The Wells Lab of UCLA

The first (of hopefully many) reports to come from our collaboration with @hjp.bsky.social We present a new type of cell fitness assay that allows you to both quantify and explain differences across human donors in cell proliferation and sensitivity to environmental toxicants.

bioRxiv Genetics@biorxiv-genetic.bsky.social

Cell villages and Dirichlet modeling map human cell fitness genetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.26.678880v1

The Wells Lab of UCLA reposted

tinyurl.comLaboratory Assistant II - Human Genetics - UCLA Health Careers - Job #32203 - Los Angeles, CATake a look at a great career opportunity where you can make a real difference at UCLA Health

13 Aug

Job alert! We are hiring a Lab Assistant II to support the construction and analysis of cell villages. This position is a great opportunity to contribute to several ongoing projects while learning cutting-edge cell culture approaches. DM me with questions. Apply here: tinyurl.com/wellslabtech

The Wells Lab of UCLA reposted

2 Apr

🚨 New lab website is now live 🚨 mfwellslab.com Stop by to take a look at our ongoing projects, learn about the amazing people on the team, and browse official lab merch including Wells Lab shower curtains (I am not joking).

The Wells Lab of UCLA reposted

bit.lyUCLA researchers receive $13.9 million CIRM grant to identify drug targets for autism and schizophrenia using human stem cell modelsA team of researchers led by UCLA’s Dr. Daniel Geschwind has received a $13.9 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to use human stem cell-based models to uncover the m...

26 Mar

This grant is the reason I drink coffee. We started writing in 2023 for the CIRM ReMIND-L initiative. The late night sessions forced me into the coffee world for the first time in my life at 38. Thanks CIRM for supporting our UCLA team and cell village experiments to study ASD and schizophrenia.

UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center@uclastemcell.bsky.social

UCLA researchers led by Dr. Daniel Geschwind have been awarded a $13.9M grant from @cirmnews.bsky.social to use stem cell models to identify drug targets for autism and schizophrenia — conditions that affect tens of millions of people in the U.S. 🔗 bit.ly/4tg4zY9 #ResearchPowersProgress

The Wells Lab of UCLA reposted

uclahealthcareers.orgLaboratory Assistant II - Human Genetics - UCLA Health Careers - Job #29031 - Los Angeles, CATake a look at a great career opportunity where you can make a real difference at UCLA Health

3 Mar

We're hiring villagers! We are looking for a lab technician to help us discover how gene-by-environment interactions shape the developing brain via in vitro cell villages. Please DM me or visit our website at mfwellslab dot com for more info. Deadline to apply is March 11th: tinyurl.com/34seyjaj

The Wells Lab of UCLA reposted

medschool.ucla.eduHuman Genetics | Genomic Scientist Fellows | UCLA Medical SchoolThe Emerging Genomic Scientist Fellows Program showcases innovative research from junior scientists

8 Dec 2025

Are you a senior grad student or new post-doc in genetics/genomics? Apply now for the 2026 Emerging Genomic Scientist Symposium hosted by the UCLA Human Genetics department. To apply: medschool.ucla.edu/about/depart... DM me if you have any questions and please spread the word

bioRxiv Genetics@biorxiv-genetic.bsky.social

Cell villages and Dirichlet modeling map human cell fitness genetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.26.678880v1

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We detected rare and common genetic variants associated with between-donor differences in neural progenitor cell proliferation, as well as a genetic modifier of lead (Pb) sensitivity (the between-donor differences in Pb sensitivity was MASSIVE btw, much to our surprise).

We have many other projects in the works that will make use of this system, including studies of human brain cell responses to a range of genetic perturbations and environmental exposures--stay tuned!

bioRxiv Genetics@biorxiv-genetic.bsky.social

Cell villages and Dirichlet modeling map human cell fitness genetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.26.678880v1