Research

Pipette and laboratory sample containers

Research and Initiatives

The Stem Cell Engineering Center (HSCGEC) functions as a research facility dedicated to supporting work involving human stem cells at California. The HSCGEC maintains and provides well-characterized human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines and human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines. The HSCGEC also engages in its own independent research, optimizing published techniques to ensure reliable and reproducible methodology for ALL researchers, and pioneering novel differentiation paradigms.

Our Collaborators

  • Professor Katherin Plath
  • Professor Daniel Geschwind

Funding

Research Activity

Epigenetic Mechanisms in Reprogramming

Investigating how epigenetic regulation influences cellular reprogramming to enhance efficiency and improve iPSC generation.

Scalable Gene Editing

Advancing high-throughput and precision gene modification techniques to enable robust genome engineering applications.

Automated Disease Modeling

Utilizing automation to optimize scalable and reproducible disease modeling for translational research.

Cellular Resilience and Adaptation

Exploring mechanisms that regulate cellular stress responses and stability, with implications for regenerative medicine and disease resistance.

Developmental Immune Defense Strategies

Investigating early cellular mechanisms that contribute to immune modulation and protective responses in developing tissues.

Adaptive Immunotherapy Engineering

Enhancing personalized cell therapy approaches by optimizing functional immune cell selection and expansion strategies.

Publications
  • Aging-dependent dysregulation of EXOSC2 is maintained in cancer as a dependency. In progress
  • Development of the tumor resistant mouse with the embryonic antitumor factor. In progress
  • Effect of long and short half-life PDE5 inhibitors on HbA1c levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025, EClinicalMedicine. THE LANCET Discovery Science
  • Generation of chromosome 1p/19q co-deletion by CRISPR/Cas9-guided genomic editing. 2022, Neurooncol Adv
  • Safest Roasting Times of Coffee To Reduce Carcinogenicity. 2022, J Food Prot
  • Reprogramming of Pluripotency-Specific microRNA Signatures Is Not Essential to Generate Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells. 2020, Cell Reprogram
  • Characterization of iPSCs derived from low grade gliomas revealed early regional chromosomal amplifications during gliomagenesis. 2019, J Neurooncol
  • Biological Significance of the Suppression of Oxidative Phosphorylation in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. 2017, Cell Rep
  • Elevated p53 Activities Restrict Differentiation Potential of MicroRNA-Deficient Pluripotent Stem Cells. 2017, Stem Cell Reports
  • RNA Exosome Complex-Mediated Control of Redox Status in Pluripotent Stem Cells. 2017, Stem Cell Reports
  • ZSCAN10 expression corrects the genomic instability of iPSCs from aged donors. 2017, Nat Cell Biol
  • A fruitful liaison of ZSCAN10 and ROS on the road to rejuvenation. 2017, Nat Cell Biol
  • Canonical microRNAs Enable Differentiation, Protect Against DNA Damage, and Promote Cholesterol Biosynthesis in Neural Stem Cells. 2017, Stem Cells Dev
  • Canonical MicroRNA Activity Facilitates but May Be Dispensable for Transcription Factor-Mediated Reprogramming. 2015, Stem Cell Reports
  • The epithelial-mesenchymal transition factor SNAIL paradoxically enhances reprogramming. 2014, Stem Cell Reports
  • Functional evaluation of ES-somatic cell hybrids in vitro and in vivo. 2014, Cell Reprogram
  • Multifaceted regulation of somatic cell reprogramming by mRNA translational control. 2014, Cell Stem Cell
  • Confirmation of parthenogenetic identity by recombination signature in human embryonic stem cells. 2013, Stem Cells Dev
  • Generating pluripotent stem cells: differential epigenetic changes during cellular reprogramming. 2012, FEBS Lett
  • Histocompatible parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells as a potential source for regenerative medicine. 2012, J Mamm Ova Res
  • Donor cell type can influence the epigenome and differentiation potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells. 2011, Nat Biotechnol
  • Epigenetic memory in induced pluripotent stem cells. 2010, Nature
  • Comprehensive methylome map of lineage commitment from haematopoietic progenitors. 2010, Nature
  • Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from human blood. 2009, Blood
  • Ras-MAPK signaling promotes trophectoderm formation from embryonic stem cells and mouse embryos. 2008, Nat Genet
  • Recombination signatures distinguish embryonic stem cells derived by parthenogenesis and somatic cell nuclear transfer. 2007, Cell Stem Cell
  • Differentiation potential of histocompatible parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells. 2007, Ann N Y Acad Sci
  • Histocompatible embryonic stem cells by parthenogenesis. 2007, Science
  • Identification of cis-acting elements that mediate the replication and maintenance of human papillomavirus type 16 genomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2005, J Virol
  • Characterization of altered regulation variants of dinitrogenase reductase-activating glycohydrolase from Rhodospirillum rubrum. 2004, FEBS Lett
  • Derivation of embryonic germ cells and male gametes from embryonic stem cells. 2004, Nature
  • Methylation patterns of papillomavirus DNA, its influence on E2 function, and implications in viral infection. 2003, J Virol
  • Stable replication of papillomavirus genomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2002, J Virol
  • E1 protein of bovine papillomavirus 1 is not required for the maintenance of viral plasmid DNA replication. 2002, Virology
  • Isolation and characterization of draT mutants that have altered regulatory properties of dinitrogenase reductase ADP-ribosyltransferase in Rhodospirillum rubrum. 2001, Microbiology (Reading)
  • Correlation of activity regulation and substrate recognition of the ADP-ribosyltransferase that regulates nitrogenase activity in Rhodospirillum rubrum. 1999, J Bacteriol