Renee A. Reijo Pera, Ph.D.

Honors and Awards

• Honorary Doctorate, University of Wisconsin Superior (2009)
• Bruce Stewart Award, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) (2007)
• Twenty Influential Women Leaders in the USA, Newsweek, Inc (09-2006)
• Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, University of California at San Francisco (2005)
• New Faculty Award, Searle Scholar (1998-2001)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Damon Runyon/Walter Winchell Postdoctoral Fellowship (1993-1996)
• Teaching Excellence, DuPont Teaching Fellow (1989)
• 10, Sandler Award in Basic Science (1999-2000)
• 11, Innovations in Basic Science Award(UCSF) (1998-1999)
• 12, Member of the NIH Cellular, Molecular, & Integrative Reproduction (CMIR) (2002-Present)
• 13, Chair of the German American Frontiers of Science Program (NAS; 2000-2003)
• 14, American Stem Cell Research Foundation Award (2004)
• 16, UCSF:Coro Center for Leadership Training (01-2006- 05-2006)

Professional Education

• Fellow, Whitehead Institute Human Genetics (1997)
• Ph.D., Cornell University Molecular and Cell Biology (1993)
• M.S., Kansas State University Biology (1987)
• B.S., University of Wisconsin Biology (1983)

Postdoctoral Advisees

• Shawn Chavez, Kelly Haston, Roger Jarvis, Kevin Loewke, So Hyun McElroy, Sonya Schuh-Huerta

Research Interests

The Reijo Pera Laboratory is focused on understanding key cell fates in the embryo, including the generation of pluripotent stem cells, somatic and germ cell lineages

Clinical Trials

• Study to Create Potential Cell-Based Therapies to Treat Human Disease and Disability Enrolling by Invitation

Publications

• High-efficiency stem cell fusion-mediated assay reveals Sall4 as an enhancer of reprogramming Wong C,  Gaspar-Maia A, Ramalho Santos M and Reijo Pera RA.  PLoSOne.  (in press)
• Characteristics of six new human embryonic stem cell lines (HSF-7,-8,-9,-10,-12 and -13) derived with minimal animal product conditions Chavez SL,  Meneses JJ, Nguyen HN, Kim S and Reijo Pera RA.  Stem Cells and Development.  (in press)
• Enhanced generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from a subpopulation of human fibroblasts. Byrne JA,  Nguyen HN, Reijo Pera RA.  PLoS One.  2009; 4 (9): e7118
• Human DAZL, DAZ and BOULE genes modulate primordial germ-cell and haploid gamete formation. Kee K,  Angeles VT, Flores M, Nguyen HN, Reijo Pera RA.  Nature.  2009; 462 (7270): 222-5
• Dazl functions in maintenance of pluripotency and genetic and epigenetic programs of differentiation in mouse primordial germ cells in vivo and in vitro. Haston KM,  Tung JY, Reijo Pera RA.  PLoS One.  2009; 4 (5): e5654
• The road to pluripotence: the research response to the embryonic stem cell debate. Scott CT,  Reijo Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2008; 17 (R1): R3-9
• Intermolecular interactions of homologs of germ plasm components in mammalian germ cells. Fox MS,  Clark AT, El Majdoubi M, Vigne JL, Urano J, Hostetler CE, Griswold MD, Weiner RI, Reijo Pera RA.  Dev Biol.  2007; 301 (2): 417-31
• Unique gene expression signatures of independently-derived human embryonic stem cell lines. Abeyta MJ,  Clark AT, Rodriguez RT, Bodnar MS, Pera RA, Firpo MT.  Hum Mol Genet.  2004; 13 (6): 601-8
• Spontaneous differentiation of germ cells from human embryonic stem cells in vitro. Clark AT,  Bodnar MS, Fox M, Rodriquez RT, Abeyta MJ, Firpo MT, Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2004; 13 (7): 727-39
• The unique transcriptome through day 3 of human preimplantation development. Dobson AT,  Raja R, Abeyta MJ, Taylor T, Shen S, Haqq C, Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2004; 13 (14): 1461-70
• Developmental competence of immature and abnormally-fertilized human oocytes in somatic cell nuclear transfer McElroy SL,  Kee K, Tran N, Giudice LC, Meneses J and Reijo Pera RA.  Reproductive BioMedicine Online.  (in press)
• Germ line determinants and oogenesis Haston KM,  Reijo Pera RA.  Developmental Genetics.  Chapter 8
• Characterization of a Dazl-GFP germ cell-specific reporter. Nicholas CR,  Xu EY, Banani SF, Hammer RE, Hamra FK, Reijo Pera RA.  Genesis.  2009; 47 (2): 74-84
• Gene expression profiles of human inner cell mass cells and embryonic stem cells. Reijo Pera RA,  DeJonge C, Bossert N, Yao M, Hwa Yang JY, Asadi NB, Wong W, Wong C, Firpo MT.  Differentiation.  2009; 78 (1): 18-23
• Instructing an embryonic stem cell-derived oocyte fate: lessons from endogenous oogenesis. Nicholas CR,  Chavez SL, Baker VL, Reijo Pera RA.  Endocr Rev.  2009; 30 (3): 264-83
• Transplantation directs oocyte maturation from embryonic stem cells and provides a therapeutic strategy for female infertility. Nicholas CR,  Haston KM, Grewall AK, Longacre TA, Reijo Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2009; 18 (22): 4376-89
• Isolation and characterization of pluripotent human spermatogonial stem cell-derived cells. Kossack N,  Meneses J, Shefi S, Nguyen HN, Chavez S, Nicholas C, Gromoll J, Turek PJ, Reijo-Pera RA.  Stem Cells.  2009; 27 (1): 138-49
• A novel and critical role for Oct4 as a regulator of the maternal-embryonic transition. Foygel K,  Choi B, Jun S, Leong DE, Lee A, Wong CC, Zuo E, Eckart M, Reijo Pera RA, Wong WH, Yao MW.  PLoS One.  2008; 3 (12): e4109
• Defining human embryo phenotypes by cohort-specific prognostic factors. Jun SH,  Choi B, Shahine L, Westphal LM, Behr B, Reijo Pera RA, Wong WH, Yao MW.  PLoS One.  2008; 3 (7): e2562
• Developmental competence of immature and failed/abnormally fertilized human oocytes in nuclear transfer. McElroy SL,  Kee K, Tran N, Menses J, Giudice LC, Reijo Pera RA.  Reprod Biomed Online.  2008; 16 (5): 684-93
• A gene trap mutation of a murine homolog of the Drosophila stem cell factor Pumilio results in smaller testes but does not affect litter size or fertility. Xu EY,  Chang R, Salmon NA, Reijo Pera RA.  Mol Reprod Dev.  2007; 74 (7): 912-21
• Differentiation of germ cells from embryonic stem cells Angeles VT,  Reijo Pera RA.  Human Embryonic Stem Cells.  2007; chapter 7
• Characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines by the International Stem Cell Initiative. Adewumi O, Aflatoonian B, Ahrlund-Richter L, Amit M, Andrews PW, Beighton G, Bello PA, Benvenisty N, Berry LS, Bevan S, Blum B, Brooking J, Chen KG, Choo AB, Churchill GA, Corbel M, Damjanov I, Draper JS, Dvorak P, Emanuelsson K, Fleck RA, Ford A, Gertow K, Gertsenstein M, Gokhale PJ, Hamilton RS, Hampl A, Healy LE, Hovatta O, Hyllner J, Imreh MP, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Jackson J, Johnson JL, Jones M, Kee K, King BL, Knowles BB, Lako M, Lebrin F, Mallon BS, Manning D, Mayshar Y, McKay RD, Michalska AE, Mikkola M, Mileikovsky M, Minger SL, Moore HD, Mummery CL, Nagy A, Nakatsuji N, O'Brien CM, Oh SK, Olsson C, Otonkoski T, Park KY, Passier R, Patel H, Patel M, Pedersen R, Pera MF, Piekarczyk MS, Pera RA, Reubinoff BE, Robins AJ, Rossant J, Rugg-Gunn P, Schulz TC, Semb H, Sherrer ES, Siemen H, Stacey GN, Stojkovic M, Suemori H, Szatkiewicz J, Turetsky T, Tuuri T, van den Brink S, Vintersten K, Vuoristo S, Ward D, Weaver TA, Young LA, Zhang W.  Nat Biotechnol.  2007; 25 (7): 803-16
• A method for single-cell sorting and expansion of genetically modified human embryonic stem cells. Nicholas CR,  Gaur M, Wang S, Pera RA, Leavitt AD.  Stem Cells Dev.  2007; 16 (1): 109-17
• Evolutionary comparison of the reproductive genes, DAZL and BOULE, in primates with and without DAZ. Tung JY,  Luetjens CM, Wistuba J, Xu EY, Reijo Pera RA, Gromoll J.  Dev Genes Evol.  2006; 216 (3): 158-68
• Modeling human germ cell development with embryonic stem cells. Clark AT,  Reijo Pera RA.  Regen Med.  2006; 1 (1): 85-93
• A gene trap knockout of the abundant sperm tail protein, outer dense fiber 2, results in preimplantation lethality. Salmon NA,  Reijo Pera RA, Xu EY.  Genesis.  2006; 44 (11): 515-22
• Novel missense mutations of the Deleted-in-AZoospermia-Like (DAZL) gene in infertile women and men. Tung JY,  Rosen MP, Nelson LM, Turek PJ, Witte JS, Cramer DW, Cedars MI, Reijo-Pera RA.  Reprod Biol Endocrinol.  2006; 4 40
• Bone morphogenetic proteins induce germ cell differentiation from human embryonic stem cells. Kee K,  Gonsalves JM, Clark AT, Pera RA.  Stem Cells Dev.  2006; 15 (6): 831-7
• Genomic and expression profiling of human spermatocytic seminomas: primary spermatocyte as tumorigenic precursor and DMRT1 as candidate chromosome 9 gene. Looijenga LH,  Hersmus R, Gillis AJ, Pfundt R, Stoop HJ, van Gurp RJ, Veltman J, Beverloo HB, van Drunen E, van Kessel AG, Pera RR, Schneider DT, Summersgill B, Shipley J, McIntyre A, van der Spek P, Schoenmakers E, Oosterhuis JW.  Cancer Res.  2006; 66 (1): 290-302
• A new era in the ethics of human embryonic stem cell research. Lo B,  Zettler P, Cedars MI, Gates E, Kriegstein AR, Oberman M, Reijo Pera R, Wagner RM, Wuerth MT, Wolf LE, Yamamoto KR.  Stem Cells.  2005 Nov-Dec; 23 (10): 1454-9
• Identification and characterization of RNA sequences to which human PUMILIO-2 (PUM2) and deleted in Azoospermia-like (DAZL) bind. Fox M,  Urano J, Reijo Pera RA.  Genomics.  2005; 85 (1): 92-105
• Interaction of the conserved meiotic regulators, BOULE (BOL) and PUMILIO-2 (PUM2). Urano J,  Fox MS, Reijo Pera RA.  Mol Reprod Dev.  2005; 71 (3): 290-8
• Recombination in men with Klinefelter syndrome. Gonsalves J,  Turek PJ, Schlegel PN, Hopps CV, Weier JF, Pera RA.  Reproduction.  2005; 130 (2): 223-9
• Human embryonic stem cell genes OCT4, NANOG, STELLAR, and GDF3 are expressed in both seminoma and breast carcinoma. Ezeh UI,  Turek PJ, Reijo RA, Clark AT.  Cancer.  2005; 104 (10): 2255-65
• Identification of a novel gene, DZIP (DAZ-interacting protein), that encodes a protein that interacts with DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) and is expressed in embryonic stem cells and germ cells. Moore FL,  Jaruzelska J, Dorfman DM, Reijo-Pera RA.  Genomics.  2004; 83 (5): 834-43
• Association of meiotic arrest with lack of BOULE protein expression in infertile men. Luetjens CM,  Xu EY, Rejo Pera RA, Kamischke A, Nieschlag E, Gromoll J.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab.  2004; 89 (4): 1926-33
• Human STELLAR, NANOG, and GDF3 genes are expressed in pluripotent cells and map to chromosome 12p13, a hotspot for teratocarcinoma. Clark AT,  Rodriguez RT, Bodnar MS, Abeyta MJ, Cedars MI, Turek PJ, Firpo MT, Reijo Pera RA.  Stem Cells.  2004; 22 (2): 169-79
• Defective recombination in infertile men. Gonsalves J,  Sun F, Schlegel PN, Turek PJ, Hopps CV, Greene C, Martin RH, Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2004; 13 (22): 2875-83
• Human Pumilio-2 is expressed in embryonic stem cells and germ cells and interacts with DAZ (Deleted in AZoospermia) and DAZ-like proteins. Moore FL,  Jaruzelska J, Fox MS, Urano J, Firpo MT, Turek PJ, Dorfman DM, Pera RA.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2003; 100 (2): 538-43
• Feasibility of global gene expression analysis in testicular biopsies from infertile men. Fox MS,  Ares VX, Turek PJ, Haqq C, Reijo Pera RA.  Mol Reprod Dev.  2003; 66 (4): 403-21
• Human BOULE gene rescues meiotic defects in infertile flies. Xu EY,  Lee DF, Klebes A, Turek PJ, Kornberg TB, Reijo Pera RA.  Hum Mol Genet.  2003; 12 (2): 169-75
• Conservation of a Pumilio-Nanos complex from Drosophila germ plasm to human germ cells. Jaruzelska J,  Kotecki M, Kusz K, Spik A, Firpo M, Reijo Pera RA.  Dev Genes Evol.  2003; 213 (3): 120-6
• Current and future genetic screening for male infertility. Turek PJ,  Pera RA.  Urol Clin North Am.  2002; 29 (4): 767-92
• Generation and in vitro differentiation of a spermatogonial cell line. Feng LX,  Chen Y, Dettin L, Pera RA, Herr JC, Goldberg E, Dym M.  Science.  2002; 297 (5580): 392-5
• Male infertility, genetic analysis of the DAZ genes on the human Y chromosome and genetic analysis of DNA repair. Fox MS,  Reijo Pera RA.  Mol Cell Endocrinol.  2001; 184 (1-2): 41-9
• Response to varicocelectomy in oligospermic men with and without defined genetic infertility. Cayan S,  Lee D, Black LD, Reijo Pera RA, Turek PJ.  Urology.  2001; 57 (3): 530-5
• Impaired spermatogenesis in men with congenital absence of the vas deferens. Meng MV,  Black LD, Cha I, Ljung BM, Pera RA, Turek PJ.  Hum Reprod.  2001; 16 (3): 529-33
• A gene family required for human germ cell development evolved from an ancient meiotic gene conserved in metazoans. Xu EY,  Moore FL, Pera RA.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2001; 98 (13): 7414-9
• Male sperm motility dictated by mother's mtDNA. Moore FL,  Reijo-Pera RA.  Am J Hum Genet.  2000; 67 (3): 543-8
• Increased frequency of mutations in DNA from infertile men with meiotic arrest. Nudell D,  Castillo M, Turek PJ, Pera RR.  Hum Reprod.  2000; 15 (6): 1289-94
• DAZ family proteins exist throughout male germ cell development and transit from nucleus to cytoplasm at meiosis in humans and mice. Reijo RA,  Dorfman DM, Slee R, Renshaw AA, Loughlin KR, Cooke H, Page DC.  Biol Reprod.  2000; 63 (5): 1490-6
• Human DAZL1 encodes a candidate fertility factor in women that localizes to the prenatal and postnatal germ cells. Dorfman DM,  Genest DR, Reijo Pera RA.  Hum Reprod.  1999; 14 (10): 2531-6
• Azoospermic men with deletion of the DAZ gene cluster are capable of completing spermatogenesis: fertilization, normal embryonic development and pregnancy occur when retrieved testicular spermatozoa are used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Mulhall JP,  Reijo R, Alagappan R, Brown L, Page D, Carson R, Oates RD.  Hum Reprod.  1997; 12 (3): 503-8
• Mouse autosomal homolog of DAZ, a candidate male sterility gene in humans, is expressed in male germ cells before and after puberty. Reijo R,  Seligman J, Dinulos MB, Jaffe T, Brown LG, Disteche CM, Page DC.  Genomics.  1996; 35 (2): 346-52
• The DAZ gene cluster on the human Y chromosome arose from an autosomal gene that was transposed, repeatedly amplified and pruned. Saxena R,  Brown LG, Hawkins T, Alagappan RK, Skaletsky H, Reeve MP, Reijo R, Rozen S, Dinulos MB, Disteche CM, Page DC.  Nat Genet.  1996; 14 (3): 292-9
• Severe oligozoospermia resulting from deletions of azoospermia factor gene on Y chromosome. Reijo R,  Alagappan RK, Patrizio P, Page DC.  Lancet.  1996; 347 (9011): 1290-3
• Gonadoblastoma: molecular definition of the susceptibility region on the Y chromosome. Tsuchiya K,  Reijo R, Page DC, Disteche CM.  Am J Hum Genet.  1995; 57 (6): 1400-7
• Diverse spermatogenic defects in humans caused by Y chromosome deletions encompassing a novel RNA-binding protein gene. Reijo R,  Lee TY, Salo P, Alagappan R, Brown LG, Rosenberg M, Rozen S, Jaffe T, Straus D, Hovatta O.  Nat Genet.  1995; 10 (4): 383-93