How a Gladstone scientist is using bioengineering to push the pace of stem cell research

At CIRM, we strive to fund the most promising stem cell research and speed the advancement of stem cell treatments to patients who need them. Because we are a state agency, we generally focus on funding scientists, universities, and companies located in California. But we recognize that high quality stem cell research is ongoing throughout the country. That’s why CIRM has programs that fund research originating outside California and that recruit talented stem cell scientists to join our state’s vibrant stem cell community.

Today we want to share a video we produced titled, “Growing Stem Cell Research in California” that provides an example of how CIRM has catalyzed the growth of stem cell research by helping recruit Dr. Todd McDevitt, a leading biomedical engineer in stem cell research, to the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco.

Todd started his lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and moved to the Gladstone a year ago to conduct research using human pluripotent stem cells to engineer 3D micro-tissues for use in drug development and disease modeling. His move was made possible by a CIRM Research Leadership Award, which allowed the Gladstone to recruit Todd and is now his lab’s major source of funding.

With an expertise in tissue engineering, Todd and his team are collaborating with other researchers at the Gladstone on projects that use human stem cells to create organ-like tissues to advance research and therapeutic development for a wide range of areas including brain disease, heart disease and spinal cord injury.

Todd is a young and talented scientist who is using his expertise in bioengineering to push the pace of stem cell research ultimately, we hope, to improve human health. You can read more about Todd’s first year anniversary at the Gladstone in their latest news release.