More than 100 student scientists from around California showcased their excitement for regenerative medicine and stem cell research at this year’s annual CIRM SPARK Conference in the sunny Inland Empire.   

Hosted by UC Riverside from Aug. 5-6 at the Riverside Convention Center, this year’s event showcased the extraordinary talent and enthusiasm of high school students who are poised to become the trailblazers of tomorrow.  

Known as the Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK), the culminating event featured networking activities, keynote speakers, and presentations from each participant highlighting their summer research projects completed at leading labs throughout the state.   

Throughout their summer internships, participants had an opportunity to work in cohorts on cutting-edge stem cell projects at research labs throughout the state. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, the diverse group of early-career scientists had access to resources and hands-on-training experiences.    

The UC Davis SPARK cohort shared these words about their experience on social media: “SPARK has been a truly unforgettable experience and has allowed us to fully embrace the beautiful world in all its unknown glory as we delved into the realm of scientific research. It’s intricate, it’s perplexing, it’s hard, it’s wonderful, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s powerful—a perfect mixture of everything we’ve ever wanted to seek.” 

About CIRM’s SPARK Program 

The SPARK program is one of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) many educational programs dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and building a diverse, highly skilled workforce to support the growing regenerative medicine economy right here in California. 

CIRM’s paid summer internship program offers diverse high school students unique opportunities in regenerative medicine research—particularly students who might not otherwise have the chance to take part in internships due to economic constraints.  

Since 2012, more than 800 students have participated in the SPARK program across the state. Currently, there are 11 active sites throughout California, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. 

Igniting innovation throughout the summer    

From exploring the potential of stem cells in treating degenerative eye diseases and blood cancers to studying novel regenerative therapies for cardiovascular conditions, the SPARK interns’ projects spanned a wide range of exciting areas within regenerative medicine.   

At the Riverside conference, students displayed projects that involved gene expression analysis and advanced techniques such as CRISPR, a novel gene-editing technology.  

“My internship at Cedars-Sinai was truly an enriching and rewarding experience,” said high school student Irene Thomas. “It also instilled a deeper respect for the scientific community and the dedication and passion they have, compared to other careers in biomedicine.” 

Congrats to all the SPARK participants and their program directors on another successful summer! Check out more photos from the SPARK two-day conference below.  

If you are interested in learning more about SPARK, visit CIRM’s education programs page or email education@cirm.ca.gov. See more student photo submissions via Instagram by following the official SPARK hashtag #CIRMSPARKLab.