Ann Tsukamoto


Ann Tsukamoto is an inventor, scientist and stem cell researcher. In 1991, Tsukamoto and her colleagues Charles Baum, Irving Weissman, Anne-Marie Buckle, and Bruno Peault became the first researchers to identify and isolate blood-forming stem cells. As a result of her research bone marrow transplants have saved the lives of thousands of people battling blood cancer. She has since devoted her life to researching and developing stem cell medicines and continues to work to save lives as the Executive Vice President of Scientific and Strategic Alliances at StemCells Inc.
Tsukamoto is a co-patentee for the isolation process of the human blood stem cell. In 1991 the patent was awarded.

Early life and education

Ann Tsukamoto received her undergraduate from University of California, San Diego and later received her Ph.D.from University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

Academic research

She did her post doctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco where she worked alongside Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus. Together they created a transgenic model for breast cancer.

Industrial research

Tsukamoto was employed at SyStemix, a biotechnology company, from 1989-1997 where she was connected with isolation of the hematopoietic stem cell. In 1998, she joined StemCells, Inc. where she became a leader in overseeing the isolation of human liver and neural stem cells to a variety of different diseases. When she joined the company, she was one of the few first world class researchers who were focused on the development and discovery of human stem cells. During her time at StemCells, Dr. Tsukamoto led the scientific team that discovered the human central nervous system stem cell. With her colleagues, they were to identify and isolate blood-forming stem cells. She has received multiple leadership roles while employed with Stem Cells, Inc.
Tsukamoto holds 12 patents related to her research.