Distinguished Speaker Series | Stephen H Tsang, MD, PhD

Stephen H. Tsang, M.D, Ph.D. is an acclaimed geneticist in the care of individuals with retinal degenerations, and is known worldwide for his pivotal contribution in metabolome engineering as a therapeutic avenue. He has been culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells since 1992 and created the first mouse model for a recessive form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by applying genome engineering to ES cell technology in 1995. He successfully treated preclinical models of Pde6a, Pde6b, Mfrp, Rho, Cngb1 and autosomal recessive bestrophin retinopathies. He has expertise in designing and testing genome engineering strategies in pre-clinical models, developing patient-specific CRISPR knock-in models, generating of patient cell lines and providing care to patients with a precision medicine approach. He is also leading efforts in FDA trials for gene therapies, including PDE6A, RAB geranylgeranyl transferase, RPGR, CNGB3, CNGA3 and ABCA4 retinopathies. He wrote 2 books: “Precision Medicine, CRISPR, and Genome Engineering: Moving from Association to Biology and Therapeutics.; and “Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology”, Springer Press, NY; and “Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology”, Springer Press, NY.

Stephen H. Tsang graduated from Johns Hopkins University, where he began his medical genetics training under the tutelage of Professor Victor A. McKusick. He received his M.D.-Ph. D. degrees from the NIH-National Institute of General Medical Sciences Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Columbia University. Dr. Tsang's contributions has being recognized by the 2005 “Bernard Becker-Association of University Professor in Ophthalmology”-“Research to Prevent Blindness” Award, Carl Camras Award, the 2013 Bradley Straatsma Lectureship, 2018 Young Investigator Award, Macular Society. Dr. Tsang received 2008 resident teaching award. He is an elected member of several honorary societies including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Alcon Research Institute and American Ophthalmological Society. He is consistently named to various NIH study sections (DPVS standing member 2014-8).