Research Staff Spotlight: Kayla Stepanian
As soon as Kayla Stepanian saw the opening for a research assistant at CHLA, she knew she’d found the perfect match.
“I looked at the job description and I just saw ‘stem cells,’” she remembers. “I was like, ‘Sign me up!’ It was everything I could ever dream of to work on.”
Six years later, Kayla is still living that dream. Now a Research Specialist in the labs of David Cobrinik, MD, PhD, and Aaron Nagiel, MD, PhD, she leads the production of retinal organoids—miniature 3D structures that are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—to serve as retinal models in the lab.
She also supports a gene editing project for inherited retinal diseases. Kayla produces retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from patient-derived iPSCs, as well as the adeno-associated viruses that the team is using to deliver CRISPR gene editors that can correct the mutation in RPE cells.
“The science is fascinating,” she says. “I love being in an environment where I’m constantly learning, and I get to work with amazing people. It’s inspiring.”
Growing up, Kayla trained to become a professional ballet dancer, but she shifted to science after falling in love with chemistry in high school. Today, she no longer does ballet—but she’s still dancing.
“My husband and I have a disco ball in our living room,” she shares. “With one click, we just turn it on and have an impromptu dance party! It’s a pretty fun thing we like to do with our friends.”
