Leonard Zon, M.D.
Zebrafish as a vertebrate model, developmental biology, and hematopoiesis
Director, Stem Cell Research Program, Children's Hospital Boston Grousbeck Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
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Dr. Leonard I. Zon received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and natural sciences from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, and received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He received a B.S. degree in chemistry and natural sciences from Muhlenberg College and an M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College. He subsequently did an internal medicine residency at New England Deaconess Hospital and a fellowship in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His postdoctoral research was in the laboratory of Stuart Orkin.
Dr. Zon is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in the fields of stem cell biology and cancer genetics. He is founder and former president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research and chair of the Executive Committee of the newly formed Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). In 2005, Dr. Zon was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. He recently completed a term as President of the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
Research Summary: The zebrafish offers a forward genetic system for understanding vertebrate hematopoiesis. Zebrafish blood formation is similar to that of humans and several mutants have disorders resembling human disease. It may be possible in the future to do dominant suppressor and enhancer screens to evaluate genetic pathways important for vertebrate hematopoiesis.
Memberships:
Institute of Medicine
American College of Physicians (Fellow)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow)
American Society for Clinical Investigation
American Medical Association
American Society of Hematology
Awards:
Bock Prize and Lectureship in Developmental Biology and Genetics, Jefferson Medical College
Simon Gratz Research Award for Jefferson Medical College alumni
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