Ann Kiessling

Ann A. Kiessling is an American reproductive biologist and one of the leaders in human parthenogenic stem cell research at The Bedford Research Foundation. She was an associate professor in teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Faulkner Hospital, New England Deaconess, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) from 1985 until 2012.

Ann Kiessling
Ann A. Kiessling, Ph.D
Born
Ann Anderson

(1942-03-29) March 29, 1942
Baker City, Oregon, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationStem cell researcher
Known forDiscovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells, founder of the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction, Director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation

Background

Kiessling was born in Baker City, Oregon, United States, as Ann Anderson. Her father, Col. William Charles Anderson, was a decorated squadron commander in the US Air Force during World War II. She graduated from Klamath Falls High School in 1960 and attended University of Virginia where she received the first of her two bachelor's degrees in Nursing. In 1966 she received her second bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Central Washington University where she also received her master's degree in organic chemistry in 1967. In 1971 she earned her Ph.D. from Oregon State University in biochemistry and biophysics.[1] She did postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and University of California, San Diego. Kiessling is mother of three daughters and a son.[2]

Career

Kiessling is noted for her discovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells.[3] This report pioneered the importance of naturally occurring retrovirus sequences in human genes, now thought to be important to the genetic plasticity involved in human evolution and biology. Prior to this discovery, it had been assumed that reverse transcriptase was an enzyme found only in retroviruses (such as human immunodeficiency virus). To understand the normal biologic role of reverse transcriptase, Kiessling began to study eggs and early cleaving embryos.[4][5] Her dual interests in virology and reproductive biology led to research in semen transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, and the creation of the first laboratory for human in vitro fertilization in Oregon in the early 1980s. Harvard Medical School recruited Kiessling in 1985, where she conducted research until 2011.[6][7] Kiessling currently conducts research at the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation.[8]

The need to conduct biomedical research in areas not funded by the federal government led to the incorporation of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation.[9] The foundation's controversial Special Program of Assisted Reproduction has helped more than 300 couples with human immunodeficiency virus infection have healthy babies.[10][11][12] Because of this success, more than 75 fertility centers throughout the country have implemented similar programs, allowing couples to seek care close to home.[13] The techniques developed for the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction have been extended to other diseases of the male genitourinary tract, such as prostatitis and bladder infections. Expertise in human egg biology led Kiessling to develop the country's first human egg donor program for stem cell research in 2000. It remains a research focus today.[14]

Among the publications by Kiessling is the first comprehensive look at the influence of accurate science terminology on laws titled, "What is an Embryo," published by the Connecticut Law Review [15] along with rejoinders by Harold Shapiro, Prof John A. Robertson, Prof. Lars Noah, and Father Kevin P. Quinn. The law review addresses the controversy of all of the entities that are currently called embryos with regards to embryonic stem cell research legislation around the world.[16] In 2003, Kiessling wrote Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential, the first textbook on the controversial topic.[17]

Kiessling is a member of the California (California Constitution Article XXXV) and Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Boards,[18] and a member of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committees for Harvard University,[19] Joslin Diabetes Center and Children's Hospital.[20] Kiessling has been cited in articles in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and NPR among others.[NPR 1][BG 1][BG 2][BG 3][BG 4][BG 5][NYT 1][NYT 2][WSJ 1][WSJ 2][WSJ 3][WSJ 4][WSJ 5][WSJ 6][LAT 1][LAT 2]

SARS2 (Coronavirus)

In March of 2020, Dr. Kiessling expanded her laboratory operations at the Bedford Research Foundation to include SARS2 (COVID-19) testing. [21] On April 17, 2020 Dr. Kiessling reported that one of her daughters, a front-line worker at a local hospital, had tested positive for Coronavirus. [22] Dr. Kiessling's frustration over the continued lack of available testing led her to expand the Foundation's SARS2 testing efforts to offer public testing. [23]

Awards

Publications

Kiessling has published more than 100 scientific papers and given more than 60 lectures to audiences around the world. Selected publications are listed below:

  • Loutradis D, John D, Kiessling AA (September 1987). "Hypoxanthine causes a 2-cell block in random-bred mouse embryos". Biology of Reproduction. 37 (2): 311–6. doi:10.1095/biolreprod37.2.311. PMID 3676390.
  • Goldman DS, Kiessling AA, Millette CF, Cooper GM (July 1987). "Expression of c-mos RNA in germ cells of male and female mice". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 84 (13): 4509–13. Bibcode:1987PNAS...84.4509G. doi:10.1073/pnas.84.13.4509. PMC 305119. PMID 2955407.
  • Borzy MS, Connell RS, Kiessling AA (1988). "Detection of human immunodeficiency virus in cell-free seminal fluid". Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 1 (5): 419–24. PMID 2464685.
  • O'Keefe SJ, Wolfes H, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM (September 1989). "Microinjection of antisense c-mos oligonucleotides prevents meiosis II in the maturing mouse egg". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 86 (18): 7038–42. Bibcode:1989PNAS...86.7038O. doi:10.1073/pnas.86.18.7038. PMC 297988. PMID 2476810.
  • Kiessling, Ann A.; Anderson, Scott (2003). Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0763723415.
  • Kiessling AA (2004). "What is an embryo?". Connecticut Law Review. 36 (4): 1051–92. PMID 15868674.

Media

Boston Globe
  1. Green, K. (2006, Nov 12). City to scientists: Set up shop here. Boston Globe.
  2. Green, K. (2007, Apr 28). Somerville rolls out biotech welcome mat. Boston Globe.
  3. Goodman, E. (2005, Apr 07). Egg Donation and Morality. Boston Globe.
  4. Cook, G. (2001, Jul 13). Worcester Firm Aims to Clone Human Cells. Boston Globe.
  5. Krasner, J. (2003, Apr 09). Keeping Act Together Controversial Biotech Firm Says It's Found Crucial Funding, But Challenges Remain. Boston Globe.

Wall Street Journal
  1. Regalado, A. (2005, Nov 14). Stem-cell rift shows difficulty obtaining eggs. Wall Street Journal.
  2. By, G. N. (2002, Jan 28). Biotech firms bypass journals to make news. Wall Street Journal.
  3. By, G. N. (2002, Jan 25). Biotechs rush to announce advances --- but in race to score breakthroughs, companies may be exaggerating. Wall Street Journal.
  4. By Laurie McGinley and Antonio Regalado. (2001, Nov 27). Bush criticizes firm that clones human embryos, presses for ban. Wall Street Journal.
  5. By Gautam Naik and Antonio Regalado. (2001, Jul 13). Scientists pursue controversial goal: Cloning for tissue --- resulting cells might cure life-threatening ailments `Perfect solution' or embryo farming? Wall Street Journal.
  6. By, A. R. (2001, Jul 13). Experiments in controversy --- ethicists, bodyguards monitor scientists' effort to create copy of human embryo. Wall Street Journal.

Los Angeles Times
  1. Peter Wallsten and, J. R. (2004, Aug 10). The race to the White House; stem cell research gains political life; Kerry criticizes Bush's limits on the science, and as polls show voters favor less restrictive policies, the president aims to recast his stance. Los Angeles Times.
  2. Romney, L. (2006, Sep 13). The nation; new battle lines are drawn over egg donation; the issue of whether to pay women to be stem cell research donors has split feminists, causing some to align with christian conservatives. Los Angeles Times.

New York Times
  1. Sheryl, G. S. (2001, Dec 09). That scientific breakthrough thing. New York Times.
  2. Kolata, G. (2002, Apr 30). Parenthood help for men with H.I.V. New York Times.

NPR
  1. Analysis: Egg donation and ethics (2005). . Washington, D.C.: National Public Radio: Science Friday.

References
  1. "Biography - Ann Kiessling Oral History Interview - June 13, 2014 - Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries". scarc.library.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  2. "Director". Bedford Research Foundation. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  3. Kiessling AA, Goulian M (June 1979). "Detection of reverse transcriptase activity in human cells". Cancer Research. 39 (6 Pt 1): 2062–9. PMID 87260.
  4. O'Keefe SJ, Wolfes H, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM (September 1989). "Microinjection of antisense c-mos oligonucleotides prevents meiosis II in the maturing mouse egg". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 86 (18): 7038–42. Bibcode:1989PNAS...86.7038O. doi:10.1073/pnas.86.18.7038. PMC 297988. PMID 2476810.
  5. Kiessling AA (2004). "What is an embryo?". Connecticut Law Review. 36 (4): 1051–92. PMID 15868674.
  6. "Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine - Past Winners". Brandeis University. Archived from the original on 22 April 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. "Dr. Ann Kiessling Devotes Full Time to Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation". Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  8. "About the director". Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  9. "Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation – Official Website". Archived from the original on 7 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  10. "Pregnancies & Births". SPAR - Special Program of Assisted Reproduction. Bedford Research Clinical Laboratory. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  11. "Pregnancies & Births". SPAR - Special Program of Assisted Reproduction. Bedford Research Clinical Laboratory. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  12. "Part Five: The Fertility Race - HIV And Fertility By Stephen Smith – American Public Radio Works". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  13. "Pregnancies & Births". Collaborating fertility centers. Bedford Research Clinical Laboratory. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  14. "Egg Donor Program History & Overview". Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  15. Kiessling, Ann A. (2004-01-01). "What is an embryo?" (PDF). Connecticut Law Review. 36 (4): 1051–1092. ISSN 0010-6151. PMID 15868674. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2006.
  16. "What is an Embryo? Law Review". Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  17. "Jones and Bartlett Topics in Biology Series – Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Second Edition Text Book". Archived from the original on 2006-10-22. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  18. "Connecticut Stem Cell Research Program Committee". Archived from the original on 5 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  19. "Harvard University's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee". Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  20. "The Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  21. Gordon, Ken and Barret, Mike (2020, Mar 25). . The Bedford Citizen.
  22. Kiessling, Ann (2020, Apr 17). . The Cabinet Press.
  23. Floyd, Jesse (2020, Apr 24). . Bedford Minuteman Wicked Local.
  24. "The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2007 Conference".
  25. "2009 Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award". Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  26. "COTS 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  27. "2010 Alumni Achievement Award". Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  28. "2014 Lifetime Achievement Award". Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  29. "Noted researcher to speak at OSU commencement in June". Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  30. "OSU Commencement Address "Stay Involved with Government"". Retrieved 2017-06-02.
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