Sarah Ur

Class of 2013

Education: Blended BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering at Cal Poly

 

Biography

Sarah was interested in working with stem cells for their large potential to further medical techniques and their ability to benefit people. Upon completion of the CIRM program, she hoped to apply the tools and knowledge she had acquired to either further pursue her education or to work in the regenerative medicine field. 

She worked under Dr. Stephanie Cherqui in the department of Pediatrics at UCSD. Dr. Cherqui's lab focused on gene therapy approaches, primarily through hematopoetic stem cell transplant, to cure cystinosis, an autosomal metabolic disease. Sarah's work focused on investigating two forms of the gene of interest to transfer, as well as preclinical work involving the safety of the viral vector to be used in an autologous transplant. Her research was published in an issue of Stem Cells in January 2015.

After graduating, Sarah obtained a position as a Research Associate at the Unviersity of California, San Diego, in the laboratory of Dr. Stephanie Cherqui.