Hi esmith1, yes I’ve had a few breakthroughs…
I discovered a new way of imaging complex bioreactors (cell growth chambers) so we can track medium and cells inside them (see glowing bioreactor pic on my profile!).
I have also been the first to use a method of experiment design called Response Surface Methodology on stem cells / regenerative therapies – technical term but really means we can look at lots of different experimental factors in one go (rather than changing one factor at a time which is the traditional scientific way)
I have also discovered a new way of measuring stem cells when they are defrosted (we store cells by freezing them – this is called cryopreservation) – previously we didn’t know whether we had a good or bad defrost until days later but with my method we can tell within 1 hour. For some stem cells this is really important because they don’t like being frozen, having more information and better measurements around freezing can help us perform better experiments to make the process of freezing better.
Some of these discoveries I did myself but for a lot of discoveries we have help from other scientists around us as it takes a lot of work. As Zach says we use these new discoveries to be able to find out even more than we knew before, in my work we also use them to help companies and researchers who are developing new medicines
Breakthroughs are when you find out something really important and interesting. It’s like breaking through a wall that is keeping you from knowing what’s going on!
Comments
rosieroo223 commented on :
what are breakthroughs ?
Zach commented on :
Breakthroughs are when you find out something really important and interesting. It’s like breaking through a wall that is keeping you from knowing what’s going on!