Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology

Background

In 2001, the research-active faculty of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, including a number of faculty members from the American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, decided to enhance their common research interests in stem/progenitor cell biology, especially as it applies to regenerative medicine, by forming the Stem and Progenitor Cell Research Interest Group. This group engaged in a number of group activities designed to increase fundamental knowledge about stem cell research, distributed information about stem cell research funding opportunities and enhanced laboratory interactions in this area at GWU. A web site was created that described the research activities of the individual laboratories of this group, brochures containing the same information were distributed to prospective graduate students and applicants for faculty positions. The group sponsored Open House Research Presentations on stem/progenitor cell biology and regenerative medicine for the incoming graduate students in 2002, and Drs. Sally Moody and Robert Hawley organized a Faculty Research Symposium entitled, “Human Stem Cells – Where are we in the Ethical and Political Debate and Where are we in the Science and Application” for the 8th Annual GWUMC Research Day held on April 25, 2003.

In July 2007, following the appointment of Dr. Hawley as Chair, Faculty members voted to change the name of the Department to the "Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology" from the "Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology" to reflect the Department's major research focus in the field of stem cell and regenerative biology.

Current Research Projects

Graduate Education in Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (2001-present)

Three courses for Ph.D. level graduate students have been created: (1) A module on stem cell biology and tissue repair was added to the then IBS core curriculum course BMSC 213 (Molecular Medicine I); this four week course was directed initially by Dr. Moody and then by Dr. Hawley. Several of the Department faculty lectured in this module (Drs. Anne Chiaramello, Robert Hawley, Sally Moody, Mary Ann Stepp). This module was deleted from BMSC 213 in 2005 with the restructuring of the IBS Ph.D. Programs. However, effective Spring 2007, Dr. Hawley became the course director of BMSC 212 (Cell Biology), and reinstated much of the material in this seven week IBS core curriculum course. (2) ANAT 221 (Special Topics in Stem Cell Biology; Dr. Moody, course director) is offered every Fall semester: recent research papers and work-in-progress reports are presented by students and faculty members, and discussed in depth to understand new findings and technologies. (3) ANAT 222 (Advanced Research in Stem Cell Biology/Regenerative Medicine; Dr. Moody, course director) is offered every Spring semester: faculty members and speakers from other institutions are invited to present their recent research findings to the GWU community, and students discuss this work in depth.

Courses Offered