Laura Hewitson
Encyclopedia
Laura Hewitson is a British-born primate researcher noted for her work in the fields of reproductive biology and behavior. She is an Affiliate Scientist at the Washington National Primate Research Center in Seattle, WA. Additionally, she is Research Director of Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
in Austin, TX. From 2002-2010 she was an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
and member of Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation (MWRI&F) in Pittsburgh, PA
, UK in 1990. Shortly after, Hewitson attended the University of York
, UK, where she obtained her D. Phil. in Biology, for which she was awarded the K.M. Stott prize.
In 1994, Hewitson moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she began post-doctoral studies in the Department of Meat and Animal Sciences studying in the laboratory of Neal First
, PhD. In 1995 she began working under the mentorship of Dr. Gerald Schatten
in the Department of Zoology. In 1997, Hewitson moved to the Oregon National Primate Research Center
at the Oregon Health & Science University
.
Throughout her academic career, Hewitson has been a passionate teacher to children through programs such as Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Math (AWSEM), as well as teaching physician-scientists at the Woods Hole Laboratory
at a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
-sponsored ‘Frontiers in Reproduction’ course.
, as well as private foundations.
Hewitson’s work has been published in many journals, such as Science
, Nature Medicine
, Biology of Reproduction
, Human Reproduction
, Fertility and Sterility, Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, and the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.
Hewitson’s work on primate fertilization examined the role of the centrosome during assisted reproduction and identified unique check-points during the first cell cycle. She also explored the safety of new methods of assisted reproduction by producing infant primates by ART to follow their early development and behavior (see Selected Publications).
Hewitson’s more recent research has focused on the study of genetic versus epigenetic (environmental) causes of neurodevelopmental disorders
. She is now continuing this research in Austin, TX as the Research Director of Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
.
Hewitson, L.C., Martin, K.L., Leese, H.J. (1996) Effects of metabolic inhibitors on mouse preimplantation embryo development and the energy metabolism of isolated inner cell masses. Mol Reprod Dev. 43:323-330.
Hewitson, L., Simerly, C., Tengowski, M.W, Sutovsky, P., Navara, C,S., Haavisto, A.J. and Schatten, G. (1996) Microtubule and chromatin configurations during rhesus intracytoplasmic sperm injection: Successes and Failures. Biol. Reprod. 55:271–280.
Hewitson, L., Haavisto A, Simerly C, Jones J and Schatten G (1997) Microtubule organization and chromatin configurations in hamster oocytes during fertilization, parthenogenetic activation and after insemination with human sperm. Biol.Reprod. 57: 967-975.
Hewitson L, Takahashi D, Dominko T, Simerly C, and Schatten G. (1998) Fertilization and embryo development to blastocysts after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the rhesus monkey. Hum Reprod 13:3449-3455.
Schatten G, Hewitson L, Simerly C, Sutovsky P and Huszar G. (1998) Cell and Molecular Biological Challenges of ICSI: A.R.T. Before Science? J Law Med Ethics 26:29-37.
Hewitson, L, Dominko, T, Takahashi, D, Ramalho-Santos, J, Sutovsky, P, Fanton, J, Jacob, D, Monteith, D, Neuringer, M, Battaglia, D, Simerly, C, and G. Schatten. (1999) Births of ICSI monkeys: unique checkpoints during the first cell cycle of fertilization. Nature Medicine 5:431-433.
Ramalho-Santos, J., Moreno, R.D., Sutovksy, P., Chan, A.Q.., Hewitson, L., Wessel G.M., Simerly C.R., and Schatten, G. (2000) SNAREs in mammalian sperm: possible implications for fertilization. Dev Bio 223:54-69.
Hewitson, L., Martinovich, C., Simerly, C., Takahashi, D., Schatten, G. (2002) Intracytoplasmic injection of rhesus testicular sperm (TESE-ICSI) and elongated spermatids (ELSI) results in healthy offspring. Fertil Steril. 77:794-801.
Simerly, C., Dominko, T., Navara, C., Payne, C., Capuano, S., Gosman, G., Chong, K.Y., Compton, D., Hewitson, L., and Schatten, G. (2000) Molecular Correlates of Primate Nuclear Transfer Failures. Science 300: 297-299.
Dettmer, AM, Houser, LA, Ruppenthal, GC, Capuano, S, Hewitson, L. (2007) Growth and developmental outcomes of three high-risk infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol. 69: 503-518.
Hewitson, L., Lopresti, B., Mason, N.S, Stott, C. and Tomko, J. (2010) Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study. Acta Neurobiologiae Exp 70: 147-164.
Hewitson L, Houser LA, Stott C, Sackett G, Tomko JL, Atwood D, Blue L, Railey White E, Wakefield AJ. (2010) Delayed acquisition of neonatal reflexes in newborn primates receiving a thimerosal-containing Hepatitis B vaccine: Influence of gestational age and birth weight. JournalToxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 73: 1298-1313..
Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development is a non-profit organization working to advance the understanding of childhood development through clinical care, research, and education...
in Austin, TX. From 2002-2010 she was an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is a medical school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The School of Medicine is also known as Pitt Med, and is ranked as a “top medical school” by U.S. News & World Report in the publication's categories of research and primary care...
and member of Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation (MWRI&F) in Pittsburgh, PA
Early life and education
Hewitson was born in 1969 in Birmingham, England and was educated in the public school system. She graduated with a BSc. (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of EssexUniversity of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, UK in 1990. Shortly after, Hewitson attended the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, UK, where she obtained her D. Phil. in Biology, for which she was awarded the K.M. Stott prize.
In 1994, Hewitson moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she began post-doctoral studies in the Department of Meat and Animal Sciences studying in the laboratory of Neal First
Neal L. First
- Birth and education :Neal L. First was born in 1930 in the United States. He completed his M.S. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.- Research :...
, PhD. In 1995 she began working under the mentorship of Dr. Gerald Schatten
Gerald Schatten
Gerald Schatten is an American stem cell researcher with interests in cell, developmental, and reproductive biology. He is Professor and Vice-Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is also...
in the Department of Zoology. In 1997, Hewitson moved to the Oregon National Primate Research Center
Oregon National Primate Research Center
The Oregon National Primate Research Center is one of eight federally funded National Primate Research Centers in the United States and has been affiliated with Oregon Health and Science University since 1998. The center is located on of land west of Portland, Oregon, in Hillsboro...
at the Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
.
Throughout her academic career, Hewitson has been a passionate teacher to children through programs such as Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Math (AWSEM), as well as teaching physician-scientists at the Woods Hole Laboratory
Marine Biological Laboratory
The Marine Biological Laboratory is an international center for research and education in biology, biomedicine and ecology. Founded in 1888, the MBL is the oldest independent marine laboratory in the Americas, taking advantage of a coastal setting in the Cape Cod village of Woods Hole, Massachusetts...
at a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , created by Congress in 1962, supports and conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations...
-sponsored ‘Frontiers in Reproduction’ course.
Research
Hewitson's research has primarily focused on embryo metabolism, cytoskeletal dynamics, centrosome abnormalities during fertilization, assisted reproductive technology (ART) in non-human primates and infant primate neonatal development. More recently, Hewitson’s research has focused on understanding genetic and environmental influences that lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, with special emphasis on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her research has been funded through the National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, as well as private foundations.
Hewitson’s work has been published in many journals, such as Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
, Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine is an academic journal publishing research articles, reviews, news and commentaries in the biomedical area, including both basic research and early-phase clinical research. Topics covered include cancer, cardiovascular disease, gene therapy, immunology, vaccines, and neuroscience...
, Biology of Reproduction
Biology of Reproduction
Biology of Reproduction is a peer-reviewed academic journal, and the official journal of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. It is published with the assistance of HighWire Press....
, Human Reproduction
Human reproduction
Human reproduction is any form of sexual reproduction resulting in the conception of a child, typically involving sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. During intercourse, the interaction between the male and female reproductive systems results in fertilization of the woman's ovum by the...
, Fertility and Sterility, Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, and the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.
Hewitson’s work on primate fertilization examined the role of the centrosome during assisted reproduction and identified unique check-points during the first cell cycle. She also explored the safety of new methods of assisted reproduction by producing infant primates by ART to follow their early development and behavior (see Selected Publications).
Hewitson’s more recent research has focused on the study of genetic versus epigenetic (environmental) causes of neurodevelopmental disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A neurodevelopmental disorder, or disorder of neural development, is an impairment of the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system. A narrower use of the term refers to a disorder of brain function that affects emotion, learning ability and memory and that unfolds as the...
. She is now continuing this research in Austin, TX as the Research Director of Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development is a non-profit organization working to advance the understanding of childhood development through clinical care, research, and education...
.
Selected publications
Hewitson, L.C., Leese, H.J. (1993) Energy metabolism of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst. J Exp Zool. 267:337-343.Hewitson, L.C., Martin, K.L., Leese, H.J. (1996) Effects of metabolic inhibitors on mouse preimplantation embryo development and the energy metabolism of isolated inner cell masses. Mol Reprod Dev. 43:323-330.
Hewitson, L., Simerly, C., Tengowski, M.W, Sutovsky, P., Navara, C,S., Haavisto, A.J. and Schatten, G. (1996) Microtubule and chromatin configurations during rhesus intracytoplasmic sperm injection: Successes and Failures. Biol. Reprod. 55:271–280.
Hewitson, L., Haavisto A, Simerly C, Jones J and Schatten G (1997) Microtubule organization and chromatin configurations in hamster oocytes during fertilization, parthenogenetic activation and after insemination with human sperm. Biol.Reprod. 57: 967-975.
Hewitson L, Takahashi D, Dominko T, Simerly C, and Schatten G. (1998) Fertilization and embryo development to blastocysts after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the rhesus monkey. Hum Reprod 13:3449-3455.
Schatten G, Hewitson L, Simerly C, Sutovsky P and Huszar G. (1998) Cell and Molecular Biological Challenges of ICSI: A.R.T. Before Science? J Law Med Ethics 26:29-37.
Hewitson, L, Dominko, T, Takahashi, D, Ramalho-Santos, J, Sutovsky, P, Fanton, J, Jacob, D, Monteith, D, Neuringer, M, Battaglia, D, Simerly, C, and G. Schatten. (1999) Births of ICSI monkeys: unique checkpoints during the first cell cycle of fertilization. Nature Medicine 5:431-433.
Ramalho-Santos, J., Moreno, R.D., Sutovksy, P., Chan, A.Q.., Hewitson, L., Wessel G.M., Simerly C.R., and Schatten, G. (2000) SNAREs in mammalian sperm: possible implications for fertilization. Dev Bio 223:54-69.
Hewitson, L., Martinovich, C., Simerly, C., Takahashi, D., Schatten, G. (2002) Intracytoplasmic injection of rhesus testicular sperm (TESE-ICSI) and elongated spermatids (ELSI) results in healthy offspring. Fertil Steril. 77:794-801.
Simerly, C., Dominko, T., Navara, C., Payne, C., Capuano, S., Gosman, G., Chong, K.Y., Compton, D., Hewitson, L., and Schatten, G. (2000) Molecular Correlates of Primate Nuclear Transfer Failures. Science 300: 297-299.
Dettmer, AM, Houser, LA, Ruppenthal, GC, Capuano, S, Hewitson, L. (2007) Growth and developmental outcomes of three high-risk infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol. 69: 503-518.
Hewitson, L., Lopresti, B., Mason, N.S, Stott, C. and Tomko, J. (2010) Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study. Acta Neurobiologiae Exp 70: 147-164.
Hewitson L, Houser LA, Stott C, Sackett G, Tomko JL, Atwood D, Blue L, Railey White E, Wakefield AJ. (2010) Delayed acquisition of neonatal reflexes in newborn primates receiving a thimerosal-containing Hepatitis B vaccine: Influence of gestational age and birth weight. JournalToxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 73: 1298-1313..