Amy Meacham is the Core Facility Manager of UF’s Center for Cellular Reprogramming (CCR), where she supports research teams using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study rare diseases and genetic conditions. After two decades in cancer research, her focus shifted when her daughter was diagnosed with a rare X-chromosome deletion. That personal turning point led Amy to found Xtraordinary Joy, a nonprofit that funds rare disease research and promotes community inclusion.
In this interview, Amy shares how she balances running the CCR, training new researchers, collaborating across institutions, and mentoring students—all while leading advocacy efforts through her charity. Her work bridges service, science, and social impact, and her story is a powerful example of turning personal experience into transformative research and outreach.
Read the full interview here:
Can you provide a brief introduction about yourself and your academic background?
I received my undergraduate degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and I completed my masters at the University of Florida with my mentor Dr. Naohiro Terada. He started the Center for Cellular Reprogramming (CCR). Dr. Clayton Mathews and I took over running the CCR when he retired. I have kept it going ever since.
What is the primary focus of your work?
As a core facility manager, my work is more service oriented than research based. Other research labs- mostly at UF, but sometimes outside of UF- can use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a research tool. You really need a lot of training and knowledge about working with them, so I will train labs to work with the cells, as well as provide cells for their studies or even reprogram their patients’ samples to become iPSCs for their studies. They’re a really great tool for researchers to study, especially for rare diseases or a very specific genotype of a disease. CCR facilitates their research.
How did you become interested in iPSCs?
I did cancer research for 20 years. That was my passion, but when my daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease, my research changed focus. Dr. Terada made her iPSCs so that we could study a disease that no one had heard of. When he retired, I wanted to make sure that her cells would stay active. Several researchers at the university study them. I wanted to make sure other rare disease researchers have the opportunity to pursue this iPSC work.
Why is your research important and what impact does it have on the field?
I think having iPSC services available is incredibly valuable. They’re expensive and require specialized training that many researchers don’t have. I love being able to teach others how to use them and help guide their projects. Some projects are major undertakings and it’s nice that they can turn to me for help. Without that support, many of these projects might never move forward, despite being built off of great ideas.
I work under Dr. Mathews, whose diabetes group uses this technology to research different genotypes and risk factors related to diabetes. We manipulate risk genes and study whether those changes help or hinder treatment. I do a lot of work for the diabetes group as far as making patient-specific iPSCs and gene specific changes. We do CRISPR-Cas9 editing and are able to make small edits to the cells and turn them into different types of blood cells, immune cells, and etc. Then we study them and their response to stress or treatment. Many of the students are using this technology so I work closely with them as well. It’s an incredibly useful tool.
Are you collaborating with any other researchers or institutions? If so, how do these collaborations enhance your work?
I hear from researchers in many different departments, even from UF facilities that aren’t based in Gainesville. I love being able to provide cells to them and advance their research. CCR stays operational because I provide cells for a small fee. I work with numerous Principal Investigators (PIs) and almost weekly have new PIs to work with. This year especially, even in just the first two months, we’ve built a lot of new partnerships. I’ve been working with some labs for years to help them differentiate iPSCs and cardiomyocytes, or differentiate into different cell lineages that maybe their lab is unable to complete. It’s been rewarding to have these long term collaborations.
Is it overwhelming to be running CCR by yourself?
I thrive on juggling multiple projects. I do a lot of color coding and keep lots of calendars to stay organized. I’m constantly working on new proposals or quoting new PIs. I enjoy staying busy! But iPSC work is not just Monday thru Friday. I work almost every weekend and sometimes everyday for 6 to 8 weeks with important differentiations.
Have you received any notable awards or recognitions for your research?
I received the Impact Award for my work with the charity I founded- Xtraordinary Joy. Xtraordinary Joy is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy and funding for X-chromosome deletion research that advances lifelong health, behavior and learning. I created it after my daughter was diagnosed with a previously unstudied X chromosome deletion. Xtraordinary Joy was founded in 2016, so this marks our ninth year. We’re well established now. The research continues to grow. Initially, we had 2 researchers at UF, with all the funding based there. Now, some of our researchers have moved to Minnesota and Missouri, so we are able to research outside of the UF bubble now. iPSCs are central to our research. Cells are differentiated into neurons or brain organoids and then studied for differences. I believe I’m making an impact on rare disease in my lab work and beyond by encouraging others to pursue answers to different rare diseases through the grants our charity provides. We fundraise and do a lot of community events for individuals with unique abilities like my daughter.
Outside of your research, what other interests or hobbies do you have?
I’m very involved in the special needs community. I coach cheer for the Special Olympics, run inclusive events, and even organize a summer camp for all abilities. I’m working to help start a school in Alachua county. It’s my second year coaching cheer, and I love working with the special olympics, the athletes, and the unified partners from the University of Florida. In the lab, I love working with college students and helping them pursue their passions, especially if it’s science or research related- even more so if they want to bring that to rare disease. We have a student chapter in Xtraordinary Joy that has many UF students. I am quite involved in my church. These are my biggest passions. I have four kids, and my daughter with the rare disease is the youngest, but I have three sons as well. One of them graduated from UF.
How can others learn more about your work or get in touch with you?
- Core website: https://ccr.med.ufl.edu/
- Email: meachy23@ufl.edu
- Charity website: https://www.xtraordinaryjoy.org/
What is your general advice for anyone who wants to do what you do?
I’d love to bring others onto the CCR team one day. I’ve been doing this for 6 years, so I can say anyone interested should know it takes a lot of passion and time. It’s hard, but so rewarding. iPSCs are such a valuable tool and I hope the amount of capable workers in iPSCs continues to grow. If any graduate students or post docs are interested in working with me on iPSCs, I encourage them to reach out.
Interviewer: Julia Martin, UF Undergraduate
Interview with Amy Meacham
Transcribed: 3/7/2025
