Year 2

The CSUN CIRM Bridges3.0 Stem Cell Research & Therapy 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. Each of our ten 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 through the University of Miami Patient Advocacy Certificate Program and community outreach at Reseda Chapter High School, and 3) facilitating the entry of an ethnically and culturally diverse student population including 8 female, 7 Latina, and 2 Latino stem cell scientist. Interns all presented their own research at symposia including: UCLA Annual Stem Cell Conference, the Annual CSUNposium conferences, WCBSURC at Santa Clara University, and will present at the CIRM EDUC Networking Meeting in August. 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. All interns are returning to CSUN to complete coursework for the Baccalaureate degree with 3 graduating with Biology Honors. Several students will be hired part time at UCLA to continue their research as staff research associates while finishing their degrees.