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.
Reporting Period:
Year 2
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.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
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.
Reporting Period:
Year 4 – 17 month report
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.
Reporting Period:
Year 5 + NCE
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.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Stem Cell Scientist Training Program
Public Abstract:
The main focus of the CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program is heavily weighted on goal-oriented practical laboratory training experience in stem cell biology and stem cell-based patient therapies. Our program is integrated with educational, ethical, and guidance features for highly qualified and culturally diverse senior undergraduate students. Our internship-host institution provides mentors who are world-leaders in fundamental stem cell research and therapeutic translational applications. There is a great diversity of available hands-on training environments in human and mouse embryonic and adult or cell type-specific stem cell biology, spanning the basic to translational investigative spectrum. Our partnership achieves all of the major Bridges Program objectives including: 1) training laboratory personnel in current stem cell research techniques, policy, and ethics, 2) introducing community outreach, patient advocacy, and career counseling for future stem cell-based therapies, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population into the emerging world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Our training program will provide CIRM interns with opportunities to study the latest advances in stem cell biology, to present their own work in settings in which they can obtain constructive feedback, to interact with their peers in formal and informal forums, to meet leaders in the field, to interact with patients, and to develop their career potential through advisement and mentoring. CIRM internships at our host institution will be 10 months in duration for undergraduate students in screened and selected labs and will be preceded by intensive training at CSUN and in the USC Stem Cell Core Facility. The majority of intern time will be spent on laboratory research. Interns will be taught stem cell and essential analysis techniques such as microscopy, cell sorting, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in the internship-host lab and affiliated cores. Their projects will be discussed with and picked in partnership with the lab mentor, who will pair interns with more advanced senior graduate or post-doctoral students working in the area of the trainee’s project. This hands-on experience will be supplemented by participation in a biweekly Stem Cell Club, attendance at the weekly stem cell seminar series, attendance at a yearly International Stem Cell Symposium and several other research symposia, by career counseling and community outreach, and by formal and informal mentoring by host-institution lab faculty. A major purpose of our inter-institutional training program is to provide an opportunity for engaged, interested, and successful interns to gain the necessary skills and qualifications to springboard into careers in stem cell research that spans the spectrum, from basic studies to translational approaches to stem cell-based patient therapies, in academia and industry.
Statement of Benefit to California:
Te CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Scientist Training Program will train students in world-leading UCLA labs for positions performing stem cell research in academia and industry with a goal of providing patient therapies. Interns will come from a culturally and ethnically diverse CSUN applicant pool, increasing underrepresented groups engaged in stem cell research. CSUN is designated as a “Hispanic-Serving Institution” by the Department of Education, having 38% (12,691) of the undergraduate student population identifying as Hispanic, and half of these as economically challenged. In fact, CSUN ranked 11th for the number of bachelor degrees awarded to minority students and ranked 9th in the number of bachelor’s degrees conferred to Hispanics in the nation (“Hispanic Outlook,” 2014). CSUN is among the most diverse of the CSU campuses with additional demographics of: African American (5.6%), Native American and Pacific Islanders (0.5%), White (27%), and Asian (11%) students. 15,722 (47.1%) of the undergraduate students were members of historically underrepresented ethnic groups in Fall 2013. CSUN was ranked 8th of 539 comprehensive universities in the United States in producing students who go on to earn a Ph.D. in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering (NSF. 2011). The mission statement of the University is: “California State University, Northridge exists to enable students to realize their educational goals. The University’s first priority is to promote the welfare and intellectual progress of students. The vision of the University is inspired by the belief that our commitment to educational opportunity, inclusion, and excellence will extend the promise of America to succeeding generations” (CSUN Catalog). Our training program will provide a workforce for California's biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and stem cell companies, propelling hiring and increased economic prosperity for the state. UCLA is the largest single State employer with economic activity generating more than $1.8B annually in taxes. Each dollar of taxpayer investment in UCLA generates almost $34 in economic activity. More than 140 companies have been created based on technology developed at UCLA. An active portfolio of almost 3,000 inventions and more than 900 patents means UCLA plays a central role in shaping our world. CSUN generates an $954 million impact on the regional economy and more than $982 million on the state economy. This impact sustains more than 8,400 jobs and generates nearly $55 million per year locally, and nearly $59 million statewide in tax revenue. Alumni earnings attributable to their CSUN degrees of almost $3.2 billion creates an additional $5 billion industry activity statewide. Our trainees will have a tangible health and economic impact on California, its academic institutions, and its biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and stem cell companies, and the rest of the nation as California and its people move forward with personalized medicine during the 21st century.
