Ann Kiessling

{{short description|American reproductive biologist involved in stem cell research}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Ann Kiessling

|image = Ann A. Kiessling.jpg

|image_size = 180px

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|03|29}}

|birth_name = Ann Anderson

|birth_place = Baker City, Oregon, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|alma mater = U. of Virginia (BSc.)
Central Washington U. (BSc.,MS)
Oregon State University (Ph.D.)

UCSD (Postdoc.)

|known_for = Discovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells, founder of the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction, director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation

|occupation = Stem cell researcher

}}

Ann Kiessling ({{nee}} Anderson; born March 29, 1942) is an American reproductive biologist and a researcher in human parthenogenic stem cell research at The Bedford Research Foundation. She was an associate professor in teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Faulkner Hospital, New England Deaconess, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) from 1985 until 2012.

Background

Kiessling was born Ann Anderson in Baker City, Oregon. Her father, William Charles Anderson, was a squadron commander in the US Air Force during World War II. She graduated from Klamath Falls High School in 1960 and attended University of Virginia where she received the first of her two bachelor's degrees, in nursing. In 1966 she received her second bachelor's degree, in chemistry, from Central Washington University where she also received her master's degree in organic chemistry in 1967. In 1971 she earned her Ph.D. from Oregon State University in biochemistry and biophysics.{{Cite web|url=http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/kiessling/biography.html|title=Biography - Ann Kiessling Oral History Interview - June 13, 2014 - Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries|website=scarc.library.oregonstate.edu|access-date=April 30, 2019}} She did postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and University of California, San Diego. Kiessling is mother of three daughters and a son.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/about-us/leadership/director/|title=Director|website=Bedford Research Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=April 30, 2019}}

Career

Kiessling is noted for her discovery of reverse transcriptase activity in normal human cells.{{cite journal |vauthors=Kiessling AA, Goulian M |title=Detection of reverse transcriptase activity in human cells |journal=Cancer Research |volume=39 |issue=6 Pt 1 |pages=2062–9 |date=June 1979 |pmid=87260 |url=http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=87260}} This report pioneered the importance of naturally occurring retrovirus sequences in human genes, now thought to be important to the genetic plasticity involved in human evolution and biology. Prior to this discovery, it had been assumed that reverse transcriptase was an enzyme found only in retroviruses (such as human immunodeficiency virus). To understand the normal biologic role of reverse transcriptase, Kiessling began to study eggs and early cleaving embryos.{{cite journal |vauthors=O'Keefe SJ, Wolfes H, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM |title=Microinjection of antisense c-mos oligonucleotides prevents meiosis II in the maturing mouse egg |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=86 |issue=18 |pages=7038–42 |date=September 1989 |pmid=2476810 |pmc=297988 |doi=10.1073/pnas.86.18.7038|bibcode=1989PNAS...86.7038O |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |author=Kiessling AA |title=What is an embryo? |journal=Connecticut Law Review |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=1051–92 |year=2004 |pmid=15868674}} Her dual interests in virology and reproductive biology led to research in semen transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, and the creation of the first laboratory for human in vitro fertilization in Oregon in the early 1980s. Harvard Medical School recruited Kiessling in 1985, where she conducted research until 2011.{{cite web |title=Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine - Past Winners |url=http://www.rose.brandeis.edu/Center/gabbay_past.html |publisher=Brandeis University |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020422075737/http://www.rose.brandeis.edu/Center/gabbay_past.html |archive-date=April 22, 2002 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title= Dr. Ann Kiessling Devotes Full Time to Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |date=September 19, 2012 |url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/article/27110 |publisher= Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |access-date=March 23, 2014}} Kiessling conducts research at the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation.{{cite web |url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/aboutus/aboutus.php?item=about_director |title=About the director |publisher=Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |access-date=November 8, 2012}}

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.{{cite web| url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/aboutus/aboutus.php?item=about_director|title=Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation – Official Website|access-date=April 13, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070407203014/http://www.bedfordresearch.org/aboutus/aboutus.php?item=about_director| archive-date= April 7, 2007 | url-status= live}} The techniques developed for the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction have been extended to other diseases of the male genitourinary tract, such as prostatitis and bladder infections. Expertise in human egg biology led Kiessling to develop the country's first human egg donor program for stem cell research in 2000. It remains a research focus today.{{cite web |url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/stemcell/stemcell.php?item=stemcell_eggdonor |title=Egg Donor Program History & Overview |publisher=Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |access-date=November 8, 2012}} Kiessling's team was the first to establish the importance to circadian rhythms to early egg development.{{cn|date=August 2023}}Because of Kiessling's Special Program of Assisted Reproduction, 101 healthy babies have been fathered by HIV positive men as of October 2009.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2009-11-09 |title=Dr. Ann A. Kiessling honored with the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award for Biotechnology and Medicine |url=https://www.bedfordresearch.org/dr-ann-a-kiessling-honored-with-the-jacob-heskel-gabbay-award-for-biotechnology-and-medicine/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Bedford Research Foundation |language=en-US}}

Among the publications by Kiessling is the first comprehensive look at the influence of accurate science terminology on laws titled, "What is an Embryo," published by the Connecticut Law Review {{Cite journal|title=What is an embryo? |url=http://connecticutlawreview.org/archive/vol36/summer/Kiessling.pdf |journal=Connecticut Law Review |date=January 1, 2004 |issn=0010-6151 |pmid=15868674 |pages=1051–1092 |volume=36 |issue=4 |first=Ann A. |last=Kiessling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709041838/http://connecticutlawreview.org/archive/vol36/summer/Kiessling.pdf |archive-date=July 9, 2006 }} along with rejoinders by Harold Shapiro, Prof John A. Robertson, Prof. Lars Noah, and Father Kevin P. Quinn. The law review addresses the controversy of all of the entities that are currently called embryos with regards to embryonic stem cell research legislation around the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/politics/humanembryo.php?item=stemcell_lawreview |title=What is an Embryo? Law Review |publisher=Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation |access-date=November 8, 2012}} In 2003, Kiessling wrote Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential, the first textbook on the controversial topic.{{cite web |url=http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763743860/ |title=Jones and Bartlett Topics in Biology Series – Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Second Edition Text Book |access-date=April 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022004331/http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763743860/ |archive-date=October 22, 2006 |url-status=dead }}

Kiessling is a member of the California (California Constitution Article XXXV) and Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Boards,{{cite web|url=http://www.dph.state.ct.us/StemCell/Committees.htm|title=Connecticut Stem Cell Research Program Committee|access-date=June 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605230843/http://www.dph.state.ct.us/StemCell/Committees.htm|archive-date=June 5, 2007|url-status=dead}} and a member of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committees for Harvard University,{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~research/approvals/escro.html |title=Harvard University's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee |access-date=June 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702172106/http://fas.harvard.edu/~research/approvals/escro.html |archive-date=July 2, 2007 |url-status=live }} Joslin Diabetes Center and Children's Hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/research/data_admin/Site799/mainpageS799P1sublevel49.html |title=The Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston |access-date=June 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222528/http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/research/data_admin/Site799/mainpageS799P1sublevel49.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }} Kiessling has been cited in articles in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and NPR among others.

SARS2 (Coronavirus)

In March 2020, Kiessling expanded her laboratory operations at the Bedford Research Foundation to include SARS2 (COVID-19) testing.Gordon, Ken and Barret, Mike (March 25, 2020). [https://www.thebedfordcitizen.org/2020/03/rep-gordon-sen-barrett-provide-update-on-state-efforts-to-combat-covid-19-on-wednesday-march-25/]. The Bedford Citizen. On April 17, 2020, Kiessling reported that one of her daughters, a front-line worker at a local hospital, had tested positive for Coronavirus.Kiessling, Ann (April 17, 2020). [https://www.cabinet.com/opinion/cabinet-letters/2020/04/17/on-demand-testing-needed/]. The Cabinet Press. Kiessling's frustration over the continued lack of available testing led her to expand the Foundation's SARS2 testing efforts to offer public testing.Floyd, Jesse (April 24, 2020). [https://bedford.wickedlocal.com/news/20200424/coronavirus-testing-in-bedford-well-received] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723021117/https://bedford.wickedlocal.com/news/20200424/coronavirus-testing-in-bedford-well-received|date=July 23, 2020}}. Bedford Minuteman Wicked Local.

Awards

2007 – Kiessling's Special Program of Assisted Reproduction was presented with the Technology Prize Paper Award by The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.{{cite web|url=http://www.asrm.org/Professionals/Meetings/annualmeeting.html|title=The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2007 Conference|access-date=November 9, 2009|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010222908/https://www.asrm.org/Professionals/Meetings/annualmeeting.html|url-status=dead}}
2009 – Kiessling received the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award for Biotechnology and Medicine.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordresearch.org/newsandlibrary/news_article.php?id=24698|title=2009 Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award|access-date=November 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113055902/http://www.bedfordresearch.org/newsandlibrary/news_article.php?id=24698|archive-date=November 13, 2009|url-status=dead}}
2010 – Central Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award,{{cite web|url=http://www.cwu.edu/~cots/alumni.html|title=COTS 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award|access-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606122545/http://www.cwu.edu/~cots/alumni.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}
2011 – First ever University of Virginia, school of nursing, Alumni Achievement Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.nursing.virginia.edu/alumni/awards/|title=2010 Alumni Achievement Award|access-date=April 23, 2011}}
2014 – Honorary Doctorate and Lifetime Achievement Award from Jodhpur School of Public Health, Mumbai, India, presented at the 2014 HIV Congress in Mumbai.{{cite web|url=http://www.hivcongress2014.com/program.html|title=2014 Lifetime Achievement Award|access-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324050033/http://www.hivcongress2014.com/program.html|archive-date=March 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}
2014 – Oregon State University Commencement Address{{cite web|url=http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/mar/noted-researcher-speak-osu-commencement-june|title=Noted researcher to speak at OSU commencement in June|access-date=March 23, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNgcD4VRjpI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/LNgcD4VRjpI |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|title= OSU Commencement Address "Stay Involved with Government"|website=YouTube |date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2017}}{{cbignore}}
2014 – Honorary Doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology, Oregon State University{{cite web |title=OSU Honorary Doctorate Award Previous Recipients |url=https://senate.oregonstate.edu/osu-honorary-doctorate-award-previous-recipients |website=Faculty Senate |access-date=December 1, 2024 |language=en |date=August 15, 2013}}

Selected publications

{{cite journal |vauthors=Loutradis D, John D, Kiessling AA |title=Hypoxanthine causes a 2-cell block in random-bred mouse embryos |journal=Biology of Reproduction |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=311–6 |date=September 1987 |pmid=3676390 |doi=10.1095/biolreprod37.2.311|doi-access=free }}
{{cite journal |vauthors=Goldman DS, Kiessling AA, Millette CF, Cooper GM |title=Expression of c-mos RNA in germ cells of male and female mice |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=84 |issue=13 |pages=4509–13 |date=July 1987 |pmid=2955407 |pmc=305119 |doi=10.1073/pnas.84.13.4509|bibcode=1987PNAS...84.4509G |doi-access=free }}
{{cite journal |vauthors=Borzy MS, Connell RS, Kiessling AA |title=Detection of human immunodeficiency virus in cell-free seminal fluid |journal=Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes |volume=1 |issue=5 |pages=419–24 |year=1988 |pmid=2464685}}
{{cite journal |vauthors=O'Keefe SJ, Wolfes H, Kiessling AA, Cooper GM |title=Microinjection of antisense c-mos oligonucleotides prevents meiosis II in the maturing mouse egg |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=86 |issue=18 |pages=7038–42 |date=September 1989 |pmid=2476810 |pmc=297988 |doi=10.1073/pnas.86.18.7038|bibcode=1989PNAS...86.7038O |doi-access=free }}
{{Cite book|title=Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential|last1=Kiessling|first1=Ann A.|last2=Anderson|first2=Scott|publisher=Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.|year=2003|isbn=978-0763723415|location=Burlington, MA}}
{{cite journal |author=Kiessling AA |title=What is an embryo? |journal=Connecticut Law Review |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=1051–92 |year=2004 |pmid=15868674}}
{{cite journal |author1=Ann Kiessling |author2=Ritsa Bletsa |author3=Bryan Desmarais |author4=Christina Mara |author5=Kostas Kallianidis |author6=Dimitris Loutradis

|title=Evidence that human blastomere cleavage is under unique cell cycle control

|journal=Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics |year=2009 |volume=26

|issue=4

|pages=187–195

|doi=10.1007/s10815-009-9306-x

|pmid=19288185|pmc=2682187

}}

References

External links

[http://www.bedfordresearch.org Bedford Research Foundation]
[http://lrb.med.harvard.edu/index.html Harvard Medical School, Laboratory of Reproductive Biology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194721/http://lrb.med.harvard.edu/index.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}
[http://www.bedfordspar.org Special Program of Assisted Reproduction at the Bedford Research Foundation]
[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/alternative-cloning.html NOVA Interview, "An Alternative To Cloning", April 1, 2005]
[http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/kiessling/index.html Ann Kiessling Oral History Interview]

Category:American developmental biologists

Category:American embryologists

Category:HIV/AIDS researchers

Category:Stem cell researchers

Category:Living people

Category:1942 births

Category:American women biologists

Category:American women chemists

Category:Harvard Medical School faculty

Category:Oregon State University alumni

Category:University of Virginia School of Nursing alumni

Category:People from Baker City, Oregon