On November 16, 2023, Gladstone Institutes honored the 2023 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize winner, Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, PhD. Zernicka-Goetz received the award and gave a scientific lecture based on her recent projects and groundbreaking research.
A pioneering stem cell scientist, Zernicka-Goetz is celebrated for her work uncovering fundamental mechanisms that drive the development of mammalian embryos, which led to the creation of human embryo models that self-assemble from pluripotent stem cells in a dish. The 3D models, which develop brain structures and a beating heart, appeared in Nature’s list of “Seven technologies to watch in 2023.”
Zernicka-Goetz is a professor of mammalian development and stem cell biology in the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, as well as the Bren Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology.
The Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize recognizes individuals whose original translational research has advanced cellular reprogramming technology for regenerative medicine. The prize was established in 2015 through a generous gift from the Betty and Hiro Ogawa Family. It also recognizes the importance of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), discovered by Gladstone Senior Investigator and Nobel Laureate Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD. Chosen by a committee of peers, the awardee receives an unrestricted prize of $150,000 USD. The prize is supported by Gladstone and Cell Press.