Thomson receives prestigious research chair

James Thomson, professor of anatomy at UW–Madison, has been named a John D. MacArthur Professor. The appointment, established by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, carries with it a five-year award for research and scholarly work.

Thomson is chief of the Stem Cell Unit of the National Primate Research Center at UW–Madison and scientific director of WiCell Institute. He was the first to isolate and culture nonhuman primate embryonic stem cells and human ES cells. He aims to use these cells to improve knowledge of basic reproductive biology, and to explore new treatments for degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, leukemia and Parkinson’s.

Thomson, who has earned advanced degrees in veterinary medicine and molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, has published more than 30 scientific papers on reproductive biology and embryonic stem cells. He is board certified in veterinary pathology.