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EDUCATION - B.A. 2000, Oberlin College
Biology Major
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE - National Cancer Intitute, NIH, June 2000-June 2001
Advisor: Florence Davidson, Ph.D.
Project: Apoptotic mechanisms leading to retinal degeneration in Drosophila - Northwestern University, January 1999, June-August 1999
Advisor: Neil Clipstone, Ph.D.
Project: Phosphorilation sites of CREB during T-cell activation - Great Lakes Water Institute/ NSF Fellowship, January 1998, June-August 1998.
Advisor: Russell Cuhel, Ph.D.
Project: Sulfur oxidizing bacteria populations at hydrothermal vents in Yellowstone Lake - Great Lakes Water Institute, January 1997, June-August 1997.
Avisor: Russell Cuhel, Ph.D.
Project: The affects of Zebra muscles on the biogeochemical balance of inland lakes
Human embryonic stem cells are a potential source of transplantable tissue for neurologic diseases. Before we are able to use these tissues for such purposes though, a better understanding of their developmental characteristics is needed. My work focuses on human neural stem cell development, specifically from neuroectoderm to fully functioning neurons. The techniques I use include cell culture and manipulation with growth factors, immuno-staining, EM, electrophysiology as well as transplants into rodents. CAREER GOAL Currently I am looking forward to returning to medical school and having the opportunity to explore clinical areas of medicine. My long term career goals will hinge mostly upon the kind of medicine I chose to practice and the opportunities offered for research in those areas. I do hope to stay within an academic setting where I can spend time teaching and hopefully continue my research in neuroscience. PUBLICATIONS - Zhang D, Li X, Johnson MA, Pankratz M. Human embryonic stem cells for brain repair? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2007; in press.
- Johnson, MA, Weick, JP, Pearce, RA, Zhang, SC. Functional neural development from human embryonic stem cells: accelerated synaptic activity via astrocyte coculture. J Neurosci. 27(12):3069-3077, 2007.
- Guillaume DJ, Johnson MA, Li XJ, Zhang SC. Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors develop into neurons and integrate into the host brain. J Neurosci Res. 84(6):1165-1176, 2006.
ABSTRACTS - Johnson MA, Zarnowska ED, Pearce RA, Zhang SC. Functional Maturation of Human ES Cell Derived Neurons In Vitro. Keystone Meeting: Molecular Regulation of Stem Cells, 2005.
- Pankratz MT, Li XJ, Yan YP, Chen X, Zhang ZJ, Johnson MA, Zhang SC. ES Cell-Derived Primitive But Not Definitive Neuroectodermal Cells Are Versatile For Neuronal Subtype Specification. 3rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, 2005.
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