Interview: Discussions on the development of human embryonic stem cell-based therapies

Abstract

Dr Jane Lebkowski joined Geron Corporation in 1998 and is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Regenerative Medicine Division. Dr Lebkowski heads Geron’s human embryonic stem cell program, and is responsible for all research, preclinical development, product development, manufacturing and clinical development activities. Prior to Geron, Dr Lebkowski was Vice President of Research and Development at Applied Immune Sciences. Following the acquisition of Applied Immune Sciences by Rhone Poulenc Rorer (RPR, currently Sanofi-Aventis), Dr Lebkowski remained at RPR as Vice President of Discovery Research. During Dr Lebkowski’s tenure at RPR, she coordinated preclinical investigations of gene-therapy approaches for treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease and nervous system disorders, and directed vector formulations and delivery development. Dr Lebkowski received her PhD in Biochemistry from Princeton University in 1982, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Genetics, Stanford University (CA, USA) in 1986. Dr Lebkowski has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and has 12 issued US patents. Dr Lebkowski serves as the co-chair of the Industrial Committee of the International Society for Stem Cell Research and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific publications.