On Thursday, October 8, Governor David A. Paterson visited Albert Einstein College of medicine of Yeshiva University, where he held a press conference to highlight New York State's leadership role in supporting stem cell research. With the $165 million invested thus far, New York currently ranks second among all states in funding the advancement of stem cell studies. Before outlining this significant support, the Governor took time to meet with researchers at Einstein who have received state funding, to learn about the studies they are conducting to address diseases ranging from cancer and diabetes, to sickle cell anemia and disorders of the liver.

Dean Allen M. Spiegel, M.D. (center) hosts roundtable with Einstein stem cell researchers and Governor David A. Paterson (2nd from right). Also attending (from left) were Ronald Lissak, Board of Overseers; Ruth Gottesman, Ed.D., chair, Board of Overseers; and Edward Burns, M.D., executive dean.Eight researchers joined the Governor, the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, Allen M. Spiegel, and Executive Dean Edward Burns in a roundtable discussion. Each was introduced by Dr. Spiegel; five researchers had the opportunity to describe their work and respond to questions from Governor Paterson.

The Governor was particularly interested to learn about techniques that allow investigators to "dial back" adult stem cells and transform them into embryonic stem cells.

In his general comments during the roundtable, Governor Paterson noted that the state has a long-term commitment to supporting stem cell research. "If not for the recession, we had hoped to invest $1 billion by now," he said. "We want New York State to be premiere in this area of research. The capacity of these cells is transforming before our eyes."

The roundtable was followed by a brief visit to the Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, where David Entenberg demonstrated the microscope systems his laboratory has implemented to aid biologic research, including a two-laser multiphoton microscope that has been used to study cancer metasis in living animals and a multi-channel Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer microscope, used in developing novel bio-sensors that are designed to elucidate biochemical processes in living cells.

David Entenberg, M.Sc., and Evanthia Roussos,
M.D.,Ph.D. (far right), Department of Anatomy &
Structural Biology, detail the power of a customized
microscope in Einstein's Innovation Lab to (from left)
Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, 80th District;
Richard Daines, M.D., Commissioner, NYS
Department of Health; and Governor David A.
Paterson.Following are the Einstein researchers who took part in the roundtable, along with a brief overview of their respective stem cell research efforts.

• Carl L. Schildkraut, Ph.D., professor of cell biology, studies ways in which cells differentiate to become the types of cells they are. Through these investigations, Dr. Schildkraut is exploring the varying timing mechanisms involved during the replication of DNA in different cell types. Through such studies, researchers can determine how to program cells in their earliest developmental stages.
• Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., the Diane and Arthur B. Belfer Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research, focuses his research on cancer stem cells that contribute to treatment failure in leukemia patients. Dr. Steidl is investigating how leukemia develops and is identifying strategies by which these cancer stem cells can be eradicated.
• Charles E. Rogler, Ph.D., professor of medicine (hepatology) and of microbiology & immunology, studies liver stem cells, with a particular focus on microRNAs (miRNA), a class of genetic elements that have wide-ranging effects on mammalian development and carcinogenesis. He and his research team found that miRNAs regulate a gene -- Smad 4  -- critical to signaling pathways in liver cells. He is working to identify additional miRNA targets and the consequences of their regulation on stem cell differentiation.
• Sanjeev Gupta, M.D., M.B.B.S., the Eleazar & Feige Reicher Chair in Translational Medicine, is exploring stem-cell-based treatments for major conditions, including liver failure, hemophilia, viral hepatitis, and genetic disorders. Through his studies, Dr. Gupta seeks to induce desirable properties in stem cell-derived cells, such that cells may be useful for modeling correction of diseases.
• Mukesh Kumar, Ph.D., instructor in medicine (hepatology), is studying hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. When HCV patients with end-stage liver disease receive liver transplants, HCV infection inevitably recurs -- leading to cirrhosis in 10%-30% of patients within 5 years after liver transplantation. Dr. Kumar wants to  genetically modify stem cells so they will turn into liver cells that can resist HCV infection.
• Jayanta Roy-Chowdhury, M.B.B.S., MRCP, professor of medicine and of genetics and scientific director of Einstein's Gene Therapy Facility, explores treating inherited liver diseases and liver failure by transplanting isolated liver cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Such cells can then be grown in the laboratory, overcoming the scarcity of suitable liver cells for use in transplantation.
• Jeffrey E. Pessin, Ph.D., the Judy R. & Alfred A. Rosenberg Professorial Chair in Diabetes Research and director of Einstein's Diabetes Research Center, is studying adipose (fat) stem cells to learn how they differentiate into fat cells in response to excess calories. He and his research team want to develop strategies to prevent these fat stem cells from developing into fat cells, thereby reducing the increase in fat tissue that can lead to obesity.
• Eric E. Bouhassira, Ph.D., the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, is focused on producing blood cells from embryonic stem cells and from induced pluripotent stem cells. The blood cells could have several applications, including curing blood diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, and sickle cell anemia, and as a source of red blood cells for transfusion.