ALLIANCE MEMBERS
NATIONAL STEM CELL FOUNDATION
The National Stem Cell Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that funds adult stem cell and regenerative medicine research, connects children with limited resources to clinical trials for rare diseases and underwrites the National STEM Scholar Program for middle school science teachers inspiring the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pioneers nationwide.
THE NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION Research institute
The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute is an independent organization accelerating cures and better treatments for patients through stem cell research. The NYSCF global community includes over 190 researchers at leading institutions worldwide, including NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellows, NYSCF – Robertson Investigators, NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Prize Recipients, and NYSCF Research Institute scientists and engineers. The NYSCF Research Institute is an acknowledged world leader in stem cell research and in developing pioneering stem cell technologies, including the NYSCF Global Stem Cell ArrayⓇ and in enabling large-scale stem cell research for scientists around the globe. NYSCF focuses on translational research in an accelerator model, designed to overcome the barriers that slow discovery and to replace silos with collaboration.
SPACE TANGO
Space Tango provides improved access to microgravity through their Open Orbit platform for bioengineering and manufacturing applications that benefit life on Earth. With their first operational TangoLab facility installed on the International Space Station in 2016, and a second facility installed in 2017, Space Tango has designed and flown nearly 80 diverse payloads. As a recognized leader in the development of fully automated, remote-controlled systems for research and manufacturing in orbit, Space Tango continues to provide expertise in technology and scientific consulting for industry and academic partners. Space Tango envisions a future where the next important breakthroughs in both technology and healthcare will occur off the planet, creating a new global market 250 miles up in low Earth orbit.
RESEARCHERS &
SPACEFLIGHT TEAM
Dr. Valentina Fossati
Co-PI
Senior Principal Investigator,
New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute
Dr. Fossati’s research focuses on modeling multiple sclerosis in vitro through iPSCs, with a particular interest in generating glia cells for studying their biology. She is an expert in oligodendrocyte differentiation and developed a fast and efficient differentiation protocol that was published in 2014 in Stem Cell Reports and is now used by many laboratories working on oligodendrocyte and myelination regeneration worldwide. Valentina leads the east coast team.
Dr. Jeanne Loring
Scientific Advisor
Professor Emeritus,
Scripps Research
Dr. Loring is Professor Emeritus and was Director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). Her lab’s primary focus was on the development of a clinical cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease using dopaminergic neurons derived from a patient’s induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). She is also a scientific advisor for the Rhino Rescue project at the San Diego Zoo, serves on the Merck KGaA bioethics advisory panel and has been cited more than 10,000 times in publications related to stem cells and genomics.
Jana Stoudemire
ISS Program Advisor
Director, In-Space Manufacturing
Axiom Space
Jana leads the creation of new market sectors for technology and biomedical applications in the expanding Space economy. She is currently focused on commercial innovation and improving life on earth through science in space. She identifies biomedical research projects that will fly on future missions to the ISS to advance a better understanding of the disease process and potential treatments for significant global health burdens including cancer and neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and metabolic disease - in addition to regenerative medicine initiatives. Jana is also defining the emerging market and new commercial enterprise of biomedical manufacturing in space.
Twyman Clements
Engineering Lead
Co-Founder, CEO and President,
Space Tango, Inc.
Space flight technology company Space Tango facilitates research and manufacturing in microgravity from design to implementation, expanding opportunities for biomedical and technology applications. Their clients are Fortune 500 companies, leading academic universities and research foundations. Space Tango has consistently excelled in providing efficient and cost-effective product development cycles and rapid delivery of configurable systems.