From Pluripotent Students to Stem Cell Scholars
Grant Award Details
Grant Number:
EDUC8-20269
Investigator(s):
Award Value:
$6,918,000
Status:
Pre-Active
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
From Pluripotent Students to Stem Cell Scholars
Public Abstract:
The EDUC8 Dual Path training program will identify, engage, and recruit undergraduates and graduate students who aspire to science careers in regenerative medicine and related fields, including many students of backgrounds and circumstances who are often denied access to research training and mentorship. Seniors and graduate students conduct a 12-month research internship with regenerative medicine-focused mentors at partner institutions. Early-stage trainees complete a two-year, multi-phase internship program that in the first mentored phase emphasizes foundational research skills, after which trainees conduct capstone research internships with regenerative medicine-focused mentors at partner institutions. Through a curriculum of lecture and laboratory coursework and structured research internships, trainees on both training paths build project experience, technical foundations in lab skills essential to biotechnology and regenerative medicine, and networks of mentors and professional connections. Further mentoring, workshops, and guided activities guide them in learning needs and challenges in healthcare and underserved communities, and exploring how their scientific and professional interests can make impactful contributions. Students will finish either training path prepared to launch careers in medicine, research, biotechnology, industry, and science and healthcare policy. The five-year program will train 32 early-stage STEM students and 50 seniors and graduate students. Training elements include:
1. Courses and workshops on stem cell biology and technical handling and analysis ensure that interns have skill sets to be successful and receive maximum benefit from their research internships. Further coursework familiarizes them with the regulatory affairs process to understand disease research and therapeutics development, as well as how to communicate science effectively to the public.
2. Volunteer opportunities to ensure students engage with and learn from their multiple California communities. Students will engage with patient groups, participate in healthcare activities and organize educational seminars to interested members of the community, volunteer services at local hospitals or on campus to organize healthcare related events.
3. Community Outreach activities, many of which are organized through the Student Society for Stem Cell Research. Students perform community outreach by hosting open to public events on campus, giving presentations at local K-12 schools, helping instruct workshops for K-12 students, and participating in Stem Cell Symposia and seminars organized in the area by the Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium.
4. Mentoring and career advice. Program leadership and research project mentors take meaningful roles in mentorship of student interns, plus networking activities that will enable all of our interns to procure meaningful and satisfying careers in stem cell research and therapy sectors.
1. Courses and workshops on stem cell biology and technical handling and analysis ensure that interns have skill sets to be successful and receive maximum benefit from their research internships. Further coursework familiarizes them with the regulatory affairs process to understand disease research and therapeutics development, as well as how to communicate science effectively to the public.
2. Volunteer opportunities to ensure students engage with and learn from their multiple California communities. Students will engage with patient groups, participate in healthcare activities and organize educational seminars to interested members of the community, volunteer services at local hospitals or on campus to organize healthcare related events.
3. Community Outreach activities, many of which are organized through the Student Society for Stem Cell Research. Students perform community outreach by hosting open to public events on campus, giving presentations at local K-12 schools, helping instruct workshops for K-12 students, and participating in Stem Cell Symposia and seminars organized in the area by the Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium.
4. Mentoring and career advice. Program leadership and research project mentors take meaningful roles in mentorship of student interns, plus networking activities that will enable all of our interns to procure meaningful and satisfying careers in stem cell research and therapy sectors.
Statement of Benefit to California:
This program with dual training paths aims to identify, recruit, engage, mentor, and comprehensively train both undergraduate and graduate students in research internships with goals to develop health and disease research skills and affinity and readiness to join career tracks in biotechnology, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine. The training program provides students with a variety of community outreach and volunteer opportunities, including patient engagement and healthcare access and disparities curricula. Our EDUC8 program will provide highly trained and qualified graduates to join California’s regenerative medicine workforce with experiences to respond to the needs of our California communities.
Our program has the following components:
1. Identification of awardees by an innovative use of project-based, lab-intensive classes for recruitment.
2. Laboratory research internships. Seniors and graduate students will conduct research internships in regenerative medicine-focused labs at partner institutions. Early-stage undergraduates will begin with research projects mentored by our campus faculty to build foundational skillsets and project experience, followed by research internships in regenerative medicine-focused labs at partner institutions.
3. Courses, workshops, and sustained mentorship that will enrich the education of our students, along with scientific skills development, career advising, and professional networking.
4. Courses that will be completed by the awardees will allow them to earn a Certificate in Biotechnology as they complete their Bachelors or Masters degrees. Highlighted courses include stem cell biology, developmental biology, animal tissue culture, biotechnology, genomics, and bioethics. Workshops offered will include healthcare access and disparities, bioprocessing and therapeutics development, and communicating science to the public.
5. Patient and healthcare engagement by volunteering in support groups, non-profits, providing community education and become aware of the challenges that are particularly pervasive in their local community.
6. Educational outreach components that will include local campus seminars, Stem Cell Symposia, delivering lectures at middle and high schools, attending regional conferences that are patient centric, and events organized through the Student Society for Stem Cell Research. CIRM trainees will also host and contribute to ‘stem cell bootcamp’ workshops for high school students.
Our goal is to prepare students to enter the workforce and contribute their perspectives, expertise, and training in a variety of health research and healthcare delivery settings, from carrying out disease and therapeutic research in a lab, having careers in regulatory affairs or clinical studies, to being stem cell or gene therapy physicians. We see ourselves and our students as part of the mission of improving health and quality of life for the millions of people for whom no therapies are available.