All her life, Madison Waterlander knew that she wanted to be a part of the medical field. But soon after graduating from the University of Hawaii with her undergraduate degree, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was during this time that she noticed how crucial biomedical research was in the medical field and lives of patients, and when she realized she had a passion for research.
A Bridges internship
She soon found a master’s program in biotechnology and bioinformatics at California State University Channel Islands (CI), just minutes from her hometown of Camarillo.
As she dug into the program, she learned that the Stem Cell Technology and Laboratory Management emphasis required a one‑year, CIRM‑funded lab internship. The internship was part of CIRM’s Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy Program, which prepares California undergraduate and master’s students for careers in stem cell research and therapy development.
The chance to gain hands‑on lab experience convinced her to join the graduate program.
Lab work
Once she settled in at CI, she began her internship at UC Santa Barbara in the Weimbs Lab. There, she studied the mechanisms underlying Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)and explored potential new therapies for this genetic disorder, which causes numerous cysts to form in the kidneys.She soon after found a master’s program in biotechnology and bioinformatics at California State University Channel Islands (CI), just a few minutes from Camarillo, the town she grew up in.
“This CIRM‑funded internship was incredibly enriching. I expanded my knowledge and skill set in the lab,” Madison says. “I always knew I loved science and the medical field, but this experience showed me that my strongest passion is the research that improves patient care and treatments.”
Personal challenges
Although the internship strengthened her lab skills and was a positive experience overall, Madison also faced personal challenges during that time, including the loss of her grandma. She struggled with the grief, but the work in the lab gave her something meaningful to focus on—something her grandma had always encouraged her to pursue.
“My grandma never would have wanted me to give up, so that pushed me to keep going and try my hardest every day to make an impact,” she says.
After a year of hard work in the lab, Madison graduated from CSU Channel Islands with a Master of Science in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics with a Stem Cell Technology and Laboratory Management emphasis. She’s now pursuing a role in the biotechnology industry in translational biomedical research.
“I truly enjoyed every moment of my CIRM internship, and I feel that it truly revealed to me just how much I enjoy participating in biomedical research,” Madison says. “I’ve always felt that research feels like a treasure hunt looking for cures and treatments, so the more of us that are partaking in the treasure hunt, the quicker we can find new treatments and provide solutions for patients.”
Stories like Madison’s are why CIRM remains committed to training the next generation of scientists to conduct research and deliver regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to patients. To date, there are 1,663 Bridges alumni, and another 109 Bridges trainees—including Madison—who are completing their internships in 2022.
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