Dr. James A. Thomson

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University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Medicine and Public Health
Anatomy
ProfessorAppointed: 2002
WiCell Research Institute
Scientific DirectorAppointed: 1999
Professional Headshot of James A. Thomson

Mailing Address

Genome Center of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
425 Henry Mall, Room 4420
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (608) 263-3585
Fax: (608) 890-0181
THOMSON@PRIMATE.WISC.EDU
http://ink.primate.wisc.edu/~thomson/

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Molecular Biology, 1988.
V.M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary Medicine, 1985.
B.S., University of Illinois, Biophysics, 1981.

Expertise and Research Interests

Understanding how a cell maintains or changes identity and understanding what limits the repertoire of identities that a particular cell can become are the basic themes of my laboratory. We use human embryonic (ES) stem cells as a model system because their unlimited proliferative capacity and developmental potential make them uniquely suited for exploring these themes in human material. In the early 1990s my laboratory derived ES cells from an Old World monkey (the rhesus macaque) and a New World monkey (the common marmoset), work that led to the derivation of human ES cells. Much of the initial work in my laboratory after that derivation focused on establishing human ES cells as an accepted, practical model system, and we developed, for example, improved culture conditions, methods for genetic manipulation, and approaches for the in vitro differentiation to key lineages of clinical importance. However, human ES cells are now firmly established as a practical model system, and we are now focused on using these tools to understand the basic biology of pluripotency. For example, we use several conditions that induce uniform differentiation to specific lineages to study in detail how ES cells decide to exit the pluripotent state and become restricted in their potential, and we use a hematopoietic model system to study how that process of restriction can be reversed.

Publications

  • Kameda, T., Smuga-Otto, K., Thomson, J. (2006) A severe de novo methylation of episomal vectors by human ES cells, Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications, 349 (4), 1269-1277
  • Vodyanik, MA, Thomson, JA, Slukvin, I (2006) Leukosialin (CD43) defines hematopoietic progenitors in human embryonic stem cell differentiation cultures, Blood, 108 (6), 2095-2105
  • Ludwig, T, M Levenstein, J Jones, W Berggren, E Mitchen, J Frane, L Crandall, C Daigh, K Conard, M Piekarczyk, R Llanas, and JA Thomson (2006) Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Defined Conditions, Nature Biotechnology
  • Yu, J, MA Vodyanik, P He, I Slukvin, JA Thomson (2006) Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reprogram Myeloid Precursors Following Cell-Cell Fusion, Stem Cells, 23
  • Levenstein, M, TE Ludwig, R Xu, RA Llanas, K VanDenHeuvel-Kramer, D Manning, and JA Thomson (2006) Basic FGF Support of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal, Stem Cells, 23
  • Narayan, AD, JL Chase, RL Lewis, DS Kaufman, JA Thomson, and ED Zanjani (2006) Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Dervied Hematopoietic Cells Are Capable of Engrafting Primary as Well as Secondary Fetal Sheep Recipients, Blood, 107 (5), 2180-3
  • I Slukvin, M Vodyanik, JA Thomson, M Gumenyuk, and K Choi (2006) Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Functional Dendritic Cells through the Myeloid Pathway, J of Immunol, 176 (5), 2924-32
  • Zwaka, T., Thomson, J. (2006) Homologous Recombination in Human Embryonic Stem Cells In R. Lanza (eds), Essentials of Stem Cell Biology, Elsevier Academic Press (bookchapter)
  • Chang, H., Thomson, J., Chen, X. (2006) Microarray Analysis of Stem Cells and Differentiation In R. Lanza (eds), Stem Cells, Volume 2: Adult Stem Cells (a volume in Methods in Enzymology), Elsevier Academic Press, In Press (bookchapter)
  • Xu RH, Peck RM, Li DS, Feng X, Ludwig T, Thomson JA (Mar 2005) Basic FGF and suppression of BMP signaling sustain undifferentiated proliferation of human ES cells., 2 (3), 185-90 Abstract
  • Zwaka TP, Thomson JA (Jan 2005) A germ cell origin of embryonic stem cells?, 132 (2), 227-33 Abstract
  • Vodyanik MA, Bork JA, Thomson JA, Slukvin II (Jan 2005) Human embryonic stem cell-derived CD34+ cells: efficient production in the coculture with OP9 stromal cells and analysis of lymphohematopoietic potential., 105 (2), 617-26 Abstract
  • Kameda, T, and JA Thomson (2005) Human ERas Gene Has an Upstream Premature Polyadenylation Signal That Results in a Truncated, Noncoding Transcript, Stem Cells, 23, 1535-1540
  • Zwaka, TP, and JA Thomson (2005) Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Occurs Through Symmetric Cell Division, Stem Cells, 23, 146-149
  • Thomson, J. (2005) The Health of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research In J. Odorico (eds), Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Garland Science/BIOS Scientific Publishers (bookchapter)
  • Yan Y, Yang D, Zarnowska ED, Du Z, Werbel B, Valliere C, Pearce RA, Thomson JA, Zhang SC (Jun-Jul 2005) Directed differentiation of dopaminergic neuronal subtypes from human embryonic stem cells., 23 (6), 781-90 Abstract
  • Orner BP, Derda R, Lewis RL, Thomson JA, Kiessling LL (Sep 2004) Arrays for the combinatorial exploration of cell adhesion., 126 (35), 10808-9 Abstract
  • Gerami-Naini B, Dovzhenko OV, Durning M, Wegner FH, Thomson JA, Golos TG (Apr 2004) Trophoblast differentiation in embryoid bodies derived from human embryonic stem cells., 145 (4), 1517-24 Abstract
  • Kaufman DS, Lewis RL, Hanson ET, Auerbach R, Plendl J, Thomson JA (Feb 2004) Functional endothelial cells derived from rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells., 103 (4), 1325-32 Abstract
  • Draper JS, Smith K, Gokhale P, Moore HD, Maltby E, Johnson J, Meisner L, Zwaka TP, Thomson JA, Andrews PW (Jan 2004) Recurrent gain of chromosomes 17q and 12 in cultured human embryonic stem cells., 22 (1), 53-4 Abstract
  • Zwaka, T., Thomson, J. (2004) Homologous Recombination in Human Embryonic Stem Cells In R. Lanza (eds), Handbook of Stem Cells, Volume 1: Embryonic Stem Cells, Elsevier Academic Press (bookchapter)
  • Chang, H., Thomson, J., Chen, X. (2004) Microarray Analysis of Stem Cells and Differentiation In R. Lanza (eds), Handbook of Stem Cells, Volume 1:Adult & Fetal Stem Cells, Elsevier Academic Press (bookchapter)
  • Ludwig, T., Thomson, J. (2004) Current Progress in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Monitoring Stem Cell Research, A Report of the Presdient's Council on Bioethics (bookchapter)
  • Sperger JM, Chen X, Draper JS, Antosiewicz JE, Chon CH, Jones SB, Brooks JD, Andrews PW, Brown PO, Thomson JA (Nov 2003) Gene expression patterns in human embryonic stem cells and human pluripotent germ cell tumors., 100 (23), 13350-5 Abstract
  • He JQ, Ma Y, Lee Y, Thomson JA, Kamp TJ (Jul 2003) Human embryonic stem cells develop into multiple types of cardiac myocytes: action potential characterization., 93 (1), 32-9 Abstract
  • Zwaka TP, Thomson JA, Homologous recombination in human embryonic stem cells., Nature Biotechnology, 21(3), 319-21, Mar 2003 Abstract
  • Marshall VS, Browne MA, Knowles L, Golos TG, Thomson JA (Feb 2003) Ovarian stimulation of marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) using recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone., 32 (1), 57-66 Abstract
  • Ma Y, Ramezani A, Lewis R, Hawley RG, Thomson JA (2003) High-level sustained transgene expression in human embryonic stem cells using lentiviral vectors., 21 (1), 111-7 Abstract
  • Kaufman, D., Thomson, J. (2003) Embryonic Stem Cells: Unique Potential to Treat Autoimmune Diseases In R. Burt & A. Marmont (eds), Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disease, Georgetown, Landes Bioscience/Eurekah.com (bookchapter)
  • Carpenter, M.K., Xu, C., Daigh, C., Antosiewicz, J., Thomson, J. (2003) Protocols for the Isolation and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells In A. Chiu and M. Rao (eds), Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Humana Press (bookchapter)
  • Xu RH, Chen X, Li DS, Li R, Addicks GC, Glennon C, Zwaka TP, Thomson JA, BMP4 initiates human embryonic stem cell differentiation to trophoblast., Nature Biotechnology, 20(12), 1261-4, Dec 2002 Abstract
  • Wolfgang MJ, Marshall VS, Eisele SG, Schotzko ML, Thomson JA, Golos TG (May 2002) Efficient method for expressing transgenes in nonhuman primate embryos using a stable episomal vector., 62 (1), 69-73 Abstract
  • Kaufman DS, Thomson JA (Mar 2002) Human ES cells--haematopoiesis and transplantation strategies., 200 (Pt 3), 243-8 Abstract
  • Cooper S, Bennett W, Andrade J, Reubinoff BE, Thomson J, Pera MF (Mar 2002) Biochemical properties of a keratan sulphate/chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan expressed in primate pluripotent stem cells., 200 (Pt 3), 259-65 Abstract
  • Draper JS, Pigott C, Thomson JA, Andrews PW (Mar 2002) Surface antigens of human embryonic stem cells: changes upon differentiation in culture., 200 (Pt 3), 249-58 Abstract
  • Henderson JK, Draper JS, Baillie HS, Fishel S, Thomson JA, Moore H, Andrews PW (2002) Preimplantation human embryos and embryonic stem cells show comparable expression of stage-specific embryonic antigens., 20 (4), 329-37 Abstract
  • Zhang SC, Wernig M, Duncan ID, Brustle O, Thomson JA (Dec 2001) In vitro differentiation of transplantable neural precursors from human embryonic stem cells., 19 (12), 1129-33 Abstract
  • Kaufman DS, Hanson ET, Lewis RL, Auerbach R, Thomson JA (Sep 2001) Hematopoietic colony-forming cells derived from human embryonic stem cells., 98 (19), 10716-21 Abstract
  • Wolfgang MJ, Eisele SG, Browne MA, Schotzko ML, Garthwaite MA, Durning M, Ramezani A, Hawley RG, Thomson JA, Golos TG (Sep 2001) Rhesus monkey placental transgene expression after lentiviral gene transfer into preimplantation embryos., 98 (19), 10728-32 Abstract
  • Li F, Lu S, Vida L, Thomson JA, Honig GR (Jul 2001) Bone morphogenetic protein 4 induces efficient hematopoietic differentiation of rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells in vitro., 98 (2), 335-42 Abstract
  • Marshall, VS, Waknitz, M, and Thomson, JA, Isolation and maintenance of primate embryonic stem cells, Methods in Molecular Biology, 158, 1-8, 2001
  • Odorico JS, Kaufman DS, Thomson JA (2001) Multilineage differentiation from human embryonic stem cell lines., 19 (3), 193-204 Abstract
  • Allen TM, Mothe BR, Sidney J, Jing P, Dzuris JL, Liebl ME, Vogel TU, O'Connor DH, Wang X, Wussow MC, Thomson JA, Altman JD, Watkins DI, Sette A (Jan 2001) CD8(+) lymphocytes from simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques recognize 14 different epitopes bound by the major histocompatibility complex class I molecule mamu-A*01: implications for vaccine design and testing., 75 (2), 738-49 Abstract
  • Jacobson L, Kahan B, Djamali A, Thomson J, Odorico JS (Feb-Mar 2001) Differentiation of endoderm derivatives, pancreas and intestine, from rhesus embryonic stem cells., 33 (1-2), 674 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Odorico JS, Human embryonic stem cell and embryonic germ cell lines., Trends in Biotechnology, 18(2), 53-7, 2000 Abstract
  • Ramer JC, Garber RL, Steele KE, Boyson JF, O'Rourke C, Thomson JA (Feb 2000) Fatal lymphoproliferative disease associated with a novel gammaherpesvirus in a captive population of common marmosets., 50 (1), 59-68 Abstract
  • Amit, M, Carpenter, M, Inokuma, ., Chiu, C, Harris, CP, Waknitz, MA, Itskovitz-Eldor, J and Thomson, JA, Clonally derived human embryonic stem cell lines maintain pluripotency and proliferative potential for prolonged periods of in vitro culture, Developmental Biology, 227(2), 271-278, 2000
  • Ouhibi, N, Thomson, JA, Wolf, DP, and Zelinski-Wooten, M, Assisted reproductive technologies and nuclear transfer in nonhuman primates, 'Assisted Reproductive Technologies' Wolf, D.P. and Zelinski-Wooten, M.B. eds., 253-284, 2000
  • Kaufman, DS, Odorico, J, and Thomson, JA, Transplantation therapies from human embryonic stem cells-circumventing immune rejection, Regen.Med, 1, 1-5, 2000
  • Jones JM, Thomson JA (2000) Human embryonic stem cell technology., 18 (2), 219-23 Abstract
  • Thomson, JA, Funding of human embryo research in the United States, Nature Biotechnology, 17, 312, 1999
  • Thomson JA, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Shapiro SS, Waknitz MA, Swiergiel JJ, Marshall VS, Jones JM, Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts, Science, 282(5391), 1145-7, November 1998 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Shapiro SS, Waknitz MA, Swiergiel JJ, Marshall VS, Jones JM (Nov 1998) Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts., 282 (5391), 1145-7 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Marshall VS, Primate embryonic stem cells., Curr Top Dev Biol, 38, 133-65, 1998 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Marshall VS, Trojanowski JQ, Neural differentiation of rhesus embryonic stem cells., APMIS, 106(1), 149-56; discussion 1, 1998 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Marshall VS (1998) Primate embryonic stem cells., 38, 133-65 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Kalishman J, Golos TG, Durning M, Harris CP, Becker RA, Hearn JP, Isolation of a primate embryonic stem cell line., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 92(17), 7844-8, 15 1995 Abstract
  • Thomson JA, Kalishman J, Golos TG, Durning M, Harris CP, Becker RA, Hearn JP (Aug 1995) Isolation of a primate embryonic stem cell line., 92 (17), 7844-8 Abstract
  • First, NL and Thomson, JA, From cows stem therapies?, Nature Biotechnology, 18, 620-621, 1988
  • Yu, J., Thomson, J., Embryonic Stem Cells: Derivation and Properties In A. Atala (eds), , Principles of Regenerative Medicine, Elsevier Academic Press, In Press (bookchapter)

Memberships

American College of Veterinary Pathologists
International Society for Stem Cell Research
Society for Developmental Biology

Honors and Awards

2006, Nathan R. Brewer Scientific Achievement Award, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
2005, Distinguished Service Award for Enhancing Education through Biological Research, The National Association of Biology Teachers, Inc.
2005, Named in "Milestones of Science" poster, Science
2003, Frank Annunzio Award (Science/Technology), Christopher Columbus Foundation
2003, Outstanding Achievement Award, American College of Veterinary Pathologists
2002, Lois Pope Annual LIFE International Research Award, Lois Pope
2002, Fellow, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters
2002, Wisconsin Chapter Honoree, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
2002, World Technology Award, (Health and Medicine), Co-sponsored by The Economist-London, Business Week, NASDAQ, Cisco, Intel, Novartis, TIME, Nature and Science
2001, Cover Feature for "America's Best in Science and Medicine, Time
2001, Man of the Year, Madison Magazine
2001, One of the Most Intriguing People of 2001, People
2001, Hall of Fame Award for Scientific Achievement, 15th Annual Conference of Biotechnology CEOs
1999, Golden Plate Award, Academy of Achievement
1999, World Technology Award Finalist, Co-sponsored by The Economist-London, Nature, Business Week, NASDAQ, and CNBC
1981, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1979, Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence in the Biological Sciences, Eastman Kodak

Previous Positions

1999-2002, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Anatomy
1995-2002, Chief Pathologist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Graduate School, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center

Patents

Method of In Vitro Differentiation of Transplantable Neural Precursor Cells from Primate Embryonic Stem Cells, Patent Number: 6887706, 2005, United States of America.
Method of Making Embryoid Bodies from Primate Embryonic Stem Cells, Patent Number: 6602711, 2003, United States of America.
Hematopoietic Differentiation of Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Patent Number: 6613568, 2003, United States of America.
Primate Embryonic Stem Cells (Covers Human Embryonic Stem Cells), Patent Number: 6200806, 2001, United States of America.
Hematopoietic Differentiation of Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells B1, Patent Number: 6280718, 2001, United States of America.
Primate Embryonic Stem Cells, Patent Number: 5843780, 1998, United States of America.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Anatomy, Animal Diseases Or Pathology, Biological Resources, Blood or Blood Products or Transfusions, Bone Marrow, Cancer Biology, Cell Lines, Embryonic Structures, Endocrine System, Fetus, Genomics, Growth Factor Receptors, Ischemia, Organ Transplantation, Pancreas, Parkinson's Disease, Placenta, Primatology, Reproductive Endocrinology, Reproductive Physiology, Stem Cells, Tissue Culture, Veterinary Medicine.

Profile Details

Last Updated: 2/21/2007

COS Expertise ID #310700
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