CIRM Scholars Comprehensive Research Training Program

Following the grant award, the training program successfully appointed eight graduate students, four postdoctoral fellows and one clinical fellow. Appointment followed a campus-wide call for applications and a holistic review process in which we aimed to appoint trainees from a broad-range of backgrounds and scientific disciplines. In this we believe we believe we were greatly successful. Following appointment of trainees, we have organized a number of cohort-building activities culminating in a now to be annual retreat. Attendance at the retreat was compulsory for both trainees and mentors and this policy was adhered to with some understandable exceptions where a prospective attendee had a previous engagement, e.g. an international meeting. One notable outcome of the retreat was the realization of the potential for collaborative projects between training labs. Another important outcome came from an open discussion about improving trainee outcomes and is a subject that the program directors will act on. Following the grant award, the training program successfully appointed eight graduate students, four postdoctoral fellows and one clinical fellow. Appointment followed a campus-wide call for applications and a holistic review process in which we aimed to appoint trainees from a broad-range of backgrounds and scientific disciplines. In this we believe we believe we were greatly successful. Following appointment of trainees, we have organized a number of cohort-building activities culminating in a now to be annual retreat. Attendance at the retreat was compulsory for both trainees and mentors and this policy was adhered to with some understandable exceptions where a prospective attendee had a previous engagement, e.g. an international meeting. One notable outcome of the retreat was the realization of the potential for collaborative projects between training labs. Another important outcome came from an open discussion about improving trainee outcomes and is a subject that the program directors will act on. Students are required to participate in our monthly Stem Cell Seminar Series during Fall and Winter Quarter, where they attend a distinguished guest speaker’s seminar on their current research and are given the opportunity to meet and have lunch with the speaker. During their Spring Quarter of their first or second-year on the training program, students are required to enroll in Molecular Biology (Mol Bio) 243, Topics in Stem Cells, presentation by participating faculty or guest lecturer that is open to the science community, followed by discussion of the lecture topic or a related topic. Finally, students are required to have taken Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) 250, Conduct of Research, where each session includes a formal presentation by faculty/invited speaker followed by a discussion of case studies related to the topic under consideration. This course is usually taken during a graduate student’s Gateway program and fulfills this requirement. Additionally, our students are invited to applicable seminars and workshops presented by other UCI departments. These events can improve their understanding of their research from a different lens or provide different career pathways that were not completely realized until attending the event. During the review period, one trainee published a paper describing the role for membrane-bound receptor, PIEZO1, in the development of neuronal cells in the brain. PIEZO1 modulates the quantity, quality, and organization of cells by influencing cellular cholesterol metabolism. The study established a direct link in neural development in neural stem cells for a role for the PIEZO1 receptor and intracellular cholesterol levels, These studies have important implications for human brain development and how cholesterol may play a part in this process in health and disease. Another trainee published a paper about neuronal support cells termed microglia. The findings of their studies, carried out in a well-tested animal model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), indicated that microglia help prevent some of the pathological changes associated with some forms of AD. These studies also indicated that one of the main AD risk genes actually affects microglia and not neurons, suggesting that new treatments for AD might involve treating cells other than neurons in the brain. In summary, our trainees have made some important scientific discoveries and have made much progress in furthering their career goals. We strongly believe this training program will further the goals of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and help develop new stem cell based treatments for human diseases and disorders.

The CIRM Scholars program is now completing its second year. Currently we have 11 graduate students, 2 postdoctoral fellows and 2 clinical fellows appointed to the program and here we are reporting on them and another 7 trainees that completed the program - a total of 18 trainees. Our trainees have made enormous progress towards the goal of developing the next generation of researchers for the stem cell field. As part of their training, students are required to participate in our monthly stem cell research Seminar Series during Fall and Winter Quarter, where they attend a distinguished guest speaker’s seminar describing their latest research. In addition, they are given the opportunity to meet and have lunch with the speaker where they discuss such topics as their latest scientific results, their career goals and hear how leading scientists in the field have successfully navigated important issues in their careers. During their Spring Quarter of their first or second-year on the training program, students are required to enroll in “Topics in Stem Cells”, which entails a presentation by participating faculty or guest lecturers that is open to the science community, followed by discussion of the lecture topic or a related topic. All trainees are required to have taken a course entitled “Responsible Conduct of Research”, where each session includes a formal presentation by faculty/invited speaker followed by a discussion of case studies related to the topic under consideration. This course is usually taken during a graduate student's first year. Additionally, trainees are required to attend applicable seminars and workshops presented by their own home departments. Together, these events prepare trainees at all levels for an independent career in research or other areas related to success in the stem cell and regenerative medicine field such as patent law, regulatory practice, clinical trials, translational research and product development, etc. Our goal is to improve our trainees' understanding of their research with a different lens or provide different career pathways that were not completely realized until attending the event. One major outcome of our training program has been in the advancement of the careers of our trainees. Several trainees have been awarded fellowship and honors reflecting the science or commitment to outreach and diversity. We encourage our trainees at all levels to obtain their own funding as a route towards independence. This past year several of our trainees have obtained fellowships or awards or have secured positions. For example, one of our postdoctoral fellows obtained a fellowship from a long-established charitable foundation that supports research on neurodegenerative disease and a graduate student won an individual F31 fellowship from the NIH. One of our clinical trainees is moving on to the clinical phase of study in dermatology. Our trainees have published 15 articles describing strong advances in stem cells and regenerative medicine. These articles have appeared in outstanding venues,, including in Nature (2), Nature Genetics, Developmental Cell, Cell Reports, EMBO Molecular Medicine, and Development. In summary, our trainees have made some important scientific discoveries and have made much progress in furthering their career goals. We strongly believe this training program will further the goals of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and help develop new stem cell based treatments for human diseases and disorders.

The CIRM Scholars program is now completing its third year. During this reporting period we had 14 graduate students, 5 postdoctoral fellows, and 3 clinical fellows - a total of 22 trainees. These numbers include 2 graduate students, 1 postdoctoral scholar, and 1 clinical fellow, who completed the program in the reporting period. Our trainees, the future generation of stem cell researchers, have made important scientific contributions to the field of regenerative medicine and have developed a strong sense for how regenerative medicine can be applied in a fair and equitable manner in society. As part of their training, students are required to participate in our monthly stem cell research Seminar Series during Fall and Winter Quarter, where they attend a distinguished guest speaker’s seminar describing their latest research. In addition, they are given the opportunity to meet and have lunch with the speaker where they discuss such topics as their latest scientific results, their career goals and hear how leading scientists in the field have successfully navigated important issues in their careers. During their Spring Quarter of their first or second-year on the training program, students are required to enroll in “Topics in Stem Cells”, which entails a presentation by participating faculty or guest lecturers that is open to the science community, followed by discussion of the lecture topic or a related topic. All trainees are required to have taken a course entitled “Responsible Conduct of Research”, where each session includes a formal presentation by faculty/invited speaker followed by a discussion of case studies related to the topic under consideration. This course is usually taken during a graduate student's first year. Additionally, trainees are required to attend applicable seminars and workshops presented by their own home departments. Together, these events prepare trainees at all levels for an independent career in research or other areas related to success in the stem cell and regenerative medicine field such as patent law, regulatory practice, clinical trials, translational research and product development, etc. Our goal is to improve our trainees' understanding of their research with a different lens or provide different career pathways that were not completely realized until attending the event. Our trainees are involved in patient/healthcare engagement, tailored to their research projects. These have included participation in community engagement studios, consultation with a community action board, and work with patient advocacy groups. They have also participated in career development activities, including training in team science and communication. Most of our trainees are involved in outreach activities to increase minority participation in stem cell research. A major outcome of our training program has been in the advancement of the careers of our trainees. Several trainees have been awarded fellowship and honors reflecting the science or commitment to outreach and diversity. We encourage our trainees at all levels to obtain their own funding as a route towards independence. This past year several of our trainees have obtained fellowships or awards or have secured positions. For example, one of our graduate students won an individual F31 fellowship from the NIH. One of our clinical trainees moved on to the clinical phase of study in dermatology. Our trainees have published 17 articles describing strong advances in stem cells and regenerative medicine. These articles have appeared in outstanding venues,, including in Nature Cell Biol, Nature Communications, Neuron (3), and Development. One trainee has applied for a patent on organoid technology. In summary, our trainees have made important scientific discoveries and have made much progress in furthering their career goals. Our training program furthers the goals of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and helps develop new stem cell based treatments for human diseases and disorders.