Welcome to "The Science Of" Podcast, where students from the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA sit down with top scientists, doctors, and other leaders in the world of science from the globally renowned UCSD and the UCSD Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla, CA.In this episode, Riley James, Haydee Arancibia-Hardwick, and Margaux Stack-Babich sit down to discuss THE SCIENCE OF STEM CELLS with Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen, a stem cell biologist whose innovative work on lymphatic vascular niche for hair follicle stem cells opened the door to fundamental research areas to advance therapeutics for enhancing tissue regeneration. Dr. Gur-Cohen is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Gur-Cohen’s work with Dr. Elaine Fuchs at The Rockefeller University in New York helped unearth the lymphatic capillary network as a novel stem cell niche component, and her multidisciplinary strategy has advanced our knowledge of how stem cells synchronize and coordinate tissue regeneration. Dr. Gur-Cohen earned her Ph.D. in the Department of Immunology in Dr. Tsvees Lapidot’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and completed her B.A. in molecular biochemistry and M.Sc. in medical sciences at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. In this episode, you'll hear Dr. Gur-Cohen discuss her research on stem cells and their role in tissue regeneration. Dr. Gur-Cohen explains the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells, emphasizing the potential of adult stem cells to rejuvenate and regenerate tissues. She highlights the importance of understanding the balance between self-renewal and differentiation in stem cells. Dr. Gur-Cohen also addresses the ethical considerations and challenges in stem cell therapies, advocating for careful consultation with physicians. She envisions future advancements in cancer treatment and regenerative medicine, aiming to target cancer-initiating stem cells and rejuvenate old stem cells.Enjoy this episode and get your PODucation on!! EPISODE SUMMARY"Rapid Fire" Warm-Up Questions with Dr. Shiri Gur-CohenDr. Gur-Cohen shares her first science experiment involving collecting animals under rocks and observing their behavior in different light conditions.Dr. Gur-Cohen discusses her favorite musician, Taylor Swift, and her preference for dogs over cats, despite owning a cat due to lifestyle constraints in New York.Dr. Gur-Cohen expresses her desire to visit Antarctica for its extreme conditions and shares her favorite hiking experience in Patagonia.Dr. Gur-Cohen mentions her favorite place to eat in San Diego, highlighting the fresh seafood available in the area.Career Path and Passion for Stem Cell ResearchDr. Gur-Cohen recounts how her career in stem cell research was influenced by mentors who encouraged her to explore her true interests.Dr. Gur-Cohen explains her initial goal to cure cancer, which evolved into a fascination with stem cell biology during her PhD and postdoc years.Dr. Gur-Cohen discusses the importance of understanding how stem cells work in regenerating tissues and the impact of aging on this process.Dr. Gur-Cohen emphasizes the need to understand the balance between self-renewal and differentiation in stem cells to maintain tissue health.Types of Stem Cells and Their ApplicationsDr. Gur-Cohen explains the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells, noting that adult stem cells are already specialized and can only generate specific tissues.Dr. Gur-Cohen discusses her choice to study adult stem cells due to their visual and measurable properties, which are more applicable to human health.Dr. Gur-Cohen highlights the potential of adult stem cells to be taught to have a broader range of differentiation, similar to the regenerative abilities of amphibians like salamanders.Dr. Gur-Cohen elaborates on the importance of understanding the signals and cues that guide stem cells to change their fate during development.Challenges and Future of Stem Cell ResearchDr. Gur-Cohen discusses the challenges of stem cell transplantation, emphasizing the need to understand which stem cells are being used and their life cycle.Dr. Gur-Cohen advises caution when considering stem cell therapies, recommending consultation with physicians and thorough research on the safety and efficacy of treatments.Dr. Gur-Cohen shares her excitement about the potential of CRISPR technology to correct genetic diseases and the importance of understanding the signals that drive regeneration.Dr. Gur-Cohen expresses hope for the future of stem cell research, particularly in cancer treatment and regenerative medicine, and the potential to rejuvenate old stem cells.Audience Questions and Final ThoughtsDr. Gur-Cohen responds to an audience question about the challenges of running her own lab, mentioning funding and the importance of having a supportive environment.Dr. Gur-Cohen shares her experience of starting her lab with ...
