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Microvesicles are small molecules that play a role in
intercellular communication and assist in transferring
mRNA or proteins between cells. Professor Redenti
aims to understand the genetic signaling between
transplanted stem cells and the retina in his three-year,
$480,000 NIGMS grant,
Microvesicle Genetic Signaling
Between Stem Cells, Retinal Neurons and Glia.
The
overall goal of the project is to understand how to
improve the success rate of stem cell transplantation
into the eye. By understanding the communication
between stem cells and the retina, he hopes to improve
the outcome. “Once we understand the communica-
tion, we can improve that communication to rebuild
damaged retinas and restore vision.”
Professor Wyner’s three-year, $652,000 NSF grant,
Ecology Disrupted: Using Real Scientific Data About
Daily Life to Link Environmental Issues to Ecological
Processes in Secondary School Science
helps chil-
dren understand the connection between ecological
functions and their own daily lives. She focuses on
developing curricular models that use the ecology
disrupted approach and implements these models in
NYC classrooms to determine how they impact student
learning. Two groups of students from 20 schools
were studied using pre- and post-tests comprised of
questions related to ecological issues. Gains in the
treatment group showed to be greater when compared
to the gains in the control group. The curriculum will
eventually be available online for other teachers to uti-
lize. “I like thinking about how to make ecology more
meaningful for the children and for the teachers who
teach that subject.”
Yael Wyner,
Assistant Professor, School of Education
City College
Stephen Redenti,
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Lehman College