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Rachael Mooney
 Rachael Mooney
Rachael Mooney is fascinated with the subjects of stem cell biology and tissue engineering. Her PhD research aims to help improve cell transplantation therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease by increasing the survival and function of the transplanted cells. Her research also aims to identify tissue culture conditions that can effectively control the stem cells that will be needed for this therapy to be available on a large-scale basis. She is excited to guide your students through fun, hands-on experiments that will demonstrate both the amazing potential of stem cells to regenerate new tissue and how tissue engineers manipulate the cellular environment to control the function of these incredible cells.
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Special Presentations:
Fountain of Youth? Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration
Stem cells may hold the key for curing devastating diseases and unlocking the secrets of regeneration. In this lab, students will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on experiment to explore tissue regeneration in planaria, a flatworm that is able to regenerate most of its body, even when cut into 100 pieces! They will observe and quantify the amount of regeneration that occurs over the course of three days using pre-made samples, and will even have the opportunity to set up a regeneration experiment of their own! This lab is offered only on Mondays or Tuesdays so students can observe the regeneration of the planaria throughout the remainder of the week. This lab is designed to help your students grasp the power contained within stem cells. (Grades 6-12)
The Bionic Human: Polymers and Tissue Engineering
Prosthetic legs have been around for a long time, but only recently have scientists started to engineer artificial living tissues, such as eye, heart, and brain! Living tissues can be 'engineered' by growing cells within carefully designed scaffolds, which are three-dimensional Jello-like structures made out of polymer. In this lab, students will learn about the polymers that tissue engineers use to create scaffolds, and how scaffolds with different properties are needed to grow different types of tissue. They will also have the opportunity to synthesize their own polymer scaffolds that mimic some essential properties of skin and bone. In doing so, students will gain an understanding of the logical process that tissue engineers use to develop useful scaffolds, providing an opportunity for students to see how scientists use scientific method in their work. (Grades 6-12)
Rachael is a graduate student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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