What is the latest in the world of stem cells & why are Californians on the cutting-edge? Over the 40 years since the discovery of the “stem cell”, there has been a growing appreciation of the depth and richness of its biological repertoire and its place in almost every human condition. By recognizing that they are part of fundamental developmental processes stem cells have become both potential mediators of therapy as well as tools for gaining insights into many aspects of human biology. In addition, our appreciation of the multiple mechanisms of therapeutic action of the stem cell itself has deepened. This growing knowledge of the multifaceted nature of stem cell action combined with a more sophisticated view of the true complexity of disease pathophysiology has forced us to constantly revise our therapeutic targets, our therapeutic goals, and our therapeutic read-outs. Join Dr. Evan Snyder of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Institute, as he discusses all of these topics which have been at the leading-edge of what he likes to call “translational developmental biology.”