Jenny Nichols

Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge

Dr Nichols’ main interest is in development of the pluripotent cells of the early mammalian embryo and in how these cells can be captured and propagated in vitro.  ES cell derivation is an inefficient and poorly understood process that varies enormously, depending upon the protocol and the genetic makeup of the embryo.  We have developed a novel, defined system that improves the efficiency of ES cell derivation and expands the pluripotent population in cultured rodent embryos.