In 1998, Dr. Thomson's isolation of human embryonic stem cells created a new field of study and changed how people think of treating diseases. In addition to his roles at CDI, Dr. Thomson is the Director of Regenerative Biology at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the John D. MacArthur Professor of Anatomy at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is a member of The National Academy of Sciences. His seminal work on stem cell isolation received many awards, including Science Magazine's Breakthrough of the Year in 1999, and he was the cover feature in TIME Magazine's America's Best in Science and Medicine in 2001. In November 2007, Dr. Thomson published another groundbreaking paper describing how differentiated cells can be reprogrammed into a pluripotent state. This isolation of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells was listed among the most significant scientific advances of 2007 in Science, Nature, TIME, NBC News, USA Today, The Independent, and Wired Magazine, and Dr. Thomson was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World this same year. Dr. Thomson has published over 112 scientific, peer-reviewed papers and been an inventor on 14 issued patents. Dr. Thomson received his VMD and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
James A. Thomson, VMD, PhD
Founder
For the past 20 years, Dr. January has been a leading international authority in the field of cardiac arrhythmias, including long QT syndrome. Dr. January's work has had significant industry and regulatory impact, and he has consulted to multiple large and small pharmaceutical companies. He was one of the first scientists to stably express hERG potassium channels in a human cell system (HEK293 cells), and these cells are now distributed world-wide for use in drug toxicity screening. His work helped to identify drugs that caused high-affinity hERG potassium channel block, and his studies helped lead to the withdrawal of several QT interval prolonging drugs from the marketplace. Screening of new drugs and lead compounds for this hERG liability is now a broadly established technology required by regulatory agencies worldwide. Dr. January's technology is the basis for CDI's hERG screening program. Dr. January holds an MD and PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Iowa. He is a practicing cardiologist and is a Professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health.
Craig T. January, MD, PhD
Founder
Timothy J. Kamp, MD, PhD
Founder
Dr. Kamp is a practicing cardiologist and Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. He also serves as Co-Director of the UW Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. Dr. Kamp's research program explores the basic mechanisms controlling the electrical activity of the heart and cardioregenerative medicine. CDI's cardiomyocyte product lines are based upon work begun in Dr. Kamp's laboratory at the UW. Dr. Kamp, in collaboration with Dr. Thomson, provided one of the first descriptions and characterizations of cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells. Dr. Kamp holds both an MD and PhD in pharmacology and physiological sciences from the University of Chicago. He trained in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine at Johns Hopkins University.
Igor Slukvin, MD, PhD
Founder
Dr. Igor Slukvin is Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine. Dr. Slukvin’s research focus is the development of systems to culture hematopoietic precursors and red blood cells from human ES cells. Dr. Slukvin holds an MD and PhD from the Kiev Medical Institute in the Ukraine. Dr. Slukvin completed his medical residency at the University of Wisconsin and has published over 32 scientific, peer-reviewed papers.