On September 11-13, 2024, more than 120 Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, students, and staff came together at the Chaminade Resort in Santa Cruz for the 16th annual ISCBRM scientific retreat. Despite commencing in the midst of a power outage, the event served as a great platform for fostering community engagement and intellectual exchange.

The retreat showcased over 20 scientific and 30 poster presentations, with a particular highlight being the keynote address delivered by Dr. Hanna Mikkola, M.D., Ph.D., a distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center. In her talk, titled "Dissecting Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self- Renewal," Dr. Mikkola delved into her research on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and the intricate processes governing their renewal. Her research aims to understand the behavior of these cells in both mice and humans, providing valuable insights that could drive future medical breakthroughs.

The poster session highlighted exceptional research conducted by students and trainees at the Institute, sparking dynamic and engaging discussions among attendees. Participants were invited to vote for the best poster, and the winners of this year's poster competition were:

1. Yang Feng (Majeti Lab) “Targeting TP53-mutant clonal hematopoiesis”  

2. Faith Njunkeng (Ang Lab) “A new method to generate liver cells from human pluripotent stem cells”

3. Edina Poletto (Gomez-Ospina Lab) “Clinical development of autologous genome edited hematopoietic stem cells to treat mucopolysaccharidosis type 1”

In addition, a casino-themed community-building activity provided a lively setting for participants to deepen their connections while enjoying engaging leisure activities.

On September 15-16, over 100 faculty, postdocs, students and staff convened in Santa Cruz at the Chaminade Resort for the 2023 institute retreat. “I think this was super successful, a fun and enlightening day and a half,” said institute director Ravi Majeti at the conclusion of the event. 

The retreat featured 23 scientific talks, ranging from early neural development to translational stem cell approaches for treating difficult diseases disease like pulmonary fibrosis or IPEX (see below). An evening poster session gave students and trainees the chance to talk about their work. People attending the poster session were able to vote on what they considered the best posters. At the end of the retreat, the winners were announced: In 3^rd place, Minji Kang from the Newman lab; in 2^nd place, Cristabelle De Souza from the Gerlinde Wernig lab, and in 1^st place, Quenton Bubb from the Czechowicz lab.

In one session, Majeti presented highlights of the year ahead at the institute, including recruiting a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) leader at the institute, and hosting DEIB activities throughout the year. Other major changes in the coming year include updating the institute faculty membership structure, developing an external advisory committee, and opening a new faculty search, Majeti said. 

Many agreed that the Chaminade resort offered a good middle ground between the much more distant and rustic Asilomar, where many past retreats have taken place, and something nearer to Stanford or on campus, which might not offer the feeling of getting away from the lab or office, which is a primary function of retreats.