Biotechnology at CCSF - Gigi Gunn-Graffy

Gigi Gunn-Graffy

Gigi received a Bachelor of Science in advertising from Suffolk University in Boston. From San Francisco originally, she returned to the Bay Area to continue her career in marketing.

“While I did work in marketing and advertising with my degree for some time, I didn’t find the work particularly challenging or rewarding, and I really wanted to get back into the medical field as I started out my undergraduate career as a biology major but switched to advertising my sophomore year.

Prior to joining CCSF’s Biotech program, I was working as a medical assistant in an OB/GYN office and I was starting to take pre-nursing classes at CCSF, which is when I learned about the program and decided to try it out for a semester.

Upon starting the program, I was mostly concerned that my one year background in college-level science would not be enough for me to successfully complete these courses. Thankfully my professors were very encouraging and accessible, building up my confidence in my work and creating an enjoyable learning environment in the lab. I quickly realized that this was the branch of science where I felt the most comfortable, and I really wanted to continue a career in the field.”

Gigi is interested in carrying on with work in blood systems research. She is also considering continuing her education with a focus on genetics.

Gigi Gunn-Graffy - Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Reduced Concentrations Still Effective for Cryopreservation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

CIRM Intern: Gigi Gunn-Graffy

Stem Cell Internship: Muench Lab, Vitalant Research Institute

Project Title: Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Reduced Concentrations Still Effective for Cryopreservation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Abstract: Cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used but not without concerns, such as DMSO toxicity in transplant patients. Both in vitro and clinical studies have explored the reduction of DMSO concentration, though none directly measure the effect on hematopoietic stem cells. This study examined cryopreservation of human bone marrow using 10%, 7.5%, and 5% DMSO concentrations. Cell counting, flow cytometry, colony assays used to analyze different cell populations. Extreme limiting dilution analysis (ELDA) was used to quantify the recovery of stem cells for long-term multi-lineage engraftment in immunodeficient mice. Different hematopoietic cells were equally as well preserved using 5% and 7.5% DMSO as with 10%.

Gigi collecting tissue for RNA analysis.

Gigi adds reagents in a master mix for PCR

Google Sites

Report abuse

Gigi Gunn-Graffy

Request more info on the CCSF Biotech program