activities. The interns presented their research at the 2023 International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Conference. Our program is unique because we recruit regionally from CSUSM and four community colleges that offer extensive education opportunities in life sciences and biotechnology. Students attending these institutions are diverse. We train 10 students per year who are representative of our region and often remain in the area to join the scientific workforce. The composition of this cohort reflects the diversity of our student population, including our partnering campuses, MiraCosta, Palomar, San Jacinto and San Diego Miramar Colleges. Of the ten students accepted for the internship, eight of them were women, one was Hispanic, three identified as two or more ethnicities, two were Asian, and six Caucasian. Additionally, 30% of our cohort were first generation college students. We supplemented the internship experience with K-12 outreach, patient engagement and advocacy, mentee training, education, professional development and diversity, equity and inclusion training/discussion. We worked closely with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation this year, via their ongoing events for families and patients. The interns worked with the Center for Research and Engagement in STEM Education, wherein they developed a lesson plan to explain stem cells to middle school students, which they were able to share in after school programs. The interns also attended a day long workshop on diversity, equity and inclusion at the CSUSM campus, wherein they gained insight into the issues surrounding this area. The interns were able to hone their academic and career goals including building a resume to enable them to successfully join the local workforce once their internships ended. At least one third of our interns have already secured work in stem cell focused jobs in our region. Therefore, California will benefit from this additional pool of well-prepared stem cell scientists from diverse backgrounds that have a broad understanding of the benefits of stem cell research that will continue to advocate and accelerate California’s commitment to advancing stem cell research, treatments, and therapies for human diseases.

Grant Application Details

Application Title:

CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy Training Grant

Public Abstract:

California is a leader in advancing stem cell and regenerative medical research and programs that create a pipeline for the training and development of the next generation of stem cell scientists in the field, which are critically needed. Our program provides an opportunity to diverse college students to receive high quality technical training, mentorship, and professional development. Program components include placing trainees at host site labs in academia or industry in a stem cell research lab that culminates with presentation of their project at scientific conferences. The number of host site lab placements offer a wide range of stem cell related research topics under well-recognized researchers in the region.

We supplement the internship experience with K-12 outreach, patient engagement and advocacy, mentee training, education, and professional development programming. Trainees earn college credit towards application of a four-year degree by engaging in the supplementary activities. Our goal is to provide a broad and comprehensive view of the field and develop “stem cell ambassadors”, who are ready to engage people in their personal and professional networks in effective communication on the impact of stem cell research.

Our program is unique and closes an opportunity gap for students in our region. We recruit from our four-year university and four community colleges that offer life science and biotechnology coursework, certificate, and degree programs. Similar to our regional population demographics, students attending these institutions are racially and socioeconomically diverse and have differential educational backgrounds and life experiences. We train 10 students per year, who are representative of our region and often remain in the area to join the scientific workforce. Therefore, California will benefit from this additional pool of well-prepared stem cell scientists from diverse backgrounds that have a broad understanding of the benefits of stem cell research and can continue to advocate and accelerate California’s commitment to advancing stem cell research, treatments and therapies for human diseases.

Statement of Benefit to California:

California is a leader in advancing stem cell and regenerative medicine and the field is progressing rapidly towards viable therapies and cures for human disease. In order to continue to accelerate this progress and drive future innovation, we must provide a pipeline for the training and development of a diverse pool of stem cell scientists. Our program is designed to meet this need by providing an opportunity for diverse college students to receive comprehensive training and education allowing them to enter this field more quickly than traditional pathways. Additionally, we develop well rounded stem cell researchers who understand the full “bench to bedside” process of bringing treatments to the clinic. Simultaneously, they learn the need for public communication and outreach so that the regional community understands the benefits from their research. Our institution has partnered with four regional community colleges to ensure recruitment from these diverse student populations. We deliver a robust and comprehensive internship program from primarily the undergraduate and graduate levels for an intensive year-long research experience at academic or biotechnology industry laboratories. Trainees focus on a variety of applications of stem cell research to treat complex neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and autism, and other disease targets such as cancer and diabetes. Our student trainees receive college credit and will be supported by educational enhancement and patient advocacy activities through community organizations. At the end of their internship year, our trainees will be prepared to contribute to California’s workforce pipeline and/or continue their academic journeys. Our program impact is significant. We will train 10 trainees each year, who are representative of our diverse region and often remain in the area to join the scientific workforce. Therefore, California will benefit from this additional pool of well-prepared stem cell scientists from diverse backgrounds that have a broad understanding of the benefits of stem cell research and can continue to advocate and accelerate California’s commitment to advancing stem cell research, treatments and therapies for human diseases.