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Don Sakaguchi, Morrill Professor of genetics, development and cell biology, was selected by Dean Schmittmann to deliver the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Dean’s Lecture on March 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The lecture, “Stem Cells and Bioengineering for Brain Repair Strategies,” will be available virtually.

In our nervous system, the death of neurons is often a devastating consequence of neurodegenerative diseases or severe injury. A significant problem with developing useful therapies for treating neural disorders is developing effective methods that prevent further loss of nerve cells and facilitate recovery of function. As such, repair strategies often must comprise a multi-factorial approach addressing several issues, including optimization of survival and function of remaining neural tissue, the modulation of trophic influences to promote repair, and perhaps possible replacement of lost cells.

In his presentation, Sakaguchi will discuss his highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research program that merges stem cell biology and bioengineering to develop experimental brain and tissue repair strategies. When combined, these enabling technologies can contribute to the development of novel therapeutic interventions with biomedical applications. His laboratory’s educational goal is to effectively integrate research with educational activities and train undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in interdisciplinary studies to produce next-generation biologists and bioengineers.

The LAS Distinguished Dean’s Lecture highlights faculty excellence in learning, discovery, and engagement. Each semester, the dean invites LAS faculty of distinction to present lectures from their own areas of expertise on topics of interest to the general public, designed to stimulate high-quality, intellectual discussion among faculty, staff, students, and community members.

Following the lecture will be a live Q&A session with Sakaguchi.