Presentation Title: "Regulatory Circuitry of Human Embryonic Stem Cells"　

Special Guest Speaker
Professor Richard Young
Member, Whitehead Institute
Professor of Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Title of Key Note Presentation:
“Regulatory Circuitry of Human Embryonic Stem Cells.”

Abstract of Presentation:
“The capacity of embryonic stem cells to self-renew and to give rise to virtually all somatic lineages holds much promise for human regenerative medicine. Moreover, embryonic stem cells provide a unique opportunity in which to study early development and cell fate decisions. We have begun to determine how transcription factors, chromatin regulators and signaling pathways control the gene expression programs responsible for stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency. Using genome-wide ChIP-Chip data with Agilent technology, we have developed a model for the core regulatory circuitry of human embryonic stem cells. Our results indicate that the master regulators occupy a special set of developmental genes in embryonic stem cells that must be repressed to maintain pluripotency and that are poised for activation during differentiation. Additional new and surprising insights into human gene regulation will be discussed.”

Biodata of Prof. Young:
Prof. Young is a Member of the Whitehead Institute and a Professor of Biology at MIT. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University and his B.S. degree in Biological Sciences at Indiana University. Prof. Young’s awards include a Burroughs Wellcome Scholarship, the Chiron Corporation Biotechnology Research Award, Yale’s Wilbur Cross Medal, and Scientific American recognized him as one of the top 50 leaders in science, technology and business in 2006. He has served as an advisor to Science magazine, the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization.