Robert Lanza is among the greatest scientists in today’s world. Presently, he works at Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) as a Chief Scientific Officer, and at Wake Forest University School of Medicine as their Adjunct Professor. He has numerous publications and discoveries, and several books. The “Principles of Tissue Engineering” is a distinguished book and considered as the authoritative reference in tissue engineering. ‘Essentials of Stem Biology”, “Handbook of Stem Cell” and “One World: The Health & Survival of the Human Species in the 21st Century” are his other well-known books.
Robert Lanza finished his MD from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a University Scholar as well as Benjamin Scholar over there. He was part of the Fulbright Scholar group as well. The group cloned the first human embryo in order to produce pluripotent stem cells. He pioneered in cloning endangered animals- Gaur in 2001 and Wild Ox in 2003. He showed that one can use nuclear transplantation to reverse the process of aging and to develop tissues that are compatible with the body’s immune system.
He illustrated that the procedures for preimplantation genetic diagnosis can also be used to develop human embryonic stem cells without damaging the embryo. One of his main works was to differentiate human prurient stem cells into the retinal cells. Animal trials have shown lasting benefits in their vision. His work in the field of nuclear transfer is revolutionary. He recently succeeded in producing red blood cells that can transport oxygen from the stem cells. He was also a member of the team that discovered a safer procedure for producing induced pluripotent stem cells in the recent past.