Biological and Biomedical Science
 DMS Home  /  About DMS  /  Current Student Resources  /  Contact Us  /  Search 

George Daley

Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Pediatrics, and Medicine
Children's Hospital
Karp Family Research Building 7214
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: (617) 919-2015
Fax: (617) 730-0222
Email: george.daley@childrens.harvard.edu
15 postdoctoral fellows, 5 graduate students

The laboratory focuses on stem cell biology, with an emphasis on somatic cell reprogramming, hematopoietic differentiation from human and mouse pluripotent stem cells, germ cell development, and study of the BCR-ABL oncoprotein of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the classic malignancy of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Our specific research programs are described briefly below:

Directed differentiation of HSCs from pluripotent stem cells: We study hematopoietic development in mouse embryos and differentiating cultures of human and mouse pluripotent stem cells to define the molecular genetic programs that enable formation of HSCs in experimental and therapeutic models.

Derivation of genetically defined pluripotent stem cells: We use nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, and reprogramming with defined genes to model combined cell and gene therapy of human genetic disorders.

Germ cell development and germ cell tumor biology: We have devised methods for directed differentiation of ES cells into primordial germ cells in vitro, which provides an accessible in vitro model system for studying germ lineage commitment. We are studying genetic pathways that preserve pluripotency in the germ lineage and may become deranged in germ cell tumors.

Target-directed chemotherapy for human CML: We characterize the mechanisms of action and modes of resistance of target-directed chemotherapy for the treatment of CML, and use chemical genetics to probe mechanisms of regulation for a range of receptor and non-receptor kinases. Using techniques for molecular monitoring of resistance patterns in patients, we are seeking to define optimal combination chemotherapy regimens.

 

References:

  • Kim K, Lerou P, Yabuuchi A, Lengerke C, Ng K, West J, Kirby A, Daly M, Daley GQ. Histocompatible parthenogenetic murine embryonic stem cells. Science 2007 315(5811):482-6.
  • Park I-H, Zhao R, West JA, Yabuuchi A, Huo H, Ince TA, Lerou PH, Lensch MW, and Daley GQ. Reprogramming of human somatic cells to pluripotency with defined factors. Nature 2008 451(7175):141-6. Epub 2007 Dec 23.
  • Viswanathan S, Daley GQ, Gregory RI. Selective blockade of microRNA processing by Lin-28. Science 2008 320(5872):97-100.
  • Lerou PH, Yabuuchi A, Shea J, Takeuchi A, Cimin T, Ince T, Ginsburg E, Racowsky C, Daley GQ. Human embryonic stem cell derivation using poor quality embryos. Nature Biotechnology 2008 26(2):212-4.
  • Lu C-W, Yabuuchi A, Chen L, Viswanathan S, Kim K, Daley GQ. Ras-Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Promotes Trophectoderm Formation from Embryonic Stem Cells and Murine Embryos. Nature Genetics 2008 Epub June 9.