From Undergraduate to Hero: Solano Student’s Life-Saving Bone Marrow Match Begins with One Swab

[Link]^{SCC student and CIRM trainee Jose Solorio donated bone marrow to save an 11-year-old patient's life in New York.}

In a remarkable display of compassion and scientific collaboration, Solano Community College (SCC) student Jose Solorio, a scholar in the college's biomanufacturing bachelor's program, has become a real-life hero. Through Solano's partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP, formerly "Be the Match"), Solorio's bone marrow donation was a match for an 11-year-old child in New York, potentially saving the child's life.

[Link]^{Photo Courtesyof the Stanford GMP Facility: Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine⏤Jose Solorio in the lab}

Jose, who is also a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) trainee, was completing his summer internship at Stanford's prestigious Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine when he was notified that he was a match. His donation involved a journey to New York, where bone marrow stem cells were extracted from his hip and used to treat the young patient.

Reflecting on his involvement, Jose said, "I've always had the passion to help others in some way or another and I finally found a way where I can do that. My mother, who has been dealing with many health problems, has been a huge influence in helping me pursue this career. I hope that one day I can return the favor."

[Link]^{Photo Courtesy of Jose Solorio⏤ Jose proudly wearing his NMDP "I'm a Donor" tee shirt}

As part of the $2.9 million CIRM COMPASS grant, which provides funding for students to engage in hands-on research and community outreach to educate the public on stem cells and regenerative medicine, Solano Community College partnered with NMDP to hold three recruitment drives on campus. These drives, led by Solano Community College's local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK), Beta Mu Gamma, signed up approximately 70 students each time. Due to the college's diversity, Solano's contributions to the registry are particularly valuable, addressing the underrepresentation of diverse samples in the bone marrow registry.

Jose's commitment to helping others extends beyond this donation. His academic journey is equally inspiring. Jose started the biomanufacturing bachelor's program in Fall 2023 with the goal of advancing treatments for currently untreatable diseases using stem cells and CAR-T cell therapy. His career aspirations are deeply personal. "My family came from Mexico looking for work in the U.S., and they struggled. Despite financial difficulties, my parents always supported me and my brothers. My education is not only a personal goal but a way to give back to my family," Jose shared in his application essay.

Jose's educational and extracurricular accomplishments further highlight his drive. He is part of Solano's Blue Genes team, which recently became a finalist in the national Department of Energy Algae Prize competition. As Treasurer for the team, Jose continues to showcase his leadership and commitment to advancing biotechnological innovation.

As he looks to the future, Jose plans to pursue a master's degree in biomedical engineering, with the confidence gained from his experiences both in the classroom and through real-world impacts like his bone marrow donation.

Solano Community College, CIRM, and NMDP are proud of Jose's incredible achievement and the ongoing work of students, faculty, and staff to make a positive impact on the world.

Looking to make a difference in someone's life?
Solano Community College Fairfield Campus on October 17, 2024, from 10 am - 2 pm will be hosting a donation drive. Swabbing for the bone marrow drive will take place in the lobby of Building 1400, and blood donations will occur in the same building in the back of the cafeteria.

This was a joint feature story with Solano Community College, the National Marrow Donor Program, and CIRM.

About Solano Community College
Solano Community College (SCC) has served Solano County and the city of Winters since 1945 when it was founded as Vallejo Junior College. In the early 1970s, SCC moved to its present Fairfield site and serves nearly 10,000 students throughout the academic year. In addition to the main campus in Fairfield, SCC offers general education classes and the bachelor's degree in Biomanufacturing at the Vacaville Center. The Vallejo Center offers general education classes and the degree completion program with Sonoma State. The Automotive Technology building is located one block above the Vallejo Center. SCC also offers courses at Travis Air Force Base and hosts an Aeronautics program at the Nut Tree Airport.

Solano Community College offers associate degrees and certificates, and transferable courses to California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses. SCC also offers a variety of career and technical education classes, programs, and certifications and is one of fifteen California community colleges to offer a bachelor's degree.

To learn more about Solano Community College's Bachelor of Biotechnology program, visit welcome.solano.edu/biomanufacturing/.

About NMDP
At NMDP, we believe each of us holds the key to curing blood cancers and disorders. As a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy, NMDP creates essential connections between researchers and supporters to inspire action and accelerate innovation to find life-saving cures. With the help of blood stem cell donors from the world's most diverse registry and our extensive network of transplant partners, physicians, and caregivers, we're expanding access to treatment so that every patient can receive their life-saving cell therapy. NMDP. Find cures. Save lives.

About the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

At CIRM, we never forget that we were created by the people of California to accelerate stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs, and act with a sense of urgency to succeed in that mission. To meet this challenge, our team of highly trained and experienced professionals actively partners with both academia and industry in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment to fast track the development of today's most promising stem cell technologies.

With $5.5 billion in funding and more than 150 active stem cell programs in our portfolio, CIRM is one of the world's largest institutions dedicated to helping people by bringing the future of cellular medicine closer to reality.

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