Whitehead Researchers

Scientists at Whitehead believe they must understand the basic genetic programs of stem cells before rational strategies for their medical application can be designed. They are working with adult and embryonic stem cells to build a foundation for future therapies.

Adult stem cell studies

Whitehead Member Harvey Lodish and Whitehead Fellow Fernando Camargo study adult blood stem cells. Lodish is looking at ways that such cells can be multiplied in the lab (potentially making them more useful in therapy). Camargo is investigating the molecular mechanisms that enable these cells to remain in a stem cell stage or become activated for a certain role.

Cancer stem cell studies

Whitehead Member Robert Weinberg studies the potential role of cancer stem cells, the self-renewing, tumor-seeding cells that have been found in a number of solid tumors by several labs in the past five years.

Embryonic stem cell studies

Whitehead Member Rudolf Jaenisch investigates the processes by which cells maintain themselves in an embryonic state or develop into given types of differentiated cells. He works with embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in mice and humans.

Often working closely with Jaenisch, Whitehead Member Richard Young is exploring the mechanisms that control an embryonic stem cell’s genome by using a genome-wide analysis technology.

Regeneration research

Whitehead Member Peter Reddien studies stem cells in the planarian flatworm, an organism with a dramatic ability to regenerate itself. Since many of the genes in the planarian are also found in higher organisms, including humans, this work should yield broadly applicable insights into how stem cells regenerate tissue.