Surfing for Stem Cells, Part 1 (Episode 112)
Guest: Alina Garbuzov
This is the first in a two-part series covering the role of stem cells in spinal cord injury with Dr. Alina Garbuzov. Along with the experience she brings as a person living with an SCI, Alina is a researcher, working in the Mark Tuszynski Lab at the Center for Neural Repair at the University of California, San Diego.
Today's conversation is part one, where we introduce Alina and learn about her unique perspective as a lived experience researcher; how her injury fine-tuned her professional trajectory; and about her life outside of the lab, specifically, her love of adaptive surfing. We’ll cover stem cells extensively, from their terminology and subtypes to their regenerative characteristics and current application in SCI research. Importantly, Alina gives her informed opinion on stem cell medical tourism, both here in the US and abroad while also explaining the regulatory relationship between these clinics and the FDA.
We’re looking for your feedback on this one so we can address your questions in part 2, so get out your notepad and listen closely.
Don't forget to email us your thoughts and inquiries about this episode at curecast@u2fp.org. Thanks for listening!
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud
Bumper music: Dig a Hole by Freaque
Guest Bio
Alina Garbuzov (of San Diego, California) attended Brown University for her undergraduate degree, where she studied Neuroscience and Molecular Biology. After Brown, she moved to California to attend Stanford Graduate School. During her PhD studies she fell while rock climbing and fractured her L1 vertebra. Alina was able to re-start school and complete her dissertation in the field of stem cell biology and genetics. After her fall, she came to the realization that in order to keep doing science she needed to align her personal interest and her work focus. Her personal experience and the people she met through adaptive sports created a new, deep drive to contribute to a field with many promises, but still no therapy in the clinic. Alina started a post-doctoral position in the lab of Mark Tuszynski at the Center of Neural Repair at UCSD Medical School. She is bringing expertise in molecular biology, stem cell biology, and bioinformatics to a lab that specializes in stem-cell based treatment for SCI. She also hopes to contribute as a patient and to be a voice for the SCI community in this top research lab. She feels passionately about science communication and wants to help her community understand the latest science to drive smart decision-making both for personal health and for setting research goals.
Connect with Alina Garbuzov here:
- Website: Center for Neural Repair - Spinal Cord Injury
- Email: garbuzov@gmail.com
- Instagram: @smallrestlesshuman
Related Symposium Presentation
-
Click to watch Dr. Alina Garbuzov's presentation at U2FP's 2019 Symposium in Cleveland, Ohio.
Related Articles
-
An article by Dr. Garbuzov explaining why animal models (especially rodents) don't always translate well for human application.
Related CureCast Episodes
-
A conversation with Arshak Alexanian about the possibilities of cellular reprogramming for SCI.
-
This interview with Dr. Mohamad Bydon sheds light on mesenchymal stem cells, and their role in a Mayo Clinic study done a few years ago.
This Episode Sponsored By:
