A Conversation with CIRM's President and CEO | Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD, President and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Thomas was previously the chair of the CIRM governing board from June 2011 to March 2023 and has played an integral role in supporting patient-centric research, strategies and outcomes within the Alpha Clinic network and UC San Diego’s Sanford Stem Cell Institute. We discuss his history with CIRM and the impact the organization has had across California. Thomas has a long-standing commitment to patient advocacy. He spent more than 15 years on...
info_outline
Stem Cells and Cancer, In Vivo Discoveries
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Tannishtha Reya, PhD, reviews her work and publications on understanding the mechanisms that drive cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. Her research also includes developing high resolution in vivo imaging approaches to map normal stem cell behavior and interactions within a living organism, to define how these change during cancer formation. Tannishtha is the associate director for Translational Research and director of the Irving Drug Discovery Program at Columbia’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is also a former professor with the...
info_outline
Novel Therapeutics and Discoveries | Leo D. Wang, MD, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Leo D. Wang, MD, PhD, includes unique insights into novel discoveries and therapeutics for HIV, diabetes, cancer and other conditions. As the director of the City of Hope Alpha Clinic, we discuss the innovative and collaborative nature of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Alpha Clinic network. The City of Hope was the first of now nine CIRM Alpha Clinics, designed to improve patient access to stem cell and regenerative medicine clinical trials for all Californians. Leo Wang also serves as an associate professor in the Departments of...
info_outline
Medical Resilience in Space | Dana Levin, MD, MPH
ReGEN Podcast
Dana Levin, MD, MPH, serves as the director of Space Medicine for Vast. As the International Space Station plans for decommission in 2030, Vast is an industry pioneer with developing the first commercial space station, Haven-1, for long-term human habitation of low Earth orbit. We discuss the implications of humans inhabiting space in this new frontier of opportunities, challenges, questions and implications for human health and medicine. Dana’s background before his role at Vast includes working for NASA as a clinical scientist for the human research program, developing methods to assess...
info_outline
The Intersection of AI and Medicine | Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation this week is with Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA, a digital health and AI expert whose research focuses on AI systems modeling and other computer-aided approaches within the healthcare industry. Bruce has founded, built, and led multiple initiatives in systems science, AI, mathematical and computer modeling, digital health, operations research and science/health communications, including research consortia, centers at universities and independent companies. Hosted by Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA This episode was recorded on Oct. 15, 2025, and information presented herein is current at the...
info_outline
Regenerative Medicine: From the Amazon Rainforest to Space | Alysson Muotri, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Alysson Muotri, PhD, covers a broad scope of topics including his innovative work and discoveries in space-based research, Neanderthal DNA, and groundbreaking breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and indigenous plants found in the Amazon Rainforest. Muotri serves as the director of the Sanford Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research Center (ISSCOR) at UC San Diego’s Sanford Stem Cell Institute, leading numerous research missions in sustained microgravity and low-Earth orbit. His work includes a focus on generating human disease models to determine the...
info_outline
Stem Cell Biology Industry Trends | Tiffani Manolis
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Tiffani Manolis, vice president and general manager of the cell biology business at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Our discussion highlights her passion for cell biology and innovative trends in the gene and cell therapy industry, with a focus on advancing technologies that support the development of life-changing therapeutics. Tiffani is an experienced leader in the life sciences industry in her current role and joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2022 to lead the cell culture and cell therapy business. Prior to this role, Tiffani held various leadership...
info_outline
RNA and Stem Cell Innovations | Gene Yeo, PhD, MBA
ReGEN Podcast
Our conversation with Gene Yeo, PhD, MBA, features a deep dive into his innovative work with RNA, gene editing and intersection of stem cells and regenerative medicine. We discuss what’s on the horizon for discoveries and industry-based opportunities. Yeo serves as the director of the Sanford Stem Cell Innovation Center with the goal to facilitate industry growth by leveraging research findings and developed technologies to support the commercialization of applications through strategic collaboration with industry partners. Yeo’s work focuses on high-throughput genomics, systems biology...
info_outline
Stem Cell Clinical Trials: Behind the Scenes with Julissa Gonzalez at UC San Diego
ReGEN Podcast
This episode features our conversation with Julissa Gonzalez, MS, who serves as the clinical research data manager at the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center. Her work helps frame and prepare insights into stem cell-related clinical trials. Our discussion explores information the public may not readily know about preparing for and administering therapeutics via clinical trials, including unique perspectives on validation, analyses, and patient care outcomes. This episode was recorded on June 2, 2025, and information is current as of the date of this recording. Hosted by Bobby...
info_outline
Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | Marisa Korody, PhD
ReGEN Podcast
Marisa Korody, PhD, serves San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a scientist in conservation genetics, working on the northern white rhino rescue project. She works closely with collaborators at The Scripps Research Institute to optimize the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from banked rhino fibroblast cells in the Frozen Zoo® for potential use in assisted reproductive technologies. This episode was recorded on Aug. 13, 2025, and information is current as of the date of recording. Hosted by Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5y7CCbGWQms
info_outlineJessica Pham — manager of Dr. Catriona Jamieson’s lab at the University of California San Diego and Stellar Mission Specialist at its Sanford Stem Cell Institute — has successfully prepared seven research payloads for transport to the International Space Station. There, astronaut-scientists have used the tumor organoids she creates from the stem cells of consenting cancer patients to better understand, predict, and treat disease progression, in partnership with researchers on the ground.
Host: Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA.
This episode was recorded on October 18, 2024 and information presented is current as of the recording of this episode.