SSCI @ SXSW
At the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI), we catalyze critical regenerative medicine research discoveries made on Earth and in outer space, developing them into novel therapeutics for the patients who need them most. We’ve been thrilled to share our work with the masses at SXSW since 2023. An international conference and film/music festival held in Austin, Texas, each spring, SXSW gathers hundreds of thousands of professionals from all walks of life for cross-industry collaboration.
Read more about our current and past presentations below.
We invite connections for industry partnerships and philanthropic opportunities:
- Industry Partnerships: Patrick Chang at patrickchang@health.ucsd.edu
- Philanthropic & Advancement Opportunities: Nick Knote-Macias at nkmacias@ucsd.edu
2026 Education Sessions
From Neanderthal DNA to the Dark Genome: Diversity Explained
What sets modern humans apart from our cave-dwelling ancestors? The answer: genetic variations that may have hindered Neanderthals from advancing socially and technologically. That's according to Alysson Muotri, PhD, whose work creating brain organoids from stem cells, and studying them on Earth and in space, is shedding light on the factors that make present-day people unique — and especially susceptible to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and autism. Plus how the “dark genome” might shape personality, and why it all matters for the future of human aging, medicine and the colonization of Mars.
Bespoke: How AI is Ushering in the Era of Precision Genetics
The pioneering base-editing method of Alexis Komor, PhD, was recently used to create a custom therapy for an infant with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1, a deadly rare disease. Her colleague, Gene Yeo, PhD, favors another new approach: RNA precision therapeutics, which he uses to target ALS. Both employ AI to discover the roots of polygenic diseases — from the ultra-common like diabetes and heart disease to the ultra-rare — and decode the “dark genome.” More on the promise the technology holds for the future of personalized treatment.
2025 Education Session
Reconstructing the Human Brain in the Lab
What makes us uniquely human? Our sophisticated brains set us apart from all other species, but we know little about how they actually develop and work. Growing brain organoids in the lab is one way to learn more about how our brains form and how synapses are developed. Dr. Alysson Muotri from UC San Diego’s Sanford Stem Cell Institute explores how scientists generate brain organoids from stem cells and use them to study diseases, consciousness, and even brain evolution, and how brain-organoid research aboard the International Space Station is teaching us about aging and possibly one day living on other planets.
Want to Achieve Health Equity? Democratize Health Data
Four experts in the field of healthcare, disease research, and health-policy management discuss how democratizing health data could improve treatment of various diseases by consolidating information. Allowing patients to own their own health records could allow them to be champions of their own personalized treatment. But what is the cost of deprivatizing such records? Panelists look at the issues of data siloing, the role of AI in health data, and the risks and benefits when privacy safeguards are removed. Panelists: Bruce Y. Lee, Professor, Health Policy Management, University of NY, Catriona Jamieson, UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute, Brian Gull, NeoGenomics, and Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute.
Guardians of Youth: Stem Cells & Human Longevity
Are stem cells a veritable fountain of youth? Do they hold the key not only to radiant appearance, but to increased life- & health-span? University of California San Diego stem cell biologist Rob Signer, Ph.D., will outline an intriguing new research paradigm — one in which the focus shifts away from targeting singular disorders like cancer & Alzheimer's, toward addressing a common cause. "The No. 1 risk factor for these conditions is aging," Signer says. "If we can understand & target mechanisms of aging, we should be able to prevent multiple diseases & improve personal & population health."
NASA and the Next Frontier in the Battle Against Cancer
Research on the International Space Station has already led to drug and therapy breakthroughs for cancer patients on Earth, with more advancements ahead. NASA is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and researchers across the federal government to help cut the nation’s cancer death rate by at least 50% in the next 25 years. Join NASA; Sanford Stem Cell Institute Director Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D.; and industry leaders to discuss the transformative potential of space for cancer research, as well as how you can get involved.
2023 Education Sessions
One of the most influential characteristics of modern humans is our sophisticated social brains. But how can we ethically study the human condition in situations where the social aspect is impacted? Previous studies on post-mortem tissue samples are being phased out in favor of a futuristic new method — the brain in a dish. Learn how one researcher has pioneered a scientific method to grow brain organoids in a petri dish that spontaneously generate complex brain waves, and how the ISS plays a critical role in the study of autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's and astronaut health.