Prof. Henry Young

Brief Biography:

I am a pioneer (alomost 40 years) in the field of adult-derived stem cell biology, having discovered (using single cell serial dilution clonogenic analysis)adult mesenchymal stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, and totipotent stem cells - all located within the connective tissue niches of all organs and tissues, even those outside the gonads (i.e., totipotent stem cells). I have been characterizing the various adult stem cells in 11 species of mammals, including humans, in all possible manners from cell surface markers, to genetic markers, to isolation, cultivation, cryopreservation, to plasticity in vitro, to plasticity in vivo, etc. I consider myself an expert in the field of adult stem cell biology.

Academic positions:

HIGHER EDUCATION:

1. 1974: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH - B.S., Biology
2. 1977: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR - M.S., Zoology
3. 1983: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX - Ph.D., Anatomy
4. 1983-1987: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH - Postdoctoral Fellow, Carbohydrate
Biochemistry (Dr. Arnold I. Caplan, mentor)
5. 1987-1988: Rush Presbyterian Saint Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL – Instructor of Biochemistry (Dr. James Kimura, mentor), Hybridoma technology

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Research Awards

1. 1981: Sigma Xi Research Grant-in-Aid
2. 1993: International Certificate of Merit for Adult Limb Regeneration
3. 2009: International Albert Einstein Scientific Iconic Achievement Award for Adult Stem Cell Biology

Teaching Awards:

1. 1993: MUSM Hooding Award
2. 1994: MUSM Hooding Award
3. 1997: American Medical Women’s Medical Association Gender Equity Award

Special Awards:

1. 2005: Humanism in Medicine Award
2. 2005: Inductee: Arnold P. Gold Foundation - Gold Humanism Honor Society

ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS:

1. 1974: Scholarship, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
2. 1976: Award for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
3. 1979: Bio-Medical Research Grant, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
4. 1980: Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
5. 1981: Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
6. 1981: Sigma Xi Research Grant-in-Aid, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
7. 1983-1985: Muscular Dystrophy Association of America Postdoctoral Fellowship, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
8. 1985-1987: NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Developmental Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
9. 1993: Invited Seminar: "Mesenchymal Stem Cells, A Potential Donor Source for
Human Tissue Transplantation"; The Children's Hospital - Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, March 18-19, 1993, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA.
10. 1993: Hooding Award: "In Recognition of Excellence in Quality Medical Education
and Promotion of Student Biomedical Research". Presented by Mercer University School of Medicine Graduating Class of 1993, June 5, 1993.

Research interests:

I started studying the regeneration of tissues during limb regeneration in the adult terrestrial salamander in 1975. My thoughts were, if terrestrial salamanders can do it, why can't humans. I have spent my entire research career studying this phenomenon. The bottom line answer is HUMANS CAN REGENERATE THEIR OWN DAMAGED TISSUES USING ADULT-DERIVED STEM CELLS. My research has shown that humans contain a variety of very specific precursor cells: I have identified, isolated and/or cloned from single cells: progenitor cells, specific germ layer lineage stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, and totipotent stem cells from salamanders, avians, and 11 species of adult mammals, including humans. These cells individually and/or in toto have the capabilities of forming all tissues of the body, the germ cells, and the cell types within the embryonic portion of the placenta. I have also discovered that the human body knows far more about the repair process that I would hope to discover in several lifetimes. Our results have shown that the best repair we have seen in our in vivo non-human mammalian models [Parkinson’s disease, Myocardial Infarction, Type-I Diabetes] and in vivo human models [Parkinson’s disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Neuroparesthesias, Sciatica, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuropathies] have used the most primitive of our isolated single cell-cloned stem cells, the totipotent stem cells. My ultimate goal is to see adult-derived (totipotent and pluripotent) stem cells, either autologous or allogeneic, used to treat the various afflictions that affect human life. I am interested in the application of autologous and/or allogeneic adult-derived (totipotent and pluripotent) stem cells for the treatment of incurable diseases and incurable traumatic injuries.

Any other information:

Publications:

1. Young, H.E.: Epidermal ridge formation during limb regeneration in the adult salamander, Ambystoma annulatum. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science, 31:107-109, 1977.
2. Young, H.E.: Anomalies during limb regeneration in the adult salamander, Ambystoma annulatum. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science, 31:110- 111, 1977.
3. Young, H.E.: Limb Regeneration in the Adult Salamander, Ambystoma annulatum Cope 1889 (Amphibia:Ambystomatidae). University of Arkansas Library Press, copyright -1977.
4. Young, H.E., Bailey, C.F., Dalley, B.K.: Environmental conditions prerequisite for complete limb regeneration in the postmetamorphic adult land-phase salamander, Ambystoma. Anatomical Record, 206:289-294, 1983.
5. Young, H.E., Bailey, C.F., Dalley, B.K.: Gross morphological analysis of limb regeneration in postmetamorphic adult Ambystoma. Anatomical Record, 206:295-306, 1983.
6. Young, H.E.: A Temporal Examination of Glycoconjugates During the Initiation Phase of Limb Regeneration in Adult Ambystoma. Texas Tech University Library Press, copyright - 1983.
7. Young, H.E., Dalley, B.K., Markwald, R.R.: Identification of hyaluronate within peripheral nervous tissue matrices during limb regeneration. Edited by Coates, P.W., Markwald, R.R., Kenny, A.D., Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York. In: Developing and Regenerating Vertebrate Nervous Systems, Neurology and Neurobiology, 6:175-183, 1983.
8. Young, H.E., Bailey, C.F., Markwald, R.R., Dalley, B.K.: Histological analysis of limb regeneration in postmetamorphic adult Ambystoma. Anatomical Record, 212:183-194, 1985.
9. Young, H.E., Carrino, D.A., Caplan, A.I.: Initial characterization of small proteoglycans
synthesized by embryonic chick leg muscle-associated connective tissues. Connective Tissue Research, 17:99-118, 1988.
10. Young, H.E., Dalley, B.K., Markwald, R.R.: Effect of selected denervations on glycoconjugate composition and tissue morphology during the initiation phase of limb regeneration in adult Ambystoma. Anatomical Record, 223:223-230, 1989.
11. Young, H.E., Dalley, B.K., Markwald, R.R.: Glycoconjugates in normal wound tissue matrices during the initiation phase of limb regeneration in adult Ambystoma. Anatomical Record, 223:231-241, 1989.
12. Young, H.E., Young, V.E., Caplan, A.I.: Comparison of fixatives for maximal retention of glycoconjugates for autoradiography, including use of sodium sulfate to release unincorporated radiolabeled [35S]sulfate. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 37:223-228, 1989.
13. Young, H.E., Carrino, D.A., Caplan, A.I.: Histochemical analysis of newly synthesized and resident sulfated glycosaminoglycans during musculogenesis in the embryonic chick leg. Journal of Morphology, 201:85-103, 1989.
14. Young, H.E., Carrino, D.A., Caplan, A.I.: Changes in synthesis of sulfated glycoconjugates during muscle development, maturation, and aging in embryonic to senescent CBF-1 mouse. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 53:179-193, 1990.
15. Young, H.E., Morrison, D.C., Martin, J.D., and Lucas, P.A.: Cryopreservation of embryonic
chick myogenic lineage-committed stem cells. Journal of Tissue Culture Methods, 13:275-284, 1991.
16. Shoptaw, J.H., Bowerman, S., Young, H.E. Young, Lucas, P.A.: Use of gelfoam as a substrate for osteogenic cells of marrow. Surgical Forum XLII:537-538, 1991.
17. Bowerman, S.G., Taylor, S.S., Putnam, L., Young, H.E., Lucas, P.A.: Transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) stimulates chondrogenesis in cultured embryonic mesenchymal cells. Surgical Forum XLII:535-536, 1991.
18. Young, H.E., Sippel, J., Putnam, L.S., Lucas, P.A., Morrison, D.C.: Enzyme-linked immuno-culture assay. Journal of Tissue Culture Methods, 14:31-36, 1992.
19. Young, H.E., Ceballos, E.M., Smith, J.C., Lucas, P.A., Morrison, D.C.: Isolation of embryonic chick myosatellite and pluripotent stem cells. Journal of Tissue Culture Methods, 14:85-92, 1992.
20. Young, H.E., Ceballos, E.M., Smith, J.C., Mancini, M.L., Wright, R.P., Ragan, B.L., Bushell, I., Lucas, P.A.: Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells reside within avian connective tissue matrices. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology, 29A:723-736, 1993.

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:

For making sure that adult stem cell biology proceeds along a track that is NOT smoke and mirrors, but one that is truly scientific in activity and function.