A 6-year-old from Springfield, Massachusetts, raised roughly $1,000 to support a Harvard lab studying axolotl limb regeneration after the team lost most federal funding. Led by Jessica Whited at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, researchers hope axolotls’ molecular secrets might one day inform human regenerative medicine. The donation boosted lab morale and, following court rulings, federal funding has since been restored for now.
How a 6-Year-Old’s $1,000 Fundraiser Helped Rescue Harvard Axolotl Research — Scientists ‘Flabbergasted’
A 6-year-old from Springfield, Massachusetts, raised roughly $1,000 to support a Harvard lab studying axolotl limb regeneration after the team lost most federal funding. Led by Jessica Whited at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, researchers hope axolotls’ molecular secrets might one day inform human regenerative medicine. The donation boosted lab morale and, following court rulings, federal funding has since been restored for now.
18:38, 08.11.2025Science
Six-year-old’s donation gives a lifeline to Harvard axolotl research
A Harvard research project studying regenerative biology received an unexpected boost when 6-year-old Marianne Cullen organized a fundraiser and donated roughly $1,000 to a lab that had just lost most of its federal support.
Marianne, who lives in Springfield, Massachusetts — about an hour and a half from Cambridge — is captivated by axolotls, the aquatic salamanders known for their “baby-faced” appearance and extraordinary ability to regrow limbs. Gamers may also recognize a pixelated axolotl from Minecraft.
Jessica Whited, an assistant professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, leads the team studying how axolotls regenerate limbs. Whited said the lab hopes to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind the animals’ regenerative powers, with the long-term objective of informing human regenerative medicine.
"There's more to them than just being cute," Marianne told CBS News. "They can grow back any limb... And there's way other animals that need saving, but this one is my destiny to save."
After the lab lost nearly all of its federal funding a few months ago, Marianne organized a small fundraiser and donated about $1,000 to help keep experiments and morale afloat. Whited said the gift had a meaningful emotional impact on the team.
"It definitely had a positive effect on everyone in the lab. Everybody was just flabbergasted," Whited said.
Federal funding for the lab has since been restored for the time being following related court rulings. While the donation was modest in dollar terms, researchers say Marianne’s action highlighted public interest in biodiversity and the importance of basic research.
Why it matters: Axolotls’ remarkable regenerative abilities offer a natural model for studying tissue regeneration. Insights gained from this work could eventually contribute to new approaches in regenerative medicine for humans.
Note: The facts in this story are drawn from reporting by CBS News and statements from researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.