Dean Betts

Associate Professor

PH.D. University of Guelph M.Sc. University of Western Ontario B.Sc. University of Western Ontario Office:  Dental Sciences Building, Room DSB 2022 Phone: (519) 661-2111 ext 83786 Fax: (519) 661-3827 E-mail: dean.betts@schulich.uwo.ca Visit:  The Betts Lab Homepage See Publications by Dean Betts on PubMed

My research program is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cellular senescence and to examine the epigenetic phenomena involved in reprogramming aged somatic cells to a pluripotent state.

Current Projects:
-The role of p66Shc in ROS-mediated cellular senescence.
-Evaluation of equine cord blood stem cells for transplantation therapies.
-Chromatin remodeling and reprogramming of telomere length during early embryo development.
-The derivation, characterization and differentiation of canine embryonic stem cells (cESC).
-The generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in pre-clinical domestic animal models.

Wilcox J, Semple E, Gartley C, Brission B, Perrault S, Villagómez D, Tayade C, Becker S, Lanza R, and Betts DH (2009). Characterization of canine embryonic stem cell lines derived from different niche microenvironments. Accepted to Stem Cells and Development January 9, 2009.

Betts DH and Madan P (2008). Permanent Embryo Arrest: Molecular and Cellular Concepts. Mol Hum Reprod 14(8):445-53.

Fischer Russell, D. and Betts DH (2008). Alternative splicing and expression analysis of the bovine DNA Methyltransferase 1. Developmental Dynamics 237(4):1051-1059.

Betts DH, Perrault SD and King WA (2008). Hypoxia Delays Fibroblast Senescence Despite Shorter Telomeres. Biogerontology 9(1):19-31.

Favetta LA, Madan P, Mastromonaco GF, St.John EJ, King WA and Betts DH (2007). The oxidative stress adaptor p66shc is required for permanent embryo arrest in vitro. BMC Developmental Biology 7(1):132.

Koch TG, Heerkens T, Thomsen PD and Betts DH (2007). Isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from equine umbilical cord blood. BMC Biotechnology 7:26.

Favetta LA, St.John EJ, King WA, Betts DH (2007). High levels of p66Shc and intracellular ROS in permanently arrested early embryos. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 42(8):1201-10.

Perrault SD, Hornsby PJ and Betts DH (2005). Gobal gene expression response to telomerase in bovine adrenocortical cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 335, 925-936.

Betts DH, Perrault SD, Petrik J, Lin L, Favetta LA, Keefer CL and King WA (2005). Telomere Analysis in Goat Clones and their Offspring. Molecular Reproduction and Development 72: 461-470.

Favetta LA, Robert C, King WA, and Betts DH (2004). Expression Profiles of p53 and p66shc during oxidative stress-induced senescence in fetal bovine fibroblasts. Experimental Cell Research 299: 36-48.

Betts DH, Bordignon V, Hill JR, Winger Q, Westhusin ME, Smith LC, and King WA (2001). Reprogramming of telomerase activity and rebuilding of telomere length in cloned cattle. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98(3): 1077-1082.

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