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MADIA Tech Report – Oct. 3
Business Oct 03, 2019
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By Brenda J. Trainor
“We offer a course to kindergarten kids to learn to grow stem cells,” explained Dr. Victoria Fox at a recent meeting of MADIA Tech Launch, during the organization’s monthly gathering of people interested in this area’s technology businesses.
Dr. Fox is the president and co-founder of Pathways to Stem Cell Science, a non-profit education and research company established in Monrovia. Its mission is to “support the advancement of stem cell science and create real-world pathways to bioscience careers.”
Both aneducator and practicing research scientist, Fox is clearly passionate about hercommitment to innovative education strategies and to the advancement of stemcell science. Her presentation to MADIA Tech Launch could be described asAdventures in Stem Cell Science, as she explained her path to becoming aneducator, research scientist, and founder of a non-profit organization.
Raised inGreat Britain where she obtained her PhD, Fox went on to become an assistantprofessor of research at the University of Southern California andwas the director of the USC Stem Cell Core Facility where she createda hands-on training program to bring practical skills tobioscientists not only in academia, but to professional practitioners and evento high school students. She also served as the vice-chair of USC’sEmbryonic Stem Cell Research Committee overseeing scientific and ethical meritsof stem cell research.
Fox is currently the CEO of PluriCORE, a stem cell consultation company, and she is a faculty course instructor at California State University-Channel Islands. But it is clear that her heart lies with the development of Pathways to Stem Cell Science. Pathways was nurtured at Lab Launch, a technology incubator located in Monrovia that is home to numerous startup biotech companies. The 11,000 square-foot facility provides office and meeting space as well as wet-lab facilities and access to shared equipment that would be cost-prohibitive for more start-ups.
With a firmlyheld belief that current educational systems donot adequately prepare students for bioscience careers, Foxset out to create strategies that prepare students for real-worldopportunities. Hands-on experience in a laboratory setting gives studentsa way to develop skills and practical knowledge which can be developed at theearliest stages of education. Pathways has developed a fullrange of courses and curriculum that starts with pre-kindergarten experiencesand progresses through high school, college, graduate programs, andprofessional development. Among their many innovations is a mobilelaboratory that can be brought in to elementary schools where kids can growstem cells. The organization is working towards establishing a permanentfacility in Torrance, and is supported by sponsors, grants, and ongoingresearch activities.
Pathways is one of dozens of innovative technology companies that have been spotlighted at MADIA Tech Launch meetings. MADIA, an acronym of Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa, is a local non-profit educational organization that supports the regional technology community of the San Gabriel Valley with a variety of networking events. MADIA provides opportunities for entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, students and just plain folks to chat over dinner or drinks and learn about the advanced technology businesses thriving in this area. Reservations for future meetings can be made through the MADIA website: www.MADIAtech.org.
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