Development of cellular therapies for clinical use in animals and people involves a concerted effort by a sponsor to fully understand the final formulated product as it relates to identity, purity, sterility, stability and bioactivity. In particular, demonstration of potency (the dose needed to observe a desired response), and efficacy (whether the needed response is achievable at any dose that does not produce toxicity) are clearly defined by the FDA. As a first pass, we will focus on the development of a potency assay for a stem cell product used to treat cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). As students learn more about the mechanisms that govern stem cell mediated regenerative processes, we will expand our approach toward the creation of a universal potency assay for human or animal stem cell products. This project requires a multidisciplinary team of mentors that will draw students with academic pursuits in molecular and cellular biology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and physiological sciences. The POTENCY project mentoring team will be drawn from faculty residing in the School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine and College of Engineering.