Dr. Dean Betts

Biography

Dean Betts is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Western University. He earned his BSc and MSc from the University of Western Ontario in the Department of Zoology before completing his PhD at the University of Guelph in Biomedical Sciences. Betts further conducted postdoctoral research at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Genetics, focusing on nuclear reprogramming events connected to somatic cell nuclear transfer. He joined the Ontario Veterinary College as an Assistant Professor in 2001, studying the development of stem cell technologies in domestic animals. In 2009, he transitioned his research to Western University, where his group focuses on preimplantation embryos and pluripotent stem cells. His key research interests include the mechanisms of early embryo development, pluripotency in stem cells, and the development of canine pluripotent stem cell therapies, leveraging the genetic similarities between dogs and humans for translational research in regenerative medicine. His research has led to significant insights in cellular metabolic regulation and the connection between autophagy and stem cell fate, potentially leading to novel therapies for various diseases.

Research Interests