Distinguished by more than 25 years of experience in cell biology, stem cell research, and hematopoietic engineering, this cell biology, stem cell research, and hematopoietic engineering expert witness specializes in human embryonic stem cells, hematopoietic stem cell development, erythroid differentiation, and blood cell formation research involving red blood cells, T cells, platelets, and related hematopoietic lineages. Areas of expertise include pluripotent stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), epigenetics, DNA methylation, DNA replication, allele-specific expression, bioinformatics, gene therapy, hemoglobinopathies, regenerative medicine, and large-scale cultured red blood cell production for transfusion medicine applications. The expert has prior experience providing expert witness services involving stem cell biology, molecular genetics, hematopoietic research, regenerative medicine, gene expression analysis, and biomedical research-related matters.

Professional leadership responsibilities have included laboratory oversight, scientific program development, translational stem cell research, and coordination of multidisciplinary cellular and molecular biology investigations focused on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells. The expert founded a major Embryonic Stem Cell Center and secured program project funding from the NIH and NYSTEM while serving in progressive academic leadership roles including Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor appointments in both Cell Biology and Medicine, in addition to receiving tenure and appointment as the Ingeborg & Ira Leon Rennert Professor of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine. Research initiatives have included pioneering methods to differentiate adult hematopoietic stem cells and human pluripotent stem cells toward erythroid lineages, development of techniques to genetically modify iPSCs prior to differentiation, investigation of epigenetic mutation load and replication timing, and advancement of clinical-grade iPSC and cultured red blood cell technologies intended to improve treatments for sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Additional project involvement includes development of genome-analysis software, creation of stem cell engineering technologies, investigation of molecular and genetic regulation affecting blood disorders, and coordination of federally funded research involving stem cell therapeutics, transfusion medicine, and hematologic disease applications. Professional activities include authorship of more than 90 peer-reviewed scientific publications, invited presentations at major national and international scientific conferences, development of patented cellular engineering technologies, graduate and postdoctoral mentorship, and ongoing teaching and scientific instruction involving stem cell biology, hematopoietic systems, molecular genetics, and regenerative medicine. Educational attainment includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology & Physiology, a Master of Science degree in Human Genetics, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Genetics.