Stem cell research is lecture topic at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ — The School of Science and Engineering at the State University of New York at New Paltz will continue its colloquium series with a lecture, titled “Stem Cell Research: Controlling Heart and Blood Development,” at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, in the Coykendall Science Building Auditorium.

The speaker, Dr. Todd Evans, will discuss stem cell research, with a particular focus on his own area of work – developing heart and blood cells for the treatment of heart disease. Evans is at the forefront of efforts to understand the mechanisms that guide this process in the formation of the cardiovascular systems.

“Surely one of the most fascinating mysteries of nature is the fact that a single cell can grow into a large and complex organism,” said David Clark, colloquium chair. “Descendants of this original ‘stem cell’ gradually differentiate into the vast multitude of different cell types in our bodies. By understanding this process, researchers hope to be able to repair or replace damaged tissue; an ability that could well lead to treatments for diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart failure and strokes. This lecture will help us to understand this research so that we can participate in the current public debate about its merits.”

After receiving his Ph.D. from Columbia University, Evans taught biological sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a professor in the Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information and directions, contact David Clark, associate dean of the School of Science and Engineering, at (845) 257-3728.