CHELSEA-BRIGANTI_HYPOTHESIS AND NEXT STEPS

POST-LEN MAYER

Hypothesis: Within the field of Stem Cell Science, the utilization of design methods and smart materials can enable increased efficiency during laboratory experimentation, while also serving to engage the public on the benefits of this exciting field.

What: The convergence of Product Design and Stem Cell Science

Why: Interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving are integral if we are to move this field forward.

Who: Susan L. Solomon, CEO, New York Stem Cell Foundation

Paul Goldberg, Joseph Urban Professor of Design at Parsons, Husband of Susan Solomon

Clifford Woolf, PhD, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Neuroscientist

Lee Rubin, PhD, Director of Translational Medicine at the Harvard University Stem Cell Institute

Kevin C. Eggan, NYSCF, Harvard Stem Cell Institute

Dan Littman, MD, PhD, NYU School of Medicine

Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, PhD, Colombia University, Director Tissue Engineering

Scott Noggle, PhD, Head of Laboratories, New York Stem Cell Foundation

Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey at Rutgers

The New York Academy of Sciences

The New York City BioScience Initiative

The New York Biotechnology Association

Paola Antonelli, curator MOMA, "Design and the Elastic Mind"

Individuals who have undergone a stem cell transplantation

Individuals who are AGAINST stem cell science/PRO stem cell science

When: I have been emailing all of scientists listed above and have received some interesting feedback. Some of them see no connection between science and design, a few want to know more about what I am trying to achieve, and one in particular, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic wants to meet with me as soon as possible. I have a meeting with her on Tuesday. She already uses smart materials in her experiments, which is really exciting.

Where: There is a high concentration of institutions, companies and foundations located in nyc that are all involved in Stem Cell Research. Later on, I may want to visit the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Boston and the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey.

How: I plan to test my hypothesis by interviewing stem cell scientists, Lab techs, and lay people who might be affected by stem cell research/science. I also plan to visit the stem cell laboratories at various institutions in order to engage in the observation of systems, tools and experiments being employed within these various environments. In addition, I need to visit a BioTechnology company to see what tools/machines are being manufactured to further the field.