Brief
Dr. Peter Andrews, co-director of the Centre for Stem Cell Biology at the University of Sheffield in England, will speak at the next New Perspectives in Science seminar on Friday, March 31, at 2 p.m. in Pelton Auditorium. His presentation, "Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Self Renewal, Culture Adaptation and Cancer," is the first of three presentations in the seminar series this spring.
Andrews, a professor of Biomedical Sciences, is known for his work at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia from 1978 to 1992, where he studied embryonal carcinoma cells. These cells are the malignant equivalent of embryonic stem cells, and Andrews' research provided emergent insights into the properties of human embryonic stem cells and early tools for investigating cell differentiation.
More recently, Andrews has studied embryonic stem cells, with a focus on the mechanisms that control the ability of stem cells to replicate while remaining undifferentiated or after differentiation. He is investigating the concept that cancers arise because of the dysfunctional regulation of self-renewal and differentiation by stem-cell populations.
"This seminar program is designed to augment and enhance our regular division-specific seminar programs," said Dr. Julie Overbaugh, associate program head for the Human Biology Division, who directs the series in conjunction with her peers in the other scientific divisions. "While the division seminars typically focus on the most recent studies from a particular research group, the Perspectives lectures are meant to provide a broader view of an area to an audience that includes basic, clinical and population scientists at the Center. We believe these seminars will further our important goal of promoting and supporting interdisciplinary research on cancer and other diseases."
While the seminars are open to all, the content is often scientifically technical. Dr. Linda Buck of the Basic Sciences Division will speak at the second seminar on May 11, followed by Dr. Thomas Cech on June 22.
