Support Us
Support Us

Cell Therapy

Cell Therapy Core

The Cell Therapy core provides cell and tissue isolation, characterization, and culture services. Primary expertise is with blood cells, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, endothelial, hepatocytic, and pluripotent stem cell cultures. The core also provides in vivo modeling to study cell transplantation, transfusion, and infectious diseases.

Marcus

Marcus Muench, Ph.D.

Cell Therapy Core Director, Senior Scientist

Marcus O. Muench, Ph.D., is a senior scientist at Vitalant Research Institute and an associate adjunct professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Muench received his A.S. degree from the College of Marin and B.S. degree from the University of California Davis. He earned his Ph.D. from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences working in the Laboratory of Developmental Hematopoiesis at the Sloan-Kettering Institute. Dr. Muench received post-doctoral training in the Human Immunology Department at DNAX Research Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology before joining the faculty of the Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF.

Publications

National Library of Medicine Biography

Core Team Members

  • Sumedha Kumari
    Reseaech Associate I
  • Photo of Alvin Hui
    Alvin Hui
    Research Associate II
  • Photo of Shaghayegh (Shay) Basatvat
    Shaghayegh (Shay) Basatvat
    Staff Scientist I
  • Photo of Guadalupe (Lupita) Rivera Torruco
    Guadalupe (Lupita) Rivera Torruco
    Post Doctoral Fellow

Research Interest

The focus of the Muench laboratory is on cellular therapies, transfusion and models of infectious disease.  Current projects focus on the use of stem cells for the treatment of blood and other disorders, in vivo modeling of transfusion and in vivo modeling of various infectious diseases.  The laboratory has a strong interest in developmental stem cell biology with a focus on understanding the development of the liver and blood-forming tissues.  We also work closely with many of the investigators at VRI using in vitro and in vivo models to study various viral and parasitic diseases with the goal of developing methods of preventing infection or new therapies.

Steam Cells and Cellular Therapy
Modeling of Transfusion
Modeling Infectious Disease
Collaborate with Us
We believe in the power of partnership. Whether you are a prospective student, a fellow researcher, or an industry leader, we invite you to connect with us to explore opportunities for collaboration.