Stem Cell Scientist Training Program

Public Summary of Progress The CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program provides a practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology with integrated educational seminars and mentored guidance for highly qualified and culturally diverse junior and senior undergraduate students. UCLA, our internship-host institution, provides mentors who are world-leaders in stem cell research. The available hands-on training environments include embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell biology, spanning the basic to translational investigative spectrum. Our partnership has achieved the major Bridges2.0 Program objectives including: 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policies, and ethics, 2) immersing students in patient advocacy and community outreach education, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Eighty Bridges trainees (70 Bridges and 10 Bridges2.0) have studied the latest advances in stem cell biology and have presented their own work in many settings including symposia at UCLA, CSUN, WCBSURC, and domestic and international stem cell meetings. The vast majority of intern time has been spent on laboratory research. Working with faculty, researchers, and staff technicians, Bridges interns became experts in stem cell and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. This hands-on experience was supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Journal Club, a weekly stem cell seminar series, a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium, and by informal mentoring by host-institution faculty who have an active role in the student's education by functioning as advisor, teacher, and collaborator during the internship program. A key component was trainee mentoring from both CSUN and UCLA mentors that has provided a supportive environment for learning and discovery, and has monitored and evaluated the trainees’ progress through the program at both the home and internship-host institution. Our program has been extremely successful in post-internship stem cell related activities for our trainees. Twelve trainees have gone on to PhD programs (4 undergraduates to Masters programs), 12 to Medical Schools, 2 to Dental schools, 39 in academic and industry jobs relating to stem cell research, and 14 completing their degrees. Twenty seven of our students are NIH underrepresented minorities and another thirty two are culturally diverse students.

The CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program provides a practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology with integrated educational seminars and mentored guidance for highly qualified and culturally diverse junior and senior undergraduate students. UCLA, our internship-host institution, provides mentors who are world-leaders in stem cell research. The available hands-on training environments include embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell biology, spanning the basic to translational investigative spectrum. Our partnership has achieved the major Bridges2.0 Program objectives including 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policies, and ethics, 2) immersing students in patient advocacy and community outreach education, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Ninety Bridges trainees (70 Bridges and 20 Bridges2.0) have studied the latest advances in stem cell biology and have presented their own work in many settings including symposia at UCLA, CSUN, WCBSURC, and domestic and international stem cell meetings. The vast majority of intern time has been spent on laboratory research. Working with faculty, researchers, and staff technicians, Bridges interns became experts in stem cell and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. This hands-on experience was supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Journal Club, a weekly stem cell seminar series, a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium, and by informal mentoring by host-institution faculty who have an active role in the student's education by functioning as advisor, teacher, and collaborator during the internship program. Trainees worked with Americans for Cures to facilitate patient advocacy and outreach. Trainees participated in multiple educational outreach events where they worked with middle and high school students, inspiring and educating them about stem cell research. A key component of our program was trainee mentoring from both CSUN and UCLA mentors that have provided a supportive environment for learning and discovery and has monitored and evaluated the trainees’ progress through the program at both the home and internship-host institution. Our program has been extremely successful in post-internship stem cell-related activities for our trainees. Fourteen trainees have gone on to Ph.D. programs (4 undergraduates to Masters programs), 12 to Medical Schools, 2 to Dental schools, 49 in academic and industry jobs relating to stem cell research, and 14 completing their degrees. Thirty-two of our students are NIH underrepresented minorities and another thirty-seven are culturally diverse students.

Public Summary of Progress The CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program provides a practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology with integrated educational seminars and mentored guidance for highly qualified and culturally diverse junior and senior undergraduate students. UCLA, our internship-host institution, provides mentors who are world-leaders in stem cell research. The available hands-on training environments include embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell biology, spanning the basic to translational investigative spectrum. Our partnership has achieved the major Bridges2.0 Program objectives including: 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policies, and ethics, 2) immersing students in patient advocacy and community outreach education, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. One hundred Bridges trainees (70 Bridges and 30 Bridges2.0) have studied the latest advances in stem cell biology and have presented their own work in many settings including symposia at UCLA, and virtual symposia including CSUN, WCBSURC, and domestic and international stem cell meetings. The vast majority of intern time has been spent on laboratory research. Working with faculty, researchers, and staff technicians, Bridges interns became experts in stem cell and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. This hands-on experience was supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Journal Club, a weekly stem cell seminar series, a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium, and by informal mentoring by host-institution faculty who have an active role in the student's education by functioning as advisor, teacher, and collaborator during the internship program. Trainees participated in patient advocacy and multiple virtual educational outreach events where they worked with middle and high school students, inspiring and educating them about stem cell research. A key component of our program was trainee mentoring from both CSUN and UCLA mentors that has provided a supportive environment for learning and discovery, and has monitored and evaluated the trainees’ progress through the program at both the home and internship-host institution. Our program has been extremely successful in post-internship stem cell related activities for our trainees. Fourteen trainees have gone on to PhD programs (5 undergraduates to Masters programs), 12 to Medical Schools, 2 to Dental schools, 59 in academic and industry jobs relating to stem cell research, and 9 completing their degrees. Forty four of our students are NIH underrepresented minorities and another thirty seven are culturally diverse students.

Public Summary of Progress The CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program provides a practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology with integrated educational seminars and mentored guidance for highly qualified and culturally diverse junior and senior undergraduate students. This year our internship-host institutions were stem cell biology biotechnical and pharmaceutical companies. The hands-on training environments included embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell biology, focusing on translational and directly relevant clinical research and manufacturing. These internships achieved the major Bridges2.0 Program objectives including: 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policies, and ethics, 2) immersing students in patient advocacy and community outreach education, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. One hundred Bridges trainees (70 Bridges and 36 Bridges2.0) have studied the latest advances in stem cell biology and have presented their own work in many settings including symposia at UCLA, and symposia including CSUN, WCBSURC, and domestic and international stem cell meetings, the most recent of which were attended virtually. The vast majority of intern time has been spent on laboratory research. Working with faculty, researchers, and staff technicians, Bridges interns became experts in stem cell biology and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. This hands-on experience was supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Journal Club, a weekly stem cell seminar series, a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium, and by informal mentoring by host-institution faculty who have an active role in the student's education by functioning as advisor, teacher, and collaborator during the internship program. Trainees participated in patient advocacy and multiple virtual educational outreach events where they worked with middle and high school students, inspiring and educating them about stem cell research. A key component of our program was trainee mentoring from both CSUN and host institution mentors that has provided a supportive environment for learning and discovery, and has monitored and evaluated the trainees’ progress through the program at both the home and internship-host institution. Our program has been extremely successful in post-internship stem cell related activities for our trainees. Nineteen trainees have gone on to PhD programs (6 undergraduates to Masters programs), 13 to Medical Schools, 2 to Dental schools, 59 in academic and industry jobs relating to stem cell research, and 9 completing their degrees. Forty six of our students are NIH underrepresented minorities and another thirty nine are culturally diverse students.

Public Summary of Progress The CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program provides a practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology with integrated educational seminars and mentored guidance for highly qualified and culturally diverse junior and senior undergraduate students. Our internship-host institution, UCLA, provided the intensive hands-on research training that included embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult stem cell biology, focusing on translational and directly relevant clinical research. The trainee internships achieved the major Bridges2.0 Program objectives including: 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policies, and ethics, 2) immersing students in patient advocacy and community outreach education, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. One hundred eighteen Bridges trainees (70 Bridges and 48 Bridges2.0) have studied the latest advances in stem cell biology and have presented their own work in many settings including symposia at UCLA, CSUN, WCBSURC, and ISSCR. The vast majority of intern time has been spent on laboratory research. Working with faculty, researchers, and staff technicians, Bridges interns became experts in stem cell biology and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. This hands-on experience was supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Journal Club, a weekly stem cell seminar series, a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium, and by informal mentoring by host-institution faculty who have an active role in the student's education by functioning as advisor, teacher, and collaborator during the internship program. Trainees participated in patient advocacy and multiple virtual educational outreach events where they worked with middle and high school students, inspiring and educating them about stem cell research. A key component of our program was trainee mentoring from both CSUN and host institution mentors that has provided a supportive environment for learning and discovery, and has monitored and evaluated the trainees’ progress through the program at both the home and internship-host institution. Our program has been extremely successful in post-internship stem cell related activities for our trainees. Twenty-one trainees have gone on to PhD programs (8 undergraduates to Masters programs), 14 to Medical Schools, 4 to other professional schools, 72 in academic and industry jobs relating to stem cell research, and 6 completing their degrees. Sixty-three of our students are NIH underrepresented minorities and another forty-three are culturally diverse students.