USF Trustee Connects Biotechnology Master’s Students with Exclusive Career Exploration Opportunity

To the casual reader, it might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but USF’s Master in Biotechnology students recently visited a lab that is able to grow the different chambers of a human heart.

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For USF biotechnology students, this unique opportunity was possible thanks to the university’s location in the center of San Francisco and the thoughtfulness of a caring trustee. The Bay Area is the beating heart of global biotechnology research, with over 200 companies pushing the boundaries of modern medicine, and Gladstone is leading that industry with research on stem cells, gene editing, cancer, neuroscience, and more.

The connection between USF and Gladstone was made by Board of Trustees member Carry Thacher, who supports both organizations. Thacher's notable contributions to USF include supporting the endowment of the Mary and Carter Thacher Gallery on campus, created by Mary and Carter Thacher in 1998. In addition, Thacher and her husband, John, are supporting the space currently referred to as the Health & Life Sciences Campus, furthering their commitment to USF. The building, formerly known as the Blood Centers of the Pacific, will house future biotechnology programming among its sweeping interdisciplinary impacts.

“I’m thrilled to see this coming together of two organizations that I support and believe in,” said Thacher. “Gladstone Institutes is changing the face of medicine, and the USF Master in Biotechnology program is educating the next generation of scientists that will enter this industry’s workforce and continue pushing it forward.”

Gladstone Institutes is changing the face of medicine, and the USF Master in Biotechnology program is educating the next generation of scientists that will enter this industry’s workforce and continue pushing it forward.”

Gifts to programming and facilities at USF have a direct impact on students’ ability to capitalize on opportunities like visiting the Gladstone Institute.

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The visit helped USF students learn more about industry-altering scientific breakthroughs that are happening right in USF’s backyard. Benoit Bruneau, PhD, director, Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, began the afternoon by speaking to an auditorium of 30-plus USF students and faculty, sharing a pair of Gladstone investigators' most notable accomplishments:

Gladstone senior investigator and Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, discovered induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in 2006, and won a Nobel Prize for the discovery in 2012. Jennifer Doudna, PhD, Gladstone senior investigator and Nobel laureate, discovered CRISPR-Cas high-precision molecular gene editing in 2012, and shared a Nobel Prize for the discovery in 2020.

Bruneau described ongoing research conducted by Gladstone’s departments in cardiovascular disease, data science and biotechnology, genomic immunology, neurological disease, and virology. He shared that Gladstone is especially known for its work in molecular immunology — harnessing the power of the immune system to target various cells and diseases, particularly cancer cells — and for using AI to make new discoveries.

Bruneau shared the stage with Stephen Freedman, PhD, Gladstone vice president, corporate liaison and ventures, who shared invaluable internship and job placement advice with the USF students. Freedman fielded questions from the group and discussed what it’s like to work in the biomedical field, the advantages of working for private and academic institutions, and the industry roles that each fulfill.

"We were delighted to provide USF students with the opportunity to visit Gladstone, tour our labs, and talk with our scientists,” said Chris Nicholson, director of philanthropy at Gladstone. “Hopefully one or more individuals will be inspired to pursue careers, either in academia or industry, which will lead to breakthroughs."

Thanks to Gladstone opening its doors, the visiting USF students were engaged and energized by glimpses into groundbreaking research, cures, and treatments that have the potential to change medicine as we know it today. Students expressed their gratitude to Carry Thacher and Gladstone Institutes for the incredible experience.

Learn more about how you can support the Professional Science Master’s in Biotechnology and your favorite programs at USF.