John D. Gearhart, Ph.D. “Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Status Report”

Dr. Gearhart, a Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Physiology and Comparative Medicine and Population Dynamics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was the guest speaker at the Jones Institute’s Clinical Embryology & Andrology Master’s Program on May 21, 2007. As the Director of Stem Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Gearhart is a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell research. His leadership in the Stem Cell Biology effort focuses on understanding the natural life cycle of human embryonic germ cells, which were first isolated in Gearhart’s lab.

Dr. Gearhart spoke to the class of 2008, as well as invited physicians and scientists. He explained that Scientists have been working to understand the signals these cells use to take different paths; for example they can either regenerate themselves or become one of many specialized cell types. Scientists in this research program are also trying to manipulate or harness the cells’ natural signals to produce desired cell types.