Hans Keirstead's Biography

Hans Keirstead, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine

Canadian-born neuroscientist Dr. Hans Keirstead received his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His thesis concerned his invention of a novel method for regenerating damaged spinal cords, and formed the basis of several worldwide patents as well as the formation of a company in 1999 to bring this treatment towards clinical trials. Hans’ Ph.D. work constituted the first demonstration of functional regeneration of the injured adult spinal cord, and for his achievements he received the Cameron Award for the outstanding Ph.D. thesis in Canada. Hans then completed four years of post-doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge. He was elected to two senior academic posts at the University of Cambridge, Fellow of the Governing Body of Downing College, and Senate Member of the University of Cambridge, and was the youngest member to have been elected to those positions. In 2000, Dr. Keirstead became a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California Irvine. The Reeve-Irvine Research Center, founded by
actor Christopher Reeve and philanthropist Joan Irvine, is a leading center for spinal cord injury research. Hans was recently awarded the Distinguished Assistant Professor of UCI Award, the UCI Academic Senate's highest honor, and the UCI Innovation Award for innovative research leading to corporate and clinical development, and was thereafter promoted to Associate Professor. He has testified at the Federal Senate and House on multiple occasions regarding stem cell research and policy. He has founded and funded 3 biotechnology companies to bring treatments to clinical trials. Hans
directs a research team investigating the cellular biology and treatment of spinal cord trauma, research that also has significance for multiple sclerosis and other diseases of the nervous system. He is currently Co-Director of the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Director of the UCI Africa Initiative, and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of California Stem Cell. A complete overview of
Hans’ research and publications can be found at www.anatomy.uci.edu/keirstead.html.