Shanghai Oxford and Cambridge Society and Dulwich College (Shanghai) are pleased to host Dulwich Talk, an evening of discussion with Professor William James, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford. Prof James will be presenting his research on stem cell technology

Stem cell technology and the pathogenesis of AIDS and Parkinson’s Disease

“Understanding the details of disease processes is fundamental to our ability to develop better diagnostics, treatments and preventative measures. To do this, we usually need to be able to ask questions of the sort, “what are the molecular and cellular interactions necessary for health in the normal tissue?” and “which of these interactions have to go wrong for disease to start or progress?” Answering these questions requires us to have access to authentic human tissues, and to be able to manipulate them experimentally, particularly by genetic modification. Up until now, we have had to rely on either very abnormal, cancer-derived cell cultures, or potentially misleading animal models to make progress. However, two recent advances promise to change all that. First, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) technology enables us to painlessly generate authentic human neurons and leukocytes from any appropriate donor. Second, gene editing technology enables us to ask precise questions about the role of particular proteins in disease, and to explore potential therapeutic approaches. Prof. James will illustrate these advances with work from his own laboratory that sheds light on the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease and AIDS.”

Professor of Virology, Associate of the Oxford Stem Cell Institute, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources), University of Oxford.

William James is Professor of Virology, a Fellow of Brasenose College, and a Fellow of the Oxford Martin School. His research group at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology uses stem cell technology to investigate the molecular biology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), particularly its interaction with macrophages. His team also contributes to international collaborations in the study of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases by running the James Martin Stem Cell Facility, a leading centre for the reprogramming and genetic manipulation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Professor James is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He was Associate Head of the Division of Medical Sciences, responsible for finance, physical capital, information and communication technology, from 2008 – 2011, has served as Head of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology (2007 – 2008), Monsanto Senior Research Fellow of Exeter College (1989 – 1994), and Medical Tutor at both Brasenose and Magdalen Colleges (2001 – 2011, and 1997 – 2001, respectively).

This presentation is kindly sponsored by Dulwich College (Shanghai).