About

Amander Clark PhD is Professor and former Department Chair of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology at UCLA and Founding Director of the UCLA Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education. Professor Clark is an award-winning scientist and internationally recognized expert on topics in stem cell biology, developmental biology and reproductive science. Her current interests are in ovarian health, formation of the ovarian reserve, and the creation of next generation tools and technologies using stem cells aimed at improving health and health-span. Professor Clark has authored more than 100 scientific articles with over 20,000 citations of her published work. She has been recognized with awards from the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the Society for the Study of Reproduction, the Founders Medal from the Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, the Concern Foundation, JM Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. She is regularly invited to appear as a subject matter expert for the New York Times, the Economist, the New Yorker and Public Radio. From 2023-2024 Professor Clark served as President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, a global non-profit that promotes excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. In addition to her reserach and teaching, Professor Clark serves on numerous Boards and in Executive Committee appointements including from 2023-2025 where she served on the National Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine Health Science Policy Board and is currently serving on the executive committee for the Center for the Study of Women/Barbra Streisand Center at UCLA. Through her research, service and teaching, Professor Clark is committed to scientific practices that are informed by multidisciplinary research and engagement with the public.

Background

Dr. Clark’s work in stem cell biology began in 2002 as a Postdoctoral fellow in laboratory of Dr. Renee Reijo Pera at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).  There, she studied not only the basic biology of human embryonic stem cells but also the molecular mechanisms of human germ cell formation. During that time only a small number of laboratories worldwide were performing research with human embryonic stem cells due to the technical challenges with expanding and differentiating these cells, and the uncertain national and international policy climate for research in this area. Despite these challenges, Dr. Clark and Dr Reijo-Pera were the first to report that human germline cells could be differentiated from human embryonic stem cells. This landmark paper has been cited more than 700 times and was used as the basis for Dr. Clark’s research program at UCLA.

UCLA

Dr. Clark joined the UCLA faculty in 2006 as an Assistant Professor, was awarded Associate Professor with tenure in 2012,  Associate Professor and Vice Chair in 2013, Professor and Vice Chair in 2015 and Department Chair of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology from 2017-2022.  She is currently the inaugural Director of the Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education.  The goal of the center is to ensure that reproductive science is equitable, accessible and inclusive so that scientific innovation upstream can improve people’s lives downstream at the point of care.

Affiliations

Key Member of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.

Member of the Cell and Developmental Biology Home Area.

Member of the Gene Regulation Epigenomics and Transcriptomics Home Area.

Member of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Stem Cell Biology Program Area.

Director of the UCLA Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education.