1. How has your research progressed since winning the Young Investigator Award in 2006?
During the last two years, my research was focused on projects related to safety of blood transfusion and cell therapy. As I described in my first interview after winning the Young Investigator Award in 2006, we are working with various in vivo and in vitro models to develop efficient tests for the presence of abnormal prion protein in donor blood and blood products. Prions play a crucial role in pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies—fatal neurodegenerative disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as “mad cow” disease. I was able to successfully apply my experience in the stem cell field to the current projects. Particularly, we have generated several cell models based on immortalized mouse mesenchymal stem cells, which could be used to develop new tests for prion infection and to screen potential anti-prion drugs. Initial results of the study will be published soon.
2. How has winning the Young Investigator Award in 2006 affected your career?
I attained a Scientist I position in the Transmissible Diseases Department of the American Red Cross Holland Laboratory right before winning the Young Investigator Award. I believe that the Award will help me further advance my scientific career.
3. What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue working on various aspects of blood transfusion and cell therapy safety, especially on development of appropriate cell models. I hope my future work will be closely related to stem cell research.
4. What do you feel is one of the most exciting areas of stem cell research today?
Amazing results have been achieved in such areas of stem cell research as development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology, including human iPS cells; tissue engineering using three-dimensional functional tissues based on inhabiting synthetic scaffolds with progenitor cells followed by cell multiplication and differentiation. Introducing new, improved materials for scaffolds and new elegant techniques like “printing cells” promises to accelerate progress in regenerative medicine. It is important to bring stem cell research closer to the needs of practical medicine. I believe that the most exciting progress will be achieved through using multidisciplinary approaches. Development of reliable techniques will be critical for further progress in stem cell therapy, in particular: safe methods of genetic modification of stem/progenitor cells for gene therapy and iPS cell technology, and modification of current protocols for mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to exclude the possibility of transmitting any prion or viral disease. Fast development of cell therapy and regenerative medicine requires paying proper attention to safety concerns.
5. What advice would you give to other young investigators in the field today?
I wish them to believe in their dreams and to be persistent.
Do you have any other comments?
I would like to express my gratitude to the Editorial Board of STEM CELLS and Invitrogen Corporation for establishing of this award and to my former colleagues from Dr. Hawley’s group who helped me a lot with the study that allowed me to win the Young Investigator Award.
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