Next-Generation Research

STUDENTS | The biennial Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Diseases Conference has served as a powerful platform for scientific discovery and collaboration since its inception in 2005, led by Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Larner College of Medicine. This gathering of the world's leading regenerative medicine researchers brings together distinguished experts from academic research institutions worldwide, converging with junior investigators, fellows, and graduate students to share knowledge, exchange insights, and push the boundaries of lung biology and disease research.

This summer, amid the esteemed experts and accomplished researchers, Vermont high school students were also granted unprecedented access to laboratories and activities designed to ignite their passion for science and inspire the next generation of stem cell researchers. During tours and demonstrations, the students observed investigators performing state-of-the-art techniques for examining lung function, including using a flexivent—a device that measures respiratory biomechanics—and applying organoids—tiny, three-dimensional tissue cultures derived from stem cells—to investigate diseases.

Henry Nasse, a senior at Essex High School, enjoyed the opportunity to explore and learn more about this cutting-edge field. Nasse recounted a prior experience in a UVM microbiology lab, where he saw a machine designed to isolate stem cells. That experience sparked Nasse’s curiosity about regenerative medicine. Along with his penchant for building robots, Nasse realized that stem cells, the fundamental building blocks of the human body, resonated profoundly with him.

“Research is an avenue to understanding,” Nasse said. “The more we learn, the greater our ability to make a positive change in the world.”