About
Amander Clark PhD is an Australian born, American stem cell scientist, geneticist and developmental biologist. She is currently Director of the Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education at UCLA, a key member of the UCLA Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research and President-elect of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, a global non-profit that promotes excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. Professor Clark’s work has been recognized by Awards from the International Society for Stem Cell Research, STOP Cancer, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Concern Foundation as well as several prominent named lectureships from National and International Scientific and Medical Societies.
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 650 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 tenure in 2012, Associate Professor and Vice Chair in 2013, Professor and Vice Chair in 2014 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. Results from the Clark Lab provide the basis for translational projects related to identifying new genes involved in human fertility, developing the technology of in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) for research purposes and creating new stem cell-based models for contraceptive discovery. Dr Clark has authored more than 100 articles in her career and her work has earned more than 15,000 citations.
Amander Clark
Mailing Address
Box 957246, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Office
Room No 490 B, 615 Charles E Young Drive South, Biomedical Sciences Research Building (BSRB)