Alan O. Trounson

Alan O. Trounson, Ph.D., is world-renowned biologist, Professor of Stem Cell Sciences and Director, Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories at Monash University, and the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of the National Biotechnology Centre of Excellence – ‘Australian Stem Cell Centre’, as well as Global Scientific Strategy Advisor. On 14 September 2007, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) named him as the new permanent president of the state’s $3 billion stem cell agency, an appointment he will take up in late December 2007.

Professor Trounson made headlines in 1980 with the first IVF birth in Australia and after set up their own program, the Monash team of Wood, Trounson, Leeton, Talbot and Kovacs. Professor Trounson has devoted many years to stem cell research. In 2000, he again made international headlines when he led the team which discovered that nerve stem cells could be derived from embryonic stem cells. This announcement led to a dramatic increase in interest in the potential of stem cells to cure a range of currently incurable diseases.

He serves on the Science Advisory Board of the Genetics Policy Institute and was a founder of the Australian Stem Cell Centre.

Career Summary

 * 1971: graduated from the University of New South Wales with an M.Sc. in Wool and Pastoral Sciences.
 * 1974: awarded a Ph.D. in animal embryology by Sydney University.
 * 1974-1976: awarded the Dalgety Research Fellow at the ARC Institute of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry at Cambridge University.
 * 1977: appointed Senior Research Fellow at Monash University.
 * 1984: appointed Reader in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
 * 1985: appointed Director of the Centre for Early Human Development.
 * 1991: awarded a Personal Chair in Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Paediatrics at Monash University.
 * 1991: awarded the Wellcome (Australia) Medal.
 * 1994: received the Patrick Steptoe Memorial Medal received from the British Fertility Society.
 * 1995: received the Benjamin Henry Sheares Medal awarded by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, Singapore.
 * 2003: awarded a Personal Chair as Professor of Stem Cell Sciences, Monash University.
 * 2003: awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa by the Faculties of Medical Sciences and Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
 * 2003: named Australian Humanist Of The Year.
 * 2007: appointed president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Areas of research

 * Cloning
 * Stem cells
 * Biotechnology
 * Cloning for agricultural industry
 * Gene storage
 * IVF

Books

 * In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer By Alan O. Trounson, Carl Wood,Published 1984, ISBN 0443026750
 * In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, by Alan Trounson and  Carl Wood, 1985, ISBN 0443-0267-50
 * Atlas of Fine Structure of Human Sperm Penetration, Eggs, and Embryos Cultured In Vitro, by A. Henry Sathananthan (Author), Alan O. Trounson (Author), Carl Wood (Author), November 1985, ISBN 0275-9130-82, ISBN 0030-0011-37
 * ''Clinical in Vitro Fertilization edited by Carl Wood, Alan Trounson, 1988, ISBN 3540-1953-43
 * Clinical in Vitro Fertilization,by Carl Wood (Author), Alan Trounson (Editor),1989,ISBN 0387-1953-43
 * Implantation in Mammals (Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press, Vol 91), by L. Gianaroli (Author), A. Campana (Author), Alan O. Trounson (Editor), 1994, ISBN 0881-6790-54
 * Handbook of in vitro fertilization, by Alan O. Trounson and David K. Gardner (Editor), 2nd ed 1999, ISBN 0849-3400-20
 * Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte: Its Role in Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, by Alan O. Trounson (Editor), Roger G. Gosden (Editor),Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 25, 2003), ISBN 0521-7995-89
 * Nuclear Transfer Protocols: Cell Reprogramming and Transgenesis,Medical / Nursing, By Paul J. Verma, Alan O. Trounson, 2006, ISBN 1588-2928-00

Articles

 * Stem Cell research must be carefully directed and properly conducted by Alan Trounson - posted Wednesday, 15 May 2002
 * Cloning and Stem Cells, contributing Editorial Board:Alan O. Trounson,- Published Quarterly, March 2007, ISSN 1536-2302