COMPASS: Accelerating Stem Cell Research by Educating and Empowering New Stem Cell Researchers

The COMPASS Program will provide scholars with opportunities to study the latest advances in stem cell biology, development and disease modelling, present their own work in a setting in which they can obtain constructive criticism, interact with their peers and training faculty in formal and informal forums, and meet leaders in the field. Our goal is to produce scientists at the undergraduate and transfer student levels so they are prepared to be fully versed in their primary scientific discipline and fluent in the whole panoply of issues that arise in the study of stem cell biology. We expect our scholars to become leaders in the field of stem cell biology that are well-versed in stem cell ethics and entrepreneurship, and communicate effectively about their work. As a result, we have every expectation that our scholars will be able to fully translate stem cell discovery into stem cell therapy. Data suggests that the majority of our scholars stay in California to continue their careers. As a result, this program will contribute to the enrichment of the scientific community in California, and create a cadre of scientists well-versed in issues particular to stem cell biology such as disease modeling, ethical use of stem cells, and clinical translation of stem cell technology. As California becomes a hub for stem cell biology, the COMPASS Program will serve to promote the latest technologies and advances to create viable clinical therapies while doing so in an equitable and ethical manner.