Grant Award Details

City College of San Francisco Stem Cell Training Enhancement Program
Grant Type: 
Grant Number: 
TB1-01188
Project Objective: 
  • This grant enables an internship to be included within the CCSF existing Stem Cell Technology Certificate program. While most trainees are at the undergraduate level, the certification program is open to individuals with graduate level education or others with interest in stem cell technology. Internships are 6 months in length and take place at various institutes/companies around the Bay Area. The program was modified such that from grant Year 4 onward, the internships will be 9 months in duration.
Investigator: 
Type: 
PI
Award Value: 
$2,649,780
Status: 
Closed

Grant Application Details

Application Title: 
  • Stem Cell Training Enhancement Program
Public Abstract: 

The proposed project will build on a robust stem cell technician training program already in place at the home institution, expanding and enhancing student training through the implementation of 10 internship experiences each year as well as a range of other support activities. Specifically, the proposed project will: ï‚§ Offer full-time internships to 10 students each year in CIRM-funded research laboratories or industry labs working with stem cells. Participating laboratories include both academic and industry labs throughout the region. Interns will be recruited from the pool of students who have completed a series of cell culture courses at the home institution and will engage in a six-month internship for which they will earn college credit. ï‚§ Offer a stem cell techniques course, comprising 24 instructional hours, that will prepare students to begin their internship experiences. ï‚§ Augment and update all existing cell culture courses with cutting-edge information, techniques, and equipment, serving approximately 60 community college students each year. ï‚§ Offer seminars twice each semester through an existing infrastructure that hosts lectures and events for community college students, faculty, and staff as well as community members. ï‚§ Engage a Project Director whose long-term experience in molecular biology and cell culture research will fully qualify her to implement the proposed project. ï‚§ Mentor trainees through a four-unit independent study course. The proposed program will greatly enhance the training of future stem cell laboratory personnel by augmenting the existing community college program with hands-on experience at an academic or industry laboratory over a six-month period. Students participating in this internship will gain a robust set of skills that will allow them to enter the workforce and make a substantial contribution to stem cell research. Furthermore, by enhancing partnerships between the home institution and regional academic and industry laboratories, the proposed project will pave the way for future student training and professional development activities for faculty members.

Statement of Benefit to California: 

The proposed program will benefit the state of California and its citizens by providing high-quality training to a cadre of future stem cell research technicians. Over the three-year funding period, the proposed program will greatly enhance the training of future stem cell laboratory personnel by augmenting the existing community college program with hands-on experience at an academic or industry laboratory over a six-month period. Students participating in this internship will gain a robust set of skills that will allow them to enter the workforce and make a substantial contribution to stem cell research. Furthermore, by enhancing partnerships between the community college and regional academic and industry laboratories, the proposed project will pave the way for future student training, professional development activities for faculty members, and much more.