In our first cohort, we recruited 4 PhD graduate students and 9 postdoctoral trainees in our first year of the CIRM Scholars Training Program. Cedars-Sinai’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI) is a world-renowned center for stem cell research and an ideal training environment. Our training program combines the unique strengths of faculty, scientists and clinicians with expertise in key areas of stem cell and regenerative medicine research to facilitate bench-to-bedside advances. The Program has already offered a comprehensive training course on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and its applications. The 24-lecture course were on different organs/tissues focus on diseases and stem cell therapy. The modules were given by a pair of a scientist and a clinician faculty, to bridge the bed and bench on one topic.
The first cohort have also used their allocated funding for research materials and travels, attending and presenting in several conferences. Overall, the trainees had 8 publications, 18 submitted manuscripts, 35 conference abstracts, and attended more than 40 conferences. Several of trainees also have lectured in person or virtually at local high schools to engage younger scientists in stem cell and gene therapy biology.
Reporting Period:
Year 2
In our second cohort, we retained 4 PhD graduate students and 9 postdoctoral trainees from our first year of the CIRM Scholars Training Program. We have added 2 PhD graduates and 2 clinical fellows to this program. Cedars-Sinai’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI) is a world-renowned center for stem cell research and an ideal training environment. Our training program combines the unique strengths of faculty, scientists and clinicians with expertise in key areas of stem cell and regenerative medicine research to facilitate bench-to-bedside advances. All of our trainees have presented their projects internally (Research in Progress) to our scientific community and in national and international stages. The Program had already offered a comprehensive training course on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and its applications. The 24-lecture course were on different organs/tissues focus on diseases and stem cell therapy. The modules were given by a pair of a scientist and a clinician faculty, to bridge the bed and bench on one topic. This course will be repeated again 2024 for the new trainees.
All trainees have also used their allocated funding for research materials and travels, attending and presenting in several conferences. Overall, the trainees had over 25 publications and presented their works in over 70 different conferences. Several of trainees also have lectured in person or virtually at local high schools to engage younger scientists in stem cell and gene therapy biology. In addition, some of the scholars have mentored summer high school interns under CIRM SPARK program.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
CIRM Training Program in Translational Regenerative Medicine
Statement of Benefit to California:
This CIRM Scholar Training Program will benefit the state of California and its citizens by: 1) training scientists and clinicians, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, to perform stem cell research and develop novel regenerative medicine therapies, 2) preparing scientists and clinicians to be the next generation of leaders in the regenerative medicine field, 3) translating lab-based discoveries into therapeutic products that will benefit patients with a variety of diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, organ dysfunction, osteoporosis and cancer, 4) providing outreach opportunities to educate high school students about stem cells and careers in regenerative medicine, and 5) sharing information about advances in regenerative medicine research and ethical and social issues related to stem cell research with patients and the general public to help them make healthcare decisions and more informed choices at the ballot box.
