Ann Kiessling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Kiessling
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| Born |
Ann Anderson
March 29, 1942 Baker City, Oregon, U.S.
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| Alma mater | U. of Virginia (BSc.) Central Washington U. (BSc.,MS) Oregon State University (Ph.D.) UCSD (Postdoc.) |
| Occupation | Stem cell researcher |
| Known for | Discovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells, founder of the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction, director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |
Ann Kiessling (née Anderson; born March 29, 1942) is an American scientist. She studies how our bodies work, especially focusing on cells and how they reproduce. She is a researcher at The Bedford Research Foundation. From 1985 to 2012, she was a professor at teaching hospitals connected to Harvard Medical School.
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About Ann Kiessling
Ann Anderson was born in Baker City, Oregon. Her father, William Charles Anderson, was a commander in the US Air Force during World War II. Ann finished high school in 1960.
She earned her first bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Virginia. Later, she got a second bachelor's degree in chemistry from Central Washington University. She also earned her master's degree in organic chemistry there. In 1971, she completed her Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics at Oregon State University. She continued her research at several top centers, including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Ann Kiessling is a mother of three daughters and one son.
Her Scientific Work
Ann Kiessling is well-known for finding something called reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells. Before her discovery, scientists thought this special enzyme was only found in certain viruses. These viruses include ones like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Her work showed that these virus-like parts are naturally in our genes. They might be important for how human bodies change and develop. To learn more, Kiessling started studying eggs and very early embryos. Her interest in both viruses and reproduction led her to research how HIV could be passed on.
The Bedford Research Foundation
In 1985, Harvard Medical School invited Kiessling to join their team. She worked there until 2011. Today, she continues her research at the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. This foundation was created to do important medical research that the government might not fund.
The foundation developed special methods for the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction. These methods help people who want to have children. They have also been used to help with other health problems.
In 2000, Kiessling helped create the country's first program for human egg donation. These eggs are used for stem cell research. This research helps scientists understand how cells develop and how they might be used to treat diseases. Her team also found that our body's natural daily rhythms are important for how eggs develop early on.
Sharing Knowledge
Kiessling has written many important papers. One paper, "What is an Embryo," looked at how scientific words affect laws. It discussed the different ways the word "embryo" is used in stem cell research laws around the world. In 2003, she wrote Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential. This was the first textbook on this complex topic.
Kiessling is a member of important advisory boards for stem cell research in California and Connecticut. She also serves on committees that oversee stem cell research at Harvard University. Her work has been featured in major news outlets like The Boston Globe and The New York Times.
Helping with COVID-19 Testing
In March 2020, Ann Kiessling expanded her lab at the Bedford Research Foundation. They began to offer testing for SARS2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On April 17, 2020, she shared that one of her daughters, who works at a hospital, had tested positive for the virus. Because it was hard to get tests, Kiessling decided to offer public testing through her foundation.
Awards and Honors
- 2007 – Her Special Program of Assisted Reproduction received the Technology Prize Paper Award. This was from The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
- 2009 – She received the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award for Biotechnology and Medicine.
- 2010 – She was given the Distinguished Alumni Award from Central Washington University.
- 2011 – She received the first-ever Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Virginia's school of nursing.
- 2014 – She received an Honorary Doctorate and Lifetime Achievement Award. This was from the Jodhpur School of Public Health in India.
- 2014 – She gave the Commencement Address at Oregon State University.
- 2014 – She received an Honorary Doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology from Oregon State University.
