The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded the Keck School of Medicine of USC a $3.2 million, 5-year grant renewal in support of innovative undergraduate training in stem cell biology. The USC CIRM COMPASS Scholars Program prepares students over two years for career opportunities in stem cell science and regenerative medicine.
Launched in 2023, the program enrolls 10 rising juniors each year for special course offerings, hands-on experiences in lab research and chances to give back to local communities. The renewed funding will give additional options to customize their training based on the career paths they envision.
“We’re really grateful that CIRM has again chosen USC as a place to invest in the future of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine,” said Senta Georgia, PhD , director of USC CIRM COMPASS and an associate professor of pediatrics and of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC . “To see that CIRM is stepping up to reiterate California’s commitment to these fields is important for the next generation of scientists.”
USC was the only private university among the initial 15 schools selected to host COMPASS — short for “ Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem Cell Science.” The program is led by faculty in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and connects the Keck School of Medicine, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences . Evaluators at the state’s stem cell agency gave USC’s the highest score among the COMPASS programs funded this cycle.
Scholars with impact
COMPASS Scholars start the program the summer before junior year with an intensive bootcamp readying them for research internships located across USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). As they continue, the mentored exposure to stem cell science is complemented by coursework and workshops introducing them to career possibilities in regenerative medicine and the skills needed to pursue them.
Scholars not only expand their own prospects with firsthand research experience, but also contribute a great deal to the faculty labs where they learn.
“ Undergraduates bring fresh questions, energy and new perspectives to our labs ,” said Francesca Mariani, PhD , co-director of USC CIRM COMPASS and associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine . “They’re often the glue that connects research teams, bringing people and ideas together to drive discovery. COMPASS gives them the training and mentorship to grow from students learning science into scientists moving it forward. ”
In keeping with USC’s deep connections with neighboring communities, USC CIRM COMPASS provides a wealth of outreach opportunities. Scholars organize one of two annual Stem Cell Day events hosting local high schoolers at the Health Sciences Campus. Other student-led programs aim to spark an interest in science among Los Angeles elementary and middle school students.
Partnerships enable new offerings
With the grant renewal, USC CIRM COMPASS will enhance its existing slate of research experiences, coursework, and mentorship and outreach opportunities. This expansion arises from numerous collaborations on USC’s campuses, as well as links with longtime partners at CHLA and colleagues farther afield.
In the second year of the program, trainees will be able to choose between continuing their investigations at the lab bench or taking part in specialized training in one of five areas, with relevant preparation the summer between junior and senior years:
“At its core, COMPASS is a workforce development program,” said Georgia, a principal investigator at CHLA’s Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. “We are trying to meet the needs and interests of students right where they are. The tracks give them the opportunity to do almost anything they would want to do after they graduate.”
Additional training workshops in population health, equity and access are delivered in association with the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the USC+CHLA Alpha Clinic. Students receive training using cleanrooms — research environments that filter out most airborne particles — in facilities at Pasadena City College . USC CIRM COMPASS also engages with the CIRM shared resource laboratories in Southern California for supplemental student training.
Career-focused mentorship activities will still be spearheaded by program leaders and faculty advisers, with two new additions: professional coaching with the USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity ; and leadership skills development, such as managing time and navigating available resources, with Disha Chauhan, EdD, an expert certified by the International Coaching Federation.
An early track record of success
The first two cohorts of USC CIRM COMPASS Scholars have graduated, and their trajectories so far suggest the program is achieving its goals:
“Our students have found their path in science, landing really interesting jobs and studying in prestigious postgraduate programs,” Mariani said. “We’re so proud of them.”