2020-2023 Announcement

Group Photo Fall 2023 Orientation Meeting
A logo design
SPARK Social 2023 Group Photo
A logo design
Students in South SF High School
World AIDS flyer Grab
Students group photo

2023 Announcements

Two SFSU CIRM program logos are prevailed on Stem Cell Awareness Day October 11, 2023!

Welcome 2023 Science Master's Cohort Class: Fall 2023 Science Master's Program New Students Orientation was held in-person at SFSU on August 18, 2023. CIRM Program Director Dr. Lily Chen, Program Coordinator Dr. Kris Plambeck, Year 2 students and alumni warmly welcomed newly onboard students! 

Congratulations to Science Master’s student Harnoor Virk who has been accepted into 2023 UCSF Ph.D. in Biomedical Science program.

Welcome Dr. Kris Plambeck: Dr. Kris Plambeck has joined SFSU in April 2023 as the CIRM Program Coordinator to coordinate and lead student training and diversity & mentorship outreach efforts. Dr. Plambeck received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Davis in 2022 with a focus on neurobiology, synaptic plasticity, and hippocampal dependent learning and memory.  He is a SFSU alumnus in M.S. in Biomedical Science whose research funded by a CIRM Stem Cell Bridges Fellowship and mentored by Dr. Saul Villeda at University of California, San Francisco.

SMP SPARK Social SF: The program celebrated amazing achievements and hard work accomplished by AY2021-23 cohort with a SPARK Social SF on May 19, 2023. 

Congratulations to Science Master’s student Janeth Ochoa Birrueta as the 1st Place Poster Awardee at 2023 CoSE Student Project Showcase.

 

2022 Announcements

New CIRM Undergraduate Training Program Award ($2.9 Million): The new CIRM COMPASS Inclusive Pathways for Stem Cell Scholars (IPSCS) Undergraduate Training Program award ($2.9 million; led by SFSU Professor of Biology Lily Chen, 2022-2027) prepares undergraduate students for cutting edge stem cell research and workforce development. The IPSCS program provides two-year fellowships to 25 Scholars over the course of the five-year funding period and the resources to build the foundation for implementing innovative and inclusive diversity training address current and diverse workforce needs in emerging stem cell fields. 

World AIDS Day Seminar: on December 1, 2022, CIRM Bridges Science Master’s students Mandy Buck and Ariana Velarde cohosted a special talk entitled ‘HIV Patients as I Remember them’ by Cynthia Perlis, Founder and Former Director of Art for Recovery Program at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Center.   

Stem Cell Day Teaching Outreach: SFSU Science Master’s students Jasmine Freund and Harnoor Virk, alumnus Rocky Ng (teacher) and Professor Lily Chen delivered introductory lectures on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine to the second year and third year Biotechnology students attending South San Francisco High School’s Genentech Futurelab Science Garage program (November 2nd and 3rd 2022).  

2022 CIRM Bridges Trainee Meeting: CIRM Program Director Dr. Lily Chen and CIRM Bridges Science Master’s Cohort 1 Students attended 2022 CIRM Bridges Trainee meeting and presented their internship research on July 25-27 in San Diego. 

 

2021 Announcements

New CIRM Bridges Science Master's Award ($3.6 Million): The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $3,606,500.00 to the San Francisco State University (SFSU) to fund Bridges Science Master’s program (Program Director Professor Lily Chen). A total of50 Bridges Science Master’s students at SFSU during 2022-2026 will be trained for successful careers in stem cell and regenerative medicine workforce.

Congratulations to Science Master’s student Joshua Quintanilla as the 1st Place Poster Awardee at 2022 Stanford-Cornell Cardiovascular Research Symposium.  

Stem Cell Science Master's Virtual Open House (First Monday of the Month, 5:15-6 pm): May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6); Zoom Meeting ID: 837 3873 3095.

2020 Announcements

Congratulations: Congratulations to CIRM and PSM Spring 2020 graduates who attend PhD and other graduate programs this Fall (2020):

  • Luis Angel Ayala - MS-Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology (CIRM Bridges Stem Cell Research Attending the Cellular and Molecular Biosciences PhD program at University of California at Irvine
  • Jessica Arozqueta Basurto - MS-Biology: Cell & Molecular Biology (CIRM Bridges Stem Cell Research) Attending Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine PhD program at Stanford University
  • Coohleen Coombes - MS-Biology: Cell & Molecular Biology (CIRM Bridges Stem Cell Research) Attending Molecular and Cell Biology PhD program at University of Washington
  • Gabrielle Kleyner - MS-Biology: Cell & Molecular Biology (CIRM Bridges Stem Cell Research)
  • Attending UC Hastings School of Law
  • Puneet Sanghera - MS-Biomedical Science (PSM): Stem Cell Science (CIRM Bridges Stem Cell Research) Attending Ross University, School of Medicine
  • Amanda Chen - MS-Biomedical Science (PSM): Biotechnology attending Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis PhD Program at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences

A blog by CIRM alumnus Yimy Villa (blog.CIRM.ca,org): CIRM Bridges program prepared student for research of a rare disease. Special highlight on Dr. Ian Blong, Ph.D., CIRM San Francisco State University Bridges to Stem Cell Research alumnus.

 

UCSF COVID-19 Hackathon Team ‘Sniff ‘N Drip:’

Project: Nasopharyngeal wash and oropharyngeal swab for COVID-19 testing

Members: Nicole Carvajal (team captain; UCB), Kristina Chan (UCB), Arianna Velarde (Canada College/SF STATE) and Lily Chen, PhD (SF STATE)

Bridges to the Baccalaureate summer student Arianna Velarde and Biology Professor Lily Chen were part of UCB/SF STATE team (Sniff ‘N Drip) that participated in the UCSF COVID-19 Hackathon this summer and was recognized with the AWS award benefits. Over the course of three weeks in June 2020, roughly 400 participants and mentors from around the world have teamed up as a result of the UCSF COVID-19 Hackathon hosted by the UCSF LaunchPad and UCSF Catalyst Program to design new innovative and technical solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. (BioConnect, 2020)

ABC 7 News @4 pm on July 29, 2020: Cleanliness may provide 'false hope' when combating COVID-19

Dr. Lily Chen was interviewed by Lauren Martinez, a reporter from ABC 7 News Bay Area, as part of news story to discuss the importance of wearing face masks and surface cleanliness may provide ‘false hope’ when combating COVID-19.

photo of BioConnect hackathon in 2020
photo of Lily Chen being interviewed by abc7news reporter