Regenerative Sciences - Tracks - Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Science - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

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Regenerative Sciences Track

75+

faculty spanning multidisciplinary departments

education in discovery, clinical translation, and application of regenerative solutions

Guaranteed 5-year internal fellowship

includes full tuition, stipend and benefits

Seeking to spur development of innovative medical breakthroughs, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, in partnership with the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, started one of the nation's first doctoral research training programs in regenerative sciences.

Regenerative medicine is transforming clinical practice with the development of new therapies, treatments and surgeries for patients with chronic conditions, debilitating injuries and degenerative diseases. Advances in developmental and cell biology, immunology, and other fields unlock new opportunities for innovative breakthroughs for the next generation of regenerative diagnostic and therapeutic medical solutions.

The Regenerative Sciences (REGS) Ph.D. track at Mayo Clinic is a transdisciplinary Ph.D. Program designed to prepare the next generation of scientists to accelerate the discovery, translation, and application of cutting-edge regenerative diagnostics and therapeutics. The REGS Ph.D. track builds on the existing Mayo Clinic Regenerative Sciences Training Program (RSTP) to now offer in-depth curriculum and advanced training opportunities.

Curriculum

The Regenerative Sciences Track places a significant emphasis on laboratory-based research training. Laboratory research is complemented with both core and track-specific courses, as well as advanced courses on current topics in regenerative science and medicine.

The regenerative sciences curriculum encompasses the full spectrum of regenerative science topics, including molecular and cell biology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, tissue engineering, biomaterials and nanomedicine, genome editing and gene therapies, regulatory and translational science, product development, biomanufacturing, entrepreneurship and more.

Students in Regenerative Sciences join a close-knit community of learners, are provided unique hands-on- experiences and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the field.

See the full Regenerative Sciences Track curriculum (PDF)

Graduates of the Regenerative Sciences Ph.D. track will be integral to forming the multidisciplinary workforce needed to drive the future of health care at Mayo Clinic and across the world.

Learn more: What is Regenerative Medicine - Mayo Clinic Radio

Focus areas

Molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of stem and progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as tissue degeneration and regeneration
Immune responses to viral insult and tissue healing
Gene editing for cell therapy applications and to alter disease progression
Extracellular vesicles in disease progression and for tissue regeneration
Tissue engineering and bioengineering of novel therapies, including 3-D printing, electrospinning, and advanced biomanufacturing

Mayo Clinic is an incredible place for doctoral training in regenerative science. The interdisciplinary strategy here allows research and courses to be tailored according to each student’s interests and ability. Moreover, Mayo Clinic provides a wealth resource to develop collaborations within the institution, which will offer students more ways to communicate and promote students to achieve their personal goals.

Shan Gao
Ph.D. student, Regenerative Sciences Track

Mayo Clinic provides unparalleled access to world-renowned clinicians and researchers all focused on clinically relevant research. Mayo Clinic’s Center for Regenerative Medicine permeates throughout the institution. Thus, the REGS program gives students the necessary experience and knowledge to drive future research in restoring form and function in any field of medicine.

Armin Garmany
M.D.-Ph.D. student, Regenerative Sciences Track

The study of Regenerative Sciences (REGS) at Mayo Clinic is unparalleled. Students are funded to study cutting-edge biomedical science in their domain of interest with plentiful opportunities to translate benchside discoveries to the patient bedside and beyond. I chose Mayo Clinic's REGS program to join its community of researchers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs who everyday advance the science and practice of regenerative medicine and bring new regenerative solutions to the world.

Samuel Buchl
Ph.D. student, Regenerative Sciences Track

The Regenerative Sciences Ph.D. track at Mayo Clinic thoroughly equips students to be leaders in biomedical research through an unmatched curriculum of multidisciplinary science and world-class research training. REGS is a collaborative and supportive program in a promising field of medicine that provides the foundational skills to pipeline research to patient care.

Delaney Liskey
Ph.D. student, Regenerative Sciences Track

Thesis topics

Current students thesis topics

"Targeted Regenerative Therapies for Heart Failure Susceptibility," Armin Garmany (Mentor: Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D.)
"Novel Look Into the Crude Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) from Human Adipose-Derived Tissue and Its Role in Regulating the Self-Renewing Capacity of Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells," Rawan Alkharboosh (Mentor: Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D.)
"Tissue Quality in Existing and Emerging Treatments for Osteoarthritis," Katherine Arnold (Mentor: Jennifer Westendorf, Ph.D.)
"Harnessing the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome to Target Alpha-Synuclein-Associated Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease," Jeremy Burgess (Mentor: Pamela McLean, Ph.D.)
"Retinal Neuroprotection Properties of an ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel Opener," Catherine Knier (Mentor: Michael Fautsch, Ph.D.)
"Towards a Subcutaneous Combination Biodevice for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes," Ethan Law (Mentor: Quinn Peterson, Ph.D.)
"Modulation of CART Cell Activation to Enhance Antitumor Response via CRISPR-mediated Gene Editing and Combined Immunotherapy," Claudia Manriquez Roman (Mentor: Saad Kenderian, M.B., Ch.B.)
"Systems Biology for Engineering Regenerative Immunotherapies in Precision Neuro-oncology," Dileep Monie (Mentors: Hu Li, Ph.D. and Richard Vile, Ph.D.
"APOE2 Effects on Central and Peripheral Vasculature," Francis Shue (Mentor: Guojun Bu, Ph.D.)
"Engineering of Antiviral Extracellular Vesicles," Amanda Terlap (Mentor: Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D.)
"Glycome of Breast Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Metastasis," Sierra Walker (Mentor: Joy Wolfram, Ph.D.)
"Bidirectional Interactions Between Stem Cell Populations of the Subventricular Zone and Glioblastoma," Emily Norton (Mentor: Hugo Guerrero Cazares, M.D., Ph.D.)
"Measles Virus Vector for Gene Editing and Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts," Ramya Rallabandi (Mentor: Patricia Devaux, Ph.D.)
"Precise Genetic Engineering of Human Primary Cells for Cell Therapy-Based Applications," (Mentor: Stephen Ekker, Ph.D.)

Recent graduates thesis topics

"Epigenetic Control of the Architectural and Trophic Functions of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration Therapies," (Mentor: Andre van Wijnen, Ph.D.)
"Metabolic Regulation of Muscle Stem Cells," (Mentor: Jason Doles, Ph.D.)
"Purified Exosome Product Enhances Neovascularization in Peripheral Arterial Disease," (Mentors: Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D. and Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D.)
"Antigen Presentation by CNS-Resident Microglia and Macrophages is Required for Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses in the Brain Following Viral Challenge," (Mentor: Aaron Johnson, Ph.D.)

Meet the director

Hugo Guerrero Cazares, MD, PhD Welcome to Regenerative Sciences at Mayo Clinic, where we offer cross-disciplinary graduate studies in the development of advanced regenerative technologies and their medical applications. Students will be equipped with the tools to innovate and advance the regenerative solutions of the future.

Training opportunities extend from fundamental science principles through laboratory skills and hands-on experiences. Students will also have the opportunity to develop an understanding of national and international regulatory agencies, and business requirements and procedures needed to implement the discovery, translation, application pipeline for new regenerative technologies.

We are excited to provide a program of training that will serve as an incubator to develop the next generation of leaders in regenerative science and medicine.

Hugo Guerrero Cazares, MD, PhD
Regenerative Sciences Program Director
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Phone: 904-953-0118
Email: Guerrero-Cazares.Hugo@mayo.edu
See research interests