Dean Nizetic's Biography

Dean Nizetic, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

Prof. Nizetic has become one of the leading researchers and opinion-makers in molecular research into Down’s Syndrome (DS), in particular its relation to stem cell pathology, ageing and cancer (Nature Rev. Cancer 2012). Several results by Prof.Nizetic’s group have produced paradigm shifts in the definition of key pathogenic molecules and therapeutic targets in DS -associated childhood leukaemia, (Lancet 2003, BJH 2004, Blood 2005, Oncogene 2010, Blood 2013, Nature Comm 2014). His team also discovered the earliest molecular changes of DS in embryonic stem cells causing the deregulation embryonic stem cell fate (Am J Hum Genet 2008, Mol Cell Proteomics 2009). Prof.Nizetic recently generated isogenic induced-pluripotent-Stem-cells (iPSC) by re-programming the skin fibroblasts from an adult individual with mosaic DS, and then cloning separately the genetically identical T21 and euploid (D21) iPSC lines. Prof. Nizetic is currently leading the iPSC–cellular modelling stream within the LonDownS consortium (see http://www.ucl.ac.uk/londowns/research-themes/cellular). From February 2014, DN is a Professor of Molecular Medicine at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU, Singapore.