Ann Kiessling

Ann Kiessling
Ann Kiessling
	Ann A. Kiessling, Ph.D
Born	Ann Anderson; March 29, 1942 (age 82); Baker City, Oregon, USA
Nationality	American
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 A. Kiessling is an American reproductive biologist and one of the leaders in human parthenogenic stem cell research at The Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. She was an Associate Professor in teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Faulkner Hospital, New England Deaconess, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) from 1985 until 2012.

Background

Kiessling was born in Baker City, Oregon, USA, as Ann Anderson. Her father, Col. William Charles Anderson, was a decorated squadron commander in the US Air Force during World War II. She graduated from Klamath Falls High School in 1960 and attended University of Virginia where she received the first of her two bachelor's degrees in Nursing. In 1966 she received her second bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Central Washington University where she also received her master's degree in Organic Chemistry in 1967. In 1971 she earned her Ph.D from Oregon State University in Biochemistry and Biophysics. She did postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and University of California, San Diego. Kiessling is mother of three daughters and a son.

Career

Kiessling is noted for her discovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells (Kiessling & Goulian).^[1] This report pioneered the importance of naturally occurring retrovirus sequences in human genes, now thought to be important to the genetic plasticity involved in human evolution and biology. Prior to this discovery, it had been assumed that reverse transcriptase was an enzyme found only in retroviruses(such as HIV). To understand the normal biologic role of reverse transcriptase, Kiessling began to study eggs and early cleaving embryos.^[2]^[3] Her dual interests in virology and reproductive biology led to research in semen transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and the creation of the first laboratory for Human In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Oregon in the early 1980s. Harvard Medical School recruited Kiessling in 1985, where she conducted research until 2011.^[4]^[5] Kiessling currently conducts research at the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation.^[6]

The need to conduct biomedical research in areas not funded by the federal government led to the incorporation of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation.^[7] The Foundation's controversial Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR) has helped more than 170 couples affected by HIV disease have healthy babies.^[8]^[9] Because of this success, more than 75 fertility centers throughout the country have implemented the SPAR program, allowing couples to seek care close to home.^[10]

The techniques developed for the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction have been extended to other diseases of the male genitourinary tract, such as prostatitis and bladder infections. Expertise in human egg biology led Kiessling to develop the country's first human egg donor program for stem cell research in 2000. It remains a research focus today.^[11]

Among the publications by Kiessling is the first comprehensive look at the influence of accurate science terminology on laws titled, "What is an Embryo," published by the Connecticut Law Review ^[12] along with rejoinders by Harold Shapiro, Prof John A. Robertson, Prof. Lars Noah, and Father Kevin P. Quinn. The law review addresses the controversy of all of the entities that are currently called embryos with regards to embryonic stem cell research legislation around the world.^[13]

In 2003, Kiessling wrote Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential, the first textbook on the controversial topic.^[14]

Kiessling is a member of the California (California Constitution Article XXXV) and Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Boards,^[15] and a member of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committees (ESCROS) for Harvard University,^[16] Joslin Diabetes Center and Children's Hospital.^[17]

Kiessling has been cited in articles in The Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and NPR among others.^{[NPR 1]}^{[BG 1]}^{[BG 2]}^{[BG 3]}^{[BG 4]}^{[BG 5]}^{[NYT 1]}^{[NYT 2]}^{[WSJ 1]}^{[WSJ 2]}^{[WSJ 3]}^{[WSJ 4]}^{[WSJ 5]}^{[WSJ 6]}^{[LAT 1]}^{[LAT 2]}

Awards

2007 - Kiessling's Special Program of Assisted Reproduction was presented with the Technology Prize Paper Award by The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.^[18]
2009 - Kiessling received the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award for Biotechnology and Medicine.^[4]^[19]
2010 - Central Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award,^[20]
2011 - First ever University of Virginia, School of Nursing, Alumni Achievement Award.^[21]
2014 - Honorary Doctorate and Lifetime Achievement Award from Jodhpur School of Public Health, Mumbai, India, presented at the 2014 HIV Congress in Mumbai.^[22]
2014 - Scheduled to give the 2014 Oregon State University Commencement Address^[23]

Publications

Kiessling has published more than 100 scientific papers and given more than 60 lectures to audiences around the world. Selected publications are listed below.

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