2024 ISCRM Fellows - Office of Connected Learning

Congratulations to the 2024 ISCRM fellows: Christian, Asmaa, and Sophia. The UW Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) is a competitive fellowship intended to enhance the educational experience of an undergraduate student while they are engaged in research guided by UW ISCRM faculty. The Bothell students receive a summer research stipend, which is partially funded by the Founders Fellow Endowment, managed by the Office of Connected Learning.

Christian Paulos

Working with the great faculty members at ISCRM was an amazing opportunity to engage with lab-based science and understand what it’s like to be a researcher!

2024 Bothell Fellow, Sniadecki and Qu Lab (Bioengineering, Mechanobiology, Tendon)
As an ISCRM-Bothell Fellow, Christian Paulos conducted research with the Sniadecki and Qu Labs, where he worked on developing engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived tendon constructs as an in vitro strategy for studying tendon mechanobiology and physiology. His work involved applying an established protocol for tenogenic differentiation using biological morphogens and embedding the differentiated cells into 3D collagen hydrogels suspended between flexible PDMS posts.

Sophia Gillis

My time learning the intricacy and aspirations of regenerative medicinal research is knowledge that I will never forget

2024 Bothell Fellow, Escobar Lab (Biochemistry)
Sophia Gillis was an ISCRM Fellow and UW Bothell Founders Fellows Award recipient for her collaborative research on purifying T6N-Cas12-sfGFP and T6N-Cas9-sfGFP and working with peptide-assisted delivery in primary cells. While studying with other fellows in the Escobar Lab, she worked on producing protein in E. coli, isolating proteins using size-exclusion chromatography, and testing the purity and concentration of Cas12 and Cas9.

Asmaa Abdalla

Smooth muscle cells successfully isolated. Blue indicates spots marked with dapi stain

This opportunity taught me valuable skills I aim to implement throughout my career. My experience in the lab challenged my skills and developed me into the scientist I aspired to become. I took meaningful lessons from this experience that shifted my perspective on science, research, and beyond

2024 Bothell Fellow, Marcinek Lab
As an ISCRM-Bothell Fellow, Asmaa Abdalla researched the link between mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and aortic disease in the Marcinek Lab. Using smooth muscle cells from patients undergoing cardiac surgery, she induced senescence with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and test therapies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and senescence. RT-qPCR assessed the treatment effects on key senescence and inflammation markers, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets.