Michael Yaffe is the Vice President of Scientific Programs at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) where he oversees granting activities and works to expand collaborative research programs.  He was previously Associate Director of Research Activities at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) where he led the Basic Biology team, designed funding programs and monitored research progress.  Michael is Professor Emeritus and was on the faculty at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for 23 years. His laboratory studied cell growth and subcellular structure, with particular focus on the mitochondria, the cellular power plants. His research utilized biochemical, genetic and microscopic approaches.  He also taught both undergraduates and graduate students and served for three years as Associate Dean for Education in Biological Sciences.

Prior to joining UCSD he carried out postdoctoral research at the Biozentrum, University of Basel in Basel, Switzerland. Michael attended the University of California, Davis and received a B.S. degree in Biochemistry. He earned the Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Harvard University.