Dr. Kate Rubins is a NASA astronaut and microbiologist. She has completed two expeditions to the International Space Station and spent 300 days in space. She became the first person to sequence DNA in space in 2016, and grew cardiomyocytes in cell culture (in collaboration with Arun in Joseph Wu’s lab at Stanford) while in orbit.  She has a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford University and studied viral diseases as a Fellow/Principal Investigator at the Whitehead Institute.

Metabolic Hubs to Regulate HSC Stemness – Researchers identified a non-classical retinoid signaling axis that maintains HSC function.

A Brain Organoid Slice Model for ALS/FTD – iPSC-derived cortical organoid slices displayed the early pathology of ALS/FTD, which could be reversed with a small molecule.

Growing Human Neural Tubes – Scientists used HSCs in a chip-based system to recreate neural tube folding in vitro.

Perfecting Lizard Tail Regeneration – CRISPR-edited embryonic neural stem cells were engrafted to adult lizard tail stumps, allowing the tails to regrow with their original patterning of skeleton, nerve, and cartilage.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of NASA

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