People are the real driving force in the stem cell and regenerative medicine field including my colleague Jan Nolta here at UC Davis. She is the Director of our Stem Cell Program. There’s also news about Stanford’s stem cell Director Irv Weissman.
Jan Nolta receives award
Jan’s lab is prolific and in many ways is working toward concrete clinical impact to help patients. It was therefore great to see her receiving this recognition from our Chancellor: Jan Nolta receives 2022 Chancellor’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Innovation.
She’s also the Editor-In-Chief of the journal Stem Cells. I don’t know how she gets so much done on so many fronts.
I know she is a great mentor to her trainees too.
Irv Weissman shifting gears
Irv Weissman is making room for a new stem cell program leader over at Stanford. Ravi Majeti, MD, PhD, Named Director of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford. In the original announcement last year about his plan to step down, Irv had a typically funny quote:
“Whenever you hear that an academic leader of an entity is stepping down to (take your choice) a: spend more time with family, or b: devote more attention to his/her research, the real reason is usually that he/she got canned for something unmentionable,” Weissman joked. “But in this case, I really am stepping down to devote more attention to my stem cell research and its clinical translation, starting with novel approaches to treat women with metastatic breast cancer with curative intent.”
Way back in 2011, I did a post that had advice from Irv. It included his stories and thoughts about mentoring. I’ve never seen some of what he said anywhere else so check it out.
More recommended reads
- Keto diet study finds muscle stem cells survive stress during short-term fasting, Fox News. What do you all think of this one?
- Voluntary Consensus Standards Recognition Program for Regenerative Medicine Therapies, Draft Guidance, FDA. I’m going to admit that after skimming this FDA document I’m still not sure what it’s really all about. Anyone?
- Sequential Stem Cell–Kidney Transplantation in Schimke Immuno-osseous Dysplasia, NEJM.
- Updated study results show a CRISPR treatment for blood diseases continues to benefit patients, Stat News.
Jan is the great supporter to all that ask . Congratulation on a well desired aware …….
Not only is Jan Nolta the driving force behind UC Davis’ battle against chronic disease, but she also is never too busy to answer a patient advocate’s request for information: an incredibly valuable individual, Dr. Nolta enriches the field of stem cell research.