Dean Betts
Affiliations
Associate Scientist, Division of Genetics & Development,
Children’s Health Research Institute
Associate Professor, Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology,
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,
Western University
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph
Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute
How my research helps children
Since 1988, greater than 10,000 cord blood transplants have been performed to treat a wide variety of childhood diseases including Fanconi’s anemia, leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers, bone marrow failure, among other blood and metabolic disorders. To improve the utility of cord blood in stem cell transplants and in regenerative medicine, we aim to utilize umbilical cord blood to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using various cell models, we are studying many aspects of cell reprogramming to understand and improve iPSC generation. The chemical-only induction of pluripotency from cord blood stem cells will provide a non-invasive source of pluripotent stem cells, without the need of viruses and permanent changes to the genome, thus reducing the cancer risk and possibly improving the reprogramming efficiency of this technology.
Should a child ever become ill and require a stem cell transplant, their own perfectly matched cells will be immediately available throughout their lifetime, with no risk of immune rejection. Cord blood collection at the time of birth is an easy, non-invasive means of obtaining a young, therapeutic stem cell that can be efficiently induced towards pluripotency for potential treatment of many childhood and adult diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, stroke, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s and spinal cord injury.
Research
Current Research Activities
- The role of p66Shc in ROS-induced senescence.
- Low oxygen induction of pluripotent genes in human umbilical cord blood derived multi-lineage progenitor cells.
- Premature senescence in hypoxia-induced intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
- Extra-telomeric effects of TERT in pluripotency and self-renewal.
- Redox regulation of genes involved in stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal.
Research Team
Dr. Adam Stankiewicz, PDF
Lida Radan, Research Associate
Kyle Dailey, Research Associate
Heather Mulholland, MSc trainee
Stephanie Halllows, MSc trainee
Past Lab Members (University of Guelph)
Nathan Bain (PhD; 2010)
Ryan Figueroa (MSc; 2009); Research Associate, Aarhus University, Denmark
Lisa Cowan (MSc, Leeds; 2003); Laboratory Director, Victoria Fertility Centre
Steven Perrault (MSc; 2005); PhD student, University of Toronto
Daniela Fischer Russell (PhD; 2006); Human Stem Cell Library, McMaster University
Jared Wilcox (MSc; 2008); MD/PhD student, University of Toronto
Thomas Koch (PhD; 2008); PDF, Aarhus University, Denmark
Dr. Pavneesh Madan (PDF; 2006-2008); Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
Matt Eyre (MSc; 2009); MSc student, Human Fertility Program, Monash University
Rob Battista (MSc; 2009); MD program, University of Toronto
Colleen Fitzpatrick, Research Associate (2009); MSc student, University of Guelph
Lucy Lin (technician)
Esther Semple (Lab manager)
Future Research Plans
To characterize the function of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) splice variants expressed in human embryonic stem cells under hypoxia conditions.
To understand the role of the stress adaptor protein p66Shc in redox regulation of pluripotency and self-renewal in stem cells.
To establish a Cell Reprogramming Laboratory (CRL) to study various reprogramming events in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Awards & Grants
Awards & Grants
Funding in support of "Immunological and chondrogenic evaluation of canine stem cells" – Awarded by Morris Animal Foundation
Funding in support of "Telomerase Therapy for Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)" – Awarded by Lawson Health Research Institute (LHRI)
Funding in support of "Cellular Reprogramming Laboratory to Evaluate Epigenetic Programming Events During Development and in the Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells" – Awarded by CFI-IOF
Funding in support of "Development of transgenic technologies to study pluripotency and stem cell fate" – Awarded by UWO-Academic Development Fund (ADF)
Funding in support of “Chemical Induction of pluripotent stem cells from human umbilical cord blood stem cells” – Awarded by Children’s Health Research Institute
Funding in support of “Generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in pre-clinical domestic animal models” – Awarded by The University of Western Ontario
Funding in support of “Proliferative potential, trilineage potency and allogenic evaluation of equine cord blood stem cells” – Awarded by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
Funding in support of “Proliferative potential, trilineage potency and allogenic evaluation of equine cord blood stem cells” – Awarded by Equine Guelph
Funding in support of “The role of p66Shc in ROS-mediated cellular senescence” – Awarded by Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
Recent Publications
Publications
Proteomic Analysis of Extracellular Matrices used in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Culture. Hughes CS, Radan L, Betts DH, Postovit LM, Lajoie GA. Proteomics. 2011 June
Synaptically-Competent Neurons Derived from Canine Embryonic Stem Cells by Lineage Selection with EFG and Noggin. Wilcox J, Lai JKY, Semple E, Brisson BA, Gartley C, Armstrong JN, Betts DH. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(5):e19768
In Vitro and In Vivo Germ Line Potential of Stem Cells Derived from Newborn Mouse Skin. Dyce PW, Liu J, Tayade C, Kidder GM. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(5):e20339
In vitro developmental potential of nuclear transfer embryos cloned with enucleation methods using pre-denuded bovine oocytes. Jeon BG, Betts DH, King W, Rho GJ. Reprod Domest Anim. 2011 March
Osteogenic differentiation of equine cord blood MSCs within coralline hydroxyapatite scaffolds in vitro. Figueroa RJ, Koch TG, Betts DH. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2011 June
Viable iPSC mice: a step closer to therapeutic applications in humans? Betts DH, Kalionis B. Mol Hum Reprod. 2010 Feb;16(2):57-62
Improved isolation protocol for equine cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells Koch TG, Thomsen PD, Betts DH. Cytotherapy. 2009;11(4):443-7
Current and future regenerative medicine - principles, concepts, and therapeutic use of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering in equine medicine Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH Can Vet J. 2009 Feb;50(2):155-65
Characterization of canine embryonic stem cell lines derived from different niche microenvironments Wilcox JT, Semple E, Gartley C, Brisson BA, Perrault SD, Villagómez DA, Tayade C, Becker S, Lanza R, Betts DH Stem Cells Dev. 2009 Oct;18(8):1167-78
Concepts for the clinical use of stem cells in equine medicine Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH Can Vet J. 2008 Oct;49(10):1009-17
Contact
Phone: 519-661-2111 x 83786
Fax: 519-661-3827
Email: dean [dot] betts [at] schulich [dot] uwo [dot] ca
Website: http://publish.uwo.ca/~dbetts/Dean_H._Betts/Welcome.html
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