The Foundation was formed in 1996 by Ann A. Kiessling, PhD, in response to a controversial clinical research need that was best undertaken by an independent public charity.

About the Director

Dr. Kiessling is Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Chemistry, a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and a doctorate in Biochemistry/Biophysics from Oregon State University. (download CV PDF)

Her postdoctoral research explored relationships between viruses and cancer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and University of California, San Diego. The work in San Diego led to the controversial discovery of Reverse Transcriptase in normal human cells in 1979 (Kiessling & Goulian). Prior to this discovery, it had been assumed that reverse transcriptase was an enzyme found only in retroviruses. To understand the normal biologic role of reverse transcriptase, Dr. Kiessling began to study eggs and early cleaving embryos. Harvard Medical School recruited Dr. Kiessling in 1985, where she continues her research today.

Dr. Kiessling's interest shifted toward stem cell research in 2000, when her expertise in human egg biology led her to develop the country’s first human egg donor program for stem cell research. Dr. Kiessling's research at the Foundation is now focused on the development of Parthenote Stem Cells (stem cells derived from unfertilized human eggs), and Nuerospheres (an early stage of development of neurons).

Dr. Kiessling has published more than 100 scientific papers and given more than 60 lectures to audiences around the world. Her writings can be found in publications such as Nature, Lancet, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and Connecticut Law Review, and she has been the focus of articles in The Boston Globe and Newsweek. In 2003 (second edition released in 2006), Dr. Kiessling wrote Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential, the first textbook on the controversial topic.

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

The Special Program of Assisted Reproduction: The Foundation's First Success

Dual interests in Virology and Reproductive Biology led Dr. Kiessling 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 1980’s. Harvard Medical School recruited Dr. Kiessling in 1985, where she continues her research today.

In 1996, 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 (then, The Assisted Reproduction Foundation). Since then, the Foundation’s Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR) has helped more than 80 couples affected by HIV disease have safe, healthy babies. Because of this success, more than two-dozen fertility centers throughout the country have implemented the SPAR program, allowing couples to seek care closer to home.

The techniques developed for SPAR have now been extended to other diseases of the male genitourinary tract, such as prostatitis and bladder infections.

Dr. Kiessling is the proud mother of three daughters and a son.

Education:
BS University of Virginia (Nursing)
BS Central Washington University (Chemistry)
MS Central Washington University (Organic Chemistry)
PhD Oregon State University (Biochemistry/Biophysics)

Faculty Appointments:
1977-1981 Assistant Professor of Anatomy Oregon Health Sciences University
1981-1985 Associate Professor of Anatomy Oregon Health Sciences University
l983-1985 Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Oregon Health Sciences University
1985-1990 Associate Professor of Obstetrics,Gynecology and Reproductive Biology Harvard Medical School
1990- Associate Professor of Surgery Harvard Medical School

Bibliography:
Original Reports
1. Weber GH, Kiessling AA, Beaudreau GS. DNA polymerase activity associatedwith strain MC29 tumor virus. J Virol. 1971; 7:214-20.

2. Kiessling AA, Weber GH, Deeney AO, Possehl EA, Beaudreau GS. DNA polymerase activity associated with a plasma particulate fraction from a patient with CLL. J Virol. 1971; l7:221-6.

3. Weber GH, Kiessling AA, Beaudreau GS. DNA polymerase activity in homogenates of cells infected with MC29 virus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1971; 6:993-9.

4. Kiessling AA, Deeney AO, Beaudreau GS. DNA and RNA from AMV as templates for viral DNA polymerase. Fed Eur Bio Soc Lett. 1972; 20:57-60.

5. Kiessling AA, Neiman PE. RNA tumor virus DNA polymerase: activity with exogenous primers. Biochim Biophys Acta 1972; 272:147-55.

6. Kiessling AA, Goulian M. A comparison of the enzymatic responses of the DNA polymerases from four RNA tumor viruses. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1976; 71:1069-77.

7. Kiessling AA, Goulian M. Detection of reverse transcriptase activity in human cells. Cancer Res. 1979; 39:2062-9.

8. Kiessling AA, Weitlauf HM. DNA polymerase activity in preimplantation mouse embryos. J Exp Zool. 1979; 208:347-54.

9. Weitlauf HM, Kiessling AA, Buschman R. Comparison of DNA polymerase activity and cell division in normal and delayed-implanting mouse embryos. J Exp Zool. 1979; 209:467-72.

10. Weitlauf HM, Kiessling AA. Comparison of overall rates of RNA synthesis in implanting and delayed implanting mouse blastocysts in vitro. Dev Biol. 1980; 77:116-29.

11. Kiessling AA, Weitlauf HM. Poly(A).oligo(dT)-stimulated DNA polymerase activity in preimplantation mouse embryos. J Exp Zool. 1981; 215:117-20.

12. Weitlauf HM, Kiessling AA. Activation of 'delayed implanting' mouse embryos in vitro J. Reprod Fertil. 1981; 29:191-202.

13. Ruta M, Bestwick R, Kiessling AA, Faust C, Linemeyer D, Scolnick E, Kabat D. Genetic structure of Rauscher spleen focus forming virus. J Virol. 45:1217-22.

14. Kiessling AA. Evidence that reverse transcriptase is a component of murine epididymal fluid. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1984; 176:175-82.

15. Kiessling, AA, Hughes WH, Blankevoort MR. Superovulation and embryo transfer in the dairy goat. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1986; 188:829-32.

16. Loutradis D, John D, Kiessling AA. Hypoxanthine causes a 2-cell block in random bred mouse embryos. Biology Reproduction. 1987; 37:311-316.

17. Goldman DS, Kiessling AA, Millette CF, Cooper GM. Expression of c-mos RNA in germ cells of male and female mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1987; 84:4509-4513.

18. Kiessling AA, Crowell RC, Connell RS. Sperm-associated retroviruses in the mouse epididymis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1987; 84:8667-8671.

19. John D, Kiessling AA. Improved Pronuclear Mouse embryo development over an extended pH range in Ham's F-10 Medium without protein. Fertil and Steril. 1988; 49:150-155.

20. Patton PE, Burry KA, Wolf DP, Kiessling AA, and Craemer MJ. The use of oral Contraceptives to regulate oocyte retrieval. Fertil and Steril. 1988; 49:716-718.

21. Han H-D, Kiessling AA. In vivo development of transferred mouse embryos conceived in vitro in simple and complex media. Fertil. and Steril. 1988; 50:159-163.

22. Montgomery V, Loutradis D, Tulchinski D, Kiessling AA. Follicle stimulating hormone-induced ovulation in intact and hypophysectionized female mice. J Repro and Fertil. 1988; 84:1-6.

23. Goldman D, Kiessling AA, Cooper G. Post-transcriptional processing suggests that cmos functions as a maternal message in mouse eggs. Oncogene 1988; 3:159-163.

24. Trune DR, and Kiessling AA. Decreased protein synthesis in cochlear nucleus following developmental auditory deprivation. Hearing Research 1988; 35:259-264.

25. Borzy MS, Connell RS, Kiessling AA. Detection of HIV in cell free seminal fluid. J Acquired Immune Def Synd. 1988; 1:419-424.

26. Jackson KV, and Kiessling AA. Fertilization and cleavage of mouse oocytes exposed to the conditions of human oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization. Fertil and Steril. 1989; 51:675-681.

27. Kiessling AA, Crowell RC, Fox C. Epididymis is a principal site of retroviral expression in the mouse. Proc Nat'l Acad Sci. 1989; 86:5109-5113.

28. O'Keefe SJ, Wolfes H, Kiessling AA and Cooper GM. Microinjection of Antisense c-mos Oligonucleotides Prevents Meiosis II in the Maturing Mouse Egg. Proc Nat'l Acad Sci. 1989; 86:7038-7042.

29. Fissore R, Jackson KV and Kiessling AA. Mouse Zygote Development in Medium without Protein in Presence of Ethylendiamintetraacetic Acid. Biol of Repro. 1989; 41:835-841 .

30. Nureddin A, Epsaro E and Kiessling AA. Purines Inhibit the Development of Mouse Embryos In Vitro. J. Repro. and Fertil. 1990; 90: 455-464.

31. Mehta T and Kiessling, AA. Developmental Potential of Mouse Embryos conceived in vitro and Cultured in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid with or without Amino Acids or Serum. Biol. of Reproduction 1990; 43:600-606.

32. O'Keefe SA, Kiessling AA , and Cooper GM. The cmos gene product is required for cyclin b accumulation during meiosis of mouse egg. Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci.. 1991 88:7869-7872.

33. Pal, SA, SS Zinkel, AA Kiessling and GM Cooper. c-mos Expression in Mouse Oocytes is Controlled by Initiator-Related Sequences Immediately Downstream of the Transcription Initiation Site. 1991. Molec. and Cell. Biol. 11: 5190-5196.

34. Lawitts JA, Butler JE, Kiessling AA and Biggers JD. Growth and DNA Replication in Rabbit Blastocysts. Molec. Reproduction and Dev. 1991; 30:320-329.

35. Kiessling AA, Davis HW, Williams CS, Sauter RW, Harrison LW. Development and DNA Polymerase Activities in Cultured Preimplantation Mouse Embryos: Comparison with Embryos Developed In Vivo. J Exper Zool. 1991;258:34-47.

36. Fissore R, O'Keefe S, Kiessling AA. The Purine-Induced Block to Mouse Embryo Cleavage is Reversed by Compounds that Elevate Cyclic-Adenosine Monophosphate. Biol. Reprod. 1992;47:1105-1112.

37. Loutradis D, Kallianidis K, Drakakis P, Michalas S, Milingos S, Bletsa R, Aravantinos L, Creatsas G, Kiessling AA. Successful pregnancy in human IVF using BSA as a protein source in the transfer medium. 1992. ARTA 3: 233-238.

38. Pal SK, Crowell RC, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM. Expression of proto-oncogenes in mouse eggs and preimplantation embryos. Mol Reprod Dev. 1993;35:8-15.

39. Kiessling AA, Crowell RC, Brettler D, Forsberg A, Wolf B. HIV detection and differential leukocyte counts are accurate and safer with formaldehyde-fixed blood. Blood 1993;81:864-865.

40. Kiessling AA, Yin HZ, Purohit A, Kowal M, Wolf B. Formaldehyde-fixed semen is suitable and safer for leukocyte detection and DNA amplification. Fertil Steril. 1993;60:576-581.

41. Fitzgerald LM, Yin H, Kiessling AA. PCR amplification of HIV and cellular DNA sequences in formaldehyde-fixed, immunoreactive peripheral white blood cells. BioTechniques. 1993;15:128-133.

42. Mehta TS, Kiessling AA. The developmental potential of mouse embryos conceived in Ham's F-10 medium containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Fertil Steril. 1993;60:1088-1093.

43. Loutradis D, Kiessling AA, Kallianidis K, Siskos K, Creatsas G, Michalas S, Aravantinos D. A preliminary trial of human zygote culture in Ham's F-10 without hypoxanthine. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1993;10:271-275.

44. Pal SK, Torry D, Serta R, Crowell RC, Seibel MM, Cooper GM, Kiessling AA. Expression and potential function of the c-mos protooncogene in human eggs. Fertil Steril. 1994;61:496-503.

45. Yamauchi N, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM. The Ras/Raf signaling pathway ia required for progression of mouse embryos through the two cell stage. Molecular and Cellular Biology 1994; 10: 6655-6662.

46. Loutradis D, Drakakis P, Michalas S, Hatzaki C, Kallianidis K, Aravantinos D and Kiessling AA. The effect of compounds altering the cAMP level on reversing the 2-cell block induced by hypoxanthine in mouse embryos in vitro. Euro J Ob Gyn Reprod Biol. 1995; 82: 167-175.

47. Seibel MM, Kearnan M, Kiessling AA. Parameters predicting success for natural cycle IVF. Fertil Steril. 1995; 63: 1251-4.

48. Kiessling AA, Lamparelli N, Yin H-Z, Seibel MM, Eyre RC. Semen leukocytes: Friends or Foes? Fertil Steril. 1995; 64: 195-197.

49. Serta RS, Michalopoulos J, Seibel MM and Kiessling AA. Developmental potential of mouse oocytes matured in serum free culture. Human Reproduction. 1995; 10: 1810-1815.

50. Drakakis P, Loutradis D, Milingos S, Michalas S, Kallianidis K, Bletsa R, Aravantinos D and Kiessling AA. A preliminary study of the effect of growth hormone on mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1995; 40: 222-226.

51. Kiessling AA, Michalopoulos J and Serta R. Immature oocyte development. Human Reproduction. 1996, 11:2336.

52. Pierce, K, Kiessling AA, Fitzgerald LM, Silberstein M, Seibel, M. An improved method of preimplantation embryo biopsy" Human Reproduction. 1997, 13:1889.

53. Byrn RA, Zhang D, Eyre R, McGowan K, Kiessling AA. HIV-1 in semen: an isolated virus reservoir. The Lancet. 1997; 350: 1141.

54. Kiessling AA, Zhang D, Chhay H, Fitzgerald Ll, Brettler D, Eyre RC, Steinberg J, McGowan K Byrn RA. Human Immunodeficiency Virus in semen arises from a genetically distinct virus reservoir. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 1998, 14: 33-41.

55. Byrn RA and Kiessling AA. Analysis of HIV in semen: indications of a genetically distinct virus reservoir. J. of Reproductive Immunology, 1998, 14: 161-176.

56. Kiessling AA. Expression of HIV LTR-coupled genes in early cleaving embryos. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 1998, 41: 95-104.

57. Eyre RC, Yin H-Z and Kiessling, AA. Prostate specific antigen is detectable in formalin-fixed semen. British Journal of Urology. 1999, 83: 622-688.

69. Eyre RC, Zheng G and AA Kiessling. Multiple drug resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus in semen but not blood of a man on antiretroviral therapy. Urology. 2000, 55: 591-594.

70. Kiessling AA and S Markoulaki. Interaction of gametes with exogenous genes: possible opportunities for incorporation into embryonic genome. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 2000, 56: 271-274.

71. Cibelli JB, AA Kiessling, K Cunniff, C Richards, RP Lanza, MD West. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Humans: Pronuclear and Early Embryonic Development. J of Regenerative Medicine 2001, 2: 25-31.

72. Okamoto M, R Byrn, RC Eyre, T Mullen, P Church and AA Kiessling. Seminal plasma induces programmed cell death in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2002, 18: 797-803.

73. Green RM, DeVries KP, Bernstein J, Goodman KW, Kaufmann R, Kiessling AA, Levin SR, Moss SL, Tauer CA. Overseeing research on therapeutic cloning: a private ethics board responds to its critics. Hastings Center Report, 2002, 32: 27-33.

74. Mullen T, RL Kiessling, AA Kiessling. Distinct populations of leukocytes in semen producing organs of the normal, hemicastrated and vasectomized mouse. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2003, 19: 235-243.

Reviews, Books, Monographs, Computer Animations:
1. Weitlauf HM, Kiessling AA. Activity of RNA and DNA polymerases in delayed implanting mouse embryos. In: Glasser SR, Bullock DW, eds. Cellular and molecular aspects of implantation. New York: Plenum Publishing Co., 1981:125-36.

2. Kiessling AA, Blankevoort M. Effect of low temperature storage on the viability of transferred goat embryos. Dairy Goat J. 1981; 59:58-60.

3. Kiessling AA, Blankevoort M. Embryo transplants. Dairy Goat J. 1983; 61:96-8.

4. Blankevoort M, Kiessling AA, Skinner N. Success of direct and delayed transfer of goat embryos. Dairy Goat J. 1983; 61:1019-21.

6. Cooper GM, Goldman DS, Kiessling AA, and Millette CF. The Expression of Oncogenes in Germ Cells. In: Haseltine F, ed. Meiotic Inhibition: Molecular Control of Meiosis. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1988:275-289.

7. Kiessling AA, Loutradis D, McShane PM, and Jackson KV. Fertilization in Tryspin-treated oocytes. In: In Vitro Fertilization and other Assisted Reproduction, Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences. 1988; 541:614-620.

8. Kiessling AA, and Cooper GM. The Expression of Oncogenes in Mammalian Embryogenesis. In: Rosenblum IY, and Heyner S. Chapter in Regulation of Growth and Development, CRC Press. 1989.

9. Kiessling AA. Retroviruses and Reproduction. Fertil and Steril. 1989. 51:756-758.

10. Anderson SC, Cooper GM and Kiessling AA. Meiosis in Motion. 1991. VHS format exhibited at the World Congress of Assisted Reproduction, Paris, France, 1991 and at the Cell Biology Meeting, Boston, MA, 1991.

11. Kiessling AA. The Role of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Yielding HIV-Free Offspring of HIV-Infected Parents. In: Mellica F, ed. AIDS and Human Reproduction, S. Karger AG, Basel Switzerland. 1992:139-144.

12. Kiessling AA. Semen transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Letter, Fertil Steril. 1992;58:667-669.

13. Kiessling AA. HIV in semen. Letter, JAMA. 1992;268:2651.

14. Kiessling AA. Detection of human immunodeficiency virus in blood or semen by polymerase `chain reaction. Reply, Fertil Steril. 1993;59:1143-1144.

15. Seibel MM, Kiessling AA. Compensating egg donors: equal pay for equal time? Letter, New Engl J Med. 1993;328:737.

16. Seibel MM, Kiessling AA. Oocyte maturation. Assist Reprod Review. 1993;3:2-5.

17. Seibel MM, Kiessling AA, Bernstein J, Levin S (Eds), Technological Advances in Infertility and Their Psychosocial, Legal and Ethical Implications. 1993. New York, Springer-Verlag.

18. Kiessling AA. The Expression of Proto-Oncogenes in Mammalian Gametes and Embryos. In: Seibel MM, Kiessling AA, Bernstein J, Levin S (Eds), Technological Advances in Infertility and Their Psychosocial Legal and Ethical Implications. New York, Springer-Verlag. 1993.

19. Kiessling AA. The Role of the Embryo in Prenatal Diagnosis. In: Seibel MM, Kiessling AA, Bernstein J, Levin S (Eds), Technological Advances in Infertility and Their Psychosocial Legal and Ethical Implications. New York, Springer-Verlag. 1993.

20. Kiessling AA. Human immunodeficiency virus in semen. Current Opinion in Urology. 1994;4:60-65.

21. Kiessling RL and Kiessling AA. The Life Cycle of HIV. 1996. Computer animation created for distribution to primary care physicians in Fiji as part of a "Train the Trainer" project funded by The World Aids Foundation.

22. Kiessling AA. Should Assisted Reproductive Technology be used to aid HIV infected men have children? Contemporary OB/Gyn, July, 2000.

23. Kiessling AA, 2001, In the stem-cell debate, new concepts need new words. Nature 413: 453.

24. Kiessling AA and SC Anderson. 2003. Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, MA.

25. Kiessling AA, 2004, Isolation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I from Semen and Vaginal Fluids in Retrovirus Protocols I, Humana Press

26. Kiessling AA, S J Eyre and B M Desmarais, 2004, Detection of Drug-resistant HIV-1 Strains in Retrovirus Protocols I, Humana Press

27. Kiessling AA, What is an Embryo?, Connecticut Law Review, 2004, University of Connecticut School of Law.

Invited Seminars and Lectures
1979 Lecturer on "Reverse Transcriptase Activity in Nonmalignant Cells," Department of Biochemistry Symposium, Oregon Health Sciences University

1984 Invited Lecturer on "In Vitro Fertilization," Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health Sciences University

1985 Invited Speaker on "Retrovirus Expression in the Reproductive Tract of Mice," LHRRB Seminar Series, Harvard Medical School

1985 Symposium Director, "Embryo Transfer in Large Animals," Pan American Congress, Sao Paolo, Brazil, 1985.

1986 Lecturer on "Fertilization and Early Embryo Development," Fertility and Endocrine Resident Conference

1986 Invited Lecturer on "Retroviruses in the Male Reproductive System," American Gynecologic Travel Club, Boston

1987-1988 Lecturer on "Fertilization," Reproductive Endocrinology Postgraduate Course, Harvard Medical School

1988 Invited Lecturer on "Fertilization in the 90's" Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School

1988 Invited Lecturer on "Retrovirus expression in the male reproductive tract", UCLA Spring Seminar Series, UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.

1988 Invited Lecturer on "Retrovirus expression in the male reproductive ract", LHRRB Seminar Series, Boston, Masschusetts

1988 Invited Lecturer, "Normal Sexual Differentiation: Pseudohermaphrodism," IV European Congress on Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Rhodes Island, Greece

1988 Invited Lecturer, "Regulation of Oocyte Maturation" Satellite Workshop on In Vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer and GIFT, Rodos Palace Hotel, Rhodes Island, Greece.

1989 Invited Lecturer on "Oocyte Maturation" Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital

1990 Invited Lecturer, "Reproductive Tract Retroviruses", Department Seminar Series, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Tufts Medical School

1990 Course Co-Director, "Technological Advances in Infertility Treatment", Harvard Medical School, Department of Continuing Education, Cambridge MA

1990 Course Lecture "The Expression of Oncogenes in Mammalian Gametes and Embryos," Cambridge, MA

1990 Course Lecture "The Role of the Embryo in Prenatal Diagnosis," Cambridge, MA

1990 Invited Speaker, "The Role of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Producing HIV-free offspring from HIV-Infected Parents," and Session chairman, The First International Symposium on AIDS and Reproduction, Dec., 1990, Genoa, Italy

1990 Invited Lecturer, "Reproductive Tract Retroviruses," AIDS Research Group Seminar Series, Children's Hospital, Boston, Ma.

1991 Invited Faculty, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, October 1991, "What the Obstetrician/Gynecologist should know about AIDS," Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

1991 Invited Lecturer, "New Horizons in Human Fertilization," Museum of Science, "Two of Every Sort," Exhibition, Boston, MA,

1992 Invited Lecturer, "Purine-induced Blockade of Early Cleaving Mouse Embryos," Spring Lecture Series, Northeastern University, Boston

1992 Invited Lecturer, "Retrovirus Expression in Male Reproductive Tract Tissues" Division of AIDS, Department of Hematology/oncology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York

1993 Invited Lecturer, "New Horizons in Human Fertilization," National Association of Biology Teachers 1993 National Convention, Boston, MA, Nov., 1993.

1994 Invited Faculty, Assisted Reproductive Technology Forum, "The First Three Cell Cycles of the Mammalian Embryo," Toyama, Japan

1994 Invited Speaker, "Can an HIV-free pregnancy be achieved?" Department of Medicine, Grand Rounds, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge MA, December

1995 Invited Lecturer, "Cell Cycle Controls during Early Human Development", Mitera Hospital, Athens, Greece March, 1995

1995 Invited Lecturer, "The First Three Cell Cycles of the Mammalian Embryo," Centre for Reproduction and Early Human Development, Monash University, Melbourne Australia, March, 1995

1995 Invited Lecturer, "The First Three Cell Cycles of the Mammalian Embryo," Department of Veterinary Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA, May, 1995

1995 Invited Lecturer, "Cell Cycle Controls during Early Human Development," Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, September, 1995

1996 Invited Faculty, National Institutes of Health Workshop on Semen Transmission of HIV, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, February, 1996

1996 Director, World Aids Foundation Workshop to Train Health Care Professionals, Nadi, Fiji

Lectures: "HIV Disease and the Immune System" and "Maternal-Fetal Transmission of HIV Infection."

1997 Invited Faculty, Hellenic National Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Crete, May, 1997 "AIDS and Reproduction"

1997 Invited Faculty, Sienna Symposium, HIV and Gametes, Sienna, Italy, October, 1997 Lecture: "HIV LTR Driven Gene Expression in Mouse and Human Fertilized Eggs"

1998 Invited Speaker, University of San Francisco, "Semen Transmission of HIV"

1999 Invited Speaker, Tufts School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, "Semen: an isolated reservoir of HIV infection"

1999 Invited Speaker, Northwestern University School of Medicine, "Semen: an isolated reservoir of HIV infection"

2000 Invited Speaker, National Institutes of Health, Laboratory of Dr. Tony Fauci, "HIV infection in the male genital tract"

2000 Invited Speaker, 2000 TALA National Meeting, "Reproductive Challenges and Options for Couples Living with HIV Disease" Boca Raton, FL

2000 Invited Speaker, Department of Biology, Boston University, "Biology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Risks of Sexual Transmission"

2000 Invited Speaker, Brandeis University, Department of Biology, "Reproductive concerns and sexually transmitted diseases."

2001 Invited Speaker, New England Medical Center, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, "Reproductive Options for Couples Living with HIV Disease"

2001 Invited Speaker, Brandeis University, Department of Biology, "Reproductive concerns and sexually transmitted diseases."

2002 Keynote Address, Fourth International Conference on Biotechnology, Shanghai, China, "Human Embryonic Stem Cells: The Present and the Future"

2002 Invited Speaker, Brandeis University, Department of Biology, "Reproductive concerns and sexually transmitted diseases."

2002 Symposium Organizer: "The Activated Egg", Henderson House, Weston, MA, sponsored by the Bedford Research Foundation

2003 Invited Dinner Speaker, Women’s Health Society, Winston-Salem, NC,"

2003 Invited Speaker, Brandeis University, Department of Biology, "Reproductive concerns and sexually transmitted diseases."

2003 Keynote Speaker, Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Annual Research Synposium, October 17, 2003, "Stem Cells and Gametes, the Cycle of Life"

2003 Invited Speaker, Physicians with Parkinson's, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, "Stem Cells: The Present and the Future"

2003 Invited Speaker, Activated Egg Symposium, November 14, "Reverse Transcriptase Activity and Early Embryo Development: An Old Theory with New Evidence"

2003 Invited Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC "Stem Cells: The Present and the Future"

2003 Invited Speaker, Division of Infectious Disease, "Overview of HIV in Semen"

2004 Invited Grand Rounds, Joint Surgical Grand Rounds, University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital and St. Vincent Hospital, February, 2004, "Stem Cells and the Surgeon"