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.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
In our third cohort, we retained 5 PhD graduate students, 3 postdoctoral fellows, and 1 clinical fellow trainee from our second year of the CIRM Scholars Training Program. We have added 3 PhD graduates students and 7 postdoctoral 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 on 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 was on different organs/tissues focused on diseases and stem cell therapy. The modules were given by a pair of scientists and a clinician faculty, to bridge the bed and bench on one topic. This course will be repeated again in 2025 for the new trainees.
All trainees have also used their allocated funding for research materials and travel, attending and presenting in several conferences. Overall, the trainees had over 36 publications, 13 submitted manuscripts and attended more than 46 conferences to present their discoveries. Several of the trainees also have lectured in person or virtually at local high schools to engage younger scientists in stem cell and gene therapy biology.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
CIRM Training Program in Translational Regenerative Medicine
Public Abstract:
We propose a CIRM Scholars Training Program in stem cells and translational regenerative medicine for 4 PhD student, 8 postdoctoral (PhD) scientist and 8 clinical (MD) physician trainees. Training the next generation of scientists and clinicians is vital for the lasting success of stem cell research and the translation of lab discoveries into clinical therapies to repair and regenerate damaged and diseased tissues. Cedars-Sinai’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI) is a world-renowned center for stem cell research and an ideal training environment. The proposed CIRM Scholars 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. Our stem cell and clinical biomanufacturing facilities provide cutting-edge resources to enhance the training environment. The Program offers formal training in: 1) the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, 2) innovative techniques to study stem cells and model human diseases in the lab, and steps necessary before stem cell products can be manufactured for clinical use and evaluated in clinical trials, and 3) ethical, legal and social implications of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The training experience is further enriched by partnerships with clinicians through the Cedars-Sinai Clinical Buddies Program, an annual RMI retreat to facilitate collaboration, and community outreach opportunities to educate and inform high school students, patients and other members of the broader community. Our proven track record of blending research excellence with experimental medicine and clinical practice demonstrates that we are uniquely positioned to offer such training.
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.
