ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: Development of a Graduate Training Program in Translational Regenerative
Medicine
Name and Institution: Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, Washington University
Collaborators: Lila Solnica-Krezel (WU-Developmental Biology), Angela Bowman (WU-Center of
Regenerative Medicine
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: A new interdisciplinary Center of Regenerative
Medicine has recently been formed at Washington University, which brings together over 60
faculty from the Schools of Medicine, Engineering & Applied Science, and Arts & Sciences.
Currently there are several graduate programs including Developmental Biology and Biomedical
Engineering that incorporate aspects of Regenerative Medicine into their curriculum, but there
is not a unified Graduate Training Pathway focused in this area. The opportunity is to develop a
unique interdisciplinary pathway will attract and train students from the Division of Biology and
Biomedical Sciences and Engineering.
Translational Regenerative Medicine is an emerging field that combines developmental and
stem cell biology with engineering and is focused on developing therapeutic and diagnostic
approaches for the diagnoses and treatment of human disease. Washington University is well
positioned with a highly ranked, research active School of Medicine and a strong Department of
Biomedical Engineering to demonstrate excellence in graduate training and research in this
emerging field.
Purpose/Objectives: The objective of this IAP is to develop an interdisciplinary graduate
training pathway in Translational Regenerative Medicine that will serve as the basis for an NIH
T32 application.
Methods/Approach: I will draft a white paper for pathway describing the curriculum,
mentoring structure and faculty participants. I will continue ongoing discussions with the NIH
program officer at NIBIB to ensure that the program meets his criteria for novel training. I will
consult with key faculty participants to develop thrust areas and identify members for steering
committee. I will finalize the list of faculty mentors for the training program. I will work to
identify community partnerships outside the university, in industry and entrepreneurship
programs to bring better integration with commercialization aspects of translation. I will work
with the School of Engineering proposal preparation team to gather materials from faculty and
data tables from pertinent graduate programs for submission. I am targeted an initial
submission of the training proposal for the next NIBIB deadline, May 25 2015.
Outcomes and Evaluation: Long-term evaluation will be explored the funding of the T32
proposal. Student metrics will include increased numbers of high quality applicants,
recruitment and retention of students who participate in the training pathway, follow on
funding for students (individual fellowships or post-doctoral funding), time completion of
degree and job placement. Faculty satisfaction with student quality will also be surveyed.
DEVELOPMENT OF A GRADUATE TRAINING PATHWAY
IN TRANSLATIONAL REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis
In vitro
differentiation
The objective of this IAP is to develop an interdisciplinary
graduate training pathway in Translational Regenerative
Medicine for life science and engineering PhD students.
Mentors: Provost Holden Thorp
Vice Provost Adrienne Davis
Collaborators: Lila Solnica-Krezel – Developmental Biology
Angela Bowman – Center of Regenerative Medicine
A new interdisciplinary Center of Regenerative Medicine has
recently been formed at Washington University, which brings
together over 60 faculty from the Schools of Medicine,
Engineering & Applied Science, and Arts & Sciences.
Currently there are several graduate programs including
Developmental Biology and Biomedical Engineering that
incorporate aspects of Regenerative Medicine into their
curriculum, but there is not a unified Graduate Training
Pathway focused in this area. The opportunity is to develop a
unique interdisciplinary pathway that will attract and train
students from the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
and the School of Engineering.
Translational Regenerative Medicine is an emerging field that
combines developmental and stem cell biology with engineering and is focused on developing diagnostic and therapeutic
approaches for the evaluation and treatment of human
disease. Washington University is well positioned with a
highly ranked, research active School of Medicine and a
strong Department of Biomedical Engineering to demonstrate
excellence in graduate training and research in this emerging
field.
I drafted a white paper for the pathway describing the
curriculum, mentoring structure and faculty participants.
Discussions are ongoing with the NIH program officer at NIBIB
to ensure that the pathway meets the criteria for novel training.
I have consulted with key faculty participants to develop thrust
areas and identify members for the steering committee. I am
finalizing the list of faculty mentors for the pathway. I am
working to identify community partnerships in industry and
entrepreneurship programs outside the university to better
integrate commercialization aspects of translation. I am
working with the School of Engineering proposal preparation
team to gather materials from faculty and data from pertinent
graduate programs. I have targeted an initial submission of
the training proposal for the next NIBIB deadline, May 25
2015. I am developing a new course combining basic and
clinical faculty in regenerative medicine for Spring 2016.
Student metrics will include increased numbers of high quality
applicants, recruitment and retention of students who
participate in the training pathway, follow on funding for
students (individual fellowships or post-doctoral funding), time
completion of degree and job placement. Faculty satisfaction
with student quality will also be surveyed. Additionally,
external funding (e.g. NIH T32 or NSF NRT) will be assessed.
Harvest skin biopsy &
reprogram to
inducible pluripotent
stem cells (iPSC)
Courses
Reprogramming
for diagnostics
& therapeutics
Journal Clubs
Idea Labs
In vivo models
of disease
Seminars
Biomaterials
for directing
cell fate
• Benchmarks for interdisciplinary pathways
• Best methods for engaging clinical faculty
• Professional development for PhD students targeting nonacademic careers
• Increasing engagement with entrepreneurship community
• Finalize mentor group
• Course development for BME 590X Translational
Regenerative Medicine
• Preparation/Submission of T32 proposal
Interneurons generated from mouse embryonic
stem cells to study rewiring after spinal cord injury
Presented at the 2015
ELATE® Leaders Forum