Prof. George Q Daley

George Daley's work focuses on embryonic stem (ES) cells, which have the potential to differentiate into all other cell types. More specifically, his lab is investigating:

(*) The differentiation of hematopoietic (blood producing) stem cells from embryonic cells. Daley and colleagues study hematopoietic development in mouse embryos and in human and mouse ES cells in order to define the molecular genetic programs that enable formation of HSCs in experimental and therapeutic models.

(*) Self-renewal and differentiation of human ES cells. The lab is using expression cloning together with genomic and proteomic strategies to identify factors that specify human ES cell self-renewal and differentiation. They are building tools for gene expression and gene knock-down in human ES cells to facilitate experimental and therapeutic studies.

(*) Germ cell development. Daley and colleagues have devised methods for directed differentiation of ES cells into primordial germ cells. and techniques for isolating and transplantating of spermatagonial stem cells from testes. Using this integrated system, they have grown ES-derived germ cell populations into functional sperm.

(*) Target-directed chemotherapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): Daley's team has determined how Gleevec works and how cancer cells develop resistance to the drug. His current studies -- now in clinical trials -- are aimed at defining optimal combination chemotherapy regimens to avert resistance.