1. STUDENT SOCIETY
FOR STEM CELL
RESEARCH
An international network dedicated to the advancement of
scientific research for cures

2. SSSCR is guided by the following principles:
Communication with the public is vital to fostering greater
understanding and acceptance of emerging medical
technologies of the 21st century.
We have the opportunity to be of service to humanity by
helping those with debilitating conditions, their family, and
their friends by advancing medical research.
The infrastructure for resources to support medical research
should be enhanced, including the attraction of human talent
and the allocation of government funds.

3. SSSCR’s ideals are:
Humanity: commitment to making this world better by alleviating
human suffering.
Unity: stem cell research will be optimized with global cooperation
among nations and diverse interests, including industry, academic,
government, and society.
Service: we have the opportunity to help those with debilitating
conditions, their family, and their friends by advancing medical
research.
Vision: our generation’s passion and ambition for regenerative
medicine is unparalleled.
Healing: stem cell research offers hope for millions of people that
otherwise would have none.

4. — A diverse global network
— SSSCR spans over 10 countries, 25 U.S, states and
100 institutions
— 3500+ members
— Consisting of students, researchers, patient
advocates, and policy makers united by the
purpose of finding treatments and cures to
debilitating conditions.
— We believe that we can make a difference
— Our message is simple, yet powerful
— Empower our generation to fulfill the hope and
promise of regenerative medicine through stem
cell research in order to alleviate human suffering.

5. FOUNDER:
Marion “Joe” Riggs
DEGREE
UNIVERSITY
Mathematics, B.S.
University of South Florida
Bioinformatics, M.S.
University of South Florida
Integrative Life Sciences, Ph.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Post- doc (current)
Harvard Medical School| Center for Biomedical Informatics
SSSCR started with a vision to connect students globally in order to promote a cooperative effort for
advancing scientific research for cures. Founded in 2003 at the University of South Florida during the
height of the “Stem Cell Wars” and born from this period of political strife and uncertainty, the spirit
of the pro-cures movement is instilled in our society’s endeavors.
In 2006, SSSCR was awarded the National Grassroots Advocacy Award by the Genetics Policy
Institute. SSSCR has been in the media 58 times including TV, radio, and print. Since 2007, SSSCR
chapters have implemented the CIRM sponsored California state-wide Stem Cell Education and
Outreach Program (SCEOP), delivering over 100 high school presentations on the science, ethics, and
policy of stem cell research. In 2013, the Berkeley chapter of SSSCR launched the annual Berkeley
Stem Cell Conference.
SSSCR aims to enhance student education and career opportunities while fostering a social
conscience based on the humanitarian cause underlying the field. The connection to the cause is not
achieved in the classroom and lab alone, but is generated by interacting with patients and being a
member of the pro-cures community aiming to fulfill the mandate for cures.
Contact: mjriggs@ssscr.org
Joe enjoys hearing what SSSCR members & chapters are doing and likes to be updated.
The National Executive Team

6. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR:
Laurel Barchas
UC Berkeley
Integrated Biology, B.S., M.S.
At UC Berkeley, Laurel’s research focused on the role of p21, a cell-cycle-regulatory protein,
in the suppression of adult hippocampal neural progenitor cell division during and after
stress hormone exposure. Laurel was a founding member of the second SSSCR chapter in
2004. Proposition 71 was on the ballot and a small group of students and community
members came together to campaign on the Berkeley campus. After the prop's passage
and the creation of CIRM, the Berkeley chapter began spreading awareness of the
scientific, political, and ethical climate. Laurel started a course featuring experts who gave
in-depth perspectives. Students who took the course later became teachers, allowing for its
continuance under a skilled group of SSSCR members.
Realizing an opportunity for community outreach, Laurel and the team created
presentations for high school students and delivered them in California classrooms. This
pilot program became the basis of a partnership between CIRM and SSSCR-Berkeley.
Together, we created a robust, modular high school stem cell curriculum and an education
portal featured on CIRM's website.
Most recently, Laurel created new units that align to the national Next Generation Science
Standards, adopted by the State of California in September 2013. She has written teacher
guides about the NGSS for an online educational resource company called Shmoop
University. Currently, Laurel is working as a technical and marketing writer at a Silicon Valley
company called Clontech Laboratories, Inc. She hopes to continue her writing career
alongside her leadership in SSSCR so that more students can engage with stem cell
research and regenerative medicine.
Contact: labarchas@gmail.com
The National Executive Team

7. OUTREACH DIRECTOR:
Aradhana Verma
UC Berkeley, Class of 2015
Cognitive Sciences, B.A.
Aradhana’s journey with SSSCR began when she first started her
undergraduate study at UC Berkeley. Aradhana quickly got active in SSSCR
and by her second year, was the President of the UC Berkeley chapter. As
President, Aradhana spearheaded the first stem cell conference co-hosted
by SSSCR and UC Berkeley Stem Cell Center, and focused on chapter
expansion. Afterwards, Aradhana became a part of the National Executive
Board of SSSCR as the Outreach Director. She continues to channel her
passion for building a stem cell community within all fields of stem cell
research by creating, expanding, and maintaining SSSCR branches all over.
In addition to SSSCR, Aradhana has worked at the Schaffer lab at UC
Berkeley for 2 years in neural stem cell and regenerative medicine related
projects. She was the head facilitator of a UC Berkeley undergraduate
DeCal, “Stem Cells: Science and Society,” a course that explores pressing
stem cell topics in recent science literature and news media. As she
approaches graduation, she will begin applying to medical school. She
envisions stem cell research as being the future of medicine’s battlefield,
and sees herself playing an active role within the field along with a career in
medicine. If this marriage between clinical research and medicine sounds
interesting to you, talk to her about it! She loves discussing about this, and
would love to hear the thoughts about this from SSSCR members!
Contact: aradhana@ssscr.org
For all outreach questions, establishment or development of SSSCR
branches, help and guidance for chapter events
World Stem Cell Summit
West Palm Beach, FL
Dec 2012
The National Executive Team
“Scientists, patients, and students
alike – let’s come together and
culture this stem cell community”

8. SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR:
Mansee Desai
UC Berkeley Class of ‘14
B.A. Integrative Biology
Global Poverty and Practice Minor
Mansee first joined the Berkeley SSSCR chapter as a sophomore. She
immediately took an active role by engaging in educational outreach both on
college and high school campuses as well as the larger San Francisco Bay Area
community. After having directed the club’s member recruitment and outreach
efforts, Mansee was elected President during her senior year. She increased
SSSCR’s visibility on campus and strengthened its member base by fostering
creative activities to learn about stem cells, organizing professional
development workshops and using social media outlets to connect with
different stakeholders of the stem cell field. The vision of UC Berkeley’s first
undergraduate led stem cell conference, Culturing a Stem Cell Community, was
brought to fruition under her leadership and the event garnered national
attention with its 200+ attendees, renowned speaker line-up and poster
presentations.
After graduation, Mansee is thrilled to continue her association with SSSCR as a
member of the National SSSCR Executive Team. As the Special Projects
Coordinator, she helps facilitate an open avenue of communication between
SSSCR-International and its chapters during the event planning process. In an
effort to forge new partnerships and alliances with the surrounding thriving
scientific community, she is also helping in launching SSSCR’s sponsorship
program which will allow companies and organizations to support student-led
stem cell advocacy.
Contact: mansee@ssscr.org
For event sponsorships, Educational content for chapter meetings, Event
planning coordination with SSSCR-International
The National Executive Team

9. CHAPTER POLICY
- Never should a chapter (or a chapter member acting in the
capacity of SSSCR) endorse or state support for a political
party or particular candidate. We can only state their prior
voting record or their position on stem cell research.
- The SSSCR logo is not to be altered in any manner.
- All chapter activities and media relations must be in
accordance with the SSSCR mission and position statements.
- Chapter events, community service, and publications are
to be recorded and submitted to SSSCR- International,
info@ssscr.org. We urge any and all members to send us
emails, updates, social media posts about your
participation or new insights regarding stem cells.

10. CHAPTER POLICY
- Human embryonic and adult stem cell research are both promising
and provides hope for the patient. Both have their strengths and
challenges. We are never to state that one is better than the other.
Our message is one of hope, for those who are suffering with
disease and disability. The ultimate goal of stem cell research is
cures. Thus, SSSCR supports all forms of stem cell research that are
being pursued ethically so that the fastest paths toward cures are
reached. Restrictions on embryonic stem cell research obstruct the
moral imperative to heal the sick.
- SSSCR is equipped to provide you with programming and
planning and training in media communications and campus,
community, legislator education.
- SSSCR has years of experience in delivering the Pro-Cures message.
You are encouraged to take advantage of our experience, utilize the
SSSCR materials, and apply our language.

11. JOIN US!
… and become an advocate for life
Sign up as a member and
for our list serve
http://www.ssscr.org/main/
join_now.
Join our facebook group
https://
www.facebook.com/
groups/2212677943/
General email
info@ssscr.org.

12. “It is very tempting to give up,
yet we have to find the will to
keep going. But even when we
discover what motivates us, we
realize that we can’t go the
distance alone.”
- Christopher Reeve
Thank you!
Any questions?